Establishment of invasive Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the Mississippi River basin: identifying sources and year classes contributing to recruitment

Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) was imported to the USA control aquaculture pond snails. This species has escaped captivity and occurs in parts of Mississippi River, several tributaries, floodplain lakes, which is concerning due potential competition with native fishes predation on mussels, many are imperiled. However, captures have primarily been incidental by commercial fishers, evidence reproduction wild limited. The objectives this study were assess relative abundance aquaculture-origin using ploidy otolith stable isotope analysis, identify spatial extent natural microchemistry, age distributions aquaculture-source infer years occurred timing escapement or introductions, estimate size at maturation whether recruitment adulthood occurred. Results revealed that established River basin based findings that: (1) non-captive consist fertile, naturally-reproduced fish, (2) rivers, (3) multiple year classes fish present, (4) recruited adulthood. Multiple introductions escapements into wild, including both fertile functionally sterile individuals, also inferred. Individual growth appears be rapid, although considerable variation observed among fish. Additional suggested refine understanding where when occurring basin.