Diel Cycle and Effects of Water Flow on Activity and Use of Depth by Common Carp

AbstractCommon Carp Cyprinus carpio is among the most popular and commercially important fishes globally. For this reason, it has been introduced worldwide and is invasive in many regions, with well-known ecosystems impacts. Like many other freshwater invaders it is thought not to tolerate strong flows well, but knowledge of the effects of flow on their activity, habitat use, and diel cycles are limited, despite this being crucial information for management and control. By means of ultrasonic telemetry we investigated depth use and activity of Common Carp in a small reservoir with a very low water residence time on the main stem of the Ebro River, the largest river by discharge in the Iberian Peninsula, over a 19-month period. The activity of carp and their use of depth displayed low seasonality compared with abiotic factors. However, carp exhibited diel vertical migration patterns, mostly in the warm season, shifting from deep positions near the reservoir bottom during the night (with decreased activity)...