title: A Flow-through Exposure System for Evaluating Suspended Sediments Effects on Aquatic Life.
abstract: This paper describes the Fish Larvae and Egg Exposure System (FLEES). The flow-through exposure system is used to investigate the effects of suspended sediment on various aquatic species and life stages in the laboratory by using pumps and automating delivery of sediment and water to simulate suspension of sediment. FLEES data are used to develop exposure-response curves between the effects on aquatic organisms and suspended sediment concentrations at the desired exposure duration. The effects data are used to evaluate management practices used to reduce the interactions between aquatic organisms and anthropogenic causes of suspended sediments. The FLEES is capable of generating total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations as low as 30 to as high as 800 mg/L, making this system an ideal choice for evaluating the effects of TSS resulting from many activities including simulating low ambient levels of TSS to evaluating sources of suspended sediments from dredging operations, vessel traffic, freshets, and storms.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; burton.suedel@usace.army.mil.
authors.forename: Burton C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Suedel
authors.affiliation: Environmental Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
authors.forename: Justin L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wilkens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D007814:Larva; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical