The Effect of Carp Exclosures on Growth of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in Pymatuning Lake, Pennsylvania

Abstract

The Hawaiian Islands are in the trade wind belt; they have about a 1-m tide. Along open coasts the effect of the tide on the zonation of inshore fishes is minor compared to that of the surge. Above sea level, pools depend primarily on wave splash for replenishment. The higher splash pools have few species of fishes, and those that occur there are ecologically well differentiated. On the exposed rocky benches just above sea level, there is usually abundant seaweed, but one herbivorous blenny is the only fish that lives there.For some 6 m or more just below sea level on open coasts horizontal water movement frequently scours the bottom, often with the abrasive action of sand addt>d. The bottom here is of rock or sand. Most of the species of the area are herbivores which graze on such short algal stubble as exists on the rocks. Indeed, in both species and individuals, the maximum number of herbivorous fishes would seem to occur in this zone.In the quiet water offshore from, and just below the surge zone the best live coral formations in the Hawaiian waters grow. Here there is also a far greater diversity of fishes than in the surge-scoured area above. Data on the zonation of fishes below this point are scarce. Preliminary information suggests that the differentiation of the fish fauna at deeper levels is far more gradual, and that there is still a considerable number of species to at least half a mile in depth.Around the high Hawaiian Islands the waters protected by fringing reefs appear to have a mixed zonal fauna containing partly surge zone fishes, partly fishes that come in from quiet, deeper water, and partly forms restricted, so far as known, to such areas.

Aquatic insect emergence in two Great Lakes marshes

“…Together, differences in water clarity and carp populations appear to have virtually eliminated on important insect habitat, the submerged plants, from Peters marsh. The aggressive, bottom-feeding carp probably also have a direct predatory influence on the aquatic insect community here (Tryon 1954). The role of other insectivorous fish in these marshes is unknown, but is believed to be less important due to limited populations in the Bay (Terry Lychwick, Wisconsin Dept.…”

Effects of carp, Cyprinus carpio L., on communities of aquatic vegetation and turbidity of waterbodies in the lower Goulburn River basin

“…Potamogeton species are soft leaved and shallow rooted (Aston 1973) and could be sensitive to disturbances. Aquatic plants reported to be destroyed by carp in the United States and France were mostly in the genera Potamogeton and Chara (Tryon 1954;Robe1 1961;King and Hunt 1967;McCrimmon 1968;Crivelli 1983). The physical destruction of plants by carp is probably confined to these less robust taxa and extrapolation of such destruction to all aquatic plants may not be valid.…”

“…An increase in turbidity may affect plant growth by reduction of photosynthesis due to a decrease in transmitted light (Ruttner 1952). Carp are also reported to affect macrophytes by uprooting plants during feeding (Cahn 1929;Tryon 1954;McCrimmon 1968) or by direct feeding (Anderson 1950;King and Hunt 1967).…”

Strategies to Control a Common Carp Population by Pulsed Commercial Harvest

“…; Schrage and Downing 2004). Reductions in common carp biomass benefit aquatic vegetation (Threinen and Helm 1954;Tyron 1954;Bajer et al 2009), game fish populations (Rose and Moen 1953;Jackson et al 2010), water clarity (Schrage and Downing 2004), waterfowl production (Cahoon 1953;Bajer et al 2009), and local economics (Cahoon 1953). Limiting common carp biomass to no more than 100 kg/ha has been identified as a potential management target that minimizes environmental degradation (Mehner et al 2004;Bajer et al 2009).…”