Title Habitat preference, dispersal, and population trends of three species of invasive Asian carps in tributaries of the La Grange reach of the Illinois River

Wilson, Michael R.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/44742 Copy

Description

Title

Title Habitat preference, dispersal, and population trends of three species of invasive Asian carps in tributaries of the La Grange reach of the Illinois River

Author(s)

Wilson, Michael R.

Issue Date

2012-07

Keyword(s)

• Fishes
• Habitats
• Invasive species
• Data acquisition
• Illinois River

Abstract

Asian carps (Ctenopharyngodon idella, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, and H. nobilis ), first introduced into the United States in the 1960s and 1970s, escaped and established reproducing populations in the Mississippi and Illinois River systems by the year 2000. By the mid 1990s, they were appearing in smaller tributaries and streams in Illinois. During the summer of 2009, a drainage-wide survey of the La Grange Reach of the Illinois River was conducted to determine the extent to which these species were utilizing first- through fourth-order streams in this system. Field sampling of 36 sites over a 33,636-km2 area in 2009 produced a total of five grass carp and no other Asian carp pecimens, indicating temporary nonresident utilization of small streams. Because of the paucity of Asian carp specimens collected during field work, field data were combined with records from the Illinois Natural History Survey Fish Collection, Illinois Department of Natural Resources survey data, and the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program. These data were subjected to statistical analysis to test for correlation of population trends between the Illinois River mainstem and its associated tributaries. Analysis results revealed a positive relationship between annual mainstem and tributary population trends for grass carp and silver carp, as well as a continually increasing population size for all three species in both mainstem and tributary populations.

Publisher

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Series/Report Name or Number

ERDC/EL CR 12-2

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/44742

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Copyright and License Information

This document is a product of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authored by Illinois Natural History Survey staff, using data from the INHS Fish Collection and other sources. It has been selected and made available by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with the permission of the U.S.A.C.E. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested.

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