Geology topics

C. D. Suski

Publications and source records attributed to C. D. Suski.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2024

Silver carp experience metabolic and behavioral changes when exposed to water from the Chicago Area Waterway

One of the hallmarks of invasive species is their propensity to spread. Removing an invasive species after establishment is virtually impossible, and so considerable effort is invested in preventing the range expansion of invaders. Silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) were discovered in the Mississippi River in 1981 and have spread throughout the basin. Despite their propensity to expand, the ‘leading edge’ in the Illinois River has stalled south of Chicago and has remained stable for a decade. Studies have indicated that contaminants in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) may be contributing to the lack of upstream movement, but this hypothesis has not been tested. This study used a laboratory setting to quantify the role of contaminants in deterring upstream movement of silver carp within the CAWS. For this, water was collected from the CAWS near the upstream edge of the distribution and transported to a fish culture facility. Silver carp and one native species were exposed to CAWS water, and activity, behavior, avoidance, and metabolic rates were quantified. Results showed that silver carp experience an elevated metabolic cost in CAWS water, along with reductions in swimming behavior. Together, results indicate a role for components of CAWS water at deterring range expansion.

Scientific Reports↗

USGS2024

Limiting downstream dispersal of invasive carp egg surrogates using a laboratory-scale oblique bubble screen

We conceptualize and test a non-intrusive barrier, comprised of an oblique bubble screen (OBS) oriented at an angle to the mean flow, to prevent the downstream dispersal of invasive carp egg surrogates. Three surrogates of different densities and diameters were tested. Secondary flows created by the OBS were tuned to redirect surrogate eggs to facilitate their capture. Surface particle image velocimetry and acoustic Doppler velocimetry were used to characterize secondary flows. We assessed the influence of airflow rate, OBS angle, mean flow velocity, and surrogate density on particle redirection. In general, redirection efficiency improves by increasing the OBS angle with respect to the cross-section. At a mean flow velocity of 0.75 metres per second (m/s), the OBS system redirected up to 60% (%) of positively buoyant particles (specific gravity SG = 0.9, and diameter d = 7.09 millimetres [mm]) and 40% of semi-buoyant particles (SG = 1.001, d = 3.1 mm). Negatively buoyant particles (SG = 1.04, and d = 5.90 mm) were redirected by the physical structure of the diffuser rather than by OBS-induced flow. The study shows that an OBS system can be used to effectively redirect carp-egg surrogates over a wide range of particle sizes and densities, allowing for selective targeting of undesired particles in streams.

Journal of Ecohydraulics↗

USGS2023

Movement and behavioral states of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in response to a behavioral deterrent in a navigational lock

Freshwater ecosystems are some of the most affected by biological invasions due, in part, to the introduction of invasive carp worldwide. Where carp have become established, management programs often seek to limit further range expansion into new areas by reducing their movement through interconnected rivers and waterways. Lock and dams are important locations for non-physical deterrents, such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), to reduce unwanted fish passage without disrupting human use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the behavioral responses of common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) to non-physical deterrents within a navigation structure on the Fox River, Wisconsin. Acoustic telemetry combined with hidden Markov models (HMMs) was used to analyze variation in carp responses to treatments. Outcomes may inform CO 2 effectiveness at preventing invasive carp movement through movement pinch-points.

Wisconsin↗

USGS2022

Assessing the efficacy of oblique bubble screens for control of aquatic invasive species

Non-physical barriers, such as bubble screens (or curtains), are promising low-impact strategies to deter the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in streams. Bubble screens have been successfully implemented to redirect and/or deter adult fish and to capture plastics in some rivers, but their efficacy on invasive fish at multiple life stages (eggs, larvae, and adult fish) is not yet known. Air bubbles rising from a diffuser placed at the bottom of a stream generate counterrotating eddies that interact with the mean flow. Understanding such interactions allows us to design an Oblique Bubble Screen (OBS), a system able to direct drifting particles (i.e., eggs and larvae) towards the banks of a stream for potential capture, based on the water velocity, river morphology, orientation of the OBS, diffuser material, and air flow rate. We present the results from a series of laboratory experiments at the Ecohydraulics and Ecomorphodynamics Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, using positively buoyant (specific gravity SG=0.9, and diameter d=7.09mm) and negatively buoyant (SG=1.04, d=5.9mm) spherical particles to represent the range of size and density of developing Grass carp eggs, an invasive species in North America (Ctenopharyngodon idella). An air compressor was connected to a porous tube laid at the bottom of a recirculating flume, with a regulator and a flow meter to control air pressure and air flow rate. Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters (ADV) and Surface Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) were used to measure the effect of the OBS on the velocity field. Our collected data showed that: (1) a single OBS is able to direct drifting particles towards the bank at the downstream end of the OBS, (2) adjusting orientation angle and air flow rate of the diffuser can increase capture efficacy under different flow conditions, reaching up to a 100% of capture for buoyant particles, and (3) the ratio between lateral velocity generated by the OBS (as a function of air flow rate) and the mean longitudinal flow velocities, can be used as an indicator to predict whether the OBS will be able to carry the particles all along the length of the diffuser in wider and deeper streams. The optimal configurations from our study will be tested with live Grass carp eggs and larvae, as well as with upstream-swimming adult carp to assess its potential as a two-way barrier, and to provide design parameters to set the air-flow rate and diffuser type needed for field deployments, according to width-to-depth ratios and stream morphology.

Conference Paper↗

USGS2018

Associations of intestinal helminth infections with health parameters of spring-migrating female lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) in the upper Midwest, USA

Thousands of lesser scaup ( Aythya affinis ) die during spring and fall migrations through the upper Midwest, USA, from infections with Cyathocotyle bushiensis and Sphaeridiotrema spp. (Class: Trematoda) after ingesting infected intermediate hosts, such as non-native faucet snails ( Bithynia tentaculata ). The lesser scaup is a species of conservation concern and is highly susceptible to these infections. We collected female lesser scaup from spring migratory stopover locations throughout Illinois and Wisconsin and assessed biochemical and morphological indicators of health in relation to intestinal helminth loads. Helminth species diversity, total trematode abundance, and the infection intensities of the trematodes C. bushiensis and Sphaeridiotrema spp. were associated with percent body fat, blood metabolites, hematological measures, and an index of foraging habitat quality. Helminth diversity was negatively associated with percent body fat, albumin concentrations, and monocytes, whereas glucose concentrations displayed a slight, positive association. Total trematode abundance was negatively associated with blood concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and albumin. Infections of C. bushiensis were positively related to basophil levels, whereas Sphaeridiotrema spp. infection intensity was negatively associated with packed cell volume and foraging habitat quality. Thus, commonly measured health metrics may indicate intestinal parasite infections and help waterfowl managers understand overall habitat quality. Intestinal parasitic loads offer another plausible mechanism underlying the spring condition hypothesis.

Parasitology Research↗

USGS2017

Predation of freshwater fish in environments with elevated carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in fresh-water environments is poorly understood, yet in marine environments CO 2 can affect fish behaviour, including predator–prey relationships. To examine changes in predator success in elevated CO 2 , we experimented with predatory Micropterus salmoides and Pimephales promelas prey. We used a two-factor fully crossed experimental design; one factor was 4-day (acclimation) CO 2 concentration and the second factor CO 2 concentration during 20-min predation experiments. Both factors had three treatment levels, including ambient partial pressure of CO 2 ( p CO 2 ; 0–1000 μatm), low p CO 2 (4000–5000 μatm) and high p CO 2 (8000–10 000 μatm). Micropterus salmoides was exposed to both factors, whereas P. promelas was not exposed to the acclimation factor. In total, 83 of the 96 P. promelas were consumed ( n = 96 trials) and we saw no discernible effect of CO 2 on predator success or time to predation. Failed strikes and time between failed strikes were too infrequent to model. Compared with marine systems, our findings are unique in that we not only saw no changes in prey capture success with increasing CO 2 , but we also used CO 2 treatments that were substantially higher than those in past experiments. Our work demonstrated a pronounced resiliency of freshwater predators to elevated CO 2 exposure, and a starting point for future work in this area.

Marine and Freshwater Research↗

USGS2017

Can ozone be used to control the spread of freshwater Aquatic Invasive Species?

The introduction of aquatic invasive species to non-native habitats can cause negative ecological effects and also billions of dollars in economic damage to governments and private industries. Once aquatic invasive species are introduced, eradication may be difficult without adversely affecting native species and habitats, urging resource managers to find preventative methods to protect non-invaded areas. The use of ozone (O 3 ) as a non-physical barrier has shown promise as it is lethal to a wide range of aquatic taxa, requires a short contact time, and is relatively environmentally safe in aquatic systems when compared to other chemicals. However, before O 3 can be considered as an approach to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, its effects on non-target organisms and already established aquatic invasive species must be fully evaluated. A review of the current literature was conducted to summarize data regarding the effects of O 3 on aquatic taxa including fish, macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, phytoplankton, microbes, and pathogens. In addition, we assessed the practicality of ozone applications to control the movement of aquatic invasive species, and identified data gaps concerning the use of O 3 as a non-physical barrier in field applications.

Management of Biological Invasions↗

USGS2017

Using dissolved carbon dioxide to alter the behavior of invasive round goby

Fisheries managers need effective methods to limit the spread of invasive round goby Neogobius melanostomus in North America. Elevating carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in water at pinch points of rivers (e.g., inside locks) is one approach showing potential to deter the passage of invasive fishes, such as bigheaded carps Hypophthalmichthys spp., but the effectiveness of this method to alter round goby behavior has not been determined. The goal for this study was to determine CO 2 concentrations that alter round goby behavior across a range of water temperatures. Free-swimming avoidance (voluntary response) and loss of equilibrium (involuntary response) were quantified by exposing round goby to increasing CO 2 concentrations at 5, 15, and 25 °C using a shuttle box choice arena and static tank. Water chemistry was measured concurrent with behavioral endpoints and showed that round goby avoided a threshold of 99–169 mg/L CO 2 (79,000–178,000 µatm) and lost equilibrium at 197–280 mg/L CO 2 (163,000–303,000 µatm). Approximately 50% lower CO 2 concentrations were found to modify behavior at 5 °C relative to 25 °C, suggesting greater effectiveness at lower water temperatures. We conclude that CO 2 modified round goby behavior and concentrations determined in this study are intended to guide field testing of CO 2 as an invasive fish deterrent.

Management of Biological Invasions↗