Validation of the model-predicted spawning area of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella in the Sandusky River

Journal of Great Lakes Research
By: , and 

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Abstract

Spawning of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, in the Great Lakes basin was verified when eight fertilized eggs were collected in the Sandusky River, a tributary to Lake Erie, in 2015. Using a fluvial drift model (FluEgg) and simulation modeling, researchers predicted the fertilization location for those eggs was 3.8 ± 1 km (95% credible interval, CI) downstream of Ballville Dam. In June 2018, simultaneous collection of fertilized eggs and adults within the model-predicted spawning area provided the opportunity to verify the fertilization location. We used estimated developmental time (Dt) of eggs calculated from developmental stages, water temperature, and an equation that predicts Dt from cumulative thermal units experienced by developing eggs, in two analyses. First, we regressed Dt versus location of capture and solved that equation for developmental time of 0 hrs (Dt0) to estimate fertilization location. Second, we used Dt in the Fluvial Drift Simulator (FluEgg) to simulate 23 scenarios representative of drift conditions throughout the spawning event using the model-predicted spawning area and the site of Ballville Dam as potential spawning locations. Regression analysis placed the mean fertilization location 3.36 km (95% CI 2.27, 4.24) downstream of the site of Ballville Dam, within the model-predicted spawning area. Drift models demonstrated the model-predicted spawning area was best supported. Histograms of fertilization times overlapped with capture times by boat electrofishing of diploid adult grass carp in the model-predicted spawning area. This suite of analyses confirms the model-predicted spawning area and validates the methodology used to locate it.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Validation of the model-predicted spawning area of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella in the Sandusky River
Series title Journal of Great Lakes Research
DOI 10.1016/j.jglr.2020.06.005
Volume 47
Issue 17
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Great Lakes Science Center
Description 8 p.
First page 29
Last page 36
Country United States
State Ohio
Other Geospatial Sandusky River
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