Rapid Decompression
As fish travel through a hydropower turbine they can experience rapid decompression, which can in turn lead to physical damage to body tissues caused by these rapid changes in pressure (known as barotrauma). Barotrauma injuries observed in fish include swim bladder rupture, hemorrhaging, and gas bubbles in the vasculature and tissue.
Rapid decompression studies are conducted in laboratory pressure chambers that simulate the pressure profiles fish experience during hydropower turbine passage. Pressure profiles used in these experiments can be developed via field collection or model methods. Pressures near 0 psi (pound per square inch) are possible in the hydropower turbine environment and can be tested via the chambers. Currently, the biological responses (effects) of rapid decompression are known for 15 species of fish including juvenile Chinook salmon, adult American eel, and juvenile American shad (listed in the table below). This information is available for use with BioPA and HBET.
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Species |
Data |
Citation |
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American eel (Anguilla rostrata) |
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American shad (Alosa sapidissima) |
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Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) |
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Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) |
●● |
Article in progress (data available in BioPA/HBET) |
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Brook Lamprey (Lampetra planeri) |
○○○ |
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Carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris klunzingeri) |
●● |
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Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) |
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Kokanee* (Oncorhynchus nerka) |
● |
Article in progress (data available in BioPA/HBET) |
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Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) |
●● |
Article in progress (data available in BioPA/HBET) |
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Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) |
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Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) |
○○○ |
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Rainbow trout* (Oncorhynchus mykiss) |
● |
Article in progress (data available in BioPA/HBET) |
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Silver perch (Bairdiella chrysoura) |
●● |
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Tiger muskie* (Esox masquinongy) x (E. lucius) |
● |
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Walleye* (Sander vitreus) |
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*Based on mortal injury from Chinook ●●● = Complete understanding of major factors influencing Biological Response ●● = Good understanding of major factors influencing Biological Response ● = Partial understanding of major factors influencing Biological Response Grey = Non HydroPASSAGE project Blue = HydroPASSAGE project ● = Biological Response equation developed ○ = No Biological Response equation developed due to very low susceptibility to barotrauma |
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