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Congress set to act on Asian Carp as SIUC researcher finds a clue to controlling its population

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* Maybe after doing this, Congress can find time to cut a deal on a stimulus bill. Greg Hinz…

A project seen as crucial to keeping voracious Asian carp out of Lake Michigan and the rest of the Great Lakes is teed up for a vote in the U.S. House today.

Under a deal crafted by U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Geneva, construction of a barrier separation system at the Brandon Road locks on the Des Plaines River just south of Joliet would be funded 80 percent by the federal government, up from the normal 50 percent.

That would cut Illinois’ share of the roughly $500 million project to $100 million, with other states likely to pick up some of the share. Former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration had balked at the state’s fiscal hit, which had risen with estimated construction costs to as much as $250 million, but green leaders including the Environmental Law & Policy Center’s Howard Learner say they believe Rauner successor, J.B. Pritzker, will go along with the new funding plan trimming the state’s cost. […]

The same bill also authorizes the corps to study beach “resiliency” issues for the Chicago shoreline, which is under pressure from rising lake levels.

* Meanwhile…

In fish, the fin bone is connected to the tail bone and so on. But for a researcher at Southern Illinois University Carbondale studying an aggressive invader, it’s all about the ear bone.

That tiny bone in the ear of the grass carp is exposing an important clue to controlling their numbers in the Great Lakes. The findings are contained in a paper by SIU Professor of Zoology Gregory Whitledge, recently published in Journal of Great Lakes Research.

Whitledge and others used the telltale chemistry contained in the growth rings from the bone to identify key breeding grounds for the fish. The information contained in the otoliths, or so-called “ear stones,” could help wildlife managers better target population control efforts aimed at a fish that crowds out native animals.

Way to go, SIUC!

I didn’t realize this, but Asian Carp is also a problem in Bangladesh.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 8, 20 @ 2:14 pm

Comments

That is a big deal. Congrats to the Salukis for their great work. If I remember right, they also helped early in the pandemic with getting testing material produced. SIU Carbondale is a great school.

Comment by Gravy Bond Tuesday, Dec 8, 20 @ 4:13 pm
My alma mater…a lot more goes on there than partying…

Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Dec 8, 20 @ 5:03 pm
“My alma mater … a lot more … partying”

What other university has a “BEER” scholarship?

SIU has an endowed scholarship with the acronym “BEER”.

https://siu.academicworks.com/opportunities/22642

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Dec 8, 20 @ 5:55 pm
“the fin bone is connected to the tail bone”

It came out as song in my head while reading this part.

Comment by The Dude Tuesday, Dec 8, 20 @ 6:04 pm
Check the dollar amount of that BEER scholarship which was started and funded by a group of alumni on facebook . Us old dawgs are paying it forward.

Comment by 618er Tuesday, Dec 8, 20 @ 8:12 pm
I have a pal who runs a charter service in a state south of Illinois. He offers trap shooting from the boat using the Carp as clays. The fish actually doesn’t taste all that bad.

Comment by Just Another Anon Tuesday, Dec 8, 20 @ 10:08 pm
>I didn’t realize this, but Asian Carp is also a problem in Bangladesh.

Yes, but my understanding is that there it’s known as the Illinois River Carp.

Comment by ryan Tuesday, Dec 8, 20 @ 10:50 pm