Comparison of Population Characteristics of Invasive Flathead Catfish Across Three Reaches of the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania.

Start Date

11-11-2016 8:00 PM

End Date

11-11-2016 9:59 PM

Description

There have been no comprehensive surveys to document the current range and population characteristics of Flathead Catfish in the Susquehanna River since their first detection in 2002 below Safe Harbor Dam, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In this study we set out to evaluate the population characteristics of Flathead Catfish within three reaches of the Susquehanna River between Sunbury, Pennsylvania and the Maryland border with different presumed degrees of establishment. We randomly selected three segments within each the three larger reaches for comparison. Flathead Catfish were collected using baited, 1.2 m diameter hoop nets fished in tandem with three nets in a series to allow for comparisons with systematic surveys in their native range. Nets were fished for 72 hours each with four series of nets used to characterize each segment with equal effort expended among the three reaches. A portion of the sets within each of the larger reaches were replicated within 7 days of the initial sets to estimate detection probability. In this poster we will compare relative abundance and population characteristics of Flathead Catfish among the three reaches within the Susquehanna River and will discuss implications of future range expansion.

Type

Poster

Language

eng

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Nov 11th, 8:00 PM Nov 11th, 9:59 PM

Comparison of Population Characteristics of Invasive Flathead Catfish Across Three Reaches of the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania.

Elaine Langone Center, Terrace Room

There have been no comprehensive surveys to document the current range and population characteristics of Flathead Catfish in the Susquehanna River since their first detection in 2002 below Safe Harbor Dam, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In this study we set out to evaluate the population characteristics of Flathead Catfish within three reaches of the Susquehanna River between Sunbury, Pennsylvania and the Maryland border with different presumed degrees of establishment. We randomly selected three segments within each the three larger reaches for comparison. Flathead Catfish were collected using baited, 1.2 m diameter hoop nets fished in tandem with three nets in a series to allow for comparisons with systematic surveys in their native range. Nets were fished for 72 hours each with four series of nets used to characterize each segment with equal effort expended among the three reaches. A portion of the sets within each of the larger reaches were replicated within 7 days of the initial sets to estimate detection probability. In this poster we will compare relative abundance and population characteristics of Flathead Catfish among the three reaches within the Susquehanna River and will discuss implications of future range expansion.