Behavioural Threshold and Management of Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) to Acoustic Stimuli
Standing
Graduate (Masters)
Type of Proposal
Oral Presentation
Faculty
Faculty of Science
Proposal
Sea lamprey are an invasive species present in the Great lakes that are parasitically preying on native species and affecting the environment. The sea lamprey deplete important fishing species such as trout and salmon by feeding on them and many different control methods have been proposed for controlling and limiting them such as barriers, pheromones and toxins. Sound has recently been used for deterring other invasive species and can be used to direct behaviour. An experiment with in lab and in field components will show the effect of sound on the lamprey’s behaviour in a natural and controlled environment to show the efficiency of sound as a deterrent. Behaviour threshold testing in lab will show what amplitude low frequency sounds need to be played to have a response while in field PIT tag arrays will show the change in swimming behaviour of lamprey after playing low frequency sounds. Both results can lead to a wider knowledge of how to control lamprey’s behaviour and may lead new integrated strategies for preserving unaffected areas as well as help develop more effective methods of control.
Location
University of Windsor
Grand Challenges
Healthy Great Lakes
Behavioural Threshold and Management of Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) to Acoustic Stimuli
University of Windsor
Sea lamprey are an invasive species present in the Great lakes that are parasitically preying on native species and affecting the environment. The sea lamprey deplete important fishing species such as trout and salmon by feeding on them and many different control methods have been proposed for controlling and limiting them such as barriers, pheromones and toxins. Sound has recently been used for deterring other invasive species and can be used to direct behaviour. An experiment with in lab and in field components will show the effect of sound on the lamprey’s behaviour in a natural and controlled environment to show the efficiency of sound as a deterrent. Behaviour threshold testing in lab will show what amplitude low frequency sounds need to be played to have a response while in field PIT tag arrays will show the change in swimming behaviour of lamprey after playing low frequency sounds. Both results can lead to a wider knowledge of how to control lamprey’s behaviour and may lead new integrated strategies for preserving unaffected areas as well as help develop more effective methods of control.