Use of genetic markers in growth testing of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., carried out over 2 or 3 year cycles

Abstract. A method of testing the growth of different genetic groups of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., over 3 year cycles was demonstrated. In European aquaculture, attaining market weight of common carp usually requires growth periods of 3 years. Typical mean weights at the end of the first year are 20 to 40g. For genetic testing, each progeny is nursed in a separate first-year pond. Co-stocking these nursery ponds with samples of a genetically marked group of carp is a convenient method of multiple nursing for second- and third-year testing. This method does not require additional ponds for generating multiply nursed samples.
Four successive experiments were carried out using this method of testing. Each experiment was run over a period of 3 years. The modified multiple nursing method generated sufficiently large weight differences only in one experiment. In the others, weight differentiation was small and unreliable, or several multiply nursed groups were lost or unidentifiable. Some improvements of this method are suggested. The genetic groups participating in the test included Ropsha carp, an Estonian strain and a strain of German mirror carp. The results are consistent with a similar study involving Chinese and European races of common carp.     

Relative growth,survival and harvestability of bighead carp,silver carp,and their reciprocal hybrids

Growth and survival in the primary rearing phase (42 days) for bighead carp, silver carp, bighead × silver carp (BHC × SC), and silver × bighead carp (SC × BHC) in ponds and concrete tanks stocked at 370 500 fry/ha were studied. Mean survival for fishes in ponds was 93%, that in tanks was 73%. Yields among all fishes averaged 338 kg/ha. The growth rates of fishes in ponds were similar; in tanks, silver carp grew faster than the bighead carp.Growth, survival, and harvestability by seine during the secondary rearing phase (60-day duration) for the same groups of fish were studied. Fingerlings (0.9 g mean weight) were stocked in earthen ponds at 49 400 fish/ha and 98 800 fish/ha. Mean survival of fishes at low stocking rate was 77%, similar to that (71%) for the high stocking rate. Fish yields were similar at the low stocking rate. At the high rate, the BHC × SC yield (846 kg/ha) was greater than the SC × BHC yield (582 kg/ha). The BHC × SC and SC × BHC had greater mean weights at low stocking rate than at high stocking rate. The mean weights for bighead carp were similar at both rates. Bighead carp and the reciprocal hybrids were more easily harvested by seine than silver carp.     

Growth and Food Habits of Cage-Cultured Bighead Carp x Silver Carp Hybrids in Ponds of Varying Trophic Status

Four 20m³ cages stocked with 120 bighead carp x silver carp hybrids per cage were placed in each of four ponds varying in trophic status from mesotrophic to hypereutophic. Fish were cultured, without feeding, from 13 March to 1 Octorber 1987. Fish in the mesotrophic pond survived but lost weight (-0.37 g/fish/d). The mesotrophic pond produced insufficient food to sustain fish growth. Maximum fish growth rate occured in the two eutotrophic ponds (6.61vand 7/04 g/fish/d). Fish growth in the hypereutrophic pond was about one-half (3.64 g/fish/d) that in the two eutrophic ponds. Guy analysis of fish in the hypereutrophic pond revealed consumption of larger quantities (P < 0.05) of colonial blue-green algae that were apparently poorly digested and less (P < 0.05) zooplankton (primarily cladocerans) than was found in fish from the eutrophic ponds.     

主养草鱼池塘三种混养模式鱼类生长和效益的比较

为进一步提高我国广大池塘养鱼的产品质量、经济效益和改善其生态环境。本试验在武汉新洲973项目实验基地9个陆基鱼池中进行了三种不同混养模式鱼类生长和效益的比较研究,每种模式设3个重复。模式Ⅰ中放养草鱼、鲢、鳙和高背鲫;模式Ⅱ中放养草鱼、鲢、鳙、匙吻鲟和高背鲫;模式Ⅲ中放养草鱼、鲢和高背鲫。 结果表明：通过122d的养殖试验,模式Ⅱ中草鱼的生长不仅显著高于模式Ⅰ和模式Ⅲ（P<0.05）,而且其经济效益模式Ⅱ同样高于模式Ⅰ和模式Ⅲ。     

Seasonal Differences in Growth Performance of Four Strains of Common Carp,Cyprinus carpio in India

To assess strain related differences in growth performance and growth patterns under the same culture environment, four strains of common carp, two each of the scale carp, Cyprinus carpio var. communis (Chinese big-belly carp and long bodied carp) and mirror carp, C. carpio var. specularis (scattered carp and linear carp) were communally stocked in three fertilized earthen ponds of 0.14 ha each at 5,000 fish ha^?1 in the ratio of 1:1:1:1 during an 11-month (February to December) culture cycle. Chinese big-belly carp grew larger than other groups, among which there were no significant differences. Scale carp strains performed relatively better than mirror carp at higher temperatures and then essentially stopped growing as temperatures declined into winter. The strains of mirror carp, on the other hand continued growing well later into the cold season.     

Application of electrophoretic genetic markers to fish breeding : III. Diallel analysis of growth rate in carp

Four 2 × 2 diallel experiments in the Dor-70 line of common carp are reported. The full-sib groups of each diallel were identified by segregating electrophoretic genetic markers Genetic deviations of the additive type were 6.5% of the mean growth rate while non-additive genetic deviations were of comparable considerable magnitude (4.5% of the mean). In a similar manner, crosses producing identifiable full-sib within maternal half-sib families were performed between members of the European and Chinese races of common carp. Differences between hybrid half-sib families exist but appear to be somewhat smaller than between purebred half-sibs. Hybrids generally grew more rapidly than purebreds under the management conditions prevailing in this set of tests. However, purebred and hybrid types may have equal value if it is possible to use progeny of exceptionally fast growing families for pond stocking, instead of progeny produced by mass spawning.     

A note on the hybrid mrigal,Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton) × common carp,Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus) (Cyprinidae)

Mrigal-common carp hybrids were produced and examined. Only few hybrids could be reared up to the age of 14 months. These did not show signs of maturity. The parents species mature in ponds in 6 months (common carp) or 12 months (mrigal).     

Food habits and growth of silver and bighead carp in cages and ponds

Analysis of intestinal contents of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) showed that silver carp consumed primarily phytoplankton while bighead carp consumed large quantities of zooplankton and detritus in addition to phytoplankton. The size of particles filtered by the bighead carp was larger (17–3,000 μm) than that filtered by silver carp (8–100 μm). Artificial feed was readily consumed by bighead carp but not by silver carp. No growth difference was indicated for silver carp in fertilized ponds and ponds receiving artificial feed. Growth of bighead carp increased substantially with the addition of artificial feed. Silver carp grew more rapidly in cages than bighead carp.     

松浦镜鲤[(散鳞镜鲤×德国镜鲤)F_1]主要经济性状及遗传特性

从1986至1990年,在黑龙江水产研究所松浦试验场,用本所培育的散鳞镜鲤与由联邦德国引进的德国镜鲤进行了品系间杂交,获得了一个形态与两亲本稍有不同,而生长等经济性状具有明显超亲优势的杂交种——松浦镜鲤。根据对体长、体高、头长、吻长、眼径、尾柄长和鳃耙数等16个可数、可量性状的测定。松浦镜鲤在头长、吻长、眼径、尾柄长和鳃耙数等5个性状上与双亲不同,而其它性状都界于双亲之间,体高、体厚偏向母本,而尾柄高、鳃耙数偏向父本。因此表现出头小、吻延长,眼径扩大,鳃耙数增加等有利运动和摄食,根据4年的池塘生长对照和抗寒、抗病测验,松浦镜鲤一至三龄鱼的越冬成活率分别比双亲高70.3％、116.2％和17.8％。池塘饲养成活率一至三龄鱼分别比双亲高10％、18.5％和14.7％。由于池塘成活率高,因此,群体产量一至三龄鱼分别比双亲高81.3％、63.6％和59.9％(三个池塘的平均值)。个体体重瞬时增长率一至三龄鱼分别比双亲快7.7％、6.5％和25.82％(三个池塘的均值)。含肉率比双亲均值高8.9％。     

水晶彩鲫、红鲫、锦鲤、荷包红鲤杂交子代的生长和体色研究

利用人工授精的方法,进行水晶彩鲫、红鲫、锦鲤和荷包红鲤的相互杂交试验,测定各个杂交组合子代的成活率、生长速度和体色分离比例。结果表明：4种鱼能够相互杂交受精,孵出鱼苗。孵化率锦鲤自交最低为46．4％,其它组合为70％～80％;杂交鱼苗经28d的人工饲养,水晶彩鲫与荷包红鲤、锦鲤的正、反杂交,同其它杂交组合比较有明显的差别,其生长速度慢,个体之间差异大,成活率低;杂交子代的体型分为3类：鲫鱼型、鲤鱼型和鲤鲫型。鳞片反光组织(虹彩细胞或鸟粪素细胞)为2类：完全型、缺失型。体色分离复杂多样,水晶彩鲫与红鲫杂交是水晶彩鲫,红鲫与锦鲤、荷包红鲤杂交是青灰色鲤鲫杂种,水晶彩鲫与锦鲤、荷包红鲤杂交都会出现水晶彩色和青灰色鲤鲫杂种。     

Limnological Factors Influencing Growth of Cage-Cultured Bighead Carp ♀ x Silver Carp ♂ Hybrids

Four 2-m³ cages each stocked with 120 bighead carp ♀ X silver carp ♂ hybrids were placed in each of four ponds varying in trophic status from mesotrophic to hypereutrophic. Fish were cultured, without feeding, from 13 March to 1 October, 1987. All fish survived but lost weight (-0.37 g/fish/day) in the mesotrophic pond. Maximum fish growth rate occured in the two eutrophic ponds (6.61 and 7.04 g/fish/day). Fish growth in the hypereutrophic pond was about one-half (3.64 g/fish/day) that in the two eutrophic ponds until a sudden thermal destratification and dissolved oxygen depletion killed all the fish. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that gross phytoplankton primary productivity accounted for 68% of the variation in fish weight gain (R² = 0.68; P < 0.0001) in all ponds. When eliminating primary productivity data from the statistical model, number of algal taxa comprising phytoplankton communities explained 49% of the variation in fish growth (R² = 0.49; P < 0.0001). Conditions of hypereutrophy believed to be detrimental to fish growth were: a decline in cladoceran density; a preponderance of blue-green algae, especially colonial forms with mucilaginous sheaths; a shift from numerous, relatively small plankton algal taxa to fewer but larger forms; degraded water quality.     

Early growth and survival of striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), and its phenotypically similar hybrid (M. saxatilis × M. chrysops) using an otolith marking method

An experiment using differently marked larval striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum). and its hybrid (M. saxatilis x M. chrysops (Rafinesque)) was performed in two grow-out ponds. Larval striped bass were immersed in oxytetracycline solution to mark their otoliths; hybrids received no treatment. Larvae from both groups were mixed and stocked at 8 days post hatch into the ponds. Striped bass and hybrid larvae grew to a significantly larger size at 35 days in one pond. In both ponds, hybrid lengths at 35 days after hatch were significantly greater than striped bass lengths. However, the magnitude of the size difference between hybrids and striped bass was twofold greater (10%) in one pond than in the other (5%). The proportion of striped bass juveniles at 35 days differed from the initial stocking proportion (0.53) only in one pond, where hybrids showed 12% greater survival than striped bass. Results suggested that the relative survival of hybrids was influenced by growth conditions in the ponds. Based on the ease of protocol and analysis of the marking experiment, we recommend its use to (1) investigate relative performance between genetic groups of young fish in common environments; and (2) predict the effects of introductions of genetically altered fishes.     

Effect of supplemental feed type on water quality,plankton and benthos availability and carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) growth in semi‐intensive monoculture ponds

A four‐and‐a‐half months study was conducted in nine earthen ponds to evaluate the addition of different supplemental feeds as a management tool for enhancing natural food availability and common carp growth, while maintaining optimal water quality in the semi‐intensive system. Three supplemental feeds were used: commercial extruded and pelleted feed with 25% protein and 7% fat and cereals. The type of supplemental feed did not influence water quality, except hardness, but significantly affected abundance of cyanobacteria, natural food availability and common carp growth. The use of pelleted feed was related to the lowest abundance of cyanobacteria in the ponds. For the two groups of large zooplankton, Cladocera and Copepoda, abundances were higher in the ponds with pelleted feed compared with the ponds where cereals and extruded feed were used. The abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates in the treatment with pelleted feed was three times higher than in the other two treatments. The results of this study indicate that pelleted feed can help farmers not only as a source of nutrients for carp growth but also indirectly as a management tool for maintaining ecological stability and control of cyanobacterial bloom in ponds.     

Impact of silver and bighead carps on plankton communities of channel catfish ponds

Stocking of ponds with planktivorous carps in polyculture with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus and a hybrid) reduced the density of zooplankton when compared to controls. Bighead (Aristichthys nobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) similarly reduced zooplankton, though the mechanism of suppression may be different. Phytoplankton biomass was significantly higher in ponds containing bighead and silver carp. Ammonia and nitrite concentrations were similar in bighead and silver carp ponds and were significantly lower than in control ponds.     

Comparison of growth performance and biometric relationships in two reciprocal sturgeon hybrids reared in net cages (Sicily, Mediterranean)

This study was designed to investigate growth performance in two sturgeon hybrids reared in two quadrangular floating cages moored in an artificial pond, representing the first experience of sturgeon culture performed at Southern Mediterranean latitudes. The research was carried out from December 2000 to July 2001 and tested the growth performance, feeding parameters and biometric relationships. The sturgeons were randomly collected from the cages on a monthly basis, and total length, standard length (SL) and wet weight (WW) were recorded. The specific daily growth rate (SGR_W) as somatic WW, food conversion ratio and condition factor (CF) were calculated. Biometric relationships, as linear regression, were also calculated on SL and WW data. Both hybrids grew slowly from December to April, but faster during the warm months. The growth performance of the two hybrids seems to be influenced by variability of the environmental conditions and, for both fish groups, there was a strong correlation between water temperature and SGR_W at temperatures below 25 °C. The CF (constantly below 1) was similar for both hybrids. The regression analysis for WW and SL calculated for the entire period showed a positive allometry for both hybrids, indicating that the fishes grew in weight at a greater rate than required to maintain constant body proportion.     

Principal component analysis of interactions between fish species and the ecological conditions in fish ponds: I. Phytoplankton*

Abstract. Interactions between fish species and their effect on the ecological conditions in the fish pond were studied in ten ponds of 0.1 ha each. The ponds were stocked with bottom-feeding fish: common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., and male hybrid tilapia Oreochromis niioticus (L.) x O. aureus (Steindachner). and a filter-feeder: silver carp, Hypophthalmichtys molitrix (Valenciennes), in various combinations. This paper deals with the effect of different assemblages of these fishes on the phytoplankton populations in the ponds. A Principal Component Analysis of the data showed that only 20% of the phytoplanktonic variability is accounted for by the fish combination present in the pond (treatment). The first principal component (PCI) groups the species of phytoplankton which responded to treatment. This component is formed by small size species; Scenedesmus spp., small Chlorophytes (mainly Chlorella), Selenastrum minutum, Ankistrodesmus setigerus, Merismopedia minima and Diatoms of the order Pennales. The presence of silver carp led to an increase in total phytoplankton numbers, concurrently with a decrease in their dominant size. This was due to the predominance in the water of the small size species of the PCI group, which could not be retained by the gill filtering apparatus of the fish. Reduction in zooplankton abundance by silver carp also contributed to this situation. The presence of bottom-feeding fish resulted in a decrease in total phytoplankton numbers, and in the importance of the small-size species of the PCI group, and hence in the dominance of larger algae. The interactions between these two trophic types of fish and algae size are discussed.     

Principal component analysis of interactions between fish species and the ecological conditions in fish ponds: II. Zooplankton*

Abstract. Interactions between fish species as to their effect on the zooplankton populations in the ponds were studied in ten ponds of 0–1 ha each. The ponds were stocked with bottom-feeding fish: common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., and male hybrid tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. ×O. aureus (Steindachner), and a filter feeder: silver carp, Hypophthalmichtys molitrix (Valenciennes), at varying proportions. A Principal Component Analysis of the data showed that the fish combination present in the pond accounted for 30% of the overall variability, through the first two components. The first zooplanktonic component (ZC1) can be considered as expressing community structure, showing high zooplankton diversity on one pole and low diversity on the other. The second component (ZC2) is related to the time of appearance of certain zooplankton groups. The most striking differences occurred between ponds with and without silver carp. The presence of the other bottom-feeding fish caused a reduction of zooplankton diversity, but not so pronounced as that of silver carp. The interactions among silver carp, zooplanktonic trophic groups and algal size are discussed. It is concluded that the effect of silver carp on the zooplanktonic community is a compound one, which includes both direct predation and depletion of their food resources.     

Growth testing of two breeds of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. (Hungarian mirror and Třeboň scaly carp), in ponds with low and high stocking density

The growth of two breeds of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., was tested in ponds under the climatic conditions of South Bohemia. T?eboň scaly carp (TR) and Hungarian mirror carp (M2) were kept in both low and high stocking densities during the second growing season and then stocked together for communal testing during the third growing season. Before the communal testing, the mean initial weights of fish from low‐ and high‐density stocks differed significantly (374.1 vs. 227.7 g for the TR breed and 766.7 vs. 317.3 g for the M2 breed respectively, P<0.01). After communal testing, mean weights of fish from low‐ and high‐density stocks gained 761.8 vs. 543.8 g for the TR breed and 1339.7 vs. 706.7 g for the M2 breed respectively. These observed weights were also significantly different (P<0.01). However, the test of corrected weight gain, i.e. gain not related to the initial weight of fish, revealed insignificant differences (P>0.01) between the weight gains after correction, i.e. the effect of different initial weights was successfully eliminated. These results seem to confirm the applicability of this method for the assessment of growth of purebred common carp under the climatic conditions of Central European fish farms.     

Preferred temperature of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes), and brema carp, Megalobrama amblycephala (Yih), (Pisces, Cyprinidae) in horizontal and vertical gradients

The preferred temperatures of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes), and brema carp, Megalobrama amblycephala (Yih), were determined individually and together in both horizontal and vertical gradients. No significant difference was found by two methods between the preferred temperatures in either species of carp (28.0-28.5 ^oC) when the fish were placed individually. However, when the two species of carp were placed together, C. idella was displaced thermally, preferring a temperature of 23.5 ^oC, which was significantly lower than that obtained when it was held separately. This suggests that, if both species of carp are placed in ponds forming part of a Chinese polyculture system, C. idella will seek out a lower temperature as a mechanism to avoid competition, and therefore, the growth of this species will be reduced.