Asian Carp impact

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Were Asian carp to get into Lake Erie, its impact on native fish would be mixed, according to a study out of the University of Michigan. The food-web study found while most fish in Lake Erie would see declines if Asian carp were to make it into the lake, some fish would actually increase. Ed Rutherford, a co-author of the study, says because Asian carp are plankton eaters they would negatively impact other plankton feeders like rainbow trout, gizzard shad and emerald shiner, but fish-eating fish like small-mouth bass could gain numbers. The study also says Asian carp could eventually account for about a third of total weight of fish in the lake. Studies are currently being conducted on the impact Asian carp would have on lakes Michigan, Huron and Ontario.