Trophic impacts of the invasive blue catfish in the Albemarle Sound ecosystem

Blue catfish are native to the Mississippi River basin (among other central and western U.S. watersheds), but have been introduced into many coastal plain watersheds on the Atlantic. They often become invasive shortly after introduction, and can become dominant predators in ecosystems. In the Albemarle Sound ecosystem of North Carolina (including the Chowan and Roanoke Rivers), blue catfish were first observed by biologists around 2008. Since then, their population has grown exponentially. In this study, we will examine the predatory impacts of blue catfish on this ecosystem. Catfish will be sampled by electroshocking and gill nets, and specimens will be examined for diet. Tissue samples will also be collected to examine isotopic signatures that indicate relative trophic position in the food web. Estimates of daily consumption of different prey items will also be determined. These trophic indicators will be examined across age groups of blue catfish, and also in different regions of this ecosystem.

Scholars @ ECU