The interaction between Cyprinus carpio L. and Potamogeton pectinatus L. under aquarium conditions

Abstract

Plants and seedlings of Potamogeton pectinatus were obtained from tubers grown under laboratory conditions. Four plants (mean total length: 14.3 m) and two seedlings (mean height: 10.9 cm) were placed in each of twenty 100 1 aquaria illuminated with fluorescent lighting. A 5 cm-thick layer of muddy sediment was then put in each aquarium together with two size-matched fish (mean size classes: 6.8, 14.1 and 23.0 g) of the species Cyprinus carpio. After four weeks, the total length of the plants in the control and small fish aquaria had increased by 71% and 3% respectively, whereas plant total length in the aquaria with medium and large fish had diminished by 33% and 76%, respectively. Few seedlings survived in the presence of the fish. The reduction in plant growth was associated with an increase in water turbidity in all treatments as a result of the benthic feeding habit of C. carpio, and of direct herbivory action in the case of medium-and large-sized fish.

Sazanın (Cyprinus carpio L., 1758) Tatlısu Ekosistemlerine Etkileri İçin Deneysel Kanıt: Türkiye İç Suları İçin Yönetim Yönlendirmeleri Derlemesi

“…These laboratorybased findings, which overall supported those from a related field (Sidorkewicj et al 1998: Field experiments -Stocked water body) and a natural experiment (Fernández et al 1998: Natural experiments), were aimed to provide insights into the management of C. carpio for weed control in irrigation channels of Argentina, but also to quantify the species negative effects on plant growth whenever preservation of aquatic macrophyte cover is sought.…”

“…These findings were supported both in the laboratory (Sidorkewicj et al 1996(Sidorkewicj et al , 1999a: Laboratory experiments -Aquaria) and under natural conditions (Fernández et al 1998: Natural experiments). Finally, accidental stocking of C. carpio into Lake Heiliger See (Germany) resulted in a pronounced reduction in benthos biomass, but apparently without negative effects on the native fish fauna (Barthelmes and Brämick 2003).…”

“…In Argentine irrigation channels, C. carpio stocked at two different densities with and without prior removal of aquatic vegetation reduced growing plant biomass (low densities) or eliminated existing vegetation (high densities), with increases in turbidity directly proportional to the size of the feeding individuals (Sidorkewicj et al 1998). These findings were supported both in the laboratory (Sidorkewicj et al 1996(Sidorkewicj et al , 1999a: Laboratory experiments -Aquaria) and under natural conditions (Fernández et al 1998: Natural experiments).…”

“…In a series of experiments using equal-sized aquaria, 0+ C. carpio at different densities increased turbidity and chlorophyll a and depressed growth of sago pondweed Potamogeton pectinatus, either directly through herbivory or indirectly by shade stress from increased turbidity and periphyton growth (Sidorkewicj et al 1996(Sidorkewicj et al , 1999a. These laboratorybased findings, which overall supported those from a related field (Sidorkewicj et al 1998: Field experiments -Stocked water body) and a natural experiment (Fernández et al 1998: Natural experiments), were aimed to provide insights into the management of C. carpio for weed control in irrigation channels of Argentina, but also to quantify the species negative effects on plant growth whenever preservation of aquatic macrophyte cover is sought.…”

“…Two extensive surveys of the irrigation system of the lower valley of the Rio Colorado (southern Argentina) identified strong environmental gradients between C. carpio biomass, turbidity and aquatic macrophyte abundance (Fernández et al 1998). Evidence was provided for a significant and predictable impact on channel turbidity, which was in turn associated with reduced submersed plant growth.…”