Differential effects of age-structured common carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis>) stocks on pond invertebrate communities: implications for recreational and wildlife use of farm ponds

Sustainable development of common carp Cyprinus carpio pond fisheries in Europe postulates their multifunctional use, integrating exploitation of aquaculture resources with recreational services and maintenance of high levels of local biodiversity. Age classes of farmed carp are grown separately and pond ecosystems may be differently affected by different ontogenetic stages of fish. To examine these relationships, a study was conducted on spring and summer diet of carp, invertebrate abundance and community structure, and water quality characteristics in ponds stocked with three carp age classes in SE Poland. With the exception of young-of-the-year fish in spring, benthic dipterans prevailed in the diets of all carp age classes and their consumption increased from spring to summer. Zooplankton featured in the diet of carp only in spring. Medium- and large-sized cladocerans predominated among microcrustaceans found in the guts of one- and two-year-old carp. Consequently, in summer, total biomass of medium- and large-sized cladoceran grazers was substantially lower in ponds stocked with older-age fish than in ponds used for production of 1-summer-old fingerlings. The relatively sparse submerged vegetation cover and low water transparency in ponds with older fish stocks compared to ponds with young-of-the-year carp indicate a transition to a turbid water state mediated by a trophic cascade mechanism in the presence of older-age fish. Densities of water-column macroinvertebrates decreased with the age of carp in the ponds. These results suggest that non-aquaculture use of carp ponds should be diversified according to their environmental quality. Fingerling rearing ponds are more suitable for environmentally friendly multifunctional use than ponds with older stocks.     

Comparison of bacterial communities in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus culture ponds of an industrial ecological purification recirculating aquaculture system

The industrial aquaculture pond system has gradually replaced the use of traditional earthen pond, as it causes less pollution and is more economical. In this study, an industrial ecological purification recirculating aquaculture system consisting of the water source pond, high‐density culture ponds, a deposit pond, and ecological purification ponds for channel catfish cultivation was established. Twelve water samples from different ponds were sequenced, and the bacterial communities were analysed. The abundances of Cyanobacteria and Merismopedia varied in different functional ponds of the system. The water quality was stable after two months of cultivation at 1.89 ± 0.22 mg/L total nitrogen, 1.1 ± 0.08 mg/L NH₄‐N and 0.43 ± 0.1 mg/L total phosphorus. The fish weight increased in a nearly linear manner, reaching 237.63 ± 23.8 per fish at day 120. An analysis of the environmental parameters, water quality and fish weight suggested that the system had an effective water purification process. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the community was affected at the genus and phylum levels by different environmental parameters. We identified several dominant beneficial bacteria with nutrient removal abilities. Overall, our results demonstrated that the ecological purification recirculating aquaculture system had notable effects on water quality improvement and promoted changes in bacterial populations. These results provide important information on the microbial ecology of pond industrial eco‐aquaculture systems.     

A Survey of Water Quality Characteristics of Effluent from Hawaiian Aquaculture Facilities

Ten water quality parameters were measured in influent and effluent water at 11 aquaculture facilities in Hawaii. The data were grouped into four categories based on the types of organisms cultured: freshwater fish, freshwater prawn, marine fish, and marine shrimp. Within each category, concentrations of most parameters were lognormally distributed and spanned one to two orders of magnitude. Geometric mean concentrations of suspended materials, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and pigments were highest in effluent from freshwater prawn ponds and lowest in marine fish pond effluent. Nitrate/Nitrite and total ammonia concentrations were higher in fish pond effluent than in crustacean pond effluent. Parameter concentrations were generally higher in effluent than in influent water, with freshwater fish and prawn ponds exhibiting the greatest increases in suspended materials and pigments. In contrast, nitrate/nitrite concentrations were lower in effluent than in influent waters. These data provide a basis for analyzing the environmental impacts of warm-water aquaculture effluent discharges.     

Water use and conservation for inland aquaculture ponds

The general hydrological equation, inflow = outflow ± change in storage, can be used to make accurate estimates of water use by ponds for inland aquaculture projects. The primary inflows are precipitation, runoff and regulated water additions. The main outflows are evaporation, seepage, overflow after storms and intentional discharge. Water conservation measures such as maintaining storage capacity in ponds equal to the normal, maximum daily precipitation, reduction in seepage beneath dams and through pond bottoms, fish harvest without draining ponds, and water re-use are discussed. Even with the implementation of water conservation measures, pond aquaculture is a water- intensive endeavour which consumes more water per unit of area than irrigated agriculture. However, the value of aquacultural production per unit of water used greatly exceeds that of irrigated agriculture. Reduction in effluent volume is the most effective water saving means, and not only reduces water consumption but also reduces the pollution potential of pond aquaculture.     

Costs and Risk of Catfish Split‐pond Systems

Split ponds are recently developed pond‐based aquaculture systems that allow intensification of catfish aquaculture. Successful industry‐wide adoption of newly developing technologies like split‐pond systems will depend upon their productivity and cost efficiencies. Costs and production performance of the following three split‐pond design scenarios were monitored in Arkansas and Mississippi: (1) research design developed at the Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, Mississippi; (2) waterwheel design tested on commercial catfish ponds; and (3) screw‐pump design tested on commercial catfish ponds. An economic engineering approach using standard enterprise budget analysis was used to develop estimates of breakeven prices (BEPs) ($/kg) for producing foodsize hybrid catfish (♂Ictalurus furcatus × ♀Ictalurus punctatus) for each scenario. Estimates of BEPs of hybrid catfish raised in split ponds ranged from $1.72 to $2.05/kg. The cost of catfish production in split ponds was sensitive to yield, fish prices, and feed prices. Annual net cash flows from both commercial split‐pond systems were high and sufficient to make the investment profitable in the long run. Feed price, feed conversion ratio, and yield contributed the most to downside risk of split ponds.     

Effects of modified pond management on limnological parameters in small‐scale aquaculture ponds in mountainous Northern Vietnam

In mountainous Northern Vietnam, traditional pond aquaculture is part of the integrated farming activity contributing to food safety and to income generation for small‐scale farmers of ethnic minorities. Traditional pond management consists of a polyculture of macro‐herbivorous grass carp with 3–5 other fish species that are cultured in small ponds with constant water flow through. The main limitations to production are species‐specific mass mortalities of grass carp, a poor feed base especially for all species but grass carp, and poor water quality. In this study, we compared the traditional pond management to a semi‐intensive pond management that was based on the traditional management system but included changes designed by researchers to increase fish production. The modifications consisted of water inflow control, supplemental fertilization and feeding, and a polyculture dominated by common carp. The changes in management significantly reduced the turbidity and increased oxygen supply, as well as the natural food base within the pond. These changes in pond management provide farmers with the possibility to improve their pond aquaculture scheme and overcome previous limitations.     

不同鱼类和采样时间的养殖池塘环境微生物群落研究

微生物群落是养殖池塘生态系统的重要组成部分,了解环境微生物群落结构和功能,可有针对性地进行养殖环境微生态调控。在不同季节采集尼罗罗非鱼（Oreochromis niloticus）和斑点叉尾鮰（Ictalurus punctatus）池塘水样,分析硝酸盐氮(NO3-N)、亚硝酸盐氮(NO2-N)、氨氮(NH4-N)、总氮(TN)和总磷(TP)等理化指标,利用Biolog-Eco微平板技术分析水体中微生物对各类碳源代谢的平均颜色变化率,利用高通量测序技术分析其菌群结构。结果表明,1月淡水养殖池塘水质和菌群结构不同于其他采样时间,养殖鱼类种类对池塘理化指标和微生物菌群结构影响不大。不同采样时间的池塘理化指标差异显著,同一采样时间不同养殖鱼类池塘的理化指标之间无显著差异。其中,1月尼罗罗非鱼池塘中的NH4-N含量高于其他月份,且显著高于4月和7月（P<0.05）;1月TP含量显著高于4月、7月和10月（P<0.05）。1月斑点叉尾鮰池塘的TP和NO3-N含量显著高于其他3个月份（P<0.05）。Biolog-Eco微平板技术检测到尼罗罗非鱼和斑点叉尾鮰池塘中的微生物群落对碳...     

养殖池塘增氧机制与装备性能比较研究

水产养殖过程中,池塘生态系统可分为自成熟期和人工维持期。在养殖容量提高的情况下,养殖生物呼吸需氧量在不断增加,缺氧条件下有机物分解成有害物质,影响养殖生产。维持池塘生态系统稳定的主要工程机制为:通过上下水层交换、平衡营养元素等方法,强化光合作用,提高营养物质转化规模,提升初级生产力;形成生态增氧为主、机械增氧为辅的高效增氧机制。以中国养殖池塘生态系统为研究对象,分析探讨养殖池塘生态机制、水体溶氧理论、增氧机作用机理、不同类型增氧机的机械性能等,提出了大宗淡水鱼混养池塘及几种典型单养池塘增氧机配置方式,从而为池塘养殖系统增氧机的配置提供技术参考。     

Water and nutrient budgets of ponds in integrated agriculture–aquaculture systems in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

A participatory on-farm study analysed water and nutrient budgets of six low and four high water-exchange ponds of integrated agriculture–aquaculture (IAA) farms in the Mekong delta. Water, nitrogen (N), organic carbon (OC) and phosphorus (P) flows through the ponds were monitored, and data on fish production and nutrient accumulation in sediments were collected during a fish culture cycle. Results showed that, on average, only 5–6% of total N, OC or P inputs introduced into ponds were recovered in the harvested fish. About 29% N, 81% OC and 51% P accumulated in the sediments. The remaining fractions were lost through pond water discharges into adjacent canals. Fish yields and nutrient accumulation rates in the sediments increased with increasing food inputs applied to the pond at the cost of increased nutrient discharges. High water-exchange ponds received two to three times more on-farm nutrients (N, OC and P) while requiring nine times more water and discharging 10–14 times more nutrients than the low water-exchange ponds. Water and nutrient flows between the pond and the other IAA-farm components need to be considered when optimizing productivity and profitability from IAA systems.     

The impacts of integrated homestead pond‐dike systems in relation to production,consumption and seasonality in central north Bangladesh

The roles of homestead ponds and surrounding dike production of vegetables on farms in peri‐urban and rural communities in central north Bangladesh were assessed. A baseline survey sought to characterize actively managed (“active”) pond‐dike systems, producing fish and vegetables, in terms of productivity and impact compared to less intensively integrated (“passive”) and control, no‐pond households. A longitudinal survey was carried out over 12 months to explore the relationship between seasonality and livelihood outcomes in relation to location and well‐being status. Active homestead pond operators tended to have greater access to information and credit compared to passive and non‐pond households; this was likely linked to their greater literacy and greater social connectedness. They enjoyed higher incomes through fish sales and consumed more fish than passive households, which was related to their higher production, in turn explained mainly by the use of more inputs. All active, 50% passive and 38% non‐pond households were involved in vegetable cultivation; however, significantly more vegetables were produced by active households than others. The impacts of pond‐dike production were more critical for food‐vulnerable, rural households than peri‐urban households prior to monsoon rice harvest; worse‐off households suffered more prior to the “irrigated rice” harvest. Fish and vegetables raised on farm were most important during lower income months. The study supports the view that small homestead ponds can contribute to the wider food supply, and that such “quasi‐peasant” forms of aquaculture contribute to reduced poverty and enhanced dietary diversity and food security in the broader population.     

熵权法模糊物元模型在养殖水质评价中的应用

为客观综合评价养殖水体质量,利用熵确定水质指标权重,结合物元分析理论及贴近度的概念,构建养殖水质复合模糊物元模型,对2015—2019年监测的上海地区635批次养殖水样进行地表水环境质量等级分类.水质监测结果显示,池塘水体的pH、总磷、高锰酸盐指数、As(砷)和叶绿素a平均含量显著高于引水河道的(P<0.05),硝酸盐...     

Viability of a Freshwater Mussel (Elliptio complanata) as a Biomechanical Filter for Aquaculture Ponds II: Effects on Aquaculture Pond Water Quality

Bivalves have been proven to be an inexpensive method for removing suspended solids, dissolved nutrients, and controlling algal growth through suspension feeding. The freshwater mussel, Elliptio complanata, is one of the most abundant species in Delaware, and it is additionally favorable for this experiment because of its hardiness against environmental stress and its filtration efficiency. This study examines the possibility that biomechanical filters such as E. complanata can supplement existing chemical and mechanical filtration regiments in aquaculture pond management. Twelve earthen aquaculture ponds located at the Delaware State University were stocked at a density of 4,000 catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) per hectare. Four different concentrations (0, 75, 150, and 300) of E. complanata were placed in trays within the ponds with three replicates of each concentration. The trays were suspended 15 cm below the surface of the water for a period of five months. Fish were fed a 32% protein diet twice daily at a rate of 1% of their body weight. Water quality was analyzed weekly while fish and mussel growths were measured biweekly. Results from water quality parameters varied significantly and were not conclusive based on the data obtained in this study. Water quality did not improve within the mussel treatment ponds during the course of this study and was found to be significantly below that of control ponds for all of the water chemistry parameters measured, with the exception of ammonia. Catfish in the 150 mussel treatment ponds grew the fastest; the 75 mussel treatment provided the most growth in mussels; and the 300 mussel group maintained the highest mussel survivorship. Although there were differences between ponds, fish growth and survivorship were not significantly different between treatments. While our mussel densities may have not been sufficient, their placement within the water column may have added additional stress. Being removed from the sediment can result in a decreased clearance rate in a benthic species such as E. complanata. This study may not have been conclusive in proving that mussels can be used to maintain water quality in aquaculture ponds, but we did see positive growth and survivorship of mussels and fish that indicated that the mussels were thriving in the aquaculture pond setting. This study may show that aquaculture ponds provide a suitable habitat in which propagated mussels may be held until their release into native areas.     

Sedimentation and Resuspension in Earthen Fish Ponds

Resuspension of particles from pond sediment into the water column may be an important nutrient transfer mechanism in aquaculture ponds. However, the magnitude of sediment re-suspension cannot be determined directly because sediment traps collect particles settling from the water column as well as those re-suspended from the pond bottom. We developed a dilution analysis method to differentiate the magnitude of the two particle source fluxes based upon the concentration of soil-derived elements (Si, Al, and Fe) and water-derived elements (C, N) in material collected by sediment traps placed in earthen ponds. Estimated organic C sedimentation from feed residues and algae was compared with trapped organic C as an independent and approximate measure of resuspension. Resuspension fluxes based independently on analyses of three soil-derived elements and on the estimation of expected C sedimentation were similar and accounted for 60–90% of the total solids flux (121–2,676 g/m² per d) in most ponds sampled. The proportion of total flux that was derived from resuspension in ponds stocked with common carp Cyprinus carpio and tilapia Oreochromis spp . was modeled as a hyperbolic function of fish size and density, with a threshold fish size of 200–300 g. Resuspension flux was conservatively estimated to be equivalent to the daily suspension of a few mm of the pond bottom. These results indicate that sediment resuspension is a major process in carp and tilapia ponds, suggesting that the exchange of nutrients between the sediment and overlying water is intensive.     

Eliminating pond differences with cross-over designs

Large variability between ponds in aquaculture experiments often leads to imprecise estimates of treatment effects. One solution would be to increase the number of experimental ponds but the availability of ponds is usually limited. A cross-over trial makes comparisons directly within the same pond, instead of across ponds, thus taking account of individual pond effects and potentially removing much of the variability. A cross-over trial was initiated to test the feasibility of using such designs in pond aquaculture research. When compared to a completely randomized design, the cross-over trial was more efficient for comparing the fish growth for each of the two treatments, and, on average, a considerable reduction in the standard error of the treatment estimate was achieved. Thus, under certain circumstances, the cross-over design has great potential to improve the precision of pond aquaculture experimentation.     

光合细菌强化对精养鱼塘藻类群落结构的影响

通过定期向池塘投加光合细菌,研究了有益微生物强化对精养鱼塘浮游藻类群落结构的影响。结果显示:光合细菌强化塘(试验塘)藻类组成以绿藻、硅藻为主,养殖前期(5—6月初),以针杆藻、直链藻等占优势,中后期(7—9月)则以绿球藻、栅藻、盘星藻、小环藻、菱形藻等为优势种,水色呈淡绿、黄褐色等良好状态;而对照塘藻类组成在前期与试验塘没有明显差异,但在中后期出现明显变化,以微囊藻、颤藻、鱼腥藻、席藻等蓝藻占优势。试验塘藻类生物量显著低于对照塘(P<0.05),且对照塘生物量波动变化大,蓝藻数量所占比例可高达77.6%,远高于试验塘蓝藻比例(均值低于25.0%);此外,藻类Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou指数试验塘均大于对照塘。结果表明:光合细菌的定期添加有效控制了蓝藻增值,保持了藻类多样性,使精养鱼塘藻相趋于稳定,有利池塘养殖。     

The Potential and Sustainability of Aquaculture in India

ABSTRACT

India is a very populous country with more than one billion people. In order to provide food for this growing population, serious environmental problems may result. Despite many benefits from the green, blue, and silver revolutions adopted in India, there has been much concern resulting from intensive agricultural practices that led to environmental problems in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Increasing demand for aquatic resources also caused inland fisheries to decrease over the past few decades. The location of aquaculture projects, landscape destruction, soil and water pollution by pond effluents, over-exploitation of important fish stocks, depletion in biodiversity, conflicts over agriculture and aquaculture among various stakeholder groups over resource and space allocation, and international fish trade controversies have threatened the long-term sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture industries. The subject of sustainable aquaculture has not been adequately projected in terms of current aquaculture practices aimed to boost a rural economy. This review briefly describes the key issues of aquaculture unsustainability in terms of intensive aquaculture, nutrient enrichment syndrome, soil and groundwater salinization, destruction of mangroves, loss of biodiversity, marine pollution and loss of fish stock, use of aquachemicals and therapeutics, hormone residues, etc. The strategies for sustainability have been highlighted with respect to rice-cum-fish culture, carp polyculture, integrated farming with livestock, rural aquaculture, intensification of small farms, wastewater-fed aquaculture, crop rotation, probiotics, feed quality, socioeconomic considerations, environmental regulations and fisheries acts, transboundary aquatic ecosystems, impact of alien species, ethical aspects of intensive aquaculture, responsible fisheries, and environmental impact assessment. A suggested model outlines the feedback mechanisms for achieving long-term sustainability through improved farm management practices, integrated farming, use of selective aquachemicals and probiotics, conservation of natural resources, regulatory mechanism, and policy instruments.     

Bacterial composition,abundance and diversity in fish polyculture and mussel–fish integrated cultured ponds in China

Bacterial community and abiotic environmental parameters in twelve freshwater aquaculture ponds were analysed. According to the major component of stocked animals, the ponds were grouped into four types: black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco and pearl mussel Hyriopsis cumingii ponds. Each type of pond was stocked with three species of Chinese carps (silver carp, bighead carp and gibel carp) to form a unique mode of fish polyculture or mussel–fish integrated culture. The bacterial composition was identified using 16S rDNA sequencing. Totally, 3701 and 11 150 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified from the water and sediment samples respectively. The number of OTUs, abundance‐based coverage estimator, Chao1 index and Shannon diversity index were lower in the water column than in the sediment, suggesting that diversity and stability of bacterial community were higher in the sediment. In the water column, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes dominated at the phylum level, and 26 dominant genera were identified. In the sediment, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria and Nitrospirae dominated at the phylum level, and 25 dominant genera were identified. Bacterial compositions between the ponds with different aquaculture modes were similar at the phylum levels, but varied at the genus levels. The bacterial composition in the ponds was correlated with hardness, ammonia and total nitrogen in the water column. This study indicates that the type of aquaculture mode is a factor regulating the microbial community, which provides an insight towards microbial management through probiotic manipulation in pond culture.     

The role of aquaculture in the sustainable development of irrigated farming systems in Punjab, Pakistan

Natural resource managers in Pakistan today preside over a massive investment in water distribution infrastructure. An historical bias towards large-scale irrigation systems and a focus on water use for arable crop production appears to have contributed to an imbalance in food production in the region. This has resulted in the diminished supply and elevated price of fish and meat products, compounded by the disruption of natural fisheries. The situation is inconsistent with the regions food security needs and an important potential role exists for increased aquaculture development. Physically and organizationally, the integration of various fish production approaches into existing land and water use practices would also appear to be fundamentally feasible. There would appear to be strong economic justification for diversified water use involving fish production, especially small and medium-scale carp production in ponds, using ground water. More broadly, within the context of the limited potential for further expansion of water resources, integrated aquaculture could contribute a vital productive element to various components of the water distribution arid irrigated farming systems in the Punjab. These include: supply canals, provided diverse institutional and engineering objectives can be accommodated; groundwater (including potential application of saline groundwater); the farm sub-system, especially integrated rice and fish production options in conjunction with alternative pest control strategies such as Integrated Pest Management; and irrigation drainage systems, where water quality permits. Therefore urgent broad research objectives should include the definition, investigation and development of a series of distinct economic and environmentally sustainable approaches to integrated animal protein production from aquatic resources, presently managed principally for agricultural production. Approaches should involve both the replacement of lost fishery potential resulting from large-scale irrigation development and flood control management, and the development of net gains in aquatic output, and should focus particularly on efforts to promote recycling of agricultural residues, reduced pesticide use and efforts to make better use of scarce water resources through the integrated aquaculture production across a broad range of water resources. An increasing number of countries are approaching full development of their surface water resources, and like Pakistan many face the development of new management approaches to increase diversity and improve productivity in relation to water use. The lack of research in support of the development of integrated aquaculture, which lags many years behind comparable agricultural research, may be constraining the breadth of choice available to natural resource managers to meet their food security needs.     

Chemical Characteristics of Bottom Soils from Freshwater and Brackishwater Aquaculture Ponds

Soil chemical analyses were conducted on samples from 358 freshwater fish ponds and 346 brackishwater shrimp ponds. Freshwater ponds were located in Honduras, Rwanda, Bhutan, and the United States. Ponds in the United States were in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina. Brackishwater ponds were in Thailand, Ecuador, Philippines, and Venezuela. Soils of freshwater and brackishwater ponds did not differ greatly in average concentrations and concentration ranges for carbon, nitrogen, calcium, and pH. Concentrations of copper and barium tended to be higher in freshwater soils than in brackishwater ones. All other measured chemical constitutents tended to be more abundant in the soils of brackishwater ponds than in those of freshwater ponds. For the most part, ranges of pond soil chemical properties were similar to those of terrestrial soils, with freshwater pond soils resembling terrestrial soils from humid areas and brackishwater soils being similar in many respects to soils of arid regions. However, some brackishwater pond soils were highly acidic, acid-sulfate soils. Data were arranged into concentration categories (very low, low, medium, high, and very high) to facilitate comparisons of the present data set with other data on soil chemical properties for aquaculture ponds. All ponds included in the present study were used for aquaculture, showing that it is possible to rear fish and shrimp across an extremely wide range of soil chemical properties.     

Computer modeling of the diurnal oxygen levels in a stillwater aquaculture pond

A dynamic model of dissolved oxygen behavior in a stillwater aquaculture pond is presented. Using theories and principles that have been established for aerobic waste-water treatment ponds and shallow lakes and reservoirs, equations were developed to describe the short-term dissolved oxygen fluctuations of an aquaculture pond. Components considered in this model include the consumption and production of oxygen by phytoplankton, fish, detritus, and the process of reaeration. Factors affecting these components can be specified by the user; these include meteorologic and geographic data, and phytoplankton, fish, and detrital characteristics. After comparing the model to field data and analyzing the sensitivity of its components, areas of research which may have an impact on pond management are identified.