Acoustic and Strobe-light Behavioural Barriers: Examining Behavioural and Movement Responses of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) at Laboratory and Mesocosm Scales

Acoustic and strobe-light behavioral barriers have been recognized as tools to limit the spread of Asian carps in the Great Lakes. Urgent research is needed to understand how these stimuli impact behaviour, and to evaluate barrier efficacy within realistic canal environments. In a laboratory study, Common Carp responses to stimuli were recorded with video trials (n=44). There were no differences in behavioural responses to acoustic, strobe-light, or combined stimuli. The stimulus period increased durations of carp movement, and the post-stimulus period had increases in movement duration and barrier passes. In a mesocosm study, Common Carp (n=6) and buffalo (n=3) were exposed to the same stimuli, and movement was analyzed using acoustic telemetry. Acoustic stimuli did not produce significant movement responses. Strobe lights (n=12) produced smaller utilization distributions, a decrease in relocations, and an increase in travel velocity near the stimuli (M.Sc