Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) - High Risk

Species that are considered high risk have a well-documented history of invasiveness in at least one location globally, and a high or medium climate match to the contiguous United States.

Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, the Bighead Carp, is a carp species native to China. This species has a high history of invasiveness: since being introduced to the U.S. via aquaculture in the 1970s, it has escaped captivity and spread rapidly in the Mississippi and Missouri River basins. Negative impacts to the U.S. caused by H. nobilis and its congener H. molitrix include alterations to the zooplankton community and lowered body condition of native planktivores. H. nobilis has a high climate match with the contiguous U.S. Certainty of this assessment is medium because information available on negative impacts of this species to the U.S. did not distinguish between the effects of H. nobilis and H. molitrix. Despite this, the overall risk assessment category is still High.

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High Risk
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Juvenile Northern Pike in aquarium at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery, South Dakota
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program leads aquatic conservation efforts for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We are committed to tackling the nation’s highest priority aquatic conservation and recreational challenges to conserve, restore, and enhance fisheries for future generations.
Aquatic invasive species cause tremendous harm to our environment, our economy, and our health. They can drive out and eat native plants and wildlife, spread diseases, and damage infrastructure. We work to protect our waterways and the communities that depend on them from the threat of invasive...
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Invasive species