Potential Bioacoustic Control for the Round Goby, Neogobius Melanostomus

Title: Potential bioacoustic control for the round goby, Neogobius melanostomus

Format: Poster

Authors: Cordo, Elise B. University of Minnesota- Duluth Biology Dept; 218-726-6125; cord0128@d.umn.edu and Mensinger, Allen F. University of Minnesota- Duluth Biology Dept; 218-726-7259; amensing@d.umn.edu

Presenter: Elise Cordo

The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is an invasive fish that is currently present in all five Laurentian Great Lakes.  It has had detrimental effects on native fish populations due to aggressive behavior, diet overlap, and reproductive success.  The bioacoustic behavior of these fish has the potential to be exploited as a management strategy and prevent spread into Great Lakes tributaries. Sound stimuli have the potential to target round gobies for trapping and removal. Round gobies were collected from the Duluth-Superior Harbor and held in 1000 L outdoor tanks which mimicked water temperature, light conditions, substrate, and fish density found in the natural habitat.  Hydrophones were used to monitor fish vocalizations throughout the summer and fall. Calls were low-frequency (<200 hz), pulse trains had 4 to 6 individual pulses per call, and they occurred at water temperatures of 12°C-26°C.  Two choice phonotaxis experiments were also performed to determine the efficacy of bioacoustics fish traps.  Both male and female round gobies made a clear choice between a trap with sound and trap without sound 87.1% of the time (n=31).  Using the recorded mating calls we can specifically target gravid females for trapping to curtail range expansion and reduce populations.