Synthetic aquatic structure

Details Synthetic aquatic structure Synthetic aquatic structure

1998-03-13

2001-01-09

McAvoy, Ellen M. (Department: 1764)

Stock material or miscellaneous articles

Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or...

Composite having voids in a component

C428S316600, C119S221000, C405S024000, C442S326000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06171686

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for promoting and/or controlling the growth of biological species. The invention also relates to a buoyant system for providing food, shelter and a nursery environment for biological species.
The invention also relates to a synthetic structure for supporting the growth and reproduction of organisms suitable as food resource material for mollusks, crustaceans, fish, and the like.
The invention also relates to biodegradation and bioaccumulation systems for removing nutrients, heavy metals and other materials from water.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,657 (Saiki) refers to the use of glassy material and other solid materials to form artificial habitats for fish. The structures referred to by Saiki are intended for use in relatively high energy water where sturdy structures are needed. The structures referred to by Saiki are static and subject to scour, and fish would have to leave the structures to feed, which would expose the fish to predation.
Other structures that might support or provide a habitat for marine life are referred to in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,374,629 (Garrett) and 3,540,415 (Bromley) and Japanese Patent No. 54-70989.
Prior art synthetic seagrass beds are used in erosion control systems to inhibit the transport of sediment from an area and to simultaneously induce the deposition of sediments to form a berm. The effect of viscous drag may be utilized to maximize the efficiency of the sediment deposition process.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,176,469 and 5,575,584 (Alsop) and 4,437,786, 4,490,071 and 4,534,675 (Morrisroe) describe prior art synthetic seagrass beds for providing erosion control.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a synthetic structure, such as synthetic seagrass, with a high surface area structure. Buoyant material is used to movably support the synthetic seagrass ribbons in the photic zone. The present invention may be used to simultaneously provide food, predation shelter, and breeding enhancement for a wide variety of aquatic species. The invention may also be used as a bioaccumulation or biodegradation system for removing heavy metals, nutrients or other materials from water.
In one aspect of the invention, the high surface area structure is formed of an open cell foam plastic material. Alternatively, the high surface area structure may be formed of a filamentary material, such as polyester batting, dense felt, high loft spun bond material, or needle punch material. The high surface area structure may also be formed within microporous particles.
In another aspect of the invention, the synthetic structure is formed of ribbons each having a buoyant layer and a coextensive second layer. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second layers are structurally adapted to enhance biological growth.
An object of the invention is to provide a method of using a synthetic structure to biologically control or improve the quality of an aquatic environment.
Another object of the invention is to encourage and support the production of a natural, regenerative food source for successful aquaculture production in a wide variety of aquatic environments.
Another object of the invention is to provide a durable and economical system for simultaneously providing both food and shelter for aquatic species.
Another object of the invention is to provide a synthetic seagrass system which simultaneously provides a supply of food, shelter and reproductive support for aquatic species in a single structured area. By providing food and shelter in the same structure, a viable population of a given aquatic species may be maintained in a concentrated area.
Another object of the invention is to support the growth of photosynthetic organisms, such as algae, on individual synthetic seagrass ribbons. Such primary production on separate floating ribbons promotes the reproduction and growth of zooplankton, such as daphnia, cyclops, and paramecium infusora. The zooplankton may be in the range of from twenty microns to six hundred microns in length.
The larger zooplankton are an important food source for many aquatic species. By increasing the population of zooplankton, larger aquatic species are attracted to the synthetic seagrass and supported locally on a permanent basis. Thus, by providing increased biomass production at the base of the food chain, the growth and reproduction potential of all local aquatic life is enhanced.
Simultaneously, the three-dimensional structure produced by the synthetic seagrass provides shelter and habitat for aquatic species. The open surface area of the individual ribbons may be used as an egg laying surface, or as a means of recovering free reproductive stages of such organisms as scallops.
Advantageously, the spacing between ribbons may be selected to control the amount of shade generated within the ribbons, as well as to control predation and cannibalism.
A motion study of cutthroat trout, reared on synthetic seagrass mats with different spacings between mats, revealed that the fish prefer mats that are spaced at intervals slightly shorter than their overall length. Thus, a three-inch fish preferred mats spaced two inches apart while a five-inch fish preferred a four-inch spacing. The young trout spent over 85% of their time inside the mats, grazing on the surfaces of the ribbons and receiving the benefit of continual shelter. As the fish matured, their dependence on the mats decreased until, at six inches, they only entered the mat structure during periods of heavy overcast or at night.
Synthetic mats constructed in accordance with the invention may be used at release points in the wild to provide fish with familiar structure for initial predation protection. After a short period the mats can be retrieved from the release site and used again at different release points.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system that can be economically adapted and tailored for different applications. For example, the growth of organisms on synthetic ribbons may be enhanced by selectively modifying the surface structure and/or by providing desired nutrients in the surface structure. In addition, desired bacteria may be selectively implanted in the high surface area structure to create the desired biological effect in the water.
Another object of the invention is to reduce the reliance on formulated feeds in aquaculture environments. Such formulated feeds may omit important cofactors which are critical to immune function. The present invention may be used to provide a complete, natural diet for aquatic species.
Another object of the invention is to provide an economical and convenient system for removing undesired or excessive nutrients from water. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, both aerobic and facultatively anaerobic reactions are performed simultaneously and in close proximity to one another. The invention may employ high surface area structures such as open cell foam, batting material, felt material, needle-punched material, and other high surface area structures.
Another object of the invention is to provide an economical and convenient system for biologically removing chromium, zinc, and other toxic metals, and for complexing such metals to preclude their future biological availability.
Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3299640 (1967-01-01), Nielsen
patent: 3540415 (1970-11-01), Bromley
patent: 3559407 (1971-02-01), Schuur
patent: 3590585 (1971-07-01), De Winter
patent: 3820339 (1974-06-01), Luque
patent: 3841266 (1974-10-01), Hoshino
patent: 4221500 (1980-09-01), Garrett
patent: 4337007 (1982-06-01), Smith
patent: 4374629 (1983-02-01), Garrett
patent: 4437786 (1984-03-01), Morrisroe
patent: 4441453 (1984-04-01), McMickle et al.
patent: 4478533 (1984-10-01), Garrett
patent: 4490071 (1984-12-01), Morrisroe
patent: 4534675 (1985-08-01), Morrisroe
patent: 4641997 (1987-02-01), Lauer et al.
patent: 4657432 (1

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