Experimental flume data on larval Murray cod entrainment across screen slot widths, velocities, and proximity
Data files
Nov 03, 2025 version files 28.64 KB
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MC_FLOWLAB_EXPERIMENT_DATA.csv
13.72 KB
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MC_FLOWLAB_MORPHOMETRICS.csv
495 B
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MC_FLOWLAB_VELOCITY_DATA.csv
10.55 KB
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MC_FLOWLAB_WATER_QUALITY.csv
1 KB
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README.md
2.87 KB
Abstract
This dataset supports a study evaluating the effectiveness of modern fish-protection screens in reducing entrainment of larval Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) at water intakes. It comprises experimental data from a series of trials conducted in a large, hydraulically calibrated flume, simulating screen conditions representative of those used in irrigation diversions in Australia and comparable jurisdictions. Larvae were exposed to combinations of two approach velocities (0.1 and 0.2 m s⁻¹), two wedgewire screen slot widths (2 and 3 mm), and three release distances (5, 15, and 30 cm) from the screen face. For each treatment, entrainment outcomes were recorded, and associated hydrodynamic data were collected using acoustic Doppler velocimetry. The dataset includes entrainment proportions by treatment combination, hydraulic velocity components (approach, sweeping, vertical), and spatial metadata. It allows exploration of how biological and physical parameters interact to influence larval fate at screened and unscreened intakes. This dataset underpins the analysis presented in the paper "Protecting larval fish at water intakes: Hydraulic and biological evidence for the effectiveness of modern fish-protection screens" and may be used to inform future design standards and species-specific risk assessments for larval fish in regulated rivers.
Overview
This dataset supports the manuscript titled "Protecting larval fish at water intakes: Hydraulic and biological evidence for the effectiveness of modern fish-protection screens." It includes larval entrainment trial results, water quality measurements, larval morphometrics, and hydraulic velocity data collected from a flume-based experimental setup. The trials focused on Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) larvae and evaluated how screen design criteria (slot width and approach velocity) influence entrainment outcomes.
- The data files contain experimental data from larval entrainment trials.
Key columns of MC_FLOWLAB_EXPERIMENT_DATA.csv
- Sp: Species tested (MuBlankcod).
- Stage: Life stage (e.g., Larvae).
- Mesh: Slot wNoth applied to the screen:
- 2 mm, 3 mm: Slot sizes.
- blank: Solid panel (used for calculating flume losses).
- no screen: Unscreened treatment.
- AV: Target approach velocity (0.1 or 0.2 m/s).
- Q (ML/D): Flow rate through the screen measured at the primary pump flow meterUsedlease point: Distance and position of larva Mesh lease relative to the screen.
- Rep: Replicate Rawber.
- No. used: Number of larvae released in each trial.
- mesh, av, release: Re-coded fields for analysis.
- raw prob (entrain): Raw entrainment probability.
- Corrected Prob (entrainment): Corrected probability values accounquality summarisesandardization
- Additional metadata includes timestamps, operator, and trial comments.
- Water quality
Summarises water quality metrics collected from the flume and holding troughs during the trial period.
Key columns of MC_FLOWLAB_MORPHOMETRICS.csv and MC_FLOWLAB_WATER_QUALITY.csv
- Date, Day, Time: Sampling timestamps.
- Trough and Flume conditions: pH, DO (% and mg/L), NTU (turbidity), EC (mS/cm), Temperature (°C).
- Morphometric
Morphological measurements of sampled Murray cod larvae used in the trials.
- TL (mm): Total length.
- Height (mm): Body height.
- Width (mm): Body width.
- Notes: Includes developmental stage (e.g.,25 days post-hatch).
Key columns of MC_FLOWLAB_VELOCITY_DATA.csv
- velocity: Three-dimensional hydraulic velocity measurements captured around the wedgewire screen using ADV or similar instrumentation.
- Station: Distance from the screen face.
- VelocityCategory: Target approach velocity condition (0.1 or 0.2 m/s).
- ScreenNo: Screen segment (e.g., 1 = upstream).
- VelocityType: Flow component measured:
- AV: Approach velocity (perpendicular to screen).
- SV: Swee ping velocity (parallel to screen).
- VelZ: Vertical velocity (up/down).
- ScreenType: Screen configuration (e.g. 2 mm, NoScreen).
- Mean: Mean velocity.
- SE: Standard error.
- N: Number of replicate measurements.