The invasion of bigheaded carps in the Tennessee River and Tennessee – Tombigbee Waterway

Author

Spencer N. VanderBloemen, Mississippi State UniversityFollow

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Miranda, Leandro E.

Committee Member

Colvin, Michael E

Committee Member

Sass, Greg G.

Date of Degree

5-13-2022

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

The Ohio River Basin, including the Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee rivers, and the contiguous Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway are under threat due to the ongoing invasion of bigheaded carps. In the Tennessee River, bigheaded carps were first documented in Kentucky Lake in 2004. I tested whether there were differences in abundance of Gizzard Shad, a competitor, before and after the bigheaded carps invasion, but no effects were detected. I also surveyed bigheaded carps colonization of Bay Springs Lake in the Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway. Catch rates with gillnets were low and conformed with those documented elsewhere in the Ohio Basin considering distance from the Mississippi River.

Recommended Citation

VanderBloemen, Spencer N., "The invasion of bigheaded carps in the Tennessee River and Tennessee – Tombigbee Waterway" (2022). Theses and Dissertations. 5452.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/5452