Carbon Dioxide Could Help Control Behavior Of Hostile Carps In Great Lakes

The scientists from the University of Illinois and U.S. Geological Survey have discovered that the hostile carps that threaten the Great Lakes basin respond strongly to carbon dioxide.

In the study, the researchers examined the efficacy of the infusing water with recycled CO2 gas to dissuade the movement of the silver and the bighead carp in a research pond at the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Both the bighead and silver carp evaded the CO2-infused water.

Michael Donaldson, the lead author of the study and a University of Illinois researcher said that these fish responses provide evidence that CO2 could be used as a tool to deter the movement of bighead and silver carp. He further said that the results are positive because there is a need for additional methods to prevent the entry of invasive carps into the Great Lakes.

The researchers observed the behavior of the silver and bighead carp and the behavior of the native fish such as paddlefish, bigmouth buffalo, yellow perch and channel catfish when they added the carbon dioxide to water in the research pond. The silver and the bighead carp are said to be competing with the native fish for food.

They discovered that the particular silver and bighead carp movements slowed down immediately after the CO2 was added and the bighead carp stayed in the small area of the pond farthest from the sites wherein CO2 was added. They also found that each fish species except for paddlefish eluded the area with CO2.

#fishing #hd "FISH ON" with Gopro on fishing pole, Silver Lake Resort, 20-lb Carp https://t.co/O0MsB6xqEV pic.twitter.com/rfOEM3LqwX

— fishinghd (@fishing_hd) June 4, 2016

Jon Amberg, the co-author of the study and the USGS scientist said that further tests are needed before CO2 can be used in Asian carp management. He further explained that understanding the effects of long-term, elevated CO2 exposure on fish and other organisms can help evaluate its risks to native organisms.

The silver and bighead carps are undesirable pest species in the United States. This is because there is evidence of competition with native fishes and mussels for food. This can damage the ecosystems in the Great Lakes basin. The large silver carps pose dangers to the boaters too as they can leap up to 10 feet out of the water.