Evidence of Asian Carp Spawning Upstream of a Key Choke Point in the Mississippi River

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 903-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Larson ◽  
Brent C. Knights ◽  
S. Grace McCalla ◽  
Emy Monroe ◽  
Maren Tuttle-Lau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel K. Gibson-Reinemer ◽  
Levi E. Solomon ◽  
Richard M. Pendleton ◽  
John H. Chick ◽  
Andrew F. Casper

In the Mississippi River Basin of North America, invasive bigheaded carp (silver carpHypophthalmichthys molitrixand bighead carpH. nobilis, also referred to as Asian carp) have spread rapidly over the past several decades. In the Illinois River, an important tributary of the Upper Mississippi River, reproduction appears to be sporadic and frequently unsuccessful, yet bigheaded carp densities in this river are among the highest recorded on the continent. Understanding the causative factors behind erratic recruitment in this commercially-harvested invasive species is important for both limiting their spread and managing their harvest. We analyzed weekly catch records from 15 years of a standardized monitoring program to document the emergence of age-0 bigheaded carp in relation to environmental conditions. The appearance of age-0 fish was generally linked to hydrographic attributes, which probably serve as a cue for spawning. However, we found profound differences in the number of age-0 fish among years, which varied by as much as five orders of magnitude in successive years. The strong link between summer flooding and age-0 fish production we observed emphasizes the importance of understanding the hydrologic context in which sustained invasions occur. Despite evidence of sporadic recruitment, bigheaded carp populations in the Illinois River appear to be consistent or increasing because of particularly strong, episodic year classes.


Food Webs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. e00120
Author(s):  
Nicholas W. Kramer ◽  
Quinton E. Phelps ◽  
Clay L. Pierce ◽  
Michael E. Colvin

Author(s):  
Kassandra Smrekar ◽  
Shingo Tanaka ◽  
Lavie Williams

A recent threat posed to the Great Lakes and adjoining waterways is the Asian Carp.  This large bodied fish originated from Asia and was first imported to the North American between 1960 to 1970. Their migration northward through the Mississippi River eliminated native freshwater species through competition of habitat and food resources. It is imperative to focus on the potential invasion of the Asian Carp because the risk assessment is high that the carp would eliminate all native species.  Currently the carp are at the border of entering Lake Michigan, which would then provide access to the rest of the freshwater regions in the surrounding area. Ultimately, the loss of lake biodiversity is the fundamental problem and is coupled with economic issues.  Bowfin Environmental Consulting INC and various invasive species awareness programs have been utilized to provide guidance on undertaking a project that involves an aggressive invasive species.  The challenge faced will be to determine a method in which to prevent the invasion of Asian Carp.  Examining their migration patterns, importation laws of live fish, and the policies of invasive species, will provide insight on the approach that should be taken to eliminate the threat of Asian Carp.  It is also important to analyze which native species are most susceptible to becoming extinct.  Overall, the intention is not only to increase government, scientific, and public awareness of this issue, but also to provide methods that can be implemented to prevent and eradicate the spread of Asian Carp in North American waterways.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Orr

Asian carp were introduced in the 1970s as an environmentally friendly alternative to chemicals for cleaning aquaculture ponds. The carp escaped from their ponds and entered the Mississippi River system, leaving behind a path of destruction. Now, they are just a few miles away from the Great Lakes where they pose a threat to the billion-dollar fishing industry. One of the challenges in dealing with the problem is the diverse array of stakeholders involved who all have very different perspectives, concerns, and ideas about this policy problem. This case study demonstrates the challenges of stakeholder management in public policy and gives readers an analytical framework for thinking about stakeholder interests.


<i>Abstract</i>.—Cryptic or unobserved fishing mortality in marine and freshwater fisheries has received much attention in recent decades and in this chapter we discuss various forms of cryptic mortality in Paddlefish <i>Polyodon spathula</i>. Specifically, we review the literature on catch-and-release (CAR) mortality in recreational sport fisheries, bycatch mortality in commercial fisheries, and wounding of Paddlefish entrained through dams or struck by recreational or commercial vessels. We also discuss opportunities to mitigate some forms of cryptic mortality. Indirect evidence suggests that CAR mortality of Paddlefish snagged in sport fisheries is minimal, probably because many of those fisheries occur when water temperatures are cool. Similarly, ample evidence points to minimal postrelease mortality of Paddlefish captured in commercial or research gill nets fished for short periods of time or overnight at cool (<11°C) water temperatures. Conversely, Paddlefish netted in warm (>16°C) waters experience high (35–71%) mortality rates. Chondrosteans exhibit depressed stress responses and faster recovery than teleosts and that trait may explain why Paddlefish often exhibit high postrelease survival after encountering fishing gear. Cryptic fishing mortality of Paddlefish arising from fishers targeting other commercial species has received scant attention. The spread of Asian carp <i>Hypophthalmichthys</i> spp. in the Mississippi River basin has prompted aggressive harvest strategies during which Paddlefish are often captured, which argues for increased scrutiny of Paddlefish bycatch in those fisheries. A final source of cryptic mortality of Paddlefish are mortal wounds resulting from boat and propeller strikes, and dam passage. Propeller strikes are a high-profile concern for endangered marine fish and sea mammals, but it is not clear whether this line of inquiry for Paddlefish warrants further study. Paddlefish in some locales experience high rates of amputated or damaged rostrums resulting from impacts with boats, or entrainment through turbines or passage through flood gates, and body condition is usually poorer in injured fish.


Author(s):  
Anthony Paparo ◽  
Judy A. Murphy ◽  
Robert Dean

In the mid-1950's, fingernail clams virtually disappeared from a 100-mile section of the IL River, a tributary of the Mississippi River, due to unknown causes. A survey of the bottom fauna of the IL River in 1979, revealed that the clams were still absent from the middle reach of the River, where they had been abundant prior to the die-off in the 1950's. Some factor(s) in the River currently prevent the clams from recolonizing areas where they were formerly abundant. Recently, clams exposed to fluoride developed abnormal grooves in the shell matrix. Fluorides are known to be protoplasmic poisons removing essential body calcium by precipitation. Since the shell consists primarily of Ca carbonate, this investigation examines the possible role of fluoride on shell formation and the poisoning of the Ca pump which can directly inhibit lateral ciliary activity on the gill.


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