An inventory (enumeration and taxonomic identification) of diet items consumed by wild-caught black carp, based on the examination of gut contents from fish that were collected in the lower Mississippi River drainage of the U.S.

An inventory (enumeration and taxonomic identification) of diet items consumed by wild-caught black carp, based on the examination of gut contents from fish that were collected in the lower Mississippi River drainage of the U.S.

An inventory (enumeration and taxonomic identification) of diet items consumed by wild-caught black carp, based on the examination of gut contents from fish that were collected in the lower Mississippi River drainage of the U.S.

These data represent the measurements of length and mouth gape from large juvenile and adult wild-caught and small juvenile hatchery origin black carp, and the results of laboratory size preference trials with bivalve prey, specifically Corbicula clams. Wild-caught black carp ranged from 429-1580 mm total length, a larger range than measured in previous studies. Corbicula feeding trial data consist of the shell dimensions of each clam, survival, and the frequency which clams were engulfed by black carp.

These data represent the measurements of length and mouth gape from large juvenile and adult wild-caught and small juvenile hatchery origin black carp, and the results of laboratory size preference trials with bivalve prey, specifically Corbicula clams. Wild-caught black carp ranged from 429-1580 mm total length, a larger range than measured in previous studies. Corbicula feeding trial data consist of the shell dimensions of each clam, survival, and the frequency which clams were engulfed by black carp.

A piscicide delivery method was designed to selectively target black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus, an invasive species in North America which possesses specially adapted pharyngeal teeth for crushing mollusk prey. Bait was prepared by attaching a glass vial containing toxicant (antimycin A) to the exterior of Corbicula fluminea clam valve. The vial was designed to break by the force exerted from the fish’s (550 millimeter total length) pharyngeal teeth when the fish attempted to crush and consume the clam. Suitable vial size was tested for encapsulating piscicide and two attachment materials, aquarium epoxy and ultraviolet light (UV) cured attachment material. Toxic baits consisting of antimycin A piscicide were administered in ethanol and acetone carriers to black carp in assembled baits with vials attached to live clam valves at three concentrations (40.0 milligrams per milliliter ethanol and 341.5 and 170.8 milligrams per milliliter acetone). Additionally fathead minnow Pimephales promelas toxicity data from experiments validating the methods of flame sealing glass vials are present in this dataset.

A total of 236 Black Carp were collected throughout the year from 2017-2019 by incidental captures of commercial fishers and biologists. Capture date, river basin of capture location, and coordinates were recorded for each Black Carp captured. A subsample of 119 Black Carp varying from 429-1268 millimeters total length were compared for the precision of annuli counts by two experienced readers for the ossified two anterior pectoral fin rays, the ossified anterior dorsal fin ray, sectioned vertebrae, and lapilli otoliths for selection of a single structure based on percent exact agreement, coefficient of variation, and age-frequency plots.

A total of 236 Black Carp were collected throughout the year from 2017-2019 by incidental captures of commercial fishers and biologists. Capture date, river basin of capture location, and coordinates were recorded for each Black Carp captured. A subsample of 119 Black Carp varying from 429-1268 millimeters total length were compared for the precision of annuli counts by two experienced readers for the ossified two anterior pectoral fin rays, the ossified anterior dorsal fin ray, sectioned vertebrae, and lapilli otoliths for selection of a single structure based on percent exact agreement, coefficient of variation, and age-frequency plots.

Black Carp collections (n=534) by commercial fishers, biologists, and recreational anglers from the Mississippi River basin recorded from 2018 to 2022 are reported here. Geographic coordinates, total length (TL), weight, girth, date of capture, sex, and gear were recorded. Total length was measured from the tip of the snout to the longest caudal fin ray with the caudal fin lobes pinched. Girth was measured as the circumference of the fish anterior of the dorsal fin, representing wedge capture in passive gears. When provided by fishers, the gear dimensions such as the diameter, mesh, and bait used for hoop nets, and mesh size of gill nets were recorded.

Black Carp collections (n=534) by commercial fishers, biologists, and recreational anglers from the Mississippi River basin recorded from 2018 to 2022 are reported here. Geographic coordinates, total length (TL), weight, girth, date of capture, sex, and gear were recorded. Total length was measured from the tip of the snout to the longest caudal fin ray with the caudal fin lobes pinched. Girth was measured as the circumference of the fish anterior of the dorsal fin, representing wedge capture in passive gears. When provided by fishers, the gear dimensions such as the diameter, mesh, and bait used for hoop nets, and mesh size of gill nets were recorded.