DOI: 10.5061/dryad.gb5mkkx3d
title: Experimental flume data on larval Murray cod entrainment across screen slot widths, velocities, and proximity

description: 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.
description: # Experimental flume data on larval Murray cod entrainment across screen
 slot widths, velocities, and proximity #### 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. 1. 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. 1. 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). 1. 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.