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Cayla Carlson

Cayla is a Fish Biologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.

Science and Products

image of a larval black carp

Early Life History of Bighead, Silver, Black, and Grass Carps

Grass, bighead, black, and silver carps spawn in turbulent rivers, their eggs develop and hatch while drifting downriver. The larvae have a short period of development in the drift, and then they must swim from the mainstem of the river and find appropriate low- or no-flow nursery areas. Rivers which are not long enough, turbulent enough, or without nursery areas in the correct locations are not...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center
Early Life History of Bighead, Silver, Black, and Grass Carps

Early Life History of Bighead, Silver, Black, and Grass Carps

Grass, bighead, black, and silver carps spawn in turbulent rivers, their eggs develop and hatch while drifting downriver. The larvae have a short period of development in the drift, and then they must swim from the mainstem of the river and find appropriate low- or no-flow nursery areas. Rivers which are not long enough, turbulent enough, or without nursery areas in the correct locations are not...
Learn More

Mollusk diet of wild caught Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) from the Mississippi River drainage, 2019 - 2023 Mollusk diet of wild caught Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) from the Mississippi River drainage, 2019 - 2023

The dataset is an inventory (enumeration and taxonomic identification) of mollusk diet items consumed by wild-caught black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), based on the examination of gut contents from black carp collected in the lower Mississippi River drainage of the U.S. in 2019 through 2023.
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Effects of hypoxic exposure on survival of larval grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Effects of hypoxic exposure on survival of larval grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

We determined the effects of hypoxia exposure on grass carp larvae survival within certain developmental periods. Our goal was to establish a baseline lethal DO concentration based on both time of exposure and water temperature. In 2023 we used 6 different low dissolved oxygen concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 mg/L plus a control of 7.0 mg/L) to test survival during short...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Behavioral responses to different sensory stimuli in larval Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella Behavioral responses to different sensory stimuli in larval Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella

Sensory input and systems are critical for organisms to respond to their environment, allowing movement to suitable habitat and potential escape from predators. While many stages of grass carp ontogeny have been described, neurosensory development remains unclear. Using behavioral tests, we looked at phonotaxis and chemotaxis from initial gas bladder inflation to the development of the...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Black Carp in North America: a description of range, habitats, date, and methods of reported captures May 2018-October 2022 Black Carp in North America: a description of range, habitats, date, and methods of reported captures May 2018-October 2022

Black Carp collections (n=534) by commercial fishers, biologists, and recreational anglers from the Mississippi River basin recorded from 2018 to 2022 are reported here. Geographic coordinates, total length (TL), weight, girth, date of capture, sex, and gear were recorded. Total length was measured from the tip of the snout to the longest caudal fin ray with the caudal fin lobes pinched...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Salinity tolerance of grass carp and silver carp during egg and early larval stages Salinity tolerance of grass carp and silver carp during egg and early larval stages

We tested salinity tolerance of grass carp and silver carp eggs and larvae during two phases of development – pre-gas bladder inflation and post gas bladder inflation to the development of the second gas bladder chamber, using 6 different salinity concentrations ranging from 0 to 36 ppt. Growth and developmental rates were also observed after exposure. After the initiation of horizontal...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Light trap and larval trawl collection of bigheaded carp in the Missouri River Basin, 2016 Light trap and larval trawl collection of bigheaded carp in the Missouri River Basin, 2016

In the Lamine, Moreau, and Little Chariton rivers, light traps were used to capture larval bigheaded carps moving into tributaries. Traps were set on a weekly basis in each river, at roughly 1-kilometer intervals up to 7 km upstream. Ichthyoplankton tows were done in locations near the confluence of each tributary with the Missouri River, and within the Missouri River itself. Data...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Science and Products

image of a larval black carp

Early Life History of Bighead, Silver, Black, and Grass Carps

Grass, bighead, black, and silver carps spawn in turbulent rivers, their eggs develop and hatch while drifting downriver. The larvae have a short period of development in the drift, and then they must swim from the mainstem of the river and find appropriate low- or no-flow nursery areas. Rivers which are not long enough, turbulent enough, or without nursery areas in the correct locations are not...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center
Early Life History of Bighead, Silver, Black, and Grass Carps

Early Life History of Bighead, Silver, Black, and Grass Carps

Grass, bighead, black, and silver carps spawn in turbulent rivers, their eggs develop and hatch while drifting downriver. The larvae have a short period of development in the drift, and then they must swim from the mainstem of the river and find appropriate low- or no-flow nursery areas. Rivers which are not long enough, turbulent enough, or without nursery areas in the correct locations are not...
Learn More

Mollusk diet of wild caught Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) from the Mississippi River drainage, 2019 - 2023 Mollusk diet of wild caught Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) from the Mississippi River drainage, 2019 - 2023

The dataset is an inventory (enumeration and taxonomic identification) of mollusk diet items consumed by wild-caught black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), based on the examination of gut contents from black carp collected in the lower Mississippi River drainage of the U.S. in 2019 through 2023.
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Effects of hypoxic exposure on survival of larval grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Effects of hypoxic exposure on survival of larval grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

We determined the effects of hypoxia exposure on grass carp larvae survival within certain developmental periods. Our goal was to establish a baseline lethal DO concentration based on both time of exposure and water temperature. In 2023 we used 6 different low dissolved oxygen concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 mg/L plus a control of 7.0 mg/L) to test survival during short...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Behavioral responses to different sensory stimuli in larval Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella Behavioral responses to different sensory stimuli in larval Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella

Sensory input and systems are critical for organisms to respond to their environment, allowing movement to suitable habitat and potential escape from predators. While many stages of grass carp ontogeny have been described, neurosensory development remains unclear. Using behavioral tests, we looked at phonotaxis and chemotaxis from initial gas bladder inflation to the development of the...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Black Carp in North America: a description of range, habitats, date, and methods of reported captures May 2018-October 2022 Black Carp in North America: a description of range, habitats, date, and methods of reported captures May 2018-October 2022

Black Carp collections (n=534) by commercial fishers, biologists, and recreational anglers from the Mississippi River basin recorded from 2018 to 2022 are reported here. Geographic coordinates, total length (TL), weight, girth, date of capture, sex, and gear were recorded. Total length was measured from the tip of the snout to the longest caudal fin ray with the caudal fin lobes pinched...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Salinity tolerance of grass carp and silver carp during egg and early larval stages Salinity tolerance of grass carp and silver carp during egg and early larval stages

We tested salinity tolerance of grass carp and silver carp eggs and larvae during two phases of development – pre-gas bladder inflation and post gas bladder inflation to the development of the second gas bladder chamber, using 6 different salinity concentrations ranging from 0 to 36 ppt. Growth and developmental rates were also observed after exposure. After the initiation of horizontal...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center

Light trap and larval trawl collection of bigheaded carp in the Missouri River Basin, 2016 Light trap and larval trawl collection of bigheaded carp in the Missouri River Basin, 2016

In the Lamine, Moreau, and Little Chariton rivers, light traps were used to capture larval bigheaded carps moving into tributaries. Traps were set on a weekly basis in each river, at roughly 1-kilometer intervals up to 7 km upstream. Ichthyoplankton tows were done in locations near the confluence of each tributary with the Missouri River, and within the Missouri River itself. Data...
By
Columbia Environmental Research Center
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