Fluegg: A Lagrangian Tool to Simulate the Transport of Asian Carps Eggs

The last few years have seen Asian carp population surge exponentially in the Mississippi river. Consequently, there is a growing concern about potential migration into the Great Lakes basin. Asian carp eggs are semi-buoyant and must remain suspended in the water column, supported by the turbulence of the flow, to survive. Post-spawning, the eggs develop while being transported by the streamflow. FluEgg (Fluvial Egg Drift Simulator) is a three-dimensional Lagrangian model developed to evaluate the influence of flow velocity, shear dispersion and turbulent diffusion on the transport and dispersal patterns of Asian carp eggs. FluEgg can be used to develop prevention, management, and control strategies targeted to early life stages of Asian carp.  Examples of  the use of this tool include the Great Lakes tributaries screening  for spawning and recruitment suitability, the identification of the necessary conditions required for eggs to maintain a state of “autosuspension”, and the prediction of the vertical concentration distribution of eggs at any given longitudinal distance downstream a spawning ground. The model’s variables include not only biological behavior (growth rate, density changes), but also the physical characteristics of the flow field, such as velocities and eddy diffusivities. FluEgg will assist in the evaluation of suitable spawning rivers for Asian carp populations and help facilitate the development of prevention, control and management strategies for Asian carp species in rivers.