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The settling behavior and benthic transport of fish feed pellets under steady flows

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Abstract

Settling and erosion experiments were carried out on a size range of fish feed pellets using an annular flume. A strong positive correlation was observed between settling rate and pellet dimension (pellet length, pellet dimeter, and equivalent sedimentation diameter). Erosion thresholds also showed a strong positive correlation with pellet dimensions. Experiments were also carried out to examine the effect of the number of pellets on erosion threshold of two sizes. The results show an asymptotic increase in erosion threshold with increasing number of pellets present, possibly due to sheltering effects. The chemical composition of the pellets was analyzed in terms of water and organic, carbon, and nitrogen contents as well as stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes. The results arising from this study will provide, information regarding potential tracers of waste feed material and help validate model predictions associated with dispersal of waste material.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries and Oceans-University of British Columbia Centre for Aquaculture and Environmental Research, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 4160 Marine Drive, V7V 1N6, West Vancouver, B. C., Canada

    T. F. Sutherland & S. A. Petersen

  2. Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Geological Survey of Canada, 1 Challenger Drive, B2Y 4A2, Dartmouth, N.S., Canada

    T. F. Sutherland & C. L. Amos

  3. Southampton Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, European Way, Dock 4, SO014 3ZH, Southampton, Hampshire, U.K.

    C. L. Amos & C. Ridley

  4. National Water Research Institute, Post Office Box 5050, L7R 4A6, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

    Ian G. Droppo

Authors
  1. T. F. Sutherland
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  2. C. L. Amos
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  3. C. Ridley
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  4. Ian G. Droppo
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  5. S. A. Petersen
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Correspondence to T. F. Sutherland.

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Sutherland, T.F., Amos, C.L., Ridley, C. et al. The settling behavior and benthic transport of fish feed pellets under steady flows. Estuaries and Coasts: J ERF 29, 810–819 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02786532

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02786532

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