Original scientific paper

Analysis of larvae transport from ballast water in the Port of Ploče

Goran Lončar orcid.org/0000-0002-6466-3677 ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Građevinski fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Tin Kulić orcid.org/0000-0001-6817-4603 ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Građevinski fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Romina Kraus ; Institut Ruđer Bošković, Centar za istraživanje mora, Rovinj, Hrvatska
Dalibor Carević orcid.org/0000-0002-4634-6192 ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Građevinski fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Marijana Pećarević orcid.org/0000-0003-4665-2103 ; Sveučilište u Dubrovniku, Odjel za primjenjenu ekologiju, Dubrovnik, Hrvatska

Abstract

A 3D numerical model of sea circulation and transport of larvae introduced at a fixed position of the port terminal due to discharges of ballast water from ship tanks for the Port of Ploče waters was established. The model larvae particles are not passive but have sensory capacity to recognize environmental conditions and cognitive reaction regarding direction change and their movement intensity (ABM, agent based model) in view of optimal light intensity and sea temperature. The model simulations were conducted for a period from 12.3.2008 to 10.5.2008, using the measured discharges and temperatures of the Neretva River at the station Žitomislići (half-hour resolution), model results of wind speed and direction from the numerical model Aladin-Hr (three-hour resolution), hourly dynamics of sea levels and measured vertical distribution of sea temperatures and salinity at the open boundary of the model (CTD probe). The larvae particles were introduced at 4 dates (14.3., 22.3., 7.4. and 20.4.2008), at the start of situations with a registered characteristic combination of environmental conditions (“low“ or “high“ discharges of the Neretva with “low“ or “high“ wind speeds from the ENE, SW, S and E directions).
The results of conducted simulations indicate that in a situation of higher Neretva discharges and lower wind speeds (on average in 7 dana after the larvae introduction QSR-7days = 490 m3/s and WSR-7days = 2.9 m/s), the most pronounced larvae sedimentation occurs in the closed part of the port basin. On the other hand, in case of lower Neretva discharges and higher wind speeds (QSR-7days = 114 m3/s and WSR-7days = 3.7 m/s in the S-SW direction range), the larvae are intensely transported in the SE direction of the Neretva channel.

Keywords

Port of Ploče, ballast water, larvae, ABM model

Hrčak ID:

255032

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/255032

Publication date:

30.3.2021.

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