| Susquehanna monster hunter searches for impact of flathead catfish | |
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As the flathead catfish continues to expand its range in the Susquehanna River and tributaries, a Penn State biologist is working to determine the diet of the giant, non-native predator, which could reveal the fish’s impact on native fish in the river system.
“For the past year, I have been working out preliminary methodologies in my lab to use molecular techniques to identify partially digested fish consumed by other fish species,” explained Megan Schall, assistant professor of biology at Penn State Hazleton. |
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Learning whether the species is harmful to native or migratory fish in the region could also reveal its potential impact on the recreational fishing industry.
The flathead is native to southern and western waters, and in Pennsylvania occurs naturally in the Great Lakes and Ohio River drainages.
Anglers have been introducing the species into rivers of the eastern two-thirds of the state, and the species spreads quickly through its new home, where it becomes the top-tier predator.
The flathead grows to more than a hundred pounds in some southern and western waters, but 20-30 pounds is more common in Pennsylvania. |
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