Effects of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) stocking on algae density, trophy state and water quality (as a pilot nearshore of the Qeshlaq reservoir of Sananndaj, Kurdistan province)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

10.22059/jfisheries.2026.411310.1481

Abstract

This study investigated the effecs of phytoplanktivorous silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) stocking at varying densities as a biological control strategy for mitigating algal blooms, cyanotoxin concentrations and water quality. Fish with mean body mass 50 ± 2/4 g, at a nine-week period in a mesocosm as an experiment unit was conducted in 2023 using pond 6,000-L enclosures adjacent to the reservoir. Four treatments were applied: (1) fishless control, (2) conventional stocking density corresponding to the reservoir’s estimated natural production capacity (based on natural fish production 250 kg/Ha), (3) double the conventional density, and (4) quadruple the normal density. At this study some physicochemical and biological parameters, were monitored and plankton community composition, silver carp gut contents, microcystin-LR concentration and trophic state index were assessed. A total phytoplankton genus and species were 34 number which 28 number were detected in silver carp digestive guts. also 14 taxa were associated with taste and odor production, and cyanotoxin-producing (such as Anabaena sp., Microcystis sp., and Oscillatoria sp.) were consistently present in gut contents. The control treatment exhibited the highest phytoplankton density, whereas the treatment 3 demonstrated the lowest in-water algal density (205 cell/ml). The treatment 4 had the highest algal cell counts in fish digestive duct (34,623,620.8 cells fish⁻¹) as well and 34 zooplankton taxa were identified. Microcystin-LR concentrations reached a maximum of 0.427 µg L⁻¹ in the control during mid-experiment but declined to 0.085 µg L⁻¹ in the highest stocking density treatment by the end of the experiment and remaining below the World Health Organization guideline value (1.0 µg L⁻¹) for drinking water. The results of this study indicate when Silver carp scientifically introduced into reservoir ecosystems, exert a strong regulatory effect on algal communities and can contribute significantly to the improvement of water quality.

Main Subjects

References

Abbasi, K., Khatib, S., Sabkara, J., Moradi Chafi, M., Bagheri, S., Zahmatkesh Y., Bayat, J., 2022. Seasonal dietary changes in silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes, 1844) in Chitgar Lake (Tehran Province). Journal of Aquatic Ecology 12(1), 95-112. (In Persian)
Abdollahi, S., Khodadadi, M., Peyghan, R., Rajabzadeh, E., 2012. Investigating relationship between silver carp Mortality and some environmental factors in fish culture ponds of Azadegan Farming Complex. Journal of Marine Sciences and Techniques 1(5), 60-47.
APHA (American Public Health Association. 2005. AWWA, WPCF. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 22th ed. Washington, DC.
Bain, B.M., 1993. Assessing Impacts of Introduced Grass Carp in Large Systems. Environmental Management 17(2), 211-224. DOI: 10.1007/BF02394691
Biswas, S.P., 1993. Manual of Methods in Fish Biology, South Asian Publication Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 157 pp.
Carmichael, W.W., 2001. Health effects of toxin producing Cyanobacteria, “The CyanoHABs”. Human and Ecological Risk Manag 7(5), 1359-1401. DOI: 10.1080/20018091095087
Carney, E., 2009. Relative influence of lake age and watershed land use on trophic state and water quality of artificial lakes in Kansas. Lake and Reservoir Management 25(2), 199-207. DOI: 10.1080/07438140902905604
Codd, G.A., 2000. Cyanobacterial toxins, the perception of water quality, and the priorisation of eutrophication control. Ecological Engineering 16, 51-60. DOI: 10.1016/S0925-8574(00)00089-6
Codd, G. A., Edwards, C., Beattie, K.A., Barr, W.M., Gunn, G.J., 1992. Fatal attraction to Cyanobacteria. Nature 359, 110-111.
Domaizon, I., De´vaux, J., 1999. Experimental study of the impacts of silver carp on plankton communities of eutrophic Villerest reservoir (France). Aquatic Ecology 33, 193-204. DOI: 10.1023/A:1009984713183
Fukushima, M., Takamura, N., Sun, L., Nakagawa, M., Matsushige, K., Xie, P.I.N.G., 1999. Changes in the plankton community following introduction of filter-feeding planktivorous fish. Freshwater Biology 42(4), 719-735. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2427.1999.00507.x
Hambright, K.D., Blumenshine, S.C., Shapiro, J., 2002. Can filter‐feeding fishes improve water quality in lakes? Freshwater Biology 47(6), 1173-1182. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2427.2002.00840.x
Hunt, R.J., Matveev, V.F., 2005. The effects of nutrients and zooplankton community structure on phytoplankton growth in a subtropical Australian reservoir: An enclosure study. Limnologica 35, 90-101. DOI: 10.1016/j.limno.2005.01.004
Li, S., Mathias, J., 1994. Freshwater fish culture in China: principles and practice. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Liu, Q.G., Chen, Y., Li, J.L., Chen, L.Q., 2007. The food web structure and ecosystem properties of a filter-feeding carps dominated deep reservoir ecosystem. Ecological Modelling 203(3-4), 279-289. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2006.11.028
Ma, H., Cui, F., Liu, Z., Fan, Z., He, W., Yin, P., 2010. Effect of filter-feeding fish silver carp on phytoplankton species and size distribution in surface water: A field study in water works. Journal of Environmental Sciences 22(2), 161-167. DOI: 10.0000/1001-0742.2010220201
Maosen, H., 1983. Freshwater plankton illustration. Agriculture publishing house. 85 p.
Matthews, R., Hilles, M., Pelletier, G., 2002. Determining trophic state in Lake Whatcom, Washington (USA), a soft water lake exhibiting seasonal nitrogen limitation. Hydrobiologia 468, 107-121. DOI: 10.1023/A:1015288519122
Mehdinasab, M., 2019. Evaluation Trophy Based on Carlsson Index (TSI) Case study: Permanent wetlands in Pol-e-dokhtar County. Iranian Scientific Fisheries Journal 28(2), 179-185. (In Persian) DOI: 10.22092/ISFJ.2019.119110
Needham, J.G., Needham, P. R., 1996. Guide to the study of freshwater biology. Holden day, INK. San Francisco Constable & Co., LTD., Landon. Fifth edition. 106 p.
Nishiwaki-Matsushima, R., Ohta, T., Nishiwaki, S., Suganuma, M., Kohyama, K., Ishikawa, T., Fujiki, H., 1992. Liver tumor promotion by the cyanobacterial cyclic peptide toxin microcystin-LR. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology 118(6), 420-424. DOI: 10.1007/BF01629424
Nishiwaki-Matsushima, R., Ohta, T., Nishiwaki, S., Suganuma, M., Kohyama, K., Ishiwaka, T., Carmichael, W.W., Fujiki, H., 1992. Liver tumor promotion by the cyanobacterial cyclic peptide toxin microcystin-LR. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology 118, 420-424. DOI: 10.1007/bf01629424
Paerl, H.W., Fulton, R.S., Moisander, P.H., Dyble, J., 2001. Harmful freshwater algal blooms, with an emphasis on Cyanobacteria. The Scientific World Journal 1, 76-113.
Persson, P.E., 1992. A summary of problem areas in aquatic off-flavour research. Water Science and Technology 25(2), 335-339. DOI: 10.2166/wst.1992.0069
Radke, R.J., Kahl, U., 2002. Effects of a filter-feeding fish [silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Val.)] on phyto-and zooplankton in a mesotrophic reservoir: results from an enclosure experiment. Freshwater Biology 47(12), 2337-2344. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2427.2002.00993.x
Samadi, M.T., Saghi, M.H., Rahmani, A., Torabzadeh, H., 2009. Zoning of Water Quality of Hamadan Darreh-Morad Beyg River Based on NSFWQI Index Using Geographic Information System.  Avicenna Journal of Clinical Medicine 16(3), 38-43. (In Persian)
Smith, V.H., Schindler, D.W., 2009. Eutrophication science: where do we go from here?. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 24(4), 201-207. DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2008.11.009
Starling, F.L.D.M., 1993. Control of eutrophication by silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys-Molitrix) in the tropical Paranoa reservoir (Brasilia, Brazil)-A mesocosm experiment. Hydrobiologia 257(3), 143-152. DOI: 10.1007/BF00765007
Todd, C.D., Laverack, M.S., Boxshall, G., 1996. Coastal marine zooplankton: a practical manual for students. Cambridge University Press.
Tucker, C.S., Boyd, C.E., 1978. Consequences of periodic applications of copper sulfate and simazine for phytoplankton control in catfish ponds. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 107(2), 316-320. DOI: 10.1577/1548-8659(1978)107<316:COPAOC>2.0.CO;2
Xiao, L., Ouyang, H., Li, H., Chen, M., Lin, Q., Han, B.P., 2010. Enclosure study on phytoplankton response to stocking of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) in a eutrophic tropical reservoir in South China. International Review of Hydrobiology 95(4-5), 428-439. DOI: 10.1002/iroh.201011249
Zhang, K., Lin, T. F., Zhang, T., Li, C., Gao, N., 2013. Characterization of typical taste and odor compounds formed by Microcystis aeruginosa. Journal of Environmental Sciences 25(8), 1539-1548. DOI: 10.1016/s1001-0742(12)60232-0

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics