U.S Geological Survey - New Carp Publication
August 24, 2011
USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5076: Developmental Rate and Behavior of Early Life Stages of Bighead Carp and Silver Carp
By Duane C. Chapman and Amy E. George
This report provides new findings on how long it takes for bighead and silver carp eggs to develop after spawning and for the larval fish to get to the stage at which they can swim on their own. Scientists documented strong vertical swimming of fish larvae immediately after hatching, a behavior not previously observed. This has implications related to the length of stream Asian carp need to successfully spawn and survive. This information is important for assessing the risk of Asian carp establishing populations in the Great Lakes and will inform ongoing risk assessments such as the Great Lakes Mississippi River Interbasin Study and the Binational Risk Assessment. This project was funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
This silver carp is in the gas bladder inflation stage during which Asian carps begin to swim horizontally like fish normally do. When they inflate their gas bladder, as this one has, they can hold their position in the water column without swimming. Photo by USGS.