Chemical Attractant Investigations to Increase Aggregation and Harvest for the Control of Invasive Carp
Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, hereafter referred to as bigheaded carps, are rapidly expanding their range. Federal agencies and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are focused on keeping invasive carps out of the Great Lakes. The development of an effective attractant may assist managers with capturing carps in low-density areas such as the upper Illinois River near Chicago, where barrier defense to eliminate propagules is a top priority.
The Issue: The USGS is part of the Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ICRCC) and is focused on the research and development of techniques that could help managers better control invasive Carp populations. Techniques are needed to aggregate invasive carps so that they can be more effectively removed, especially in low-density areas of high priority.
Addressing the Issue: Preliminary studies conducted at CERC and by independent researchers have shown that some food stimulus may be attractive to filter-feeding bigheaded carps. Laboratory work will continue to identify additional attractants for larval, juvenile and adult invasive Carp species (Bighead and Silver Carp, Grass Carp and Black Carp) using an electro-olfactogram (EOG). Attractants that elicit a strong electric response will be further tested in mesocosms to identify behavioral responses. Cooperators at Joliet Junior College are simultaneously working to develop potential baits that could be used in conjunction with trap nets. The USGS is working with both Joliet Junior College and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to conduct field experiments to test the effectiveness of these baits.
Next Steps/Future Steps/Results: Development and field testing of baits will likely continue into 2019. Identification of attractants for each of the four species of invasive Carp using the EOG will also continue. Potentially effective attractants will be further tested in mesocosms to evaluate behavioral responses to the stimuli.
Return to Invasive Species Ecology
Return to Conservation, Quantitative, and Restoration Ecology
Use and Evaluation of Stimuli for Herding Bigheaded Carps to Increase their Capture Efficiency
Development and Evaluation of Novel Capture Gears for Bigheaded Carps
Assessment of Acoustic Stimuli for Manipulating Movement of Bigheaded Carps
Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, hereafter referred to as bigheaded carps, are rapidly expanding their range. Federal agencies and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are focused on keeping invasive carps out of the Great Lakes. The development of an effective attractant may assist managers with capturing carps in low-density areas such as the upper Illinois River near Chicago, where barrier defense to eliminate propagules is a top priority.
The Issue: The USGS is part of the Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ICRCC) and is focused on the research and development of techniques that could help managers better control invasive Carp populations. Techniques are needed to aggregate invasive carps so that they can be more effectively removed, especially in low-density areas of high priority.
Addressing the Issue: Preliminary studies conducted at CERC and by independent researchers have shown that some food stimulus may be attractive to filter-feeding bigheaded carps. Laboratory work will continue to identify additional attractants for larval, juvenile and adult invasive Carp species (Bighead and Silver Carp, Grass Carp and Black Carp) using an electro-olfactogram (EOG). Attractants that elicit a strong electric response will be further tested in mesocosms to identify behavioral responses. Cooperators at Joliet Junior College are simultaneously working to develop potential baits that could be used in conjunction with trap nets. The USGS is working with both Joliet Junior College and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to conduct field experiments to test the effectiveness of these baits.
Next Steps/Future Steps/Results: Development and field testing of baits will likely continue into 2019. Identification of attractants for each of the four species of invasive Carp using the EOG will also continue. Potentially effective attractants will be further tested in mesocosms to evaluate behavioral responses to the stimuli.
Return to Invasive Species Ecology
Return to Conservation, Quantitative, and Restoration Ecology