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Does aquatic invasive species removal benefit native fish? The response of gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) to commercial harvest of bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix)

  • INVASIVE SPECIES II
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Abstract

Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix), collectively known as Asian carp, are planktivorous fishes that have invaded aquatic ecosystems throughout the Mississippi River Basin of North America. Consequently, Asian carp management plans (including contractual harvest) have been implemented to prevent range expansion into vulnerable systems such as the Great Lakes. Asian carp harvest also provides an opportunity to assess if control efforts can benefit native fishes. To answer this question, 26 years of standardized electrofishing data were analyzed, focusing on gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) body condition (W r) and abundance (catch-per-unit-effort, CPUE) from the Illinois River (Illinois, USA). Gizzard shad data were categorized into pre-Asian carp establishment (1990–1999), after Asian carp establishment (2000–2009), and harvest (2010–2014) periods. Gizzard shad W r and small gizzard shad CPUE decreased in the entire river after Asian carp invasion, and W r and large gizzard shad CPUE rebounded where harvest occurred. Contrastingly, small gizzard CPUE has not yet exhibited a positive response to harvest. These mixed results indicate a time-lag may exist between management action and ecosystem response. Ultimately, Asian carp removal may be facilitating improvements in gizzard shad body condition (by increasing forage availability), which may portend a future gizzard shad population rebound.

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Acknowledgements

We thank former and current Illinois River Biological Station staff for their dedication in collecting data used in these analyses. We also thank several agencies for providing funding for this project: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (Project #CAFWS-106), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration administered through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR Grant #F-101-R). Additionally, we thank those who constructively reviewed and improved this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Illinois River Biological Station, Illinois Natural History Survey, 704 N. Schrader Ave, Havana, IL, 62644, USA

    Seth A. Love, Nathan J. Lederman, Rebekah L. Anderson & Jason A. DeBoer

  2. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA

    Andrew F. Casper

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  1. Seth A. Love
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  2. Nathan J. Lederman
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  3. Rebekah L. Anderson
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  4. Jason A. DeBoer
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  5. Andrew F. Casper
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Correspondence to Seth A. Love.

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Guest editors: John E. Havel, Sidinei M. Thomaz, Lee B. Kats, Katya E. Kovalenko & Luciano N. Santos / Aquatic Invasive Species II

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Love, S.A., Lederman, N.J., Anderson, R.L. et al. Does aquatic invasive species removal benefit native fish? The response of gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) to commercial harvest of bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix). Hydrobiologia 817, 403–412 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3439-1

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