Food web tradeoffs of bigheaded carps control efforts
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 systems. Current 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.
Bigheaded carps population-level modeling projects
Working with collaborators through the USGS South Dakota Cooperative Research Unit, we are developing a food web model to compare different bigheaded carps removal scenarios. This modeling effort will help resource managers examine the trade-offs of only harvesting large bigheaded carps compared to removing large and small bigheaded carps. The simulated bigheaded carps population will be based upon the population in Pool 26 of the Mississippi River because this location has sufficient data to parameterize the model.
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 systems. Current 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.
Bigheaded carps population-level modeling projects
Working with collaborators through the USGS South Dakota Cooperative Research Unit, we are developing a food web model to compare different bigheaded carps removal scenarios. This modeling effort will help resource managers examine the trade-offs of only harvesting large bigheaded carps compared to removing large and small bigheaded carps. The simulated bigheaded carps population will be based upon the population in Pool 26 of the Mississippi River because this location has sufficient data to parameterize the model.