Author(s): Jose Anta; Jeronimo Puertas; Eva Martin; Ramon Losada; Enrique Pena
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Keywords: Cerastoderma edule; Sediment transport; Bivalve dispersal; Flume experiment; PIV; Recruitment
Abstract: Seafood and shellfish harvesting in the river mouths of Galicia plays an important role in the social and economic activities of this region of Spain. This work presents a laboratory scale hydrodynamic study of cockle Cerastoderma edule from river Ulla estuary. Experiments were carried out in a 9 m long, 0.5 m wide and 0.15 m depth recirculating flume. Cockles of different size (15-20,20-25,25-30,30-35 mm) were examined at different velocities (0.30,0. 32,0. 35,0. 39,0. 45 and 0.47 m/s) and different recruitment rates (500,1000 ind/m2). Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) laser technique was successfully applied to obtain an accurate determination of velocity fields. Three replications of each experimental setup were conducted. In order to determine velocity profiles and shear velocities the Double Avarege Methodology was successfully applied. The effect of flow velocity and recruitment rate on the percentage of cockle's entrainment rate was analysed. The percentage of retrieved cockles was significantly lower for the smallest velocities and the highest recruitment rate.
Year: 2009