Detecting seasonal movements and spawning of bigheaded carp using environmental DNA (eDNA)
Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molirix) and bighead carp (H. nobilis), commonly call bigheaded carp, are native to portions of Asia and were introduced to North America in aquaculture farms and sewage treatment ponds to control algae and plant growth. Bigheaded carp escaped from their intended locations and have an adverse effect on the ecosystem functions and the economic value of the ecosystems they invade. Specifically, within an ecosystem they outcompete native fish species and negatively affect water quality and aquatic vegetation. Economically, bigheaded carp threaten the commercial and recreational fishery by decreasing safety for boaters and tourism by negatively affecting habitats. In their native range, bigheaded carp travel upstream in spring and early summer to spawn in faster flowing water and move downstream during the late summer and winter. However, bigheaded carp movements in North America are not well understood and understanding their movements in North American rivers is vital to help prevent their spread into the Great Lakes.
Bigheaded carps have established spawning populations in the Maumee, Wabash, Illinois and Mississippi Rivers and are moving towards the Laurentian Great Lakes. The need for detecting and tracking their movements has increased greatly to prevent established populations from moving into the Great Lakes. Traditional tracking techniques (e.g., mark and recapture) are expensive and labor intensive, however, using environmental DNA (eDNA) to track bigheaded carp movements is less labor intensive and uses less resources. Examples of eDNA include skin cells, mucus, urine, feces, or other cellular material that is shed from an organism.
This study aimed to detect the movements and spawning activity as well as determine the seasonal trends of bigheaded carps using eDNA. Researchers collected water samples that will be used to extract the eDNA that could be present at the sample location. Extracting eDNA is completed in a laboratory by running quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) which amplifies the DNA of a targeted species.
Researchers collected drifting eggs using bongo nets to determine when and where bigheaded carp were spawning. These samples were later used for eDNA analysis. Samples were taken at different stages of discharge to determine how discharge influences the spawning time or place. River Discharge data was collected using the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System. Finally, to verify possible spawning locations, 300 bigheaded carp were captured and implanted with acoustic telemetry tags to help track the movements of fish withing the river system.
This project is complete and collaborated with Purdue University.
Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molirix) and bighead carp (H. nobilis), commonly call bigheaded carp, are native to portions of Asia and were introduced to North America in aquaculture farms and sewage treatment ponds to control algae and plant growth. Bigheaded carp escaped from their intended locations and have an adverse effect on the ecosystem functions and the economic value of the ecosystems they invade. Specifically, within an ecosystem they outcompete native fish species and negatively affect water quality and aquatic vegetation. Economically, bigheaded carp threaten the commercial and recreational fishery by decreasing safety for boaters and tourism by negatively affecting habitats. In their native range, bigheaded carp travel upstream in spring and early summer to spawn in faster flowing water and move downstream during the late summer and winter. However, bigheaded carp movements in North America are not well understood and understanding their movements in North American rivers is vital to help prevent their spread into the Great Lakes.
Bigheaded carps have established spawning populations in the Maumee, Wabash, Illinois and Mississippi Rivers and are moving towards the Laurentian Great Lakes. The need for detecting and tracking their movements has increased greatly to prevent established populations from moving into the Great Lakes. Traditional tracking techniques (e.g., mark and recapture) are expensive and labor intensive, however, using environmental DNA (eDNA) to track bigheaded carp movements is less labor intensive and uses less resources. Examples of eDNA include skin cells, mucus, urine, feces, or other cellular material that is shed from an organism.
This study aimed to detect the movements and spawning activity as well as determine the seasonal trends of bigheaded carps using eDNA. Researchers collected water samples that will be used to extract the eDNA that could be present at the sample location. Extracting eDNA is completed in a laboratory by running quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) which amplifies the DNA of a targeted species.
Researchers collected drifting eggs using bongo nets to determine when and where bigheaded carp were spawning. These samples were later used for eDNA analysis. Samples were taken at different stages of discharge to determine how discharge influences the spawning time or place. River Discharge data was collected using the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System. Finally, to verify possible spawning locations, 300 bigheaded carp were captured and implanted with acoustic telemetry tags to help track the movements of fish withing the river system.
This project is complete and collaborated with Purdue University.