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Channel Review -history, distribution, invasion dynamics and current management strategies in the

Thomas K Pool University of

Figure 1 Illustration of a by Ted Walke (http://www.fish.state.pa.us/pafish/chancatm.jpg)

Figure 2 Thomas L. Wellborn SRAC Publication No. 180 http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild//ccf/)

Figure 3 Channel catfish: Note the barbels Figure 4 Channel catfish: Characteristic deeply forked located near the mouth© George tail © George Burgess (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu) Burgess(http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu)

All information in this report was compiled in November, 2007. Current distribution maps and background information may be outdated at this time. Diagnostic information 1a) Adipose a flag-like fleshy lobe, well- separated from caudal fin; tail squared, rounded, punctatus (Rafinesque, 1818) or forked; adults to over 24 inches

Kingdom Animalia-- 1b) Adipose fin long, low, and 'keel-like', nearly Phylum Chordata-- continuous with caudal fin; tail squared or Subphylum Vertebrata-- rounded; adults small, never over 6 inches Superclass -- bony 2a) Tail deeply-forked, lobes pointed; anal fin Class -- ray-finned fishes, spiny with 24 to 30 rays; bony ridge connecting skull rayed fishes and origin of ; head relatively small Subclass -- neopterygians and narrow; young with small spots, larger Infraclass Teleostei adults blue-black in color without spots channel Superorder catfish Ictalurus punctatus Order Siluriformes-- Overview Ictalurus Species Ictalurus punctatus Channel catfish are often grey or silver in color and can be one of the largest catfish species with a maximum size up to 915 mm and Basic identification 13 kg. This catfish is used extensively as an species in countries around the Basic Physical Characteristics (commonly used world. It is also a target species in the wild for for identification) many anglers given its large size and good taste.

 Upper jaw extends beyond lower jaw As a result of the human desirability of this species it now has many established populations  Anal fin margin rounded with 24-29 rays outside its native range within .  Tail fin forked It is an extremely resilient that can survive a  Dark spots on lighter skin wide range of environmental variability and  Lakes scales (all North American catfish) displays unique reproductive behavior different  Presence of barbles around the mouth (all from many of its catfish cousins. At this time North American catfish) there is very little effort to control channel

Key Traits (http://www.mcz.harvard.edu) catfish populations outside their native range.

Origin and Distribution History of invasiveness in PNW Channel catfish are currently well established in the Columbia, Willamette and Rivers waterways of Washington. In , the Columbia, Willamette, Umpqua, and Walla Walla rivers have established populations of channel catfish. In addition, the

Figure 5 Main aquaculture producer countries of , Snake and Little rivers of Ictalurus punctatus (FAO Statistics, 2002). Idaho have this species (USGS site). and Brazil have added channel catfish since this figure was constructed. A map of wild populations established outside of aquaculture farms at a global is not currently available.

The channel catfish has been part of the freshwater landscape in the PNW for over a hundred years. In 1892 and 1893 over 250 individuals were introduced into three lakes in Washington as well as 100 individuals in Boise River, ID, and , OR (Boersma Figure 7 Pacific Northwest distribution map for channel et al. 2006). catfish. Tan area has no record of channel catfish. Light is non-specific state record of species presence. Dark pink and red have detailed catch records of species catch locations (HUC 6 & 8) (USGS http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID= 2341).

Life-history and basic

Life cycle Channel catfish are native to the Midwest and eastern North America extending

Figure 6 USA distribution map for channel catfish. from to (Page & Burr 1991). Brown area is native area and pink/red area is non- They are generally adapted for with low native range (USGS visibility and are traditionally nocturnal http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID foragers. Given this evolutionary history, many of the catfish species have olfactory sensors visual predators even though they are primarily located on their barbells and body. As a species nocturnal foragers and consume they are omnivorous but their specific diet can and sunfish in addition to salmonids in the PNW very considerable depending on the region they (Wellburn 1988). In other areas of North are introduced and the specific they are America such as , channel catfish have residing in within that region (Moyle 1976, exhibited very high pressure on Boersma et al. 2006). Specific predation and reintroduced natives species such as the reproductive life history is detailed below. razorback sucker that have significantly dropped in abundance in the lower Feeding habits (Marsh & Brooks 1989). Juvenile appear to be a Predatory impacts of channel catfish extend substantial portion of catfish diets in the PNW outside of fish taxa as well. The Chiricahua range. Individuals harvested from Columbia leopard is currently declining in numbers in River reservoirs had 50% to 100% of Salmon the southeastern Arizona. One study found that prey items in their gut contents depending on the predation pressure buy channel catfish may be catfishes size class (Boersma et al. 2006). It is high enough to influence the population estimated that an adult catfish may prey on dynamics of this frog species within this that juvenile salmon as much as one individual every area of the southwest (Sartorius & Rosen 2000). three days (Boersma et al. 2006). It is difficult Channel catfish also seem to influence the to estimate the total predatory pressure catfish growth rates and microhabitat use of native are putting on salmon populations because (Cambaridae) in river accurate abundance data for this region has not mesocosm studies (Adams 2007). been complied. Although channel catfish do specialize in eating Reproductive strategies juvenile salmon, like many catfish, they are Channel catfish are monogamous with opportunistic feeders that will consume a large an interesting mating and juvenile rearing variety of taxa if alternate sources are strategy. Individuals can be sexually mature as available (Lapman 1946; Moyle 1976). Channel early as 2 years of age and as late as 6 years of catfish tend to be piscivorous bottom feeders and age (Wellburn 1988). Spawning time varies can be found foraging in larger, swifter rivers with latitude but most individuals produce than many of their related Catfish counterparts. masses of up to 20,000 during the months They are still effective predators in a wide range of April through July. The basic reproductive of environments being omnivorous as needed. cycle of this species can be altered significantly Surprisingly, they are considered fairly effective in aquaculture systems to promote maximum production volume. The natural mating process Farmed Spawning and farmed fish spawning are both outlined This species is used extensively in below given that this species is extensively spawning ponds for food production around the transported and introduced for food production. world. Males and females are placed in Wild Mating spawning ponds with containers to simulate Mating occurs in water temperatures ranging natural nesting sites. Actual mating is triggered from 21˚ to 30˚ C when a male and female align by altering pond temperatures that mimic the next to each other in opposite directions and environment during mating season. This wrap their tails around their mates head. traditional form of farming channel catfish does Shivering by the males stimulate the female to not allow for improved stock production release eggs which are then fertilized by the techniques so induced pair spawning is another males . Mating takes place in a cavity (nest) option employed within the . Catfish built by the male catfish, often under log jams or are injected with gonadotropic hormones and undercut banks (Mayhew 1987). The male paired in flow-through aquaria (Sneed and chases the female away from the mating cavity Clemens 1959). The female is anaesthetized after the egg mass is deposited within the nest. The female does not completely leave the nesting area however, continuing to protect the area from predators at a distance (McKaye et al. 1994). The males tend to the eggs by fanning the eggs during development and stir-up sediments to provide a food source for the juveniles once the eggs have hatched. The female is also a source of nutrition for the juveniles by releasing eggs above them as an added nutritional boost (McKaye et al. 1994). Recent genetic work has confirmed that channel catfish as monogamous pairs each season. Microsatellite loci have determined that, in almost all cases, the male guarding the nest is the biological parent to the progeny with the female and they typically only mate once a Figure 8 Spawning bins with individual nesting containers for mating pairs (www.fao.org). season (Tatarenkov et al. 2006). once she begins laying eggs and they can be establishment of adult catfish in some regions of removed and fertilized with milt from the North America because their thermal tolerances crushed testes of donor males. This allows for are believed to extremely plastic. But this stock improvement over the course of many fish reproductive limitation might impact future generations often related to fish size. spread to regions that don’t support water temperatures within this range during spawning. Environmental optima and tolerances Habitat Farming operations indicate that the Channel catfish can survive and persist lethal oxygen level for channel catfish is 1.0 in a wide range of freshwater habitat types ppm with a quantifiable reduction in growth rate including ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, at oxygen levels lower than 4.0ppm. Similar whitewater canyons, high altitude reaches, studies on farmed catfish led us to infer that the manmade reservoirs, and occasionally natural concentrations of ammonia and nitrite in (Townsend & Winterbourn 1992). They are aquatic systems seldom reach high enough often found in aquatic habitat with high levels to physiologically influence wild sediment loads in the water but they can also do individuals (Wellborn 1988). well in clear water conditions. Optimal growth has been achieved in controlled environments at Biotic associations (pathogens, parasites, and 30˚C. Interestingly, every change in 10˚C from commensals) that optimal growth temperature functionally Channel catfish do not have any known doubles or halves the species metabolic rate commensal or mutualist species that it associates influencing the life history of channel catfish with in its native or introduced range. In lab (Wellborn 1988). Despite their ability to trials it was found that some may use tolerate a wide range of temperatures they the channel catfish as a host, metamorphosing generally persist in water temperatures ranging on the exterior of the fish (Cummings & Watters from 10˚C to 32˚C (Fishbase). 2004). In aquaculture ponds the species is susceptible to Microcystis aeruginosa, a Requirements planktonic cyanobacteria, causing rapid One reproductive requirement for that mortality in almost all individuals exposed to the may limit channel catfishes distribution is mean toxicants (Zimba et al. 2001). It is not known water temperatures in late spring. This species how prevalent mortality by this cyanobacterium requires spring temperatures ranging from 21˚ to is in wild populations. 30˚C to successfully spawn (Wellburn 1988, Boersma et al. 2006). This may not limit Other parasite, viral, or bacterial stocking introduction events (Townsand & associations with channel catfish Winterbourn 1992). In 2005 the Washington Edwardsiellosis, Bacterial diseases Aeromonosis, Bacterial diseases Department of Fish and proposed to Epitheliocystis, Bacterial diseases stock 200 channel catfish into Rock Island ponds , Bacterial diseases Dichelyne Infestation, Parasitic infestations on an experimental basis. The current status of Enteric Septicaemia, Parasitic infestations that project is not known although the state of Channel catfish reovirus, Viral diseases Modified from FishBase 2007 Washington has had consistent stocking of this species in the recent past (WDFW Final Invasion process Determination of Non-significance 2005). Channel catfish is also a popular aquaculture Pathways, vectors and routes of introduction fish due to its relatively easy maintenance Channel catfish have been moved requirements and desirable taste. A review of around both locally and internationally through a current catfish aquaculture practices was wide verity of pathways and vectors but the two conducted by a team of researchers in New main sources of species transfer have been Zealand to establish if channel catfish intentional stocking and accidental release from aquaculture farms would be at high risk of aquaculture farms. This species has been releasing individuals into the wild in high introduced to at least 11 countries but the enough volumes to produce wild populations. ecological and economic impacts of this non- The study determined that channel catfish native species are fairly unknown throughout aquaculture is extremely likely to produce most of its introduced range (Welcomme 1981). reproductively viable populations outside of This species has been stocked outside its native containment enclosures, altering range throughout North America since the late 19th century. This direct stocking of channel catfish has established many populations outside their native range but the extent to which all these populations are self-sustaining is not widely known. Clearly, direct stocking of this species is one of the main sources of introduction outside the catfish’s native range. Given channel catfishes ability to survive in a wide range of habitat types with a fairly wide range of water quality tolerances it is likely that Figure 9 Global aquaculture production of Ictalurus secondary spread has occurred after initial punctatus (FAO Fishery Statistic www.fao.org). dynamics within the introduced range original stocking making them very mobile once (Townsand & Winterbourn 1992). With the introduced (Becker 1983). growing number of channel catfish aquaculture farms we can expect to find growing numbers of Potential ecological and/or economic impacts escaped catfish populations associated with this There is not a great deal of quantitative industry (See below). information provided on the direct impact of channel catfish on native populations outside of Factors influencing establishment and spread in the catfish’s native range. The believed affect of the PNW this fish is very large given its ability to tolerate Although juvenile catfish are prey for an extremely diverse array of habitat parameters many PNW , spines on the dorsal both physical and chemical. They are believed and pectoral function to discourage to be significant predators because they interact predation pressure on this species (Bosher et al. with species in the benthic environment, the 2006). As the channel catfish gets larger it main , and at the water’s surface benefits from size escapement of most fish maximizing their potential for predatory predators making them a persistent invader interactions with many different taxa. These outside of their native range (Boersma et al. catfish are also believed to compete with many 2006). Conversely, the channel catfish is a species for with their opportunistic veraciously opportunistic , capable of feeding strategy (Townsand & Winterbourn taking a wide variety of native prey species 1992). (Tyus & Nikirk 1990). Its plastic dietary A more insidious impact that channel catfish requirements coupled with its wide range of have in invaded regions is hybridization with physical and chemical tolerances make this native species. In New Mexico the native species extremely capable of establishing itself headwater catfish, I. lupus, has been displaced in a wide range of PNW . from most of its original range (Kelsch & The species spread may be limited by its Hendricks 1990). It has also been found that reproductive need to spawn in water ranging intentional hybridization of channel catfish with from 21˚ to 30˚C as mentioned in the , Ictalurus furcatus, produces hybrids reproductive requirements section (Boersma et that grow incredibly fast (Sublette et al. 1990). al. 2006). At this time, stocking and the wide Additional species which can hybridize with range on habitat types within the PNW might channel catfish are white and as provide source areas of reproducing adults. well as brown, yellow, and black bullheads They are also known to travel hundreds of miles (Sneed 1964). It is unknown how significant both up and downstream from the point of hybridization could be as a conservation concern for native species outside of the channel (Ictalurus punctatus) are the primary target catfishes native range. species that are part of the program to assist in The overall economic damage caused by the larger conservation of native fish species. channel catfish outside their range has not been Interestingly, some fish removed from main estimated. Since this species is a popular sport stem sections of the river are placed in fish as well as an extremely lucrative ponds whenever possible. aquaculture species, they are rarely discouraged Future work on channel catfish will need to by most citizen or governmental agencies focus on quantifying the extent of interaction outside of specific mandates to assist with with native species in the PNW. Effective habitat or native species conservation. The cost management of this species would also benefit of this species related to habitat alteration and from an economic analysis of channel catfish loss of native resources is not quantified at this impacts on the region. time for the PNW. Literature cited Management strategies and control methods Adams, S.B. (2007) Direct and Indirect Effects Stocking of this species in WA, OR, and of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) on ID within the last few years has targeted lakes Native (Cambaridae) in that are not connected to main stem rivers to Experimental Tanks. The American reduce further spread into unrestricted Midland Naturalist, 158(1); 58-95 waterways (Boesma et al. 2006). Given the Becker, G. C. (1983) Fishes of Wisconsin. Univ. widespread establishment of this species and the Wisconsin Press, Madison. 1052 pp. wide range of habitat tolerances control and/or eradication methods for this species may prove Boersma, P.D., S. Reichard, and A. Van Buren extremely challenging in the PNW. (2006) in the Pacific There is currently no known program Northwest. University of Washington specifically designed to control wild populations Press, Seattle and London. of invasive channel catfish in the PNW region. There are programs in other states such as the Bosher, B.T., S. Newton, and M. Fine (2006) Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish The spines of Channel catfish, Ictalurus Recovery Program in Utah being conducted by punctatus, as an Anti-predator Adaptation: the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The an Experimental Study. Ethology, 112; ( lucius), smallmouth bass 188-195 (Micropterus dolomieui), and channel catfish Kelsch, S.W. and F. Hendricks (1990) Sartorius S.S. and P.C. Rosen (2000) Breeding Distribution of the Headwater Catfish phenology of the lowland (Osteichthyes: Ictaluridae). ( Yavapaiensis): Implications for The Southwestern Naturalist, 35(3); 292- conservation and ecology. Southwestern 297 Naturalist, 45(3): 267-273

Lapman, B. H. (1946) The Coming of Pond Sneed, K.K. & Clemens H. P. (1959) The use of Fishes. Portland, OR: Bindfords and Mort. human chorionic hormones to spawn warm water fishes. The Progressive Fish- Marsh, P.C. and J. Brooks (1989) Predation by Culturist, 44: 73-74 ictalurid catfishes as a deterrent to re- establishment of -reared razorback Sublette, J. E., M. D Hatch, and M. Sublette. suckers. Southwestern Naturalist, 34; 188- 1990. The fishes of New Mexico. 195 University New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 393 pp. Mayhew, J. (1987) of : Aquatic Habitats CD-ROM Tatarenkov, A., F. Barreto, D. Winkelman, and J. Avise (2006) Genetic Monogamy in the McKaye, K., D. Mughogho, J. Stauffer Jr. Channel catfish, Ictlurus punctatus, a (1994) Sex-role differentiation in feeding Species with Uniparental Nest Guarding. and defense of young by biparental catfish. Copeia, Vol 4; 735-741 Behavior, 48: 587-596 Townsend, C.R. and M. Winterbourn (1992) Moyle, P. B. (1976) Inland fishes of . Assessment of the Environmental Risk University of California Press, Berkeley, Posed by an Exotic Fish: The Proposed California.: 405 Introduction of Channel catfish (Ictaluru punctatus) to New Zealand. Conservation Page, L.M. and B. Burr (1991) A field Guide to Biology, 6(2): 273-282 Freshwater Fishes of North America north of Mexico. The Peterson Field Guide Tyrus, H.M., and N. Nikirk (1990) Abundance, Series, volume 42. Houghton Mifflin growth, and diet of channel catfish, Company, Boston, MA. Ictalurus punctatus, in the Green and Yampa Rivers, Colorado and Utah. The Southwest Naturalist 35:233-254 Welcomme, R.L. (1981) Register of http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/Nat international transfers of inland fish ureServe?searchName=ICTALURUS+PUNCT species. FAO Technical Paper 213:1-120 ATUS

Wellburn, T (1988) Channel catfish – Life Aquaculture and Global Fishery Information History and Biology. Southern Regional http://www.fao.org/fi/website/FIRetrieveAction. Aquaculture Center - Publication No. 180 do?dom=culturespecies&xml=Ictalurus_punctat us.xml Zimba, P.V., L. Khoo, P.S. Gaunt, S. Brittain,

and W.W. Carmichael (2001) Research Info Confirmation of catfish, Ictalurus punctatus http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSum (Rafinesque), mortality from Microsystis mary.php?id=290 toxins. J. of Fish Diseases, 24: 41-47

Distribution Maps & Catch Data http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?spe Other key sources of information and ciesID=2341 bibliographies WDFW Final Determination of Non- Reports significance (2005)

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:fR2vRq ITIS Report - Special Publication of the Center AbXasJ:wdfw.wa.gov/hab/sepa/05090fnl.pdf+ for Biodiversity Research and Information, no. Channel+Catfish+Stocking+in+Washington& 1, vol 1-3 hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us&client=firefox-

a Southern Regional Aquaculture Center -

Publication No. 180 December, 1988 Channel catfish: Life History and Biology by Expert contact information (2008) Thomas L. Wellborn Katie Barnas Catfish Web sources by subject Northwest Science Center NOAA Contact at: [email protected] Species Overview http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/acco Katie Barnas is a fisheries currently unts/information/Ictalurus_punctatus.html working in the state of Washington for NFSC. Although she has not worked in the field with channel catfish she has a strong working knowledge of their current distribution and history of spread within the PNW.

Jim Cummins WDFW Ichthyologist Contact at: 509-457-9316

Jim Cummins has been a biologist in the South Central Region for WDFW for over 35 years. He has worked with a wide range of species including Channel catfish in the PNW region.

Rachel Venn Beecham Department of Biology at the University of Mississippi Contact at: (662) 915-7203

Rachel Beecham has written a number of peer reviewed journal articles focusing on channel catfish. Her work has focused on differences in swimming performance between wild and pond reared channel catfish as well as fingerling aptitude in high and low flow conditions.

Geoff Hammerson Cloud Ridge Naturalist Contact at: [email protected]

Geoff Hammerson’s research has focused on the distributional ecology of fish, , and reptiles. He is the author of Amphibians and Reptiles in Colorado and recently has become a resident of the PNW.