Age‐0 Silver Carp Otolith Microchemistry and Microstructure Reveal Multiple Early Life Environments and Protracted Spawning in the Upper Mississippi River

Abstract Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix are highly mobile and fecund planktivorous cyprinids that have invaded much of the Mississippi River and are known to alter food webs and compete with native planktivores. In 2016, for the first time, an abundance of age‐0 Silver Carp ( n = 12,208; 16–231 mm) were captured at many ( n = 11) sites upstream of Lock and Dam 19 on the upper Mississippi River. Previous reports were of a few individuals at a few locations; however, effort to capture juveniles of this size was likely less in previous years. Determining the origin, frequency, and timing of the reproductive events that led to this large year‐class is important for determining control strategies. We used otolith microstructure and microchemistry from age‐0 Silver Carp to estimate timing and frequency of spawning and early life environments of these fish. Hatch dates were determined from the lapillus otoliths of 190 age‐0 Silver Carp (16–231 mm), and early life environments were identified from otolith microchemistry for 124 of these fish (64–231 mm). Age‐0 Silver Carp were collected from Pools 18 and 19 during July–October 2016 by using a variety of sampling gears. We identified 10 cohorts with hatch dates ranging from May to August 2016 and with main‐stem Mississippi River (75%) and tributary (23%) early life signatures. Tributary otolith chemistry signatures were present in all cohorts between May and July ( n = 8) but were absent from the August cohorts ( n = 2). Our results indicate that tributaries and small tributary streams, in addition to the main‐stem river, play an important role in Silver Carp recruitment in areas near the reproductive front, where management actions (e.g., contract removal and deterrents) are often targeted.