Distribution and population demographics of invasive bigheaded carp in the Lower Red River Basin
Our study objectives were to 1) determine the spatial and temporal distribution and adult population demographics of invasive Silver Carp and Bighead Carp, 2) establish baseline native and invasive fish assemblage and habitat association data, and 3) determine movement patterns of both Silver Carp and Bighead Carp in the Red River using telemetry. We sampled larger-bodied fishes using a combination of gillnets, hoop nets, and electrofishing and mini-fyke nets, seins, and larval tows.
We sampled larger-bodied fishes using a combination of gillnets, hoop nets, and electrofishing and mini-fyke nets, seins, and larval tows. We completed sampling at 136 sites, 71 where we targeted juvenile bigheaded carp and other small-bodied fishes and 65 sites where we targeted adult bigheaded carp and large-bodied fishes in the lower Red River catchment through September 2023. We conducted 330 surveys at our juvenile sampling sites and 318 surveys at our adult sampling sites. Of the 134 sites, 40% were in the Oklahoma portion of the catchment, 35% in the Arkansas portion of the Red River, and 25% were in associated tributaries in Oklahoma and Texas. Gillnets and electrofishing were most effective at capturing larger-bodied fishes, whereas mini-fyke nets and seine hauls collected mainly smaller-bodied native fishes.
Our study objectives were to 1) determine the spatial and temporal distribution and adult population demographics of invasive Silver Carp and Bighead Carp, 2) establish baseline native and invasive fish assemblage and habitat association data, and 3) determine movement patterns of both Silver Carp and Bighead Carp in the Red River using telemetry. We sampled larger-bodied fishes using a combination of gillnets, hoop nets, and electrofishing and mini-fyke nets, seins, and larval tows.
We sampled larger-bodied fishes using a combination of gillnets, hoop nets, and electrofishing and mini-fyke nets, seins, and larval tows. We completed sampling at 136 sites, 71 where we targeted juvenile bigheaded carp and other small-bodied fishes and 65 sites where we targeted adult bigheaded carp and large-bodied fishes in the lower Red River catchment through September 2023. We conducted 330 surveys at our juvenile sampling sites and 318 surveys at our adult sampling sites. Of the 134 sites, 40% were in the Oklahoma portion of the catchment, 35% in the Arkansas portion of the Red River, and 25% were in associated tributaries in Oklahoma and Texas. Gillnets and electrofishing were most effective at capturing larger-bodied fishes, whereas mini-fyke nets and seine hauls collected mainly smaller-bodied native fishes.