Silver carp

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the novel, see SilverFin.

Silver carp

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Xenocyprinae
Genus: Hypophthalmichthys
Species:
H. molitrix
Binomial name
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
(Valenciennes, 1844)
Synonyms
  • Leuciscus molitrix Valenciennes, 1844
  • Leuciscus hypophthalmus Richardson, 1845
  • Cephalus mantschuricus Basilewsky, 1855
  • Onychodon mantschuricus (Basilewsky, 1855)
  • Abramocephalus microlepis Steindachner, 1869
  • Hypophthalmichthys dabryi
    Guichenot
    , 1871
  • Hypophthalmichthys dybowskii Herzenstein, 1888
Silver carp caught in Michigan
Juvenile silver carp

The silver carp or silverfin (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) is a species of

Amur River drainage in the north to the Xi Jiang River drainage in the south.[2] Although a threatened species in its natural habitat, it has long been cultivated in China as one of the "Four Famous Domestic Fish" (四大家鱼) together with Bighead carp, Black carp and Grass carp.[3] By weight, more silver carp are produced worldwide in aquaculture than any other species of fish except for the grass carp. Silver carp are usually farmed in polyculture with other Asian carp, or sometimes with catla
or other fish species.

The species has also been

wild fisheries and water quality control have also been intended on occasion.[4] In some of these places, the species is considered invasive.[5][6][7]

The silver carp reaches a typical length of 60–100 cm (24–39 in) with a maximum length of 140 cm (55 in)[8] and weight of 50 kg (110 lb).[2]

Diet

The silver carp is a

planktivorous fishes, which in North America include paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus), gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), and young fish of almost all species.[9][10]

Because they feed on

algae blooms have been exacerbated by silver carp, and Microcystis has also been shown to produce more toxins in the presence of silver carp. These carp, which have natural defenses to their toxins, sometimes can contain enough algal toxins in their systems to become hazardous to eat.[9]

Ecology and conservation

The silver carp in its natural range

larvae then drift downstream, and young fish hatch in the floodplain zone. Larvae and small juveniles feed on zooplankton, switching to phytoplankton once a certain size is reached. The species is somewhat sensitive to low oxygen conditions.[11]

The species is currently classified as near threatened in it original range, as its habitat and reproductive behavior are impacted by construction of dams, pollution, and overfishing. Population declines appear to have been particularly significant in the Chinese parts of its range.[1]

Sport fishing

Main article: Carp fishing

Silver carp are filter feeders, thus are difficult to catch on typical

hooks embedded in the bait.[9] The entire apparatus is suspended below a large bobber. The fish feed on the small particles released from the dough ball and bump against the dough ball, with the intention of breaking off more small particles that can be filtered from the water, eventually becoming hooked on the tiny hooks.[citation needed
]

In some areas, using "snagging gear", in which large weighted

powerboats are used to scare the fish and entice them to jump out of the water, and the fish are shot when they are airborne.[citation needed
]

Related species

Two other species are in the genus Hypophthalmichthys, the bighead carp (H. nobilis) and the largescale silver carp (H. harmandi). The genus name Aristichthys has also sometimes been used for bighead carp, but is deprecated.[12] The bighead carp differs from the silver carp in its behavior (it does not leap from the water when startled) and also in its diet. Bighead carp are also filter feeders, but they filter larger particles than silver carp, and in general consume a greater proportion of zooplankton in their diets than silver carp, which consume more phytoplankton.[13] In at least some parts of the United States, bighead and silver carp hybridize in the wild and produce fertile offspring.[14]

The largescale silver carp is closely related to the silver carp, but its native range is to the south of that of the silver carp, mostly within Vietnam.[15] Unlike bighead and silver carp, largescale silver carp have not been widely introduced around the world for use in aquaculture, although at least one introduction was made to some waters of the Soviet Union, where they hybridized with the introduced silver carp.[16]

In North America

Main article: Asian carp in North America

Silver carp were imported to North America in the 1970s to control algal growth in aquaculture and municipal wastewater treatment facilities, but escaped from captivity soon after their importation,[5] and are now considered a highly invasive species.[17]

Silver carp, with the closely related bighead carp, often reach extremely high

navigation locks are complete barriers to natural upstream movement of silver carp, unless fishermen unintentionally assist this movement by the use of silver carp as bait.[5][20]

In 2020, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources found silver carp in Alabama's Pickwick and Wheeler reservoirs on the Tennessee River, but the species has not expanded its range in Alabama’s waterways.[20]

The

sound, light and air bubbles. These barriers are installed at Barkley Lock and Dam in Kentucky, and are currently being studied for their effectiveness in deterring Asian carp. Other types of barriers used for Asian carp include carbon dioxide and electricity. The TVA has conducted environmental impact studies to minimize the impact of the barriers on native species. The TVA has also considered adjusting flow rates during Asian carp spawning periods, which are usually during high-water events, as Asian carp eggs are only semibuoyant and will sink to the bottom and die with low river flow.[20]

Silver carp jumping out of the Illinois River

The silver carp is sometimes called the "flying" carp for its tendency to leap from the water when startled; it can leap up to 10 ft (3.0 m) into the air.[21] Boaters traveling in uncovered high-speed watercraft have been reported to be injured by running into airborne fish while at speed. A leaping silver carp broke the jaw of a teenager being pulled on an inner tube,[21] and water skiing in areas where silver carp are present is extremely dangerous.[22] Peculiarly, the extreme jumping behavior appears to be unique to silver carp of North America; those in their native Asian range and introduced to other parts of the world are much less prone to jumping. Although theories have been proposed (for example, the high densities the species reaches in parts of North America, or that the introduced North American population may have been based on a small number of particularly "jumpy" individuals), the reason for these geographic differences is not known for certain.[23][24]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T166081A6168056.en
    . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Hypophthalmichthys molitrix" in FishBase. April 2006 version.
  3. PMC 7359835
    . Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  4. ^ Kolar, C. S.; Chapman, D. C.; Courtenay Jr, W. R.; Housel, C. M.; Williams, J. D.; Jennings, D. P. (2005). "Asian carps of the genus Hypophthalmichthys (Pisces, Cyprinidae)―a biological synopsis and environmental risk assessment". Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management.
  5. ^ a b c "USGS NAS silver carp fact sheet". Archived from the original on 2009-05-10. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  6. ^ Conover, G.; Simmonds, R.; Whalen, M. (2007). "Management and control plan for bighead, black, grass, and silver carps in the United States" (PDF). Washington, DC: Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, Asian Carp Working Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-13.
  7. ^
    S2CID 86780557
    .
  8. ^ Maccracken, J. (2016). Bureau County Illinois Fishing & Floating Guide Book.
  9. ^
    S2CID 85598132
    .
  10. ISSN 0906-6691
    .
  11. ISBN 9780852382134
    . Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  12. ^ ACBSRA Final Report 2005 Archived February 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ISSN 1466-822X
    . Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  14. ISBN 0-87049-711-1
    . Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  15. ISSN 0045-6535
    . Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  16. ISSN 2330-8249
    . Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  17. ^ Conover, G.; Simmonds, R.; Whalen, M. (2007). "Management and control plan for bighead, black, grass, and silver carps in the United States" (PDF). Washington, DC: Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, Asian Carp Working Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-13.
  18. PMID 31149641
    .
  19. ^ Dan Egan (2 December 2008). "Jumping silver carp discovered in Wisconsin waters". Journal Sentinel.
  20. ^ a b c Rainer, David (4 September 2020). "WFF Cautiously Optimistic About Spread of Silver Carp". Outdoor Alabama Weekly. No. 4 September 2020. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  21. ^ a b Moritz, R. (7 September 2008). "Pesky 'flying' carp causing problems in SE Arkansas". Arkansas News.
  22. The Courier-Journal. 12 March 2004. Archived from the original
    on 27 March 2004.
  23. doi:10.1121/2.0000279
    .
  24. ISBN 978-1-888569-79-7
    .

External links

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