Ecological Impacts of an Exotic Benthivorous Fish in Large Experimental Wetlands, Delta Marsh, Canada

The Common Carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) is an exotic benthivorous fish that can have negative impacts in aquatic ecosystems. This study examines the direct and indirect ecological impacts of Common Carp on water column nutrient concentrations, suspended solids, sedimentation, and submersed macrophytes i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Wetlands (Wilmington, N.C.) N.C.), 2010-08, Vol.30 (4), p.657-667
Main Authors: Badiou, Pascal H. J., Goldsborough, L. Gordon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic ecosystems
Aquatic plants
Biomass
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Carp
Chlorophyll
Coastal Sciences
Dissolved oxygen
Ecology
Environmental Management
Eutrophication
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Hydrogeology
Landscape Ecology
Life Sciences
Macrophytes
Marshes
Nutrient concentrations
Phytoplankton
Plankton
Solid suspensions
Suspended solids
Water area
Water circulation
Water color
Water column
Water quality
Wetlands
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Summary:The Common Carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) is an exotic benthivorous fish that can have negative impacts in aquatic ecosystems. This study examines the direct and indirect ecological impacts of Common Carp on water column nutrient concentrations, suspended solids, sedimentation, and submersed macrophytes in large (5–7 ha) experimental wetlands in Delta Marsh, Manitoba, Canada. In general, the effects of Common Carp on water quality were similar to those encountered in systems undergoing cultural eutrophication. With increasing densities of Common Carp, water column nutrient concentrations, suspended solids, and chlorophyll a increased while dissolved oxygen concentrations, submersed macrophyte density, and photic depth decreased. The wetlands did not become noticeably more turbid, contrary to our expectation, probably due to the mitigating effects of dense submersed macrophyte beds, and to high water color that likely prevented phytoplankton from flourishing.
ISSN:0277-5212
1943-6246
DOI:10.1007/s13157-010-0071-5