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MCombating the Invasive Species of Asian Carp By : Catherine Graham 1 Table of Contents Abstract: 3 Ecosystems and Disturbances: 3-5 Invasive Species: 5-6 Lineage of Asian Carp: 6-7 Pathways of Introduction: 7-8 Types of Asian Carp: 8-10 Natural Predators to the Asian Carp: 11-12 Special Asian Carp Bodily Functions: 12-13 Special Adaptions of the Asian Carp: 13-14 Spawning Habits of the Asian Carp: 14-15 Combating the Asian Carp Invasion: 15-16 Methods of Controling the Asian Carp Population: 16-18 Where are they now?: 19-22 How indanger are the Great Lakes? : 22-24 Conclusion: 24-25 Works Cited: 25-27 Acknowledgements: 28 2 Abstract In the freshwater rivers in North America, the Asian Carp have threatened to disturb the ecosystem. There are four types of Asian Carp that are considered invasive because they harm the environment: the Grass Carp, Black Carp, Bigheaded Carp, and Silver Carp. These Asian Carp overpopulate areas and eat all of the natural resources causing native inhabitants to decrease in health and numbers. Asian Carp are a great threat to the ecosystems of the Great Lakes and the fishing industry. There are no living natural predators of adult Asian Carp still living and human intervention became necessary to try to supress the Asian Carp populations. Asian Carp are tracked by eDNA testing and once located, electric fences are put up to guide the Asian Carp away from the Great Lakes. The chemical rotenone, a pesticide that harms the environemnt, is used in the water to kill the Asian Carp to control the population. Asian Carp are a rich natural resourse of Omega 3 fatty acid. Asian Carp should be consumed by humans, used as fertilizer, and harvested for Omega 3 fatty acid. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Ecosystems and Disturbances An ecosystem is the sum of all organisms living within its boundaries and all the abiotic factors with which they interact (Alters, Sandra, Biology). Each ecosystem is special in the interdependence between animals that live there and the resources, both biotic and abiotic, that exist within that region (Figure A). A delicate balance exists; if an ecosystem is disrupted by artifical or natural means (Figure B), it will not only affect all the living organisms within the ecosystem, but will also affect neighboring ecosystems (Alters, Sandra, Biology). If a chain 3 reaction within an ecosystem and between ecosystems is initiated then the habitat and inhabitants of the habitat can be changed forever. These large scale changes within an ecosystem can have deletrious effects on our global ecosystem and the native species within each individual ecosystem (Alters, Sandra, Biology). Food webs, energy webs, and niches can be forever changed; in turn, so can the natural world as we know it. Figure A: In an ecosystem, all organisms are dependent on each other. A delicate balance exists. When disturbed, the entire ecosystem is changed forever. 4 Figure B: Examples of disturbances that can distrubt and change an ecosystem for life that are naturally caused Invasive Species An invasive species is a species that meet two requirements, they are non-native to the ecosystem that is being considered and their introduction causes or are likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health (Asian Carp, National Invasive). Invasive species can be introduced into the environment by pathways both man made and naturally made. Most invasive species are a result of human interference with the environment. An example of a man made pathway for invasive species is the fishing industry. The demand in the market for fish goes up, so companies devise plans to satisfy that demand. Fishing boats set out on bodies of water to catch fish, and in the process they fill up ballast tanks in the boat to keep the boat afloat. These boats come back to harbor to drop off their fish they caught and in the process they empty their ballast tanks leaving fish they didn’t intend to catch in the water. The boats can bring small species to delicate ecosystems from foreign waters. The foregin species can after being introduced could be a potential new invasive species. As 5 globilization continues and world trade continues, foreign species will contine to be introduced into ecosystems by man made pathways. One invasive species that was brought in by ballast tanks from fishing boats was the Zebra Mussles which were originally from the Aral, Black, and Caspian Seas. They were introduced to Western Europe in the 1700s and then the United States in the 1980s (Tammi, Karin A, Zebra Musscle). Zebra Muscles when brought to the United States thrived in the ecosystems in the United States and filled the waters. They mass reproduced because conditions on the waters in the United States were perfect for them to thrive in. They overcleaned the waters making it harder for other filter feeding animals to survive and they even infested water pipes. They started to interfere with human lives as they became a dangerous little muscle in freshwaters. Zebra Muscles are inedible by humans and have few natural predetors. They store toxins and they are hosts for parasites. As a defense mechanism Zebra Muscles have a very sharp shell and they cut anything that puts pressure on them, like human feet or animals. Five million dollars were spent on the removal of the Zebra Muscles because of their huge impact on the ecysystem. The invasive species harmed humans and the ecosystems of the freshwaters in the United States (Tammi, Karin A, Zebra Musscle). Lineage of Asian Carp Asian Carp are native to Eurasia (Asian Carp, National Invasive). Cyprinidae from a Greek root consist of carps the true minnows and their relatives the barbs and barbles with over 2,400 species in freshwater its members are also known as cyprinids (Cyprinidae, Wikepedia). 8 types of Asian Carps: Only some are invasive indicated by ** grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)** 6 common carp (Cyprinus carpio) Sometimes called Eurasian carp, because they're found in Europe and most of Asia. silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)** largescale silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys harmandi) bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)** black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus)** common goldfish (Carassius auratus) crucian carp (Carassius carassius) mud carp (Cirrhinus molitorella) (Asian Carp, Wikipedia) Pathways of introduction Where did these carp come from and how were they introduced into the water systems of North America? What is myth and what is fact? One of the largest and ongoing myths of the introduction of Asian Carp is the myth that the Asian Carp invasion started in Arkansas in a fish farm after a large flood swept them away into the river systems of the Mississippi River (Lam, Tina, Asian Carp: US). The fact is, a fish farmer brought three Asian Carp into America but instead of going to a fish farm in Arkansas they went to the government (Lam, Tina, Asian Carp: US) Government agencies spawned these new fish and used them as a cheaper alternative to tuna. They also brought them to sewage lagoons as an alternative to chemicals (Lam, Tina, Asian Carp: US). Many of these government fish breeding places were not looked upon as anything to be worried about. They were not considered an invasive species in the 1970s and 1980s and the Asian Carp were sent to fish farmers who were free to do with the fish what they wanted. Farmers were encouraged to raise bighead carp as a cash crop (Lam, Tina, Asian Carp: US). Later when the species of carp was deemed invasive all these farmers were blamed for breeding the carp and letting them loose, but it was really the result of very loose handling of the fish. The Asian Carp minnows were used for 7 fishing bait and many fisherman let the minnows go in the water after they were done fishing. The fish farmers did not closely watch the fish or what waters they got into because they were no threat and were just another fish to eat. Altogether not enough caution was taken when handling where the Asian Carp were let loose in the water. Types of Asain Carp Bighead carp The Bighead feed on organisms such as blue green algae, zooplankton, and aquatic insects usually near the surface of rivers. Bighead carp have been observed schooling with paddlefish because they feed on the same food types. This species is also in direct competition with bigmouth buffalo, gizzard shad and all larval and juvenile fishes and native mussels (What do) (See Figure C). Figure C: Figure C shows a picture of what an adult Big Head Carp looks like. http://fishing.about.com/od/carp/l/blbrbigheadcarp.htm 8 Black carp Black carp have hardened gill rakers that are used in crushing shells of mollusks snails and mussels and crustaceans, the primary food of the black carp. Once established, this species of carp may help to destroy our already threatened freshwater mussel and snail populations. The black carp is also known to feed on zebra mussels (What do) (See Figure D). Figure D: Figure D shows what an adult Black Carp would look like. http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=573 Grass carp Grass carp are capable of consuming many pounds of vegetation a day and compete for food with crayfish, fish and ducks. Grass carp can cause significant changes in phytoplankton and invertebrate communities, interfere with reproduction of other fish, modify habitat by destroying vegetation and water quality. (What do) (See Figure E). 9 Figure E: Figure E shows a picture of what a Grass Carp would look like. http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2011/06/grass_carp_hydrilla.php Silver carp This fish is a very proficient feeder which uses gill rakers that are fused into sponge-like porous plates. The silver carp can consume two or three times their weight in plankton each day. Because of its diet, the silver carp is in direct competition with all native fish larvae and juveniles, adult paddlefish, bigmouth buffalo, gizzard shad, and native mussels. (What do) (See Figure F). Figure F: Figure F shows a picture of what an adult Silver Carp looks like. http://mri.usd.edu/watertrail/FieldGuide/fish.html 10 Natural Predators to the Asian Carp The only two known predators of the adult Asian Carp live in the Yangzi River in China. These include the Giant Chinese Paddlefish and a species of freshwater dolphin that were known to prey on the adult asian carp (Asian Carp Control). The dolphin that preys on the asian carp naturally is the Yangtze River dolphin also called Baiji. This rare dolphin is thought to be extinct now from overfishing and is listed on the Critically Endangered list of species (Yangze River Dolphin). (See figure G) The other known predator to the adult Asian Carp are Giant Chinese Paddlefish. These are the world’s largest freshwater fish if they are still present in the ecosystem and they grow up to 23 feet (Asain Carp Control). They inhabit the waters of the Yangzi River in China and they can weigh up to a half a ton (Lovgren, Stefan, World’s). Unlike the paddlefish in the US rivers these Giant Chinese Paddlefish have teeth and prey on other fish. (Asian Carp Control). (See Figure H) Figure G: Figure G shows the Baiji dolphin, one of the natural predators of the Asian Carp. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1651819,00.html 11 Figure H: Figure H shows what the Giant Chinese Paddlefish that naturally preys on Asian Carp looks like. http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8269000/8269414.stm Predators of the Asian Carp in the States Fully grown Asian Carp have no predators in the water systems of the States, but juvenile and baby carp have many predators such as eagles, white pelicans, and largemouth bass. (Asian Carp Control). Special Asian Carp Bodily Functions Asian Carp have a body structure that differs with many fish because they do not have teeth. The teeth they posses are called pharyngeal teeth (Asian Carp, US Fish and Wildlife). (See Figure I) Pharyngeal teeth are opposing teeth that are found in patches along the gill arches. Arches are bony supports that serve as attachment points for gill filaments and gill rakers (Asian Carp, US Fish and Wildlife). These pharyngeal teeth allow the fish to make chewing motions against a chewing plate formed by a procession of the skull (Cyprinid, Wikipedia). 12 Figure I: Figure I is a picture of pharyngeal teeth, two plates that have a crushing ability but are not true teeth. http://www.rondeauprovincialpark.ca/2011/08/the-fishy-conundrum/ Asian Carp do not have a true stomach which allow them to constantly eat (Big Head Carp). Many Asian Carp can consume up to 40% of their body weight in plankton every day (Battling Back). Asian Carp can weigh up to 150 pounds and eat constantly (Battling Back). This body plan for the Asian Carp allows them to eat as much as they can, and grow as fast as possible. Special Adaptations of the Asian Carp Why do people refer to the Asian Carp as the “flying fish” or the fish that jumps out of the water. When people hear about the “flying fish” it is only one species of Asian carp that are being refered to, the Silver carp. Its ability to leap up to 3m into the air when startled nicknamed the ‘flying carp’ for this activity. Boaters, jet-skiers and fishermen have all encountered problems with the fish (Coutsides, Stellio, Flying Carp). The carps have caused massive injuries when jumping onto boats and even have hurt some fisherman have been injured by collisions with the fish. The Silver carp have become notorious for being easily frightened by boats and personal watercraft, which causes them to leap high into the air. The fish can jump up to 8–10 13 feet (2.5–3 m) into the air, and numerous boaters can be injured (Coutsides, Stellio, Flying Carp). The vibrations in the water from the boat scare the fish and they jump (Asian Carp, Wikipedia). This ability of jumping was an adaption that the Asian Carp in the United States have, but back in their home waters in Asia, the Asian Carp do not jump out of the waters. Spawning habits of the Asian Carp Asian Carp require large, low gradient, turbid rivers to complete their life cycle (Aitkin, J. Kevin, General). Asian Carps are known for swimming together in groups and migrating together. Spawning happens as soon as the water starts to warm and takes place in turbid waters. The post spawning adults do not die after spawning but they return up river (Aitkin, J. Kevin, General). Eggs hatch in the flowing river and the larvae move into slow moving calmer small bodies of water. Bighead carp become sexually mature at 5 to 7 years, black carp at 6 to 11 years, grass carp at 4 to 7 years, and silver carp at 4 to 6 years of age in temperate regions (Nico et al. 2005; Schofield et al. 2005). Eggs are semi buoyant and presumably require flow (Temporal and Spatial) The eggs must be kept above the water and must not sink into the water or else they die (Open Lake Waters). Female Asian carp may produce over one million eggs in one season and prefer to spawn in the flowing waters of large rivers (Asian Carp, Sea Grant). (See Figure J) Asian carp in general do not guard their eggs once they are layed (Asian Carp, Wikipedia). Bighead and silver carp often hybridize in the wild; the hybrids are fertile and often backcross (Chapman, Duane C, Facts). 14 Figure J: Is a mass of eggs that came from one Female Asian Carp from the Illinois River. http://www.ifishillinois.org/asiancarp/tuespm/Chapman.pdf Combating the Asian Carp Invasion What is Edna? eDNA is a new method of locating and monitoring a species of animals. It is a method of testing made be the University of Notre Dame (Battling Back). eDNA stands for environmental DNA testing (eDNA tests). eDNA tests are texts done with chemicals that test for presence of DNA of Asian Carp in the water. They do not say how big the population or where they are in the water but they indicate the presence of the species in a specific area (Asian Carp and eDNA). eDNA testing is a new but a scientifically accepted method of screening water samples for genetic material originating from an aquatic animal's mucus or excrement (eDNA tests indicate). The presence of 15 species can be detected by filtering water samples, and then extracting and amplifying short fragments of the shed DNA (Lodge, David M, Risk). Methods of controling the Asian Carp Population Kill them with Poison Rotenone is a chemical that is considered dangerous and chemically toxic. Rotenone is a slow-acting poison which interferes with the electron-transport system in the mitochondria. It acts as both a contact and stomach poison (Material Fact Sheets). Rotenone is derived from several tropical and subtropical plants in the bean family (Battling Asian Carp). Rotenone is a way of removal of the Asian Carp that is very effective. Rotenone affects all gill-breathing organisms and if used in the right doses does not have any know bad effects on humans (Battling Asian Carp). Rotenone is considered an emergency tool to use against the Asian Carp and will not be used regularly or at any high concentrations. Other uses for Rotenone include insect control, for lice and tick control on pets and in general are used as a pesticide (Material Fact Sheets). The bad side effects of Rotenone include the deaths of channel catfish, and rainbow trout which are both very receptacle to Rotenone (Material Fact Sheets). (See Figure K) 16 Figure K: Figure K shows the organic make up of the chemical Rotenone. http://www.alanwood.net/pesticides/rotenone.html Electric Barrier Fences Electric barriers are designed and operated to change an animal’s behavior. Electric barriers are used for control of invasive species, for clearing fish from turbine raceways and intakes, and for collecting runs to allow separating of fish species (What does). An Electric barrier can be calibrated for the size of the fish. Electric barriers work to channel fish in a direction. They do not directly shock the fish but they but they but an electric field in the water that the fish do not want to swim in (What Does). Fish have very sensitive touch to the water around them. They feel small changes in the water with a body structure called a lateral line. (See Figure L) Fish use it to detect depth and water pressure, prey, predators, current movement, orientation in the current, as well as to avoid collisions (Lateral Line). The lateral line system is a collection of small neuromasts located on the skin or just under the skin in fluid-filled canals on the head and body of all fishes. Parts of the lateral organ are modified into electroreceptors, which are organs used to detect electrical impulses. The hair cell allows the fish to feel vibrations in the water and feel slight changes in the water (Lateral Line). 17 Figure L: Figure L shows the Lateral line in a fish that runs down the side of a fish. The Lateral line detects small vibrations and changes in the water. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/3409/Lateral-line-system-of-a-fish Electric Barriers are very successful in keeping many fish out of areas because of the sensitive lateral lines that fish have that detect electrical impulses. Other means of controlling Asian Carp include: Commercial harvesting below places where electric barrier is Waterway separation measures separate the great lakes and the Mississippi River basin Research monitor movement and movement patterns of carp Environmental Deoxyribonucleic Acid: refining eDNA to monitor Asian carp Enforcement Measures: try to limit the transport of Asian carp Funding for this protection And awareness of the carp (Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee) 18 Where are they now? Silver Carp This map shows the most current update on the loction of the Silver Carp, the bulk of the Silver Carp are found in the Illinois River and Mississippi River. The Silver Carp filter feed on plankton and can hybridize with the Big Headed Carp. They also are famous for jumping out of the water and even injuring boaters. http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?speciesID=549 Big Headed Carp 19 This map shows the most updated location of the Big Headed Carp, The Big Headed Carp. The bulk of the Bigheaded Carp are found in the Illinois and Mississippi river, and Missouri River. These Carp eat plankton and can hybridize with the Silver Carp. http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=551 Grass Carp 20 This map shows the most current places where Grass Carp are found. Grass Carp are the most spread out of the invasive Asian Carp and have made it to the Great Lakes Michigan, Erie, Huron, and Ontario. Many solutions have been made to get Grass Carp out of the Great Lakes. (See Figure M) http://oklahomainvasivespecies.okstate.edu/grass_carp.html 21 Figure M: Figure M illistrates the DNR’s plan to evacuate the Grass Caro out of Lake Michigan. Several waterways have been shut down or blocked. http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7153-10364_52261_54896-232231--,00.html Black Carp Black Carp are the least spread of the invasive Asian Carp and are mostly found in the Illinois River and the Mississippi river. http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=573 How indanger are the Great Lakes? Are the Asian Carp as much of a threat as we thought them to be? The big scare is that these Asian Carp will eventually take over the Great Lakes and uproot entire ecosystems in the Lakes. In reality the Asian Carp are not very suited for the Great Lakes. 22 Lake Michigan, quagga mussels have eaten 80% of the plankton the Asian carp would depend on for food (Lam, Tina, Asian Carp: How Deadly). In Erie the carp might be able to grow for six months of the year (Lam, Tina, Asian Carp: How Deadly). It is the warmest of the Great Lakes and is the most livable for Asian Carp, but it does not have a good place for spawning as Lake Erie has very stagnant waters. In Lake Superior Asian Carp may only be able to survive two months as the water drops below 59 degrees the fish will lose weight in colder months of the year because it's too cold for them to feed, and their sexual organs will atrophy (Lam, Tina, Asian Carp: How Deadly). Lake Superior is not liveable in for many fish as it is too cold for them to live. Lake Superior is, by surface area, the world's largest freshwater lake and is described as "the most oligotrophic lake in the world" (Linder, Douglas O. Lake Superior Facts). Lake Superior also freezes over every year, and this freeze up would not suit the living conditions of the Asian Carp. And Lake Huron and Lake Ontario are also too cold for optimum conditions for Asian Carp. erior has been Asian Carp need small tributaries and warm water for their children to survive, and they need flowing water to spawn in that travels to tributaries and shallow water. The Great Lakes do not provide the shallow waters and baby Asian Carp would not be able to live in these waters. Lake Superior is not going to be taken over by Asian Carp at all since it is too cold. Also because Lake Superior is an oligotrohipc lake that means that there is very little algae content and low nutrient content. This would be a poor lake for filter feeders like the Big Headed Carp and the Silver Carp to live in. Grass Carp would not thrive with such low nutrience and vegitation. Black Headed Carp may not have enough to eat in the Great Lakes. 23 Although Grass Carp have been in the Great Lakes, they have not taken over the ecosystem. They control aquatic vegitation and they eat at the herbacious plants. It is not likely that the Grass Carp will eat out the entire Great Lakes vegitation, but the Grass Carp pose the greatest threat to the Lakes Currently. Grass Carps are restricted by the breading needs of flowing warm shallow river waters, and may not reproduce so well in the Great Lakes. It seems very unlikely the Asian Carp will survive in the Great Lakes. Asian Carp thrive in the river ecosystems because of the shallow depths in the rivers. The length and shape of the river must be the right length and shape for spawning to occur (Aitkin, J Kevin, General). There must also be a flowing water for the eggs to survive, and the eggs must float ontop of the water, because if they sink they die. The Great Lakes have none of these conditions yet they may yet survive in the Great Lakes as adult fish and then migrate back to the rivers to spawn. Conclusion As the Government has poured in $156 million since 2010 (US to Spend) to control the Asian Carp it seems very silly that the Asian Carp have been hyped up to this level seeing that they may not even survive in the Great Lakes. This is a large issue in states, the state rules are different and each state argues about how much to spend on controling the population of Asian Carp. Many states want to spend less money and some states want to spend more money. The states have argued weather they should spent money on poisoning the Asian Carp with rotenone. Rotenone kills the native fish and Asian Carp as well. The effects of rotenone as a poison are not fully known in a freshwater ecosystem as it is a pesticide. The rotenone may make the Asian Carp unedible to human consumpion if the Government continues to poison the waters and it could lead to serious issues. 24 Asian Carp have a good source of protein, they are low in murcury content, and they are high in Omega fatty 3 acids (Tareen, Sophia, Asian Carp). We as Americans now have a healthy abundant food source that is healthy and great. Even as a bonus these fish have a high Omega fatty 3 acid content higher than the normal fish. Omega 3 acids are essential to human health. The human body does not naturally make Omega 3 (Omega-3) and Omega 3 is essential for the body to function corretly. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation. Typical American diet tends to contain 14 - 25 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids, which many nutritionally oriented physicians consider to be way too high on the omega-6 side (Omega- 3). Omega 3 is believed to help patients with the following disorders; high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Osteoporosis, depression, bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Cognitive decline (including Alzheimer's disease), skin disorders, Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Asthma, Macular Degeneration, Menstrual pain, Colon cancer, Breast Cancer, and Prostate cancer (Omega-3) Asian Carp should be farmed and researched for their medicinal properties, and should be incorporated into the diet of Americans. The Government should open jobs to scientists to look at the ways to use the Omega 3 and for chefs to cook these fish. We can use these fish for hunger relief for organizations that help other third world countries, and we can also use this natural resource to help feed the hungry in America. Asian Carp also are great for fertilizer. Rotenone should not be used and this precious resource although invasive should be very highly 25 prized for its wonderful resource. New fishing jobs can be opened and the private farming of these magnificent fish should continue. Works Cited Aitkin, J. Kevin, et al. "General Life History of Asian Carps." Columbia River Basin Asian Carps Risk Evaluation. 2-3. asiancarp.org. N.p., 22 Feb. 2008. Web. 28 May 2012. <http://asiancarp.org/Documents/AsianCarp_PNWRiskEvaluation_022208.pdf>. Alters, Sandra. Biology Understanding Life. Danvers: John Wiley Sons, Inc, 2006. N. pag. Print. "Asian Carp Control ." Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee. N.p., 2008. Web. 28 May 2012.<http://www.asiancarp.org/faq.asp#7>. "Asian Carp and eDNA." environmentalchange.nd. University of Notre Dame, 2012. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://environmentalchange.nd.edu/programs/asian-carp/>. "Asian Carp." National Invasive Species Information Center. USDA, 24 May 2012. 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Sea Grant,n.d. Web. 28 May 2012. <http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/factsheets/zebra_mussel.html>. Tareen, Sophia. "Asian Carp Anti-Hunger Program Launches In Illinois." Chicago Impact. Huff Post, 29 May 2012. Web. 29 May 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/22/asian-carp-antihunger-pro_n_975647.html Temporal & Spatial Patterns in Asian Carp Reproduction: Sources and Sinks. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May2012. <http://www.ifishillinois.org/asiancarp/tuespm/Garvey.pdf>. Tina. "Asian carp: U.S. as much to blame as fish farms for escape." Detroit Free Press. N.p., 20 July 2011. Web. 28 May 2012. "US to spend $51.5 million battling Asian carp this year." Global Post27 International News. N.p., 2012. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/ 120227/asian-carp-control-budget-us-geological-survey>. "What Do Asian Carp Eat?" LaCrosse Fisheries. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Jan. 2012. <http://www.fws.gov/Midwest/LacrosseFisheries/AsianCarpSeven.html>. "What Does A Smith-Root Electric Barrier or Guidance System Do?" Smith-Root. Smith-Root, Inc, 2012. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://www.smith-root.com/ barriers/how/>. "Yangtze River Dolphin." The Animal Files. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2012. <http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/cetaceans/yangtze_river_dolphin.html >. Acknowledgements: My mentor Mrs. Ervin helped me throughout my research paper and guided me in the right direction. 28