On the east bank
of the Illinois River, the Illinois Natural History Survey research biologists
monitor about 150,000 local fish a year with the use of aluminum skiffs. The
local species are relatively small and bland however, the names are remarkably
interesting. Three names have been recorded within the local species: gizzard
shad, bigmouth buffalo, largemouth bass, and bluntnose minnow. In the mid-‘90s
a small but rather significant epidemic broke out around the area with the
invasion of two species of Asian carp. The carp was imported from the China
during the 1970s and broke lose from their ponds in the south. The species
eventually migrated up the Mississippi River and spread out throughout various
tributaries, including the Illinois River. United States Geological Service
expert Duane C. Chapman, a highly experienced specialist within the species of
Asian Carp, states, “They puttered along for a few generations and then they
reached an exponential growth phase” (Chapman). Silver carp behavior is very aggressive,
for example when boats approach the organism will react with an exaggerated
leap out of the water. The observation of the carp’s peculiar behavior revealed
biologists unexpected data of their immense population size and growth within
the rivers of the Midwest.
* Information obtained at www.discovermagazine.com
* Pictures obtained at www.thinkgreenliveclean.com & www.mri.usd.edu
Figure 16.1
Figure 16.2
No comments:
Post a Comment