Indiana Watershed Leadership Program

Aired: November 20, 2013 from noon to 1pm Eastern

Asian carps, particularly silver (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead (H. nobilis) carps, are highly successful invasive fishes in midwestern U.S. rivers.  Although they were not expected to become established in the Mississippi River basin based on their life history and ecology characteristics in their native range, they have nonetheless demonstrated remarkable abilities to thrive.  Several characteristics appear to contribute to this success, and there continues to be great concern about their establishment in the Great Lakes.  Controlling these fishes is proving challenging, and eradication from North American waters appears to be highly unlikely.  While their impacts are not always easy to identify explicitly, it is generally agreed that continued population growth and spread of these species will have substantial ecological and economic consequences.

Meet the Presenter:

Reuben Goforth, Associate Professor of Aquatic Ecosystems, Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University

Reuben Goforth is an associate professor of aquatic ecology in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University.  He grew up in South Carolina and obtained a BS in Biological Sciences and an MS in Aquaculture, Fisheries, and Wildlife from Clemson University.  He earned his doctorate in Natural Resources from Cornell University and began his professional career as the Aquatic Ecology Program Leader for the Michigan Natural Features Inventory.  He has been at Purdue University since 2007, and his research focuses primarily on stream and river fishes, including invasive species.

Presentation slides (in pdf)

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