Asian+Carp+-+2

__Asian Carp__ Scientific Name: //Hypophthalmichthys molitrix//  Description: Bighead and silver carp have scales heads, there body scales are very small. Adults may be more than 60 lbs. and 4ft long. Bighead and silver carp have low-set eyes and a large upturned mouth without barbells  Silver Carp jump out of the water when disturbed by boat motors. Black Carp have large scales with a blackish brown body. (3) media type="youtube" key="jb8OmEr7VqI" height="344" width="425" Introduced into the United States 1960: native to Asia and Eurasia The fish have spread to most of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and their tributaries. High Head dams have prevented upstream movement to reservoirs Asian carps pose a considerable hazard to boaters, mainly due to silver cap jumping into moving boats, causing human injuries and property damage. Damage from a jumping carp hitting a object might reasonably be compared to being hit with a thrown bowling ball. Asian carps have little economic or sport value compared to native fishes. In Europe and Asia where bighead and silver carp have been introduced outside their native range they usually exceed 90 percent of the commercial catch Bighead and silver carp hybridize in the wild. (2)  **Ecological Impacts:** The asian carp really have no posotive impacts to the united states. They are more of nucesence and need to be exiled from United States waters. The negative impacts are alarming. These risks include rapid range expansion and population increase which could decrease abundance of native mussels, other invertebrates, and fishes. Carp can eilminate vast areas of aquatic plants that are important as fish food and spawning and nursery habitats. Losses of those habitats can potentially reduce recruitment and abundance of native fishes. Carp reduce abundance of already rare snails mussels and other invertebrates. Along with causing different types of wildlife in the rivers and streams to become almost extinct because of these bizzar creatures the economy around and on the lake has begun to feel the effects. (2) Eurasia I believe that this map shows how big of a problem the carp population has become. With the rise from 30% total catch to over 100% total catch in 2000. This graph really shows how big of a problem the asian carp have become in the United States, and how rapidly they grown. The asian carp started at the bottom of the mississippi and moved their way north and they are indanger of entering the great lakes if not stopped. The Asain Carp simply swim very clost to the top of the water and eat all of the alge on top. There is no real preadotr for the asian carp resulting in a mass of an asian carp community. (3) ** How do we control Asian Carp?** The United States government has set up a seven step plan to prevent these harmful fish from entering and keeping our water ways contaminated. They include: **Goal 1** - Prevent accidental and deliberate unathorized introductions of bighead, black, silver and grass carps in the United States. **Goal 2** - Contain and control the expansion of feral populations of bighead, black, grass and silver carps in the United States. **Goal 3** - Extripate, or reduce to levels of insignificant effect, feral populations of bighead, black, grass and silver carp. **Goal 4** - Minimize potential adverse effects of feral bighead, black, grass, and silver carp. **Goal 5** - Provide information to the public, commercial entities, and government agencies to improve effective management. **Goal 6** - Conduct research to provide accurate and scientifically valid information necessary for the effective management and control of the asian carp in the united states. **Goal 7** - Effectively plan, implement and evaluate management and control efforts for the carp. (1)
 * General Information: **
 * Detailed Description: **
 * The origin of the Asian Carp is:**
 * Prefereed habitat:** Large warm water rivers and impoundments
 * Size:** Asian Carp are usually 24-30 inches and 3-10 pounds, be individuals of the species can reach up to 50+ pounds.
 * Size:** Commonly 24–30 inches and 3–10 pounds, but individuals of all species can reach 50+ pounds.
 * Method of introduction:** The method of which the asian carp were introduced to the wild was a very hard question yet some believe the government when entering regular carp and grass carp may have mistakenly also released the devestating Asian Carp as well. (2)
 * Where have the Asian Carp gone?**

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Conover, G., R. Simmonds, and M. Whalen, editors. 2007. Management and control plan for bighead, black, grass, and silver carps in the United States. Asian Carp Working Group, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, Washington, D.C. 223 pp.(1)
 * Citations:**

"Asian Carp Managment." 2004-2008. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and University of Texas Arlington. 20 Nov 2008 http://www.asiancarp.org/impacts.asp. (2)

U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey, (October 2, 2007). Retrieved November 20, 2008, from USGS Asian Carp Web site: http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/invasive_species/asian_carp.html (3) media type="custom" key="2731287" Created by Robby Kaiser!