Public Events --

Brownbag Lectures: Effects of Invasive Asian Carp on Floodplain River Foodwebs

Brownbag Lectures: Effects of Invasive Asian Carp on Floodplain River Foodwebs

• Location: ISM Research & Collections Center, Springfield
• Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Presented by Shawn Gibbs, UIS Graduate Student

The goal of this study was to look at how invasive Asian Carp affect the lipid flow through floodplain river foodwebs. More specifically, how their presence in native foodwebs have the potential to affect aquatic insectivore birds. To do this we looked at Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molotrix, Bighead Carp H. nobilis, emergent insects, non-carp filter feeding fish, Tree Swallows Tachycineta bicolor, and seston. With these organisms, we will determine whether there is a significant difference between carp and non-carp sites in these individual fatty acid content and consumption. We looked at four control sites without Asian Carp; two sites along the Mississippi River, Lawrence Lake and Shellhorn Recreational Area, and two sites at Thompson Lake (Emiquon) along the Illinois River. We also looked at two experimental sites with Asian Carp at Big Lake, also along the Illinois River. Funding for this study provided by Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center, USGS.

One of our Brownbag Lectures

Weekly lectures held at the Museum's Research and Collections Center. Lectures are usually held during lunchtime on Wednesday. The RCC is located at 1011 E. Ash Street in Springfield. Access to the building is from 10 ½ Street (between Ash and Laurel Streets), where there is ample visitor parking in the west parking lot. For more information, please call 217-785-0037. Brown Bag Lectures are free and open to the public.

Also, if you want to be informed of upcoming lectures by email, you can sign up for the brownbag announcement list.