Aims

To isolate and identify naturally occurring compounds that are responsible for attracting carp to a locality.

Stages to this project include:

• a review of literature to assess current knowledge around environmental attractants for carp
• developing a bioassay to determine the level of fish attractant activity of chemicals and measure response to stimuli by metabolic methods
• an assessment of water and isolated compounds for biological assay
• synthesis of the natural compounds effective in attracting carp
• demonstration of compound efficacy in laboratory and field tests.

Progress

The literature review determined that there is very little reference material, indicating minimal work has been previously conducted around the identification of environmental attractants. 

The olfactory system is the most sensitive receptor site and plays a significant role in behavioural processes.  Carp appear predominantly attracted to amino acid combinations containing glycine and alanine (food related).

Initial investigation using solid phase extraction (SPE) has been conducted and laboratory work on samples collected from Banrock Station has commenced.

A coordinated multi-State initiative is being undertaken to assess the ecological, behavioural and physiological weaknesses of invasive fish species, starting with carp, to evaluate best approaches for integrated pest fish control.

 IA CRC PhD student Aaron Elkins is working on this project.