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Carbon Dioxide as an Invasive Carp Behavioral Deterrent

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By Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center January 16, 2020

Invasive Carp Control: Carbon Dioxide

Introduction of invasive carps into public waters of the United States has resulted in a large effort to limit dispersal beyond the Mississippi River watershed. Navigational structures positioned throughout most major rivers are potential pinch-points to block further range expansion into new areas. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is being evaluated as fish deterrent to reduce fish passage through navigational locks that would also not directly interfere with vessel passages and lock operations.

USGS and USFWS personnel preparing to electro fish for common carp near Kaukauna, WI.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
 USGS and FWS personnel preparing to electro fish for common carp near Kaukauna, Wisconsin.

The goal of this project is to characterize fish behavior when exposed to a CO2. More specifically, we are studying fish behavior to determine if CO2 could be applied to deter invasive carps from locations (e.g. lock chambers) where they are at risk to move upstream. Studies are conducted in laboratory, outdoor pond, and field settings using acoustic telemetry, hydroacoustic sonar, and underwater cameras to monitor fish behavior. Results are intended to inform natural resource decisions related to the integration of CO2 as a new control tool to better manage invasive carps.

 

Evaluation of CO2 as a fish deterrent at a water management structure along the Illinois River.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Evaluation of CO2 as a fish deterrent at a water management structure along the Illinois River.
Manifold system to evaluate CO2 as a fish deterrent in Morris, Illinois
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Manifold system to evaluate CO2 as a fish deterrent in Morris, Illinois
USGS scientist monitoring invasive round goby movements in response to CO2 using a shuttle box system.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
USGS scientist monitoring invasive round goby movements in response to CO2 using a shuttle box system.
Water sample collection during CO2 injection at a water management structure along the Illinois River.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Water sample collection during CO2 injection at a water management structure along the Illinois River.

Below are publications associated with this project.

Temperature dependent effects of carbon dioxide on avoidance behaviors in bigheaded carps

Managment of Biological Invasions, International Journal of Applied Research on Biological Invasions, Volume 9, Issue 3

What it is to be established: policy and management implications for non-native and invasive species

Management of invasive species, whether prevention, population reduction, or eradication, requires assessment of the invasive species’ population status and an assessment of the probability of success of management options. Perceptions of a species’ permanence in an environment or lack thereof frequently drives how limited time, financial, and personnel resources are allocated to such efforts. Lan
Authors
Patrick Kočovský, Rochelle Sturtevant, James Schardt
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Great Lakes Science Center

Responses of invasive silver and bighead carp to a carbon dioxide barrier in outdoor ponds

Resource managers need for effective methods to prevent the movement of silver (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (H. nobilis) from the Mississippi River basin into the Laurentian Great Lakes. In this study, we evaluated dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) as a barrier and deterrent to silver (278 ± 30.5 mm) and bighead (212 ± 7.7 mm) carp movement in continuous-flow outdoor ponds. As a bar
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, Richard A. Erickson, Kim T. Fredricks, Nicholas M. Swyers, Tyson Hatton, Jon Amberg
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Carbon dioxide as a tool to deter the movement of invasive bigheaded carps

Nonnative bigheaded carps are established in the Mississippi River and there is substantial concern about their potential entry into the interconnected Laurentian Great Lakes. While electrical barriers currently exist as a preventative measure, there is need for additional control mechanisms to promote barrier security through redundancy. We tested the effectiveness of infused carbon dioxide gas (
Authors
Michael R. Donaldson, Jon Amberg, Shivani Adhikari, Aaron R. Cupp, Nathan Jensen, Jason G. Romine, Adam Wright, Mark P. Gaikowski, Cory D. Suski
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Below are partners associated with this project.

USGS, Central Midwest Water Science Center

USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center – Columbia River Research Lab

USGS, Columbia Environmental Research Center

USGS, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

USFWS, Midwest Fisheries Center

Fox River Navigational System Authority

The Nature Conservancy

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

University of Illinois

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR)

Invasive Carp Control: Carbon Dioxide

Introduction of invasive carps into public waters of the United States has resulted in a large effort to limit dispersal beyond the Mississippi River watershed. Navigational structures positioned throughout most major rivers are potential pinch-points to block further range expansion into new areas. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is being evaluated as fish deterrent to reduce fish passage through navigational locks that would also not directly interfere with vessel passages and lock operations.

USGS and USFWS personnel preparing to electro fish for common carp near Kaukauna, WI.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
 USGS and FWS personnel preparing to electro fish for common carp near Kaukauna, Wisconsin.

The goal of this project is to characterize fish behavior when exposed to a CO2. More specifically, we are studying fish behavior to determine if CO2 could be applied to deter invasive carps from locations (e.g. lock chambers) where they are at risk to move upstream. Studies are conducted in laboratory, outdoor pond, and field settings using acoustic telemetry, hydroacoustic sonar, and underwater cameras to monitor fish behavior. Results are intended to inform natural resource decisions related to the integration of CO2 as a new control tool to better manage invasive carps.

 

Evaluation of CO2 as a fish deterrent at a water management structure along the Illinois River.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Evaluation of CO2 as a fish deterrent at a water management structure along the Illinois River.
Manifold system to evaluate CO2 as a fish deterrent in Morris, Illinois
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Manifold system to evaluate CO2 as a fish deterrent in Morris, Illinois
USGS scientist monitoring invasive round goby movements in response to CO2 using a shuttle box system.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
USGS scientist monitoring invasive round goby movements in response to CO2 using a shuttle box system.
Water sample collection during CO2 injection at a water management structure along the Illinois River.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Water sample collection during CO2 injection at a water management structure along the Illinois River.

Below are publications associated with this project.

Temperature dependent effects of carbon dioxide on avoidance behaviors in bigheaded carps

Managment of Biological Invasions, International Journal of Applied Research on Biological Invasions, Volume 9, Issue 3

What it is to be established: policy and management implications for non-native and invasive species

Management of invasive species, whether prevention, population reduction, or eradication, requires assessment of the invasive species’ population status and an assessment of the probability of success of management options. Perceptions of a species’ permanence in an environment or lack thereof frequently drives how limited time, financial, and personnel resources are allocated to such efforts. Lan
Authors
Patrick Kočovský, Rochelle Sturtevant, James Schardt
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Great Lakes Science Center

Responses of invasive silver and bighead carp to a carbon dioxide barrier in outdoor ponds

Resource managers need for effective methods to prevent the movement of silver (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (H. nobilis) from the Mississippi River basin into the Laurentian Great Lakes. In this study, we evaluated dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) as a barrier and deterrent to silver (278 ± 30.5 mm) and bighead (212 ± 7.7 mm) carp movement in continuous-flow outdoor ponds. As a bar
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, Richard A. Erickson, Kim T. Fredricks, Nicholas M. Swyers, Tyson Hatton, Jon Amberg
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Carbon dioxide as a tool to deter the movement of invasive bigheaded carps

Nonnative bigheaded carps are established in the Mississippi River and there is substantial concern about their potential entry into the interconnected Laurentian Great Lakes. While electrical barriers currently exist as a preventative measure, there is need for additional control mechanisms to promote barrier security through redundancy. We tested the effectiveness of infused carbon dioxide gas (
Authors
Michael R. Donaldson, Jon Amberg, Shivani Adhikari, Aaron R. Cupp, Nathan Jensen, Jason G. Romine, Adam Wright, Mark P. Gaikowski, Cory D. Suski
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Below are partners associated with this project.

USGS, Central Midwest Water Science Center

USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center – Columbia River Research Lab

USGS, Columbia Environmental Research Center

USGS, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

USFWS, Midwest Fisheries Center

Fox River Navigational System Authority

The Nature Conservancy

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

University of Illinois

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR)

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