Invasive carp pose substantial economic and ecological damage when populations are widespread in freshwater systems within the United States of America (USA). Resource managers in the USA have a limited number of chemical control tools to selectively remove nuisance fish. The present study examined whether Antimycin-A (antimycin) wax encapsulated microparticles could cause selective lethality to invasive carps in a series of laboratory trials, controlled outdoor pond trials, and an experimental pond trial. Datasets include water quality, fish biometrics, fish survival, yttrium consumption, and antimycin microparticle dissipation data.

This is a dataset accompanying the 2017 publication “Assessing the efficacy of corn-based bait containing antimycin-a to control common carp populations using laboratory and pond experiments.” Data are included for the four experiments conducted described in this paper. First, data for a gavage experiment including mortality of carp per tank, fish metrics (lengths and weights), and water quality data (pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature). Second, data are included for the leaching trial including mortality of bluegill and carp, concentrations of antimycin in the tanks, fish metrics, and water quality metrics. Third, data are included for the species-specificity indoor trial. Included in this are mortality and sample size data, fish metrics, and water quality metrics. Last, data are included for the species-specificity outdoor trial. Included in this are mortality and survival data, fish metrics, and water quality metrics.

The goal of this study was to develop and examine whether a management bait that can be used for selective control of grass carp. Our objectives were to 1) quantify the water-based 24-h LC50 of Antimycin-A for grass carp and rainbow trout, 2) quantify the 96-h LD50 of orally administered Antimycin-A laden bait for grass carp and rainbow trout, 3) quantify the leaching rate of Antimycin-A from the bait in water, and 4) determine if a management bait laden with Antimycin-A will be consumed by grass carp and cause lethality in the laboratory. To meet our objectives, Antimycin-A was encapsulated in a wax microparticle similar to Poole et al. (2018) and incorporated into a rapeseed bait for oral gavage feeding and consumption trials to demonstrate if Antimycin-A can be orally delivered, protected from degradation, and readily consumed by grass carp. The dataset includes raw files of toxicity survival information, water quality, bait leaching, and Antimycin-A analytical measurements.

A piscicide delivery method was designed to selectively target black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus, an invasive species in North America which possesses specially adapted pharyngeal teeth for crushing mollusk prey. Bait was prepared by attaching a glass vial containing toxicant (antimycin A) to the exterior of Corbicula fluminea clam valve. The vial was designed to break by the force exerted from the fish’s (550 millimeter total length) pharyngeal teeth when the fish attempted to crush and consume the clam. Suitable vial size was tested for encapsulating piscicide and two attachment materials, aquarium epoxy and ultraviolet light (UV) cured attachment material. Toxic baits consisting of antimycin A piscicide were administered in ethanol and acetone carriers to black carp in assembled baits with vials attached to live clam valves at three concentrations (40.0 milligrams per milliliter ethanol and 341.5 and 170.8 milligrams per milliliter acetone). Additionally fathead minnow Pimephales promelas toxicity data from experiments validating the methods of flame sealing glass vials are present in this dataset.

Locks and dams are possible management points to block the spread of invasive Asian carps in the United States. Infusion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into water is one deterrent strategy being considered at navigational structures to reduce upstream fish passage that would not directly interfere with lock and dam operations. The goal of this study was to determine lethal concentrations of CO2 to non-target species. Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were exposed to CO2 continuously for 12 hours using a diluter system. Trials were performed on both species at target water temperatures of 5, 15, and 25°C. See related manuscript for additional details on experimental methods.

There are three datasets associated with the manuscript ‘Experience matters: Commercial fishing can reduce biomass of invasive bigheaded carps’. The first dataset represent harvest from the invasive carp harvest program in Kentucky and Tennessee from 2009-2021 only in Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake where the majority of harvest occurs. The second data are length data from a subset of those fish harvested in 2018-2021. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency conduct observations onboard commercial vessels. During these observations total lengths are collected from a subset of that capture which we have used to develop a length-based stock assessment. The last dataset are the results from a survey delivered to fishers participating in the invasive carp harvest program in Kentucky and Tennessee.

In September 2023, the USGS demonstrated the use of side-scan sonar to image large densities of invasive carp in Creve Coeur Lake, Maryland Heights, Missouri, USA. A 400-meter reach was surveyed using a Humminbird Helix sonar system. Proprietary sonar data were converted to PNG image files (i.e., rectified and speed-corrected) using SonarTRX Pro. The resulting data set includes one CSV file, original side-scan sonar images (PNG files), speed corrected side-scan images (correcting distortions in imagery due to small changes in boat velocity; PNG files), and a KMZ file of original rectified images for a mosaic display in Google Earth Pro.

Resource managers need effective methods to limit the spread of invasive Asian carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) into new areas. This study evaluated carbon dioxide (CO2) as a barrier and deterrent to Asian carps in a small outdoor pond. Telemetered silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) were monitored for 72h (24h before CO2, 24h during CO2, 24h after CO2) using a two-dimensional acoustic telemetry array to evaluate behavioral responses to CO2. Water quality was measured concurrent with acoustic telemetry to determine the concentration and extent of the CO2 plume. Results are intended to provide information on the potential application of CO2 as an invasive fish deterrent strategy.

Resource agencies are searching for effective methods to prevent the spread of invasive Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), hereafter bigheaded carps, from the Mississippi River basin into the Laurentian Great Lakes. Elevating carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in water within locks and other pinch points is an approach being considered to reduce invasive fish passage. Laboratory studies have shown that bigheaded carps strongly avoid areas of elevated CO2 (Kates et al. 2012; Dennis et al. 2015). Similarly, telemetry studies found that CO2 can be used to exclude bigheaded carps from certain locations (Donaldson et al. 2016) and reduce upstream movement (Cupp et al. 2016). Previous studies were completed under controlled settings, and research to determine the feasibility and efficacy of elevated CO2 to control bigheaded carp movements in larger natural environments is needed. On October 21–28, 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Illinois-Iowa Water Science Center, and Columbia Environmental Research Center conducted a short field study at Emiquon Preserve (15T 750386.95m E, 4469041.70m N) near Havana, IL. Objectives for this study were to (1) characterize CO2 concentrations and distribution at various water velocities and (2) determine the effectiveness of CO2 to reduce general fish abundance and movement. During this study, water quality, atmospheric CO2, and fish presence were quantified across three water velocities (no flow, restricted flow, and unrestricted flow) with and without CO2 injection. The study was conducted at the water management structures (WMS) which served at the single connection between an isolated backwater lake and the Illinois River. Carbon dioxide was injected into the downstream portion of the WMS using air diffusers connected to compressed CO2 tanks. Fish abundance and movement was quantified using two Adaptive Resolution Imaging Sonar (ARIS) transducers placed across WMS entrances. Water quality was quantified using stationary sondes, grab sample, and mobile transects. Atmospheric CO2 concentrations were quantified at fixed locations throughout the study site. Dates and times of importance: no water flow with CO2 start (21OCT2016 0800 CDT) and stop (21OCT2016 1600 CDT), modified flow with CO2 start (25OCT2016 0800 CDT) and stop (25OCT2016 1600 CDT), unrestricted flow with CO2 start (24OCT2016 0800 CDT) and stop (24OCT2016 1600 CDT), no flow control day without CO2 (28OCT2016), modified flow control day without CO2 (27OCT2016), and unrestricted flow control day without CO2 (23OCT2016).

The invasive carp environmental DNA (eDNA) sample data was collected and processed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and is used for the early detection and monitoring of invasive carp. The reportable eDNA detection summary data along with static maps are shared with the public along with a public facing ArcGIS Online Feature layer, Web Map, and Dashboard. For further information on data collection and processing please refer to the Quality Assurance Project Plan eDNA Monitoring of Bighead and Silver Carps (see files and links). Additional information on the Invasive carp eDNA program for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can be found on the Whitney Genetics Lab Facility web page (see files and links). A positive eDNA detection result means there was invasive carp eDNA in the water body, which can be from live or dead fish, but it could have also been transported via boat, bird, or water current. A positive eDNA detection does not necessarily mean there were invasive carp present at the time samples were taken. For more information or questions, please contact the eDNA Program Coordinator, Nick Frohnauer at (nicholas_frohnauer@fws.gov). Complete ISO 19115 FGDC metadata can be found under the hosted view feature layer on the FWS AGOL platform.