| Abstract: | Bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, silver carp H. molitrix, and grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella (hereafter Asian carps) have expanded throughout the Mississippi River basin and threaten to invade Lakes Michigan and Erie. Adult bighead carp and grass carp have been captured in Lake Erie, but self-sustaining populations probably do not exist. We examined thermal conditions within Lake Erie to determine if Asian carps would mature, and to estimate time of year when fish would reach spawning condition. We also examined whether thermal and hydrologic conditions in the largest tributaries to western and central Lake Erie were suitable for spawning of Asian carps. We used length of undammed river, predicted summer temperatures, and predicted water velocity during flood events to determine whether sufficient lengths of river are available for spawning of Asian carps. Most rivers we examined have at least 100 km of passable river and summer temperatures suitable (> 21 C) for rapid incubation of eggs of Asian carps. Predicted water velocity and temperature were sufficient to ensure that incubating eggs, which drift in the water column, would hatch before reaching Lake Erie for most flood events in most rivers if spawned far enough upstream. The Maumee, Sandusky, and Grand Rivers were predicted to be the most likely to support spawning of Asian carps. The Black, Huron, Portage, and Vermilion Rivers were predicted to be less suitable. The weight of the evidence suggests that the largest western and central Lake Erie tributaries are thermally and hydrologically suitable to support spawning of Asian carps. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70041991 |
| Citation Author: | Kocovsky, Patrick M.; Chapman, Duane C.; McKenna, James E. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Great Lakes Science Center |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | 166 |
| Citation Issue: | 1 |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Journal of Great Lakes Research |
| Citation LatN: | 43.26 |
| Citation LatS: | 41.4 |
| Citation LonE: | -78.85 |
| Citation LonW: | -83.48 |
| Citation Month: | MAR |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | 8 p. |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | Elsevier |
| Citation Series: | |
| Citation Series Code: | |
| Citation Series Number: | |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Thermal and hydrologic suitability of Lake Erie and its major tributaries for spawning of Asian carps; 2012; Article; Journal; Journal of Great Lakes Research; Kocovsky, Patrick M.; Chapman, Duane C.; McKenna, James E. |
| Citation Start Page: | 159 |
| Citation Volume: | 38 |
| Citation Year: | 2012 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Thermal and hydrologic suitability of Lake Erie and its major tributaries for spawning of Asian carps; 2012; Article; Journal; Journal of Great Lakes Research; Kocovsky, Patrick M.; Chapman, Duane C.; McKenna, James E. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2011.11.015 |
| Date Other: | Wed, 26 Dec 2012 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
