Control and Mitigation of Aquatic Invasive Species in Pacific Island Streams: Guidance for Control of Aquatic Invasive Species in Hawaiian Island Streams

Abstract

Here we describe the feasibility and effectiveness of an AIS removal protocol designed for Hawaiian Island streams that involved use of modified electrofishing techniques, including two tiers of precautionary steps to protect native species from exposure to electrofishing activity. First, all native species were exhaustively captured by hand-netting, sequestered streamside for the duration of electrofishing, and subsequently returned to their location of capture. As a further precaution, amperage and waveform combinations were set during electrofishing to reduce the likelihood of injuries and mortality of any native species potentially remaining in the removal reach. Given that effects of AIS removal on native species and habitats might manifest in a number of ways, we examined a suite of organismal and demographic variables to understand sensitivity and response capacity of at-risk native species in the study watersheds. Native species densities did not decrease following AIS removal events, suggesting negative effects of electrofishing on native species can be mitigated with the modified methodology. However, the efficacy of AIS removal varied according to key stream characteristics and targeted taxon. These results suggest that modifiedelectrofishing can be a valuable tool for AIS management in Hawaiian Island streams and streams on other oceanicislands in the Pacific, with the understanding that users must carefully consider conditions within streams that caninfluence the efficacy of electrofishing as well as the importance of preventing (re)introductions of AIS to sustainlong-term benefits of removal.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 28, 2020
Accession Number
AD1135388

Entities

People

  • J. D. Hogan
  • Michael J Blum
  • Peter B. Mcintyre

Organizations

  • Cornell University
  • Texas A&M University
  • Tulane University of Louisiana

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Alternating Current
  • Chemistry
  • Conductivity
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Direct Current
  • Drainage Basins
  • Ecosystems
  • Fish
  • Frequency
  • Geographic Regions
  • Guidance
  • Habitats
  • Information Operations
  • Sampling
  • Universities
  • Voltage
  • Water Chemistry
  • Waveforms

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Urban Planning and Geography.