Acoustic deterrence of bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) to a broadband sound stimulus

Abstract

Recent studies have shown the potential of acoustic deterrents against invasive silver carp (Hypophthalmichthy molitrix). This study examined the phonotaxic response of the bighead carp (H. nobilis) to pure tones (500-2000 Hz) and playbacks of broadband sound from an underwater recording of a 100 hp outboard motor (0.06-10 kHz) in an outdoor concrete pond (10 x 5 x 1.2 m) at the U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center in La Crosse, WI. The number of consecutive times the fish reacted to sound from alternating locations at each end of the pond was assessed. Bighead carp were relatively indifferent to the pure tones with median consecutive responses ranging from 0 to 2 reactions away from the sound source. However, fish consistently exhibited significantly (P < 0.001) greater negative phonotaxis to the broadband sound (outboard motor recording) with an overall median response of 20 consecutive reactions during the 10 minute trials. In over 50% of broadband sound tests, carp were still reacting to the stimulus at the end of the trial, implying that fish were not habituating to the sound. This study suggests that broadband sound may be an effective deterrent to bighead carp and provides a basis for conducting studies with wild fish.

Silver, bighead, and common carp orient to acoustic particle motion when avoiding a complex sound

“…While earlier studies show general movement away from a sound source [10,11,37,38], our study clearly shows that particle motion is used for orientation and could be used to direct all species of carp away from an area. Nevertheless, carp barrier design should consider the fact that particle motion attenuates rapidly.…”

Potential implications of acoustic stimuli as a non‐physical barrier to silver carp and bighead carp

“…Silver carp and bighead carp are ostariophysans and have relatively higher hearing sensitivity than non‐ostariophysan fish, and previous work has demonstrated that both carp species can detect frequencies up to at least 3 kHz (Lovell, Findlay, Nedwell & Pegg, ). Studies have established that silver carp (Vetter et al., ) and bighead carp (Vetter et al., in press) had significantly greater movement away from broadband (0.06–10 kHz) sound stimuli compared to pure tones (500–2000 Hz). Therefore, the underwater recording of an outboard motor was used as the deterrent.…”

Acoustic barriers as an acoustic deterrent for native potamodromous migratory fish species

“…Vetter et al . () also found that the bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Richardson 1845) (Cyprinidae) did not show short‐term habituation to the exposure of broadband sounds, but an increase in tolerance over longer exposure periods should not be excluded (Nedelec et al . ).…”