Centennial Honors College
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2014
Poster Presentation
Know Your Enemy: A Study of Invasive Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in
Spring Lake
Sarah Wilcer
Faculty Advisor: 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 Common Carp 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 increases the
cost of water treatment for Macomb’s residents and reduces the aesthetic quality of the
lake. Little is known about the Common Carp in Spring Lake and basic demographic
information is needed in order to properly manage this population. I propose to collect
data on the population size, sex ratio, age distribution, mortality, growth rates, fish
condition, and spawning information of Common Carp in Spring Lake. Fish will be
captured by electrofishing and each will be marked with a unique tag so that individuals
within the population may be followed throughout the study. A subsample of up to one
hundred fish will be kept for aging. My research results will be the necessary first step
when determining the proper management strategy for controlling these fish in Spring
Lake. In addition to collecting demographic information, I will also compare my data to
historical records. After looking at all of these factors, I will consider different
management strategies that could potentially be used in Spring Lake for Common Carp.