Abstract Details
5/18/2015 |
14:15 - 14:30
|
INVESTIGATION OF FRESHWATER MUSSEL GLOCHIDIA PRESENCE ON ASIAN CARP AND NATIVE FISHES OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER
Asian carp have been reported to serve as fish hosts to freshwater mussels in their native territories, but no one has conducted research on the potential for Silver, Bighead, or Black Carp to host North American freshwater mussels or if they serve as reproductive sinks. Native fishes and non-native carp species were collected from the Illinois River Basin during summer of 2014. Preserved fins, tail, and gills of native and non-natives were observed, of which gills were first soaked with a 5% potassium hydroxide solution for 20 minutes to increase transparency. Our primary objective was to evaluate the potential presence of glochidia on non-native fishes in the Illinois River system; if found, this would be the first documented record for Silver and Bighead Carp in North America and would provide great incentive to pursue further studies to elucidate if Asian carp could serve as a successful host fish for native mussels or if they are serving as reproductive sinks, a possibility that could have a major impact on the future stocks of currently imperiled freshwater mussels.
Sarah Douglass (Primary Presenter/Author), Illinois Natural History Survey, sabales@illinois.edu;
Alison Stodola (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Illinois Natural History Survey, alprice@illinois.edu;
Andrea Fritts (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Illinois Natural History Survey, afritts@illinois.edu;