Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

The USGS is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research on understanding the habitat of Black Carp in the Mississippi River Basin. Black carp are an invasive molluscivore in North America, initially transported to aquaculture facilities in the 1980s for their use as a biological control of snails. Since their introduction to the United States, escapes into the wild have been documented, and reproducing populations are now present in the Mississippi River basin. Black Carp reported captures have increased in the Mississippi and Illinois rivers since 2015, particularly since the start of an incentive reporting program. The most significant concern for the black carp population expansion is the impact on native mussel and snail fauna, as well as the potential invasion into the Great Lakes from the Illinois River. Little is known about the habitats of Black Carp in the invaded portions of the Mississippi River and Illinois River. Identifying habitat and any associated patterns can increase monitoring efficiency and the efficacy of removal efforts by targeting efforts in Black Carp habitats. The primary objective of this study is to predict potential habitats within the upper Mississippi River and Illinois River for targeted efforts, thereby increasing removal efficiencies by focusing efforts on locations that are likely to be Black Carp habitats. Specifically, this study will integrate a commercial capture dataset, biologist-caught specimens below Mel Price Lock and Dam, and the active telemetry relocation dataset with geospatial data to develop an analytical framework for identifying potential Black Carp habitats. The work will inform the efficient monitoring and management of Black Carp in the Mississippi River Basin. Research Objectives: This research will address the following objectives to develop critical information to guide Black Carp monitoring and management in the Mississippi River Basin:1) Develop an analytical approach that integrates the commercial capture dataset, biologist captures below Mel Price Lock and Dam, and the active telemetry relocation dataset to identify potential Black Carp habitats and2) Predict potential habitats within the upper Mississippi River and Illinois River for targeted efforts