University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Perceived Influence and Response of River Users to Invasive Bighead and Silver Carp in the Illinois River

Spacapan, Molly M.; Besek, Jordan F.; Sass, Greg G.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/90061

Description

Title
Perceived Influence and Response of River Users to Invasive Bighead and Silver Carp in the Illinois River
Author(s)
  • Spacapan, Molly M.
  • Besek, Jordan F.
  • Sass, Greg G.
Issue Date
2016-05-05
Keyword(s)
  • bighead carp
  • Illinois River
  • invasive species
  • Laurentian Great Lakes
  • Mississippi River Basin
  • river users
  • silver carp
Geographic Coverage
  • Illinois River
  • Illinois
Abstract
Two United States federally injurious fishes, bighead(Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)and silver carp(H. molitrix),are established in the Mississippi River Basinand have the potential tocolonize the Laurentian Great Lakes. Given this imminentthreat, a critical need for stakeholders is an understanding ofthe potential social influences of this invasion oncommunities that rely upon the ecosystems bighead and silvercarp now inhabit; influences so far unstudied. Using intercept surveys (n= 469), we tested forthe potential social influencesof bighead and silvercarp in four river communities;three in which they haveestablishedpopulations(test, Illinois River, Illinois) and one in which they have not(control, Mississippi River, Iowa). Reported principal differences between test and control sites were observed for recreational fishing, aestheticappreciation of the river, and experience with bighead and silvercarp. Our exploratory results indicate that bighead and silvercarp may have a negative influence on river usage.
Publisher
Illinois Natural History Survey
Series/Report Name or Number
Technical Report INHS 2016 (20)
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/90061
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
Illinois Natural History Survey
Copyright and License Information
This document is a product of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and has been selected and made available by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested.

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Illinois Natural History Survey PRIMARY
Reports produced by INHS staff, usually as deliverables for assessment projects funded by federal or state agencies or non-governmental organizations.