Ecological effects of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in a semi-arid floodplain wetland

Vilizzi, Lorenzo; Thwaites, L.; Smith, Benjamin; Nicol, Jason; Madden, Christopher

doi:10.1071/mf13163

Cited by 38 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…In fact, none of the reviewed experiments, except for that by Vilizzi et al (2014b), provided (at least explicitly) an a priori power analysis (e.g., to justify the number of treatment and/or control replicates to be employed). However, Matsuzaki et al (2009a) did estimate a posteriori the effect size of 16 experiments on the effects of carp on a subset of the components examined in the present study and, except for Koehn et al, 2000) of the effects of carp on freshwater ecosystems.…”

Section: Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Evidence from Causal Criteria Analysis for the Effects of Common CarpCyprinus carpioon Freshwater Ecosystems: A Global Perspective

Vilizzi

Tarkan

Copp

2015

Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture

125

132

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As the most widely distributed freshwater fish worldwide, common carp Cyprinus carpio can be either invasive or "naturalized" in most areas of introduction. This leads to different levels of perception regarding the species' role in freshwater ecosystems, with experimental research focusing either on its "middle-out" impacts or overall function in limnological processes. At the same time, the large scales at which carp dynamics operate may severely limit the validity of laboratory and, oftentimes, field experiments in extrapolating results to real-world ecosystems. In this study, 129 laboratory, field, and "natural" experiments were systematically reviewed through causal criteria analysis, and within an historical/biogeographical and risk-assessment context. Of the 19 countries where experiments were conducted, only 4 were considered as "low risk" and one as "no risk, " the other being "medium" to "high risk. " Experimental findings from 373 component-wise assessments supported the framework of effects on water quality, vegetation, invertebrates, and vertebrates, with the latter including also amphibians and waterfowl, previously unreported. Stronger evidence was provided by natural and field relative to laboratory experiments, reflecting the reductionism of the latter. Critical biomass for an impact was highly dependent on experimental setup, even though the overall threshold of %200 kg ha ¡1 under natural conditions supported recent findings. Management of carp should reflect the level of current and potential risk posed by the species in its different areas of distribution, thereby accounting for projections of further spread but also for unsuccessful colonization. Future experimentation should favor a holistic!reductionist over a reductionist!holistic approach.

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Section: Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Evidence from Causal Criteria Analysis for the Effects of Common CarpCyprinus carpioon Freshwater Ecosystems: A Global Perspective

Vilizzi

Tarkan

Copp

2015

Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture

125

132

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“…Gambusia and common carp are now the most widespread and populous species in the system, with the potential for critical negative effects on native fish species (Rayner et al, ; Rayner et al, ). Both species compete and prey upon small‐bodied native fish and their early life stages (e.g., NSW Government, ; Vilizzi, Thwaites, Smith, Nicol, & Madden, ). Populations of non‐native fish species must be reduced to allow full realization of ecological outcomes from environmental flows.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Connectivity but not recruitment: Response of the fish community to a large‐scale flood on a heavily regulated floodplain

et al. 2020

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Recent environmental flow management in the Murray–Darling basin, south‐eastern Australia, has centred on restoring natural flooding regimes to meet ecological requirements, including the promotion of native fish recruitment, despite uncertainty about the effectiveness of managed environmental flooding. This study investigated recruitment responses of small‐bodied native and non‐native fish species to a large natural flood, supported by managed environmental flows in the Macquarie Marshes of the Murray–Darling basin. We surveyed the fish community within the heavily regulated, dryland floodplain system of the marshes, the year after breaking of the Millennium drought (2002–2009). During the spring–summer of 2010, the Macquarie Marshes experienced a one‐in‐10‐year flood, sustained by two environmental flow allocations, flooding 174,000 ha of floodplain. Five native species were collected across the nine study sites. Two non‐native species were particularly abundant during the flood, outnumbering the five native species in a ratio of 32:1, with Gambusia holbrooki the most abundant species, comprising 87% of all native and non‐native individuals captured. There was no marked effect of flood stage on the total abundance of small‐bodied native or non‐native fishes, but the composition of the fish community varied between surveys of the rising and falling phases of the flood. We did not capture any larval or post‐larval fish despite using a variety of suitable sampling methods. The lack of larvae in the Macquarie Marshes, following extensive flooding, most likely reflected the overall poor condition of native fish communities and low standing stocks of mature fish, resulting from deleterious long‐term effects of flow regulation exacerbated by drought. A gradual rebuilding of ecosystem health, fish health, and resilient fish populations by active management of environmental flows to impose more natural boom and bust dynamics may be needed to restore fish reproduction and recruitment in this regulated river.

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“…The proliferation of carp at wetland spawning sites such as Barmah-Millewa (Vilizzi et al 2014) can also influence broader carp meta-populations through the emigration of newly recruited carp from these off-channel habitats. In some cases this may be preventable by containing carp on the floodplain/wetlands, although this is likely to mean that there will also be limited connectivity for native fishes.…”

Section: Modelled Outputs and Site Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using a Population Model to Inform the Management of River Flows and Invasive Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Koehn

Todd

Zampatti

et al. 2017

Environmental Management

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Carp are a highly successful invasive fish species, now widespread, abundant and considered a pest in south-eastern Australia. To date, most management effort has been directed at reducing abundances of adult fish, with little consideration of population growth through reproduction. Environmental water allocations are now an important option for the rehabilitation of aquatic ecosystems, particularly in the Murray-Darling Basin. As carp respond to flows, there is concern that environmental watering may cause floodplain inundation and provide access to spawning habitats subsequently causing unwanted population increase. This is a management conundrum that needs to be carefully considered within the context of contemporary river flow management (natural, environmental, irrigation). This paper uses a population model to investigate flow-related carp population dynamics for three case studies in the Murray-Darling Basin: (1) river and terminal lakes; (2) wetlands and floodplain lakes; and (3) complex river channel and floodplain system. Results highlight distinctive outcomes depending on site characteristics. In particular, the terminal lakes maintain a significant source carp population regardless of river flow; hence any additional within-channel environmental flows are likely to have little impact on carp populations. In contrast, large-scale removal of carp from the lakes may be beneficial, especially in times of extended low river flows. Case studies 2 and 3 show how wetlands, floodplain lakes and the floodplain itself can now often be inundated for several months over the carp spawning season by high volume flows provided for irrigation or water transfers. Such inundations can be a major driver of carp populations, compared to within channel flows that have relatively little effecton recruitment. The use of a population model that incorporates river flows and different habitats for this flow-responsive species, allows for the comparison of likely population outcomes for differing hydrological scenarios to improve the management of risks relating to carp reproduction and flows.

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Ecological effects of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in a semi-arid floodplain wetland

Cited by 38 publications

References 61 publications

Experimental Evidence from Causal Criteria Analysis for the Effects of Common CarpCyprinus carpioon Freshwater Ecosystems: A Global Perspective

Experimental Evidence from Causal Criteria Analysis for the Effects of Common CarpCyprinus carpioon Freshwater Ecosystems: A Global Perspective

Connectivity but not recruitment: Response of the fish community to a large‐scale flood on a heavily regulated floodplain

Using a Population Model to Inform the Management of River Flows and Invasive Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

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