Feeding and Trophic Ecology of Invasive Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus in an Eastern shore tributary of the Chesapeake Bay

This study investigates the feeding and trophic ecology of invasive Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) in the Nanticoke River watershed on the Chesapeake Bay’s Eastern Shore (Maryland, U.S.A). From a total of 1,032 stomach samples collected, a subset of 88 was analyzed using 18S and COI metabarcoding primers to enhance taxonomic resolution of prey items. USGS-generated genetic reference data enabled the identification of diet components that were unidentifiable through traditional morphological methods. The metabarcoding results revealed diverse prey assemblages, including seasonally available and ecologically significant species such as Alosa spp., Callinectes sapidus, and Morone americana. These findings support evidence of ontogenetic dietary shifts and highlight the value of molecular tools in understanding invasive predator impacts. This research contributes to interjurisdictional fisheries management and invasive species control efforts in the Chesapeake Bay.