THIS IS AN ARCHIVE OF LAKE TAHOE NEWS, WHICH WAS OPERATIONAL FROM 2009-2018. IT IS FREELY AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH. THE WEBSITE IS NO LONGER UPDATED WITH NEW ARTICLES.

Scientists zapping Lake Tahoe aquatic life


image_pdfimage_print

By Kevin Oliver, KCRA-TV

It’s shocking research on invasive species, literally.

Researchers and scientists spent this past week on Lake Tahoe zapping fish with electricity as they try to survey the number of non-native fish and stop their spread.

The researchers used modified vessels called E-boats, equipped with electrified probes that stun anything that swims within 10 feet of them.

Researchers then scoop up the stunned fish as they float to the surface.

 6 of 12 Kevin Oliver/KCRA Researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno, UC Davis, and California State Fish and Game regularly survey fish using a specialized boat with electrical probes extending from it which stun temporarily stun nearby fish. Read more: http://www.kcra.com/news/-/11797728/18991232/-/u25jv2/-/index.html#ixzz2VaCCkR11

Researchers regularly survey fish using a specialized boat with electrical probes extending from it. Photo/Kevin Oliver/KCRZ

Invasive fish are pulled from the water, put into storage tanks and hauled off to be examined and disposed of.

Researchers used five boats simultaneously to conduct what they called a “blitz” in order to get as accurate a count as possible of how many invasive fish are in various areas of the Tahoe Keys in a three-day period.

Biologists use the figures to compare data in an attempt to see what kind of an effect invasive species are having on the lake.

Part of the study will look at whether they can break the spawning cycle and reduce the number of non-native fish by pulling them from the water before they fertilize their eggs.

The same researchers found large goldfish during past expeditions. Three more goldfish were found earlier in the week.

 

image_pdfimage_print

About author

This article was written by admin

Comments

Comments (2)
  1. Mary Lou Whitcomb says - Posted: June 8, 2013

    What did they do with the gold fish? They have lived for years behind our home and we looked forward to seeing them, but haven’t seen them for a couple of years. Did they take them away? They were quite large, about 15 inches or so.

  2. thing fish says - Posted: June 8, 2013

    They cut the fish open to examine the contents of its stomach.