The Silver Menace: Invasive Asian Carp in the Midwest Timothy Spier, Michael Flinn, Neal Jackson, Jessica Morris, Allison Lebeda, and Brad Hartman Murray State University http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/explore/native-and-invasive-species/species/fish-species-inmichigan-and-the-great-lakes/asian-carp/silver-carp-no-background/
Outline The Asian Carps Carp biology Status and Current Research
Introducing: The Asian Carps 4 species: Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella
What are they not? They are NOT Common Carp Cyprinus carpio https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0mvbae24rno/maxresdefault.jpg
Where are they from? http://cdn.thinglink.me/api/image/718674606201765889/1240/10/scaletowidth
Where are they from? Eastern China Vietnam Korea Eastern Russia http://cdn.thinglink.me/api/image/718674606201765889/1240/10/scaletowidth
Bighead Carp and Silver Carp Brought over to use in polyculture
Bighead Carp and Silver Carp Brought over to use in polyculture Multiple species fish culture Bigheads and Silvers improve water quality and provide a secondary source of income Escaped from culture ponds in Arkansas in early 1970 s
Bigheads and Silvers are BIG! https://www.nps.gov/miss/learn/nature/ascarpover.htm http://thelakenews.com/wpcontent/uploads/2015/05/giant-asian-silver-carp.jpg
Are they good sportfish?
Are they good sportfish? Nah. Some bowfishing, some snagging, but not much
Kentucky State Record 233 kg (106 lbs) but hooked accidentally http://thelakenews.com/wpcontent/uploads/2015/05/giant-asian-silver-carp.jpg
Are they good to eat?
Are they good to eat? Absolutely! Tasty flesh, high in Omega 3 s, low in contaminants But a little bony
Silver Carp are jumpers Dangerous to boaters, skiers, jet skis, etc. Illinoistimes.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goljf0teoxk
Biology of Silver Carp
Large Size, Fast Growth Become invulnerable to predation around age 1
Silver Carp Growth Total Length (mm) 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 l t = 912 (1 e -0.8849 (t (0.6630)) ) n = 173 2 4 6 8 10 Age (yrs)
Extremely Fecund Up to 1,000,000 eggs per female
Age 0 Silver Carp http://illinois.edu/lb/ilist/518/2/skinid=10420
Feed low on the food web Bigheads = zooplankton and phytoplankton Silvers = phytoplankton and zooplankton
How do they get so big when they eat stuff that is so small?
How do they get so big when they eat stuff that is so small? They eat a lot! Maybe 20% of their body weight per day!
Typical Kentucky Lake Food Web Scott Shupe http://ulrichhopp.de/bilder/kleinkrebse/kl eink_29_leptodora_029.jpg blueplanetsociety.blogspot.com Scott Shupe
Typical Kentucky Lake Food Web Scott Shupe http://ulrichhopp.de/bilder/kleinkrebse/kl eink_29_leptodora_029.jpg blueplanetsociety.blogspot.com Scott Shupe
Short Circuiting the Food Web http://ulrichhopp.de/bilder/kleinkrebse/kl eink_29_leptodora_029.jpg blueplanetsociety.blogspot.com
Distribution Knocking on the door of the Great Lakes $7B fishing industry USGS Silver Carp Distribution as of October 2016
Kentucky Lake as Surrogate for Great Lakes
Kentucky Lake as Surrogate for Great Lakes Largest reservoir east of the Mississippi Important commercial and recreational fisheries Also recreational boating
Our Research at Murray State U. Population demographics of the KY Lake population Movement patterns of Silver Carp in KY Lake
Population Demographics
Silver Carp Growth Total Length (mm) 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 l t = 912 (1 e -0.8849 (t (0.6630)) ) n = 173 2 4 6 8 10 Age (yrs)
Tracking Silver Carp in Kentucky Lake
Surgery Tags about size of a roll of dimes http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/files/2015/07/acoustic-tag1.jpg
VR2W Passive Receiver Sits on bottom and listens
Where did they go? Passive receivers
Fish Tracking Results Hancock Biological Station
Silver Carp 51730 December 13-14, 2016
Silver Carp 51730 December 13-14, 2016 December 18-19, 2016
Silver Carp 51730 December 13-14, 2016 December 18-19, 2016 December 20, 2016
Silver Carp 51730 December 13-14, 2016 December 18-19, 2016 December 20, 2016 December 21, 2016
Silver Carp 51730 December 23, 2016 December 21, 2016
Silver Carp 51730 December 28-30, 2016 December 23, 2016 December 21, 2016
How do we stop them?
How do we stop them? Stop expansion Reduce numbers
Carp Barriers Electric barrier system at Romeoville, IL Bubble curtains CO 2 Sound barriers
Electric Barrier Romeoville, IL https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=&url=http%3a%2f%2f progressillinois.com%2fquick-hits%2fcontent%2f2012%2f01%2f09%2fargument-chicago-waterway-changesstrengthened-study-findings&psig=afqjcneowehwdyiz-zpi_kfsw8ybph4bag&ust=1476554358005012 http://archive.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/asian-carp-fight-to-feature-newbarrier-stepped-up-detection-b99714583z1-377340781.html
Carp Barriers Electric barrier system at Romeoville, IL Bubble curtains CO 2 Sound barriers Being considered for other areas, such as Pickwick Dam on the Tennessee River
Reducing Numbers
Reducing Numbers Few options Piscicides? Predators? Commercial harvest
Commercial Harvest http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm- /439421e44881cea8dc8e5f4c6a15eb5e5db9c2e5/c=0-264-2832-1864&r=x329&c=580x326/local/- /media/2015/02/04/louisville/louisville/635586676713404841-carp1.jpg https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahuke wiz8qwwhnnpahxbryykhwjbanqqjrwibw&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.prairiestateoutdoors.com%2fpso%2f article_print%2f13087&psig=afqjcnee92zehjyelbd4gjzlctvjx66k1g&ust=1476490962700313
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee https://www.flickr.com/photos/acrcc/29983831432/
Acknowledgements Field Help: Dalton Lebeda Jessica Morris Ronnie Hopkins Brad Richardson Clint Nathan Ward Ben Tumolo Matt May Alex Vaisvil Christy Soldo Nathan Tillotson Josh Revell Project Funding: Graduate Innovation Assistantship Hattie Mayme Ross Scholarship Larry D. Pharris Memorial Wildlife Fund Scholarship Dr. Morgan Emory Sisk Jr. Memorial Scholarship Watershed Studies Research Institute Grants Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology Travel Grants