Invasive Asian Carps in North America

2011 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Grass Carp ◽  
Silver Carp ◽  
Nuclear Size ◽  
Bighead Carp ◽  
Ctenopharyngodon Idella ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Black Carp ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
Asian Carps

<em>Abstract</em>.—The Asian black carp <em>Mylopharyngodon piceus </em>is of interest to the aquaculture industry in the United States as a biological control for snails and mollusks. However, past experience in North America with other Asian carps has raised concern that black carp will establish wild populations and negatively affect native populations of fish and invertebrates, especially mollusks. The demand for black carp has led biologists to seek ways to allow their use while at the same time maintaining control over their distribution and reproduction. Physical containment and restrictions on importation, release, and stocking have mostly failed. Control of reproduction holds more promise. The induction of triploidy (having three sets of chromosomes), which can render an individual biologically sterile, is of particular interest. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of proposed testing procedures used to assure genetic triploidy in black carp prior to distribution by the state of Missouri, using black carp and grass carp <em>Ctenopharyngodon idella</em>. Our objectives were to (1) verify if the ploidy determination methodology (nuclear size) employed was 100% accurate, (2) determine growth and survival of juvenile black carp over extended periods of time under laboratory and pond conditions, and (3) histologically examine development and gametogenesis in gonads collected from triploid and diploid black and grass carps of different ages and stages of maturation. Comparison of erythrocyte nuclear size using the Coulter counter method versus the more accurate method of flow cytometry that measures DNA content indicated an error rate of 0.25% by the former method. Black carp grew and survived well in mid-Missouri ponds. Triploid grass carp males appeared to produce functional gametes, and some triploid black carp male testes had apparently normal spermatocytes within cysts. A few normally developing oocytes at previtellogenic and vitellogenic stages were observed in triploid grass carp females, and a few normal perinuclear oocytes could be identified in triploid black carp females. Currently, the standards of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s triploid grass carp voluntary inspection program are being followed by some states to manage triploid black carp. Our results indicate that although the percentage of diploid black carp that could pass through the currently proposed screening program is small, overall numbers of diploid black carp distributed in a state could be substantial depending on the number of triploids distributed. Furthermore, despite indications that triploid male black carp can be expected to be functionally sterile, reproductive studies may be warranted given the large wild populations of diploid grass carp, bighead carp <em>Hypophthalmichthys nobilis</em>, and silver carp <em>H. molitrix </em>in the Mississippi River basin system.

Invasive Asian Carps in North America

2011 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Grass Carp ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
Silver Carp ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Asian Carp ◽  
Bighead Carp ◽  
Ctenopharyngodon Idella ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Black Carp ◽  
Asian Carps

<em>Abstract</em>.—In the 1970s, commercial fishers reported sightings of grass carp <em>Ctenopharyngodon idella </em>in large rivers and associated backwaters of Louisiana; the first specimen in Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ fishery independent sampling was recorded in 1976. Beginning in the early 1980s, commercial fishers noted increasing populations of bighead carp <em>Hypophthalmichthys nobilis </em>and silver carp <em>H. molitrix </em>(together, the bigheaded carps). Populations of bigheaded carps appear to be increasing at a much slower rate than in the Midwest¸ possibly due to limited suitability of and access to backwater habitat for juvenile fish. In 2002, harvester reports of sporadic captures of “different-looking” grass carp indicated the possible presence of black carp <em>Mylopharyngodon piceus</em>. Because both normal diploid and triploid (in which triploidy has been induced to cause sterility) black carp have been stocked in the Mississippi basin, determination of the ploidy (number of chromosome sets) of these fishes is important. Since 2002, postmortem ploidy determinations using cells from eyeballs removed from six wild black carp captured in Louisiana showed each to be a normal diploid, indicative of breeding capability and potential reproducing populations. Although reported commercial landings of grass and bigheaded carps have been as high as 34,830 kg/year, limited market demand in past years resulted in many captures being discarded. A protocol for obtaining samples for easily determining ploidy is reported here. Accurate data on Asian carp distributions and their reproductive potential provides information to fisheries researchers that will be constructive in documenting the spread of these invasive species and in the assessment of risk to habitats.

Invasive Asian Carps in North America

2011 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Mississippi River ◽  
Silver Carp ◽  
Bighead Carp ◽  
Ctenopharyngodon Idella ◽  
Great Lakes Basin ◽  
Black Carp ◽  
Federal Department ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Asian Carps

<em>Abstract</em>.—There are four species collectively known as the Asian carps: grass carp <em>Ctenopharyngodon idella</em>, bighead carp <em>Hypophthalmichthys nobilis</em>, silver carp <em>H. molitrix</em>, and black carp <em>Mylopharyngodon piceus</em>. These species have been introduced worldwide for aquaculture purposes. Subsequent to introduction into the southern United States, three species have become well-established in the wild (grass, bighead, and silver carps). Two of these species, bighead and silver carps, have been dispersing rapidly up the Mississippi River basin, wreaking ecological havoc along the way. As there are numerous connections between the Mississippi basin and Canadian watersheds, including the Great Lakes, there is considerable concern about their potential ecological impacts if introduced and established in Canada. In addition to natural dispersal, these species may also be introduced into the Canadian wild through the live food fish trade. In 2004, the Canadian federal department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada conducted a risk assessment to determine the ecological risk of Asian carps to Canada. This assessment included evaluating the risk of survival, reproduction and spread of these species, as well as their pathogens, parasites, or fellow travelers (e.g. other invasive species), should they be introduced into Canada. These components were assessed in an expert workshop using best available information on their biology, potential vectors of introduction, and impacts in both native and introduced ranges. The assessment concluded that the risk of impact was high in, at least, some parts of Canada, including the southern Great Lakes basin by all four Asian carp species.

Invasive Asian Carps in North America

2011 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Grass Carp ◽  
Silver Carp ◽  
Federal Agencies ◽  
Bighead Carp ◽  
Commercial Fish ◽  
Fish And Wildlife Service ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Asian Carps ◽  
The U.S

<em>Abstract</em>.—Numerous natural resource agency and media reports have alleged that Asian carps were introduced into the wild through escapes from commercial fish farms. This chapter traces the chronology associated with importations of Asian carps to North America and discusses the likeliest pathways of their introduction to the wild. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first imported an Asian carp species, grass carp <em>Ctenopharyngodon idella</em>, in 1963. Since then, state and federal agencies, universities, and private fish farmers have interacted to import Asian carps, to develop production technologies, and to promote their use in both public and private sectors in a number of different states. These importations and stocking, whether in confinement or, in the case of the grass carp, sometimes in open waters, were purposeful and legal. Asian carps were introduced to take advantage of their unique food preferences (planktivory by silver carp <em>Hypophthalmichthys molitrix </em>and bighead carp <em>H. nobilis</em>, herbivory by grass carp, and molluscivory by black carp <em>Mylopharyngodon piceus</em>). The first known accidental release of diploid grass carp was in 1966 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Stuttgart, Arkansas. Other early reports of grass carp in the wild were from waters in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Grass carp were reported from the wild in 1970, 2 years before the first private hatchery received grass carp. By 1972, grass carp had been stocked in open water systems in 16 different states. Silver carp and bighead carp were first imported purposely by a commercial fish producer in Arkansas in 1973. All silver and bighead carps were transferred to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission by March 1974 where they first successfully spawned silver carp and bighead carp later that year. The first report of silver carp in the wild was in Arizona in 1972, although strong evidence suggests that this may have been a misidentification, followed by reports in Arkansas in the wild in 1975. The Arkansas report occurred 2 years before bighead carp and silver carp were returned to private hatcheries for commercial production. By 1977, silver carp and bighead carp had been introduced to Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, and Tennessee. Research and stockings of silver carp and bighead carp were conducted by at least six state and federal agencies and three universities in seven states in the 1970s and 1980s. Public-sector agencies, which were successful in encouraging development and use of Asian carps that today are in commercial trade, are the likeliest pathways for the earliest escapes of grass carp, silver carp, and bighead carp.

Invasive Asian Carps in North America

2011 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Mississippi River ◽  
Grass Carp ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
River System ◽  
Ctenopharyngodon Idella ◽  
Ecological Effect ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Black Carp ◽  
Asian Carps

<em>Abstract</em>.—The black carp <em>Mylopharyngodon piceus </em>is a large (>1 m long) riverine fish from eastern Asia introduced into the United States via the aquaculture industry. A wild population has been present in the lower Mississippi River basin since the early 1990s, but little is known about the ecological effect of black carp in invaded environments. In its native range, black carp feed almost exclusively on mollusks. In U.S. waters, they likely prey on native mussels, but few wild-caught specimens have been examined by biologists and all have had empty gastrointestinal tracts. In lieu of stomach content data, we examined isotopic values (δ<sup>13</sup>C and δ <sup>15</sup>N) and mercury (Hg) concentrations in muscle tissue of black carp and 10 other large nonnative and native fish species captured in the Red–Atchafalaya River system of Louisiana, USA. Trophic position estimates derived from δ <sup>15</sup>N values ranged from 2.0 for grass carp <em>Ctenopharyngodon idella </em>to 4.8 for blue catfish <em>Ictalurus furcatus </em>and flathead catfish <em>Pylodictis olivaris</em>. Adult black carp had a δ <sup>15</sup>N value (13.2‰), indicating a trophic level of 3.5. Mean total Hg concentrations ranged from 0.02 µg/g in grass carp to 0.27 µg/g in bigmouth buffalo <em>Ictiobus cyprinellus</em>, in black carp 0.17 µg/g; Hg increased with increasing δ <sup>15</sup>N, indicating biomagnification. The limited numbers of taxa and small samples sizes, as well as constraints in methods used, do not allow confirmation that wild black carp are consuming native mollusks. However, our stable isotope results do provide evidence that its diet is similar to other large fish species inhabiting the Red–Atchafalaya system considered to be benthic invertivores, including some known to prey on freshwater mollusks (i.e., smallmouth buffalo <em>I. bubalus </em>and nonnative common carp <em>Cyprinus carpio</em>).

Mitochondrial DNA diversity, population structure, and conservation genetics of four native carps within the Yangtze River, China

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Lu ◽  
S Li ◽  
L Bernatchez
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
Grass Carp ◽  
Yangtze River ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
Silver Carp ◽  
Bighead Carp ◽  
The Yangtze River ◽  
Black Carp ◽  
Dna Diversity

Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon piceus), bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), and black carp(Mylopharyngodon piceus) rank first, second, fourth, and seventh in world fish production. In China, the Yangtze River harbours the most important natural populations of these species. We performed a polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length poymorphism analysis on 365 juvenile fish representing three nursery grounds to provide a first assessment of the mitochondrial DNA diversity in these species and test the hypothesis that they are composed of more than one genetic stock. The mitochondrial DNA diversity was high in silver, bighead, and black carp, and much less in grass carp. Analysis of heterogeneity of genotype frequency, fixation indices, intersite molecular variance, and localization indices indicated that juvenile silver, bighead, and black carp from different nursery areas belong to genetically distinct populations. These results suggest that their population structure may be determined by the number of environmental settings that permit closure of their life cycle. They also imply that carp from the Yangtze River cannot be managed as a single unit and that human disturbance through exploitation and habitat modifications, in particular the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, will have differential impacts on fish abundance for different parts of the river.

Invasive Asian Carps in North America

2011 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Silver Carp ◽  
Free Field ◽  
Bighead Carp ◽  
Skin Extract ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Total Length ◽  
Hypophthalmichthys Nobilis ◽  
Avoidance Tests ◽  
Asian Carps

<em>Abstract</em>.—The response of bighead carp <em>Hypophthalmichthys nobilis </em>and silver carp <em>H. molitrix </em>to conspecific skin extracts was determined during free-field observations and avoidance tests. The extracts induced freezing/motionlessness, cessation of food-searching activities, and reduced swimming activity in the fish. Silver carp tended to avoid the area where the extract was released and a strong schooling response was induced in bighead carp. In avoidance tests using countercurrent chambers, young bighead carp (5–8 cm total length) were unresponsive to the skin extract (<EM>P </EM>> 0.05). However, in both species, older juveniles (12–25 cm total length) spent significantly less time (<EM>P </EM>< 0.01) in the side of the chamber receiving skin extract solutions. The extract was effective whether freshly prepared or aged at room temperature for 24 h. Freezing did not alter the effectiveness of fresh or frozen extracts. These studies suggest that bighead and silver carp are responsive to conspecific skin extracts and that the use of extracts might be useful to repel carp from habitats of concern.

Invasive Asian Carps in North America

2011 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
North America ◽  
Silver Carp ◽  
The United States ◽  
Bighead Carp ◽  
Hypophthalmichthys Nobilis ◽  
Asian Carps

<em>Abstract</em>.—In the United States, a variety of outreach has been done on bighead carp <em>Hypophthalmichthys nobilis </em>and silver carp <em>H. molitrix </em>by a number of organizations and institutions. Because many of these outreach efforts were localized, nonlocalized entities often are unaware of them. Many of the entities conducting outreach, too, do not have a systematic bighead and silver carp (BSC) outreach plan and thus their efforts may not be as efficient or effective as possible. To address these issues, we surveyed organizations in areas where BSC have been found and compiled the reported BSC outreach activities. We then created a comprehensive outreach plan as a template for those conducting BSC outreach and compared it to existing efforts. In this comparison, we found that (1) targeted audiences could be more narrowly focused, (2) easily accessible tools could be more fully utilized, and (3) systematic evaluations need to be conducted to ensure that outreach efforts are being effective. We hope that this compilation and the comprehensive outreach plan will help improve the collective future BSC outreach, making it more efficient and effective.

scholarly journals Acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity in carp brain and muscle after acute exposure to diafuran

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaqueline Ineu Golombieski ◽  
Enio Marchesan ◽  
Edinalvo Rabaioli Camargo ◽  
Joseânia Salbego ◽  
Joele Schmitt Baumart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Common Carp ◽  
Cyprinus Carpio ◽  
Grass Carp ◽  
Ache Activity ◽  
Bighead Carp ◽  
Ctenopharyngodon Idella ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Aristichthys Nobilis ◽  
Early Biomarker ◽  
The Common

Sublethal adverse effects may result from exposure of aquatic organisms to insecticides at environmentally relevant concentrations. Fingerlings of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus, 1758), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella, Valenciennes, 1844), and bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis, Richardson, 1845) were exposed to diafuran, an insecticide widely used during rice cultivation in Southern Brazil. The aim of this study was to verify the relationship between the lethal concentration (LC50) of diafuran and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in brain and muscle tissues of these species as a possible early biomarker of exposure to this insecticide. LC50 was determined for fish exposed to diafuran concentrations during 96 h (short term): common carp: control, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mg L-1; grass carp: control, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 mg L-1 and, bighead carp: control, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 mg L-1, as well as the determination of AChE at concentrations near LC50 for these species. LC50 values (nominal concentrations) were 1.81 mg L-1 for the common carp, 2.71 mg L-1 for the grass carp and, 2.37 mg L-1 for the bighead carp. All carps exposed to diafuran were lethargic (lower concentrations) or immobile. Diafuran inhibited the acetylcholinesterase activity in brain (~38%) and muscle (~50%) of all species. Muscle of bighead carp under control treatment showed higher specific AChE activity than brain (14.44 against 5.94 µmol min-1 g protein-1, respectively). Concentrations of diafuran used for rice cropping may affect Cyprinus carpio, Ctenopharyngodon idella and Aristichthys nobilis behaviors and the AChE activities in brain and muscle of these species may be an early biomarker of toxicity of this insecticide.

Modern features of aquaculture of cyprinids in the republic of Iraq

2020 ◽  
pp. 6-14
Author(s):  
Farhan Yasin Hamed ◽  
Adelia Zakirovna Anokhina ◽  
Natalia Viktorovna Sudakova ◽  
Damelya Kazhigalievna Magzanova
Keyword(s):  
Silver Carp ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Fish Farming ◽  
Pond Water ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Bighead Carp ◽  
Ctenopharyngodon Idella ◽  
Natural Food ◽  
Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix ◽  
Fish Farms

It is shown that the leading role in the aquaculture of Iraq belongs to Cyprinids, which account for over 80 % of all fish farming production. The most widespread in the country are four main world species of carp aquaculture: common carp (Cyprinus carpio), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis). Basically, the traditional technology of growing Cyprinids in ponds is used, which includes the main fish farming processes: care of broodstock to prepare them for spawning, collecting eggs and milt, eggs fertilization and incubation of embryos, raising juveniles and marketable fish. Currently, there are about 2 thousand private fish farms, which have ponds of various sizes from 4 to 100 hectares. Cultivation of Cyprinids in Iraq is carried out mainly by extensive methods: the use of the natural food base of reservoirs with low fish stocking density in polyculture. The fish productivity of ponds varies greatly in different fish farms from 1,5 to 6 t/ha, which is due to economic reasons. The data on changes in the temperature of pond water during the year and hydrochemical indicators are given, which shows favorable conditions for Cyprinids rearing. Information on the use of compound feeds for growing carp in ponds is provided, and data on the composition and nutritional value of the feed used. The fish culture indicators for the main biotechnical processes of the rearing of four Cyprinid species in Iraq are described in detail. In the conclusion, it is indicated that for the effective development of aquaculture in Iraq, government support is needed in the form of a developed long-term program and legislative acts.

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