Bigheaded carps population-level modeling projects
Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), collectively known as bigheaded carps, are invasive carp species within the Mississippi River basin. In the early-1970s these species escaped from ponds where people introduced them to control algae (ICRCC). Invasive carp cause ecological and economic damage by outcompeting native species and disrupting native food webs. Stopping the spread of these invasive carp into the Great Lakes and controlling populations in the Mississippi River and its tributaries is important to protect the nations recreational and commercial fishing industry. Population-level modeling allow managers to compare different control strategies across multiple basins.
Modeling to inform bighead and silver carp management
Principal Investigator – Richard Erickson
Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) are invasive carp species within the Mississippi River basin. In the early-1970s these species escaped from ponds where people introduced them to control algae (ICRCC). Invasive carp cause ecological and economic damage by outcompeting native species and disrupting native food webs. Stopping the spread of these invasive carp into the Great Lakes is important to protect the $7 billion recreational and commercial fishing industry. It all starts with identifying where these carp are, and modeling is a great tool for gaining this knowledge. The goal of carp modeling is to fill the knowledge gaps to better manage and control invasive carp populations.
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Population-level modeling of bigheaded carps in the Illinois River
Principal Investigator – Richard Erickson
Bighead carp and silver carp (collectively known as bigheaded carps) first escaped to the Mississippi River Basin in the 1970s and had invaded the Illinois River by the 1980s. The species threaten to invade the Great Lakes Basin through the connection between the Illinois River and Lake Michigan at the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. USGS scientists are developing population-level models to help guide control strategies and evaluate ongoing management actions.
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Population-level modeling of bigheaded carps in the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers
Principal Investigator – Richard Erickson
Bighead carp and silver carp (collectively known as bigheaded carps) first escaped to the Mississippi River Basin in the 1970s and by 1989 had invaded the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. The species threaten the economies and ecosystems for these rivers and are currently spreading upriver. USGS scientists are developing population-level models to help guide and inform control strategies and evaluate ongoing management actions with collaborators from Tennessee Tech University.
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Population-level modeling of bigheaded carps in the Red River
Principal Investigator – Richard Erickson
Bighead carp and silver carp (collectively known as bigheaded carps) first escaped to the Mississippi River Basin in the 1970s and have since invaded the Red River between Texas and Oklahoma. The species threaten the economies and ecosystems for the Red River. USGS scientists are developing population-level models to help guide and inform control strategies and evaluate ongoing management actions with collaborators from Auburn University.
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Food web tradeoffs of bigheaded carps control efforts
Principal Investigator – Richard Erickson
Bighead carp and silver carp (collectively known as bigheaded carps) affect the entire food web, with the species comprising up to 90% of the fish biomass in some aquatic ecosystems. Current management control tools, such as harvest, target larger fish and do not remove all sizes of carp. It is currently unknown if there are benefits to the native species and food web from harvesting all sizes of carp. This project will use ecosystem modeling to examine the trade-offs of removing large carp versus removing all sized carps.
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Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), collectively known as bigheaded carps, are invasive carp species within the Mississippi River basin. In the early-1970s these species escaped from ponds where people introduced them to control algae (ICRCC). Invasive carp cause ecological and economic damage by outcompeting native species and disrupting native food webs. Stopping the spread of these invasive carp into the Great Lakes and controlling populations in the Mississippi River and its tributaries is important to protect the nations recreational and commercial fishing industry. Population-level modeling allow managers to compare different control strategies across multiple basins.
Modeling to inform bighead and silver carp management
Principal Investigator – Richard Erickson
Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) are invasive carp species within the Mississippi River basin. In the early-1970s these species escaped from ponds where people introduced them to control algae (ICRCC). Invasive carp cause ecological and economic damage by outcompeting native species and disrupting native food webs. Stopping the spread of these invasive carp into the Great Lakes is important to protect the $7 billion recreational and commercial fishing industry. It all starts with identifying where these carp are, and modeling is a great tool for gaining this knowledge. The goal of carp modeling is to fill the knowledge gaps to better manage and control invasive carp populations.
________________________________________
Population-level modeling of bigheaded carps in the Illinois River
Principal Investigator – Richard Erickson
Bighead carp and silver carp (collectively known as bigheaded carps) first escaped to the Mississippi River Basin in the 1970s and had invaded the Illinois River by the 1980s. The species threaten to invade the Great Lakes Basin through the connection between the Illinois River and Lake Michigan at the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. USGS scientists are developing population-level models to help guide control strategies and evaluate ongoing management actions.
________________________________________
Population-level modeling of bigheaded carps in the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers
Principal Investigator – Richard Erickson
Bighead carp and silver carp (collectively known as bigheaded carps) first escaped to the Mississippi River Basin in the 1970s and by 1989 had invaded the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. The species threaten the economies and ecosystems for these rivers and are currently spreading upriver. USGS scientists are developing population-level models to help guide and inform control strategies and evaluate ongoing management actions with collaborators from Tennessee Tech University.
________________________________________
Population-level modeling of bigheaded carps in the Red River
Principal Investigator – Richard Erickson
Bighead carp and silver carp (collectively known as bigheaded carps) first escaped to the Mississippi River Basin in the 1970s and have since invaded the Red River between Texas and Oklahoma. The species threaten the economies and ecosystems for the Red River. USGS scientists are developing population-level models to help guide and inform control strategies and evaluate ongoing management actions with collaborators from Auburn University.
________________________________________
Food web tradeoffs of bigheaded carps control efforts
Principal Investigator – Richard Erickson
Bighead carp and silver carp (collectively known as bigheaded carps) affect the entire food web, with the species comprising up to 90% of the fish biomass in some aquatic ecosystems. Current management control tools, such as harvest, target larger fish and do not remove all sizes of carp. It is currently unknown if there are benefits to the native species and food web from harvesting all sizes of carp. This project will use ecosystem modeling to examine the trade-offs of removing large carp versus removing all sized carps.
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