Movement and Habitat Selection by Invasive Asian Carps in a Large River

Abstract

We evaluated the habitat use and movements of 50 adult bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and 50 silver carp H. molitrix by means of ultrasonic telemetry during spring‐summer 2004 and 2005 to gain insight into the conditions that facilitate their establishment, persistence, and dispersal in the lower Illinois River (river kilometer 0‐130). Movement and habitat use were monitored with stationary receivers and boat‐mounted tracking. The relative availability of four macrohabitat categories (main channel, island side channel, channel border, and connected backwater) was quantified to determine selection; discriminant function analysis was used to evaluate changes in physical characteristics within each category. A flood pulse occurred in spring through early summer of 2004 but not 2005. Movement rates (km/week) of both species were positively correlated with flow but not with temperature. Including data from stationary receivers greatly increased estimates of daily movement. During low summer flow, both species typically selected channel borders and avoided the main channel and backwaters. Both species rarely occupied depths over 4 m, regardless of abiotic conditions. Flood pulses appear to trigger dispersal, while habitat use is only specific during low summer flow. Thus, movement prevention efforts (e.g., dispersal barriers) will require particular vigilance during late‐winter or spring flooding, and controlled removal (e.g., harvest) should be directed toward selected habitats during summer.

Fish gut microbiota analysis differentiates physiology and behavior of invasive Asian carp and indigenous American fish

“…GZSD tend to stay at a same location (Miller, 1960), and SVCP usually travel around different locations (Williamson and Garvey, 2005). Using a combination of mobile tracking and stationary receivers, SCVP were recorded to have a daily movement rate of 3.4-64 km d À 1 and a maximum travel range of 112-411 km in Illinois river and Swan Lake during Spring À Summer between 2004(DeGrandchamp et al, 2008. Similarly, with the differences in the type of food sources at different locations, GZSD populations in different locations could develop different hindgut microbial communities.…”

Recruitment sources of invasive Bighead carp (Hypopthalmichthys nobilis) and Silver carp (H. molitrix) inhabiting the Illinois River

“…Abundance and biomass of Bighead and Silver carps have increased exponentially in the Illinois River (Sass et al 2010;Irons et al 2011); available evidence indicates that competition resulting from similar diet composition among bigheaded carps and native filter-feeding fishes (Sampson et al 2009) may negatively affect growth and condition of the native species (Schrank et al 2003;Irons et al 2007). The high densities of Bighead and Silver carps in the Illinois River and their capacity for rapid, long-distance movement (Peters et al 2006;DeGrandchamp et al 2008) have led to concerns regarding these species invading the Great Lakes via the artificial Chicago-area waterways that link the Illinois River drainage with Lake Michigan, with potentially serious consequences for Great Lakes food webs and the economically important recreational and commercial fisheries they support (Kolar and Lodge 2002;Cudmore and Mandrak 2011).…”

Otolith trace element and stable isotopic compositions differentiate fishes from the Middle Mississippi River, its tributaries, and floodplain lakes

“…Ultrasonic and radio telemetry have provided valuable insights into movement and habitat use of fishes in the Mississippi River and tributaries (Zigler et al, 2003;Vokoun & Rabeni, 2005;DeGrandchamp et al, 2008). However, this technique is limited primarily to large bodied species and older individuals.…”