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University of Michigan Biological Station

The University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) was founded in 1909.

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Control sea lamprey in the Cheboygan River with Sterile Males

Aquatic
trapping bias
sex bias
sea lamprey
invasive species
Project Abstract: 
The Maple River has been treated with lampricides to kill invasive sea lamprey on a 4-year cycle for nearly 50 years at an average treatment cost of $70,000. The Lake Kathleen Dam historically prevented sea lamprey from spawning in the East and West Branches of the Maple River, but the Lake Kathleen dam was removed fall 2018. Therefore, we propose to assess adult sea lamprey abundance in the West Branch of the Maple River near the University of Michigan's river lab facility during spring 2019 (May-early July). We also will be releasing sterilize male sea lamprey in the lower Maple River as an experimental means of reducing sea lamprey recruitment. Therefore, assessment efforts near the river lab will determine how many sterile and non-sterile sea lamprey are present and if sterile males may be limiting sea lamprey reproduction. Research is being funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program and is being coordinated with Neal Godby (Fish Biologist) with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Investigator(s): 
Ulrich Reinhardt
Status of Research Project: 
Complete (archive)
Related publications: 
Trap Happiness and Catch Bias in Sea Lamprey Traps
Years Active: 
2018
Research sites: 
Maple River
Cheboygan River
Methods: 
Adult sea lamprey abundance will be estimated in the Maple River using mark-recapture (Mullett et al. 2003; Johnson et al. 2016). Adult sea lamprey will be captured using fyke nets. Given the capture rate of sterile males in fyke nets and the number of at-large males and females captured, the abundance of at-large males and females in each stream will be estimated using the Schaffer method (Mullett et al. 2003; Johnson et al. 2016). Sterile males captured in nets will be released upstream of the net after marking with a fin clip to identify it as being captured. Sterile males captured more than once will be released again, but will not be used for abundance estimates because at-large males and females captured will be removed from the stream.
Funding agency: 
Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program