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AUTHORS: Cortney Cox, Western Illinois University; Jim Lamer, Western Illinois University; Allie Lenaerts, Western Illinois University; Boone LaHood, Western Illinois University; Greg Whitledge, Southern Illinois University; Brent Knights, United States Geological Survey; Kevin Irons, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
ABSTRACT: Fish age and growth can be used to infer density-dependent competition, resource availability, age at maturity, and habitat suitability. Understanding these dynamics are especially important when assessing the impacts of invasive species. Bighead and silver carp are invasive species that have established throughout much of the Mississippi River Basin. Lock and Dam 19 on the Mississippi River has slowed their upstream migration and delayed their establishment in the Upper Mississippi River. Aging structures obtained from populations above Lock and Dam 19 allow us to determine growth rates and age at maturity in these recently established and poorly understood, low-density populations. Using commercial fishing methods, we have collected length and weight data from 1864 silver carp and 500 bighead carp. Pectoral spines, postcleithra, and vertebrae have been removed from 644 silver carp and 270 bighead carp, 30 fish per each 50mm size class, to quantify age and growth from bighead carp and silver carp in pools 16-19 on the Mississippi River.
