CENTENNIAL HONORS COLLEGE
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2015
Poster Presentation
Invasive Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Population Dynamics in Spring Lake
Sarah Wilcer
Faculty Mentor: Timothy Spier
Biology
Cyprinus carpio (Common Carp) is a widespread invasive species. These fish are detrimental to local
ecosystems, not necessarily because they out-compete native species, but because Common Carp have a
negative impact on the environments they inhabit. The influence of the Common Carp population in
Spring Lake is important not only because the lake is a popular recreation area, but also because it is the
fresh water reservoir for the city of Macomb. The degraded water quality caused by Common Carp has
the potential to increase the cost of water treatment for Macomb’s residents and reduce the aesthetic
quality of the lake. Little is known about the Common Carp in Spring Lake and in this study, we
compiled the basic demographic information needed in order to properly manage this population. We
collected data on the population size, sex ratio, age distribution, mortality, growth rates, and spawning
information of Common Carp in Spring Lake. We captured fish by electrofishing and marked each with a
unique tag so that individuals within the population could be followed throughout the study. We kept a
subsample of fifty fish for aging. Our results are the necessary first step in establishing the extent of the
Common Carp problem in Spring Lake. In addition to collecting demographic information, we also
compared our data to historical records. After looking at all of these factors, we considered different
management strategies that could potentially be used in Spring Lake for Common Carp.