Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID IL_2025_Andres

Evaluating the extent and impacts of secondary invasions of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in the Upper Mississippi River Basin

Institute: Illinois
USGS Grant Number:
Year Established: 2025 Start Date: 2026-08-01 End Date: 2029-07-31
Total Federal Funds: $249,637 Total Non-Federal Funds: $249,766

Principal Investigators: Kara J. Andres

Project Summary: Invasive species can cause major problems for aquatic resources by outcompeting native species, disrupting food webs, and harming fisheries. One of the most problematic invaders in the Great Lakes is the round goby, a small bottom-dwelling fish that eats the eggs of sport fishes and competes with native species. Round gobies are now spreading from Lake Michigan into the Upper Mississippi River Basin, a region that supports thousands of aquatic species and provides important ecological and economic benefits. This project will use DNA-based methods to track where gobies are spreading, what they are eating, and how they are moving into new habitats. To do so, we will combine environmental DNA surveys, diet content analysis, and genetic assessments to create tools to better predict and manage round goby invasions. The results will help managers protect biodiversity, fisheries, and ecosystem health before the invasion becomes widespread.