Invasion of the Asian Carp

By Ross Swanson

Introduction

• The Great Lakes are not new to invasive species.

• Zebra muscles, Sea Lamprey, Round Goby Etc.

• The Asian Carp is trailing right behind!

Asian Carp

Key Points• Anatomy of an Asian Carp• How Did This Invasion Begin• Threat to the Great Lakes• What is Being Done Today

Sources

• http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/invasive • http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/BIGHEAD_CARP.pdf • http://www.watershedcouncil.org/learn/aquatic

%20invasive%20species/asian-carp/• http://greatlakesecho.org/2010/02/18/asian-carp-and-

the-great-lakes-fishery-how-much-is-at-risk/

Anatomy of Asian Carp

Bighead Carp• Gray with black blotches• Eyes sit low on the facial region• Contain no teeth• Feed HEAVY on plankton organisms• Grow up to 4ft in length• Rapid reproduction (2.2 million eggs)

Anatomy of Asian Carp

Silver Carp• Silver in color• Red on tips of their fins• Eyes sit low on facial region• Contain no teeth• Feed HEAVY on plankton organisms• Tend to be slightly smaller than the Bighead Carp• Rapid reproduction • Jump out of water when disturbed

How Did This Invasion Begin?

• Asian Carp were introduced to the U.S in the 1970s

• Used as a management tool for aqua culture farms and sewage treatment facilities.

• Do to major flooding, Asian Carp escaped their holding areas and into tributaries of the Mississippi River.

How Did This Invasion Begin? Cont.

• Reproduced rapidly• Began to decimate southern ecosystem's due to

heavy feeding tendencies. • Have migrated north up the Mississippi River into the

connecting Illinois River. • Direct route to Lake Michigan

The Threat

Asian Carp pose a great danger to Lake Michigan and the remaining Great Lakes.• Severe disruption of the food chain.• 7 Billion dollar recreation industry at stake.• Silver Carp can be harmful to human.

What is Being Done to Stop Them

2002-2011• U.S Army Corps of Engineers constructed 3 electrical

barriers on the Chicago ship canal.

2010-2011• Launch of studies go underway in search for a more

permanent solution.

What is Being Done to Stop Them2014• U.S Army Corps of Engineers released their “Great Lakes and

Mississippi River Interbasin Study” (GLMRIS)• Contains plans to block Asian Carp by 2 alternatives of

hydrologic separation or either physical barriers. • DNR of Illinois and Indiana net and kill as many as Asian Carp

possible.

Conclusion

Key Points• Anatomy of Asian Carp• How the Invasion Started• The Threat to the Great Lakes• What is Being Done to Stop Them