The Effects of a Dynamic Electric Field to Guide Native Lake Sturgeon and and Non-Native Bighead and Silver Carp

River and stream regulation has transformed aquatic ecosystems worldwide and contributed to the decline of many native fish populations. Dams increase health risks as fish swim upstream or downstream through hydropower facilities. Other structures that prevent fish passage have been built to protect upstream ecosystems and fish populations by preventing the range expansion of invasive species. Thus, the ability to safely control the passage of fish has value to direct fish towards open river reaches, or towards elevators, ladders, or lock chambers. In 2014 we demonstrated that 100% of Bighead Carp (4-60 cm TL) and Silver Carp (13-26 cm TL) could be systematically guided from a 7.8 m x 2.4 m section of a raceway in 1.8 to 6.2 minutes using a low voltage, low frequency, pulsed direct current, dynamic field with little alteration of fish swimming behavior. In 2015, the efficacy of a similar dynamic electric field to guide Lake Sturgeon (17-92 cm TL) was evaluated.  This paper compares the behavioral response of these native and non-native fishes to a dynamic electric field and the ability to systematically control their swimming behavior.