CENTENNIAL HONORS COLLEGE
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2016
PosterPresentation
QuantificationofDailyOtolithIncrementsinYoungofYearAsianCarp
EmilyA.Szott
FacultyMentor:JamesT.Lamer
Biology
Silver andbighead carpare invasive species established throughout the Mississippi River Basin.Many
studiesand resources havebeen dedicated to their management.However, information on
hydrologicalspawningtriggersandgrowthofjuvenileAsiancarpisstilllacking.Here,dailyincremental
growthannulifromotolithsareusedtoestimatebirthandgrowthofyoungofyearAsiancarp.Otoliths
areearbonestructuresinfishusedforbalance,orientation,andsounddetection.Wecollectedjuvenile
Asian carp from the LaGrange Reach of the Illinois River following a large spawning event in August
2014. Total length was measured, and the otoliths removed from each individual. Asmallpiece of
caudalfintissuewasexcisedforlatergeneticanalysis.Otolithswereagedfromupto20fishper5mm
lengthgroup(15-79mm).Theextractedotolithsweremountedtoslides,polished,photographed,and
aged. Otolith microstructure was validated using juvenile Asian carp from Chinese aquaculture.
Preliminary resultsshowthe collected Asian carp range from 26 to 45 days old, placingtheir
birthdaysbetween June 22 and July 11, 2014. Further study of agewill helpdetermine spawning
periodicityandhydrologicalspawningtriggers.Ultimately,theabilitytodeterminedailygrowthratesof
youngofyearAsiancarpwillhelpinthemanagementoftheseinvasivespecies.