Value-added Benefits of USGS Invasive Carp Research

The USGS leads federal research to control invasive carp species through innovative management tools and methods. Our research products for carp control have proven valuable for broader conservation applications.

DEVELOPING & ADVANCING TECHNOLOGIES

• Advanced environmental DNA science: detection of eDNA in water; standards for sampling, analysis and interpretation; and communicating results
• Advanced reporting and storage of telemetry data: real time reporting from telemetry of species beyond the invasive carp

OTHER INVASIVE SPECIES

• Herding/aggregating for common carp
• eDNA detection of other invasive species (Prussian carp, zebra and quagga mussels)
• Carbon dioxide expanded to controlling dreissenids on spawning areas for native Great Lakes fishes; investigations underway for effectiveness for crayfish control

LAW ENFORCEMENT, BORDER SECURITY, & SOCIETAL BENEFITS

• Point-of-use eDNA detectors for early detection and rapid response of other invasive species (e.g., Prussian carp) and for border interdiction of invasive species (e.g., zebra and quagga mussels, marimo moss balls; )
• Improvement of monitoring for fish parasites, such as Asian fish tapeworm, which decreases fish health and threatens populations of forage fishes (e.g., spottail shiner) that are prey for Great Lakes fishes (e.g., walleye) and recovery of native species (e.g., bonytail chub, humpback chub) in the Colorado River
• Improving international research relationships, such as eDNA standards with Canada

MODELING & DATA DELIVERY

• Real-time delivery of data developed for invasive carp expanding to multiple species, such as paddlefish, lake sturgeon, and buffalofish
• Models developed for invasive carp being applied to recovering native species, such as pallid sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon
• Integration of large data sets across the entire Mississippi River Basin facilitates whole-ecosystem management

ENDANGERED SPECIES

• Spawning models developed for grass carp and silver carp applied to endangered pallid sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon recovery
• Applicable to understanding spawning needs of endangered native chubs and minnows that are fed upon by endangered sturgeoN

ECOSYSTEM RECOVERY

• Habitat surveys provide baseline for Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes
• Advanced image analysis for large-scale vegetation assessment
• Sonar techniques for enumerating invasive carp expandable to native species
• Spawning models expanded to track oil spills to aid mitigation
• Expansion of FuEgg model to tracking oil spills (FluOil)