Murray State University

Purpose Because Invasive Carp Feed Low on the Aquatic Food Web, They Are Likely to Impact Many Native Fish Species in Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley Thus, It Is Important That We Study Not Only the Invasive Carp But Also the Native Fish Which Are Likely to Be Influenced by Those Carp We Propose to Use Acoustic Tags to Track the Movement of Both Invasive Carp and Native Species Throughout These Reservoirs, Including the Passage of Fish Across the Dams of Both Reservoirs Also, Native Gizzard Shad and Threadfin Shad Are Critical Forage Fish in These Reservoirs and Are Expected to Compete Directly With Invasive Carp Thus, We Also Propose to Study the Population Dynamics of the Native Shad Species So That We Can Closely Monitor How These Fish Are Affected by Invasive Carp Activities to Be Performed Acoustic Tags Will Be Implanted in Invasive Carp, Paddlefish, and Smallmouth Buffalo So That These Fish Can Be Tracked Throughout Each Reservoir Fish Movement Will Be Monitored Both on a Large Scale via the Existing Network of Passive Receivers, and Also on a Small Scale by Moat Mounted Tracking Boat Mounted Tracking Will Focus on 24 Hour Movement Patterns and Macrohabitat Use of These Species Shad Species Will Be Periodically Sampled by a Variety of Gears to Collect a Representative Sample of These Populations All Shad Will Be Measured, and a Subsample Will Be Aged in Each Reservoir Deliverables and Expected Outcomes We Will Provide Final Reports Concerning the Movement and Dam Crossing of Both Invasive Carp and the Native Species We Will Also Provide Final Reports Concerning the Population Characteristics of Both Shad Species in Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley Intended Beneficiaries Fishing and Recreation Within These 2 Reservoirs Are Critical Components of the Culture and Economy of Western Kentucky the Invasive Carp Threaten to Disrupt the Entire Aquatic Community of These Systems, and They Also Create Hazards for Recreational Boaters