This image of a live silver carp egg specimen was taken with a microscope camera at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts if they become established.
Amy George
Amy is a Fish Biologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Science and Products
USGS Invasive Carp Research 2025 Year in Review
This collection features new information products released between October 2024 and September 2025 that provide a scientific foundation for the management of invasive carp in the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins and support the Presidential Memorandum “Protecting the Great Lakes from Invasive Carp”.
Early Life History of Bighead, Silver, Black, and Grass Carps
Grass, bighead, black, and silver carps spawn in turbulent rivers, their eggs develop and hatch while drifting downriver. The larvae have a short period of development in the drift, and then they must swim from the mainstem of the river and find appropriate low- or no-flow nursery areas. Rivers which are not long enough, turbulent enough, or without nursery areas in the correct locations are not...
Silver Carp Egg
This image of a live silver carp egg specimen was taken with a microscope camera at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts if they become established.
Silver Carp Larva
This image of a live silver carp larva was taken with a microscope camera at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts if they become established.
This image of a live silver carp larva was taken with a microscope camera at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts if they become established.
Silver Carp Larvae
This image of live silver carp larvae was taken with a microscope camera at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts if they become established.
This image of live silver carp larvae was taken with a microscope camera at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts if they become established.
Sturgeon Larva
Sturgeon larva captured near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
Sturgeon larva captured near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
Black-and-White Larval Sturgeon
Collected in the Lower Missouri River on May 20, 2011, near Arrow Rock, Missouri, this larval sturgeon is estimated to be one day old.
Collected in the Lower Missouri River on May 20, 2011, near Arrow Rock, Missouri, this larval sturgeon is estimated to be one day old.
Fairy Shrimp
A rare occurrence in the Missouri River, this Branchiopod known as a fairy shrimp was caught during larval sampling efforts near Arrow Rock, MO, on May 24, 2011.
A rare occurrence in the Missouri River, this Branchiopod known as a fairy shrimp was caught during larval sampling efforts near Arrow Rock, MO, on May 24, 2011.
Sturgeon Larvae
A newly hatched probable sturgeon larvae captured near the spawning site of PLS09-011 in Nebraska.
A newly hatched probable sturgeon larvae captured near the spawning site of PLS09-011 in Nebraska.
Science and Products
USGS Invasive Carp Research 2025 Year in Review
This collection features new information products released between October 2024 and September 2025 that provide a scientific foundation for the management of invasive carp in the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins and support the Presidential Memorandum “Protecting the Great Lakes from Invasive Carp”.
Early Life History of Bighead, Silver, Black, and Grass Carps
Grass, bighead, black, and silver carps spawn in turbulent rivers, their eggs develop and hatch while drifting downriver. The larvae have a short period of development in the drift, and then they must swim from the mainstem of the river and find appropriate low- or no-flow nursery areas. Rivers which are not long enough, turbulent enough, or without nursery areas in the correct locations are not...
Silver Carp Egg
This image of a live silver carp egg specimen was taken with a microscope camera at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts if they become established.
This image of a live silver carp egg specimen was taken with a microscope camera at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts if they become established.
Silver Carp Larva
This image of a live silver carp larva was taken with a microscope camera at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts if they become established.
This image of a live silver carp larva was taken with a microscope camera at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts if they become established.
Silver Carp Larvae
This image of live silver carp larvae was taken with a microscope camera at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts if they become established.
This image of live silver carp larvae was taken with a microscope camera at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Asian carp are invasive species that could pose substantial environmental risks and economic impacts if they become established.
Sturgeon Larva
Sturgeon larva captured near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
Sturgeon larva captured near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
Black-and-White Larval Sturgeon
Collected in the Lower Missouri River on May 20, 2011, near Arrow Rock, Missouri, this larval sturgeon is estimated to be one day old.
Collected in the Lower Missouri River on May 20, 2011, near Arrow Rock, Missouri, this larval sturgeon is estimated to be one day old.
Fairy Shrimp
A rare occurrence in the Missouri River, this Branchiopod known as a fairy shrimp was caught during larval sampling efforts near Arrow Rock, MO, on May 24, 2011.
A rare occurrence in the Missouri River, this Branchiopod known as a fairy shrimp was caught during larval sampling efforts near Arrow Rock, MO, on May 24, 2011.
Sturgeon Larvae
A newly hatched probable sturgeon larvae captured near the spawning site of PLS09-011 in Nebraska.
A newly hatched probable sturgeon larvae captured near the spawning site of PLS09-011 in Nebraska.