Abstract
When silver carp were introduced into the Netofa reservoirs at an initial density of 300–4500 fish per hectare in order to control phytoplankton and zooplankton, there was a significant reduction of algae, zooplankton, and suspended organic matter; the silver carp prevents the growth of blue-green algae.
Annual yield ranged from 600 to 1500 kg per hectare. The growth of individual fish after 6 to 8 years was 6 to 15 kg per fish.
Introducing silver carp to reservoirs as a means of biological control creates a balanced ecological system in which the interspecific competition is minimal and the environmental improvements are considerable.
Silver carp and bottom-feeding fish create a positive synergism in the water-body by filtering phytoplankton and zooplankton from the water, excreting a major part of it to the bottom and enriching it with organic matter suitable for zoobenthos.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Annual reports. Lake Kinneret Limnological Laboratory. Berman, T. (ed.), 1973. Lake Kinneret data record. N.C.R.D., 73 pp.
Hepher, B. & A. Milstein, H. Leventer & B. Teltsch, (in press). The effect of fish density and species combination on growth and utilization of natural foods in ponds. Aquacult. Fish. Mngmt
Leventer, H., 1973. Eutrophication control of Tsalmon Reservoirs by the cichlid fish Tilapia aurea. In S. H. Jenkins (ed.), Water Pollution Research. Pergamon: 217–229.
Leventer, H., 1981. Biological control of reservoirs by fish. Bamidgeh 33: 3–23.
Leventer, H., 1987. The contribution of silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix to the biological control of reservoirs. Mekoroth, 106 pp.
Milstein, A., B. Hepher & B. Teltsch, 1985. Interaction between fish species and the ecological conditions in mono and polyculture ponds system. I. Phytoplankton. Aquacult. Fish. Mngmt 16: 305–317.
Moskul, A. G., 1977. Feeding of two years old silver and bighead in foraging lagoons of the Krasnodar area. J. Hydrobiol. (Trans. by A.F.S.) 13: 37–41.
Opuszynski, K., 1980. The role of fishery management in counteracting eutrophication processes. Developments in Hydrobiology (eds J. Barica & L. R. Mur) 2: 263–269.
Reich, K., 1975. Multispecies fish culture (polyculture) in Israel. Bamidgeh 27: 85–101.
APHA. Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater, 1980. New York.
Teltsch, B. & J. Ben Zur, 1988. Periphytic suspended solid production within a water distribution channel (Hebrew). Mekoroth, 105 pp.
Verigin, V. B., 1979. The role of herbivorous fishes at reconstruction of ichthyofauna under the condition of anthropogenic evolution of water bodies. Proc. Grass Carp Conference, Gainesville.
Vinogradov, V. K., 1979. Herbivorous fish breeding and rearing. EIFAC Technical Paper 35, Suppl. I (eds E. A. Huisman & H. Hogendoorn).
Vovk, P. S., 1974. The possibility of using the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) to increase the fish production of the Dnieper reservoirs and to decrease eutrophication. J. Ichthyol. 14: 351–358.
Yashouv, A. 1971. Interaction between the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) in fish ponds. Bamidgeh 12: 85–92.
Yefimova, A. T. & Yu. I. Nikinovov, 1977. Prospects for the introduction of phytophagous fishes into Ivankovskoye reservoir. J. Ichthyol. 17: 634–644.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leventer, H., Teltsch, B. The contribution of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) to the biological control of Netofa reservoirs. Hydrobiologia 191, 47–55 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026038
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026038