Investigating reproduction and abundance of bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix) in the Greenup pool, Ohio River Nathan Fleshman Dr. Thomas Jones Photo: USGS Photo: USGS
Bighead and Silver Carp Native to southern China and eastern Russia Introduced to the southern US in 1970s Kolar et al., 2007 Flooding aided their escape into MRB
Life History Filter feed up to 20% body weight daily Rapid growth rates (12+ inches in first year) High fecundity (50,000 350,000+ eggs per female) (Schrank and Guy 2002; Williamson and Garvey 2005) Tolerant Can travel great distances
61.8 miles long
Objectives Investigate the relative abundance and reproductive potential of Asian carp in the Greenup pool Evaluate fish communities in the Greenup pool Build a historical record of the Greenup pool Compare netting methods
Methods Gillnetting WVDNR Sites and Protocol (Ohio River Basin Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework) 5 in. mesh x 5.5 ft./17 ft. wide x 150 ft. long 2 hour sets w/ 5 minute runs every 30 minutes
Methods Gillnetting Experimental gill nets at ORSANCO electrofishing sites from 2011 and 2016 surveys Float line Flow 7.62cm wide Marker buoys Sampling 15 sites from each survey (30 sites total) Shore 2.43m deep 12 hour sets 2.54cm 5.08cm 7.62cm 10.15cm 12.70cm Anchor line Anchor
Methods Quatrefoil Light Traps Sets of 4 at ORSANCO sites (12 hours) 500 micron mesh Cyalume TM green 12-hour glowsticks In water 1m deep, spaced 5m apart
ORSANCO Fish Data 2006/2011/2016 2006 Species Richness = 40 Total Abundance = 1,643 2011 Species Richness = 47 Total Abundance = 4,423 2016 Species Richness = 45 Total Abundance = 3,666
2006 Fish Diversity 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 Black Buffalo Bluegill Bluntnose Minnow Brown Bullhead Channel Catfish Channel Darter Channel Shiner Common Carp Emerald Shiner Flathead Catfish Freshwater Drum Gizzard Shad Golden Redhorse Green Sunfish Highfin Carpsucker Largemouth Bass Logperch Longear Sunfish Longnose Gar Morone Sp Quillback Redear Sunfish River Carpsucker River Darter River Redhorse Sauger Silver Chub Silver Lamprey Silver Redhorse Slenderhead Darter Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Buffalo Smallmouth Redhorse Spotfin Shiner Spotted Bass Spotted Sucker Striped Bass Walleye White Bass White Crappie
Black Buffalo Black Crappie Bluegill Bluntnose Minnow Bowfin Bullhead Minnow Channel Catfish Channel Shiner Common Carp Emerald Shiner Flathead Catfish Freshwater Drum Gizzard Shad Golden Redhorse Green Sunfish Hybrid Striper Largemouth Bass Lepomis Hybrid Lepomis sp Logperch Longear Sunfish Longear X Green Sunfish Longnose Gar Mooneye Morone Sp Moxostoma sp Northern Hog Sucker Orangespotted Sunfish Pumpkinseed Quillback Redear Sunfish River Carpsucker River Redhorse River Shiner Rock Bass Sauger Silver Chub Silver Redhorse Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Buffalo Smallmouth Redhorse Spotfin Shiner Spotted Bass Spotted Sucker Walleye White Bass White Crappie 2011 Fish Diversity 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Bigmouth Buffalo Black Buffalo Black Crappie Black Redhorse Bluegill Bluntnose Minnow Bullhead Minnow Channel Catfish Channel Darter Channel Shiner Common Carp Creek Chub Emerald Shiner Flathead Catfish Freshwater Drum Gizzard Shad Golden Redhorse Green Sunfish Highfin Carpsucker Hybrid Striper Largemouth Bass Logperch Longear Sunfish Longnose Gar Micropterus sp Mooneye Morone Sp Northern Hog Sucker Orangespotted Sunfish Paddlefish Quillback Redear Sunfish River Carpsucker River Redhorse River Shiner Sauger Silver Chub Silver Lamprey Silver Redhorse Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Buffalo Smallmouth Redhorse Spotfin Shiner Spottail Shiner Spotted Bass Spotted Sucker White Bass White Crappie 2016 Fish Diversity 0 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400 2700
Phelps et al. 2017 Table 3 A qualitative comparison of change in fish communities within floodplain lakes. Phelps et al. 2017 Silver Carp negatively affect Bigmouth Buffalo and Gizzard Shad Both exhibited decreased relative abundance and condition in response to increased Silver Carp relative abundance
Unpublished Data Dashields Pool 112 fish of 20 species were captured during 217 net hours RC Byrd Pool 75 fish of 17 species were captured during 69 net hours Cumulative species Cumulative species 30 20 10 0 20 15 10 5 0 Species Area Curve Dashields Pool 0.00 50.00 100.00 150.00 200.00 Net Hour Species Area Curve RC Byrd Pool 0 20 40 60 80 Net Hour
Length-Weight Relationships When there are more than 10 fish of the same species the trend lines have shown good fit (R 2 >0.84) Weight (g) 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 Length Weight Relationship for Smallmouth Buffalo in the RC Byrd Pool R² = 0.9532 0 350 450 550 650 750 Total Length (mm)
References Kolar CS, Chapman DC, Courtenay Jr WR and Jennings DP 2007. Asian Carps of the Genus Hypophthalmichthys (Pisces,Cyprinidae) a Biological Synopsis and Risk Assessment. American Fisheries society. Bathesda, MD USA. Marchetti MP, Esteban E, Limm M, and Kurth R 2004. Evaluating Aspects of Larval Light Trap Bias and Specificity in the Northern Sacramento River System: Do Size and Color Matter? ORFMT (Ohio River Fisheries Management Team). 2014. Ohio River Basin Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework. Phelps QE, Tripp SJ, Bales KR, James D, Hrabik RA, and Herzog DP. 2017. Incorporating basic and applied approaches to evaluate the effects of invasive Asian Carp on native fishes: A necessary first step for integrated pest management. PLoS ONE 12(9): e0184081. Schrank SJ, and Guy CS. 2002. Age, growth, and gonadal characteristics of adult bighead carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, in the lower Missouri River. Environmental Biology of Fishes 64:443-450. Williamson CJ, and Garvey JE. 2005. Growth, Fecundity, and Diets of Newly Established Silver Carp in the Middle Mississippi River. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society,134(6), 1423-1430.
Questions? Fleshman7@marshall.edu