Asian Carp Invasion
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Transcript of Asian Carp Invasion
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