Nuisance aquatic vegetation (mainly Hydrilla Verticillata ) has become problematic in Lake Conroe, TX. Consequently, triploid grass carp (Ctenopharynogodon idella) were stocked at densities sufficient to completely denude the reservoir of all vegetation (invasive and native plants) within one year. As a result, an assessment was designed to investigate the changes (before and after carp stocking) in the plant assemblage among sampling stations, changes in water quality parameters, length frequency and condition changes of Centrachid species, largemouth diet changes, and changes in the fish assemblages among randomly selected sampling stations between early fall 2007, when grass carp were stocked, and one year later in early fall of 2008. The areas for sampling were based upon aquatic vegetation surveys by Texas Parks and Wildlife during 2007 and 2008, thirteen sampling stations were randomly selected using ArcGIS software and the percentage of water surface covered by vegetation was recorded at each station. Within each station, fish were collected by electrofishing the entire station for five minutes; water samples were also collected. Largemouth bass diet did significantly change for mature (<200 mm-TL) bass as indicated by a chi-square test. Largemouth bass from the samples were shown to consume less sunfish and more shad by the second (post-carp) sample. This is consistent with expected results due to the removal of vegetation consequently eliminating small sunfish habitat. In similar fashion, significant length-frequency changes were seen in the second year as there were fewer smaller (juvenile) Centrachid species found in the sampling sites. Contrary to the Centrachids, length-frequency of gizzard shad significantly decreased in size by the second sampling year. Based upon the aquatic vegetation surveys within the sampling sites of 2007 and 2008, there was an almost complete elimination of all aquatic plants following carp introduction. This result was consistent with what was expected from the carp introductions. Changes in water quality parameters (phosphorous, nitrate, nitrites, orthophosphate, chlorophyll (a)), were generally inconclusive, with the exception of nitrate which significantly increased by the second year. The water quality parameters along with other measured habitat parameters were used in the multivariate analysis.

Ceftiofur sodium, a third generation cephalosporin, was studied to determine the potential of this drug as an alternative bacterial therapeutic agent for the aquaculture and ornamental fish industry. Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella have been selected as the fish model for this study since they are a good representative for both foodfish and ornamental fish and are one of the major species grown worldwide. Pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur sodium after various routes of administration, histopathologic observations to detect possible toxic effects on the tissues involved in its metabolism and excretion, and the effects on the non-specific immune response were investigated in grass carp. For the pharmacokinetic studies, ceftiofur sodium was administered a single time to grass carp by four different routes : intracardiac (IC), intraperitoneal (IP), intramuscular (IM) and oral (PO) at a dosage of 8 mg/kg body weight. Serial blood samples were obtained and plasma samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography for ceftiofur (as measured its metabolite, desfuroylceftiofur (DFC) and DFC-related metabolite concentrations). Disposition pharmacokinetic data were best described by a two compartment open model for IC and by a non-compartment model with no lag time for IP and IM administrations. Oral absorption of ceftiofur was not observed in this species. Following IC, IP and IM ceftiofur sodium administration, the final elimination half-lives, maximum plasma concentration, time to reach maximum concentration, volume of distribution and plasma clearance were 0.38, 0.45 and 13.86 hours ; 157.09, 31.54 and 8.86 mg/ml ; 0, 0.25 and 0.5 hours ; 0.09, 0.17, 0.53 l/kg ; and 0.21, 0.26, 0.26 ml/min.kg, respectively. Desfuroylceftiofur metabolite was highly bound with plasma protein at pH 7.0 and 8.0. For the histopathological studies, a single intramuscular dose of ceftiofur sodium at three different concentrations, 8 (1X), 40 (5X) and 80 (10X) mg/kg was administered to separate groups of grass carp for evaluation of the potential toxicity to major tissues involved in metabolism and excretion of this drug. These included the anterior kidney, posterior kidney, liver, and spleen. After 48 hours, lesions were seen in the posterior kidney at the highest dose of ceftiofur (10X). Morphological alterations observed microscopically included increased number of renal tubules, tubular necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells. No adverse effects on the glomeruli were observed at any concentration of the drug. For the immunotoxicity studies on the non-specific immune response, dosages of either 8 or 40 mg/kg body weight were administered intramuscularly. After 24 and 48 h, leukocyte number, phagocytic ability and H2O2 production were examined in the cells of the pronephros. The results showed that neither dosage had an effect on the number of leukocytes in the pronephros. Phagocytosis was also not significantly altered at either dosage in macrophages from the pronephros. Hydrogen peroxide production was not altered in the pronephros of fish dosed at 8 mg/kg, while at a dosage of 40 mg/kg, H2O2 production was significantly increased. In summary, ceftiofur sodium has potential as an efficacious chemotherapeutic agent for controlling bacterial infection in brood stock and ornamental fish at the recommended dose of 8 mg/kg. A dose as high as 40 mg/kg can be use with careful consideration. This dosage may not directly injure the posterior kidney but it may affect the non-specific immune response of the fish. / Ph. D.

Grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella have been stocked throughout the world due to their utility as a biological control. In the United States, the species has been used to successfully control invasive, aquatic weeds such as hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata. Despite the large body of research surrounding the use of grass carp, few studies have demonstrated widely applicable methods for evaluating the success of weed control based on grass carp behavior and population dynamics. Classic methods of biological control using grass carp often rely on a single, large stocking of fish. Few of these studies have demonstrated success in achieving intermediate levels of weed control. Managers would be better equipped to make decisions regarding stocking and maintenance grass carp populations with better information about behavior, survival, and population structure. Improved decision making could result in reduced cost and increased effectiveness of stocking. In order to examine current knowledge gaps for management, I investigated the movements and habitat use of grass carp, post-stocking survival, age-specific survival rates, and population dynamics of grass carp in Lake Gaston, North Carolina and Virginia. I characterized relationships between grass carp behavior and environmental factors using radio-telemetry. The average rate of movement for grass carp in Lake Gaston was about 137 m/d. Rapid dispersal after stocking was followed by long periods of no movement. However, when time after stocking was held constant in models of behavior, fish moved about 200 m/d more in the second year after stocking than in the first year, and were found closer to shore. On average, grass carp were found about 40 m from shore in about 2.5-3.5 m of water, although mean depth of water at grass carp locations varied seasonally, being shallowest in summer and deepest in winter. Although depth of water at grass carp locations did not vary by stocking location, Grass carp were found closer to shorelines in the upper reservoir than in the lower reservoir. I found significant relationships between grass carp behavior and hydrological processes such as lake elevation and dam releases in the reservoir, as well as with other environmental factors such as water temperature, photoperiod, and weather conditions. The results of this study should be useful in better understanding how behavior can affect management decisions. Specifically, grass carp behavior appears to change with age and environmental conditions within large reservoir systems. Future research should focus more closely on the effects of large-scale flow dynamics on grass carp behavior. I estimated age-1 survival of grass carp from mark-recapture models designed for radio-tagged animals, and characterized relationships between age-1 survival and factors under the control of management, such as stocking locations and size at stocking. . According to the most-plausible model developed in this study, survival of age-1 grass carp in Lake Gaston varied throughout the year, and the probability of an individual grass carp surviving to the end of its first year (±SE) was 0.57(±0.10). According to the second-most-plausible model developed in this study, grass carp survival varied between stocking locations, and was twice as high in the upper reservoir (0.87±0.09) than in the lower reservoir (0.43±0.11). The differences in survival between stocking locations suggest that the cost-effectiveness of grass carp stocking could be improved by focusing stocking efforts in specific regions of Lake Gaston. Furthermore, none of the models developed in this study that incorporated the effects of size (length and weight) or condition factor accounted for a meaningful amount of the total model weights. These results suggest that costs of grass carp stocking could be reduced in Lake Gaston by using a smaller minimum size (352 mm, TL) than is commonly referred to in the literature (450 mm, TL). I used grass carp collected by bowfishers in Lake Gaston to characterize the age, growth, and survival of grass carp in the system. From these data, I characterized relationships between fish population dynamics and annual hydrilla coverage. Grass carp collected from Lake Gaston ranged in age 1-16 years. Growth of grass carp in Gaston was described by the von Bertalanffy growth function as Lt = 1297(1-e -0.1352 (t+1.52)). I estimated mortality from the von Bertalanffy growth parameters using methods based on growth, temperature, and age; and with each mortality estimate I estimated population size and standing biomass of grass carp. Use of age-specific mortality rates produced lower estimates of grass carp numbers and standing biomass in Lake Gaston than did the use of a single, instantaneous mortality rate for all ages. I determined that growth of grass carp slowed considerably after the fourth year and that slowed growth, in combination with changes in mortality, resulted in a decrease in the amount of hydrilla controlled by a given cohort after four years in Lake Gaston. This phenomenon resulted in an approximately linear relationship between the biomass of grass carp at year i and hectares of hydrilla at year i+3. Based on this relationship, I predicted that the biomass of grass carp necessary to reduce hydrilla coverage to the target level of 120 ha in Lake Gaston is about 91,184 kg (±38,146 kg) and that the current biomass of grass carp in Lake Gaston is about 108,073 kg (±3,609 kg). I conclude that grass carp biomass is at or near levels that should reduce hydrilla coverage to 120 ha between 2013 and 2018. This research provides an effective means for synthesis of information that is critical to understanding sterile, triploid grass carp populations when assumptions of other methods cannot be met. The results of this study should be of immediate utility to hydrilla management efforts in Lake Gaston and other systems. Furthermore, the age-specific mortality rates developed in this study should be useful as starting values for grass carp management in similar systems. / Master of Science

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is an invasive aquatic plant that grows quickly across shallow freshwater habitats. It is a problem for recreational users of lakes and landowners. Grass carp (Ctenopharynogodon idella) is an effective biological control agent that preferentially consumes and can control the spread of hydrilla. However, grass carp also will consume other vegetation, which influences aquatic communities via direct and indirect interactions that can change food and habitat availability and use by various species. Aquatic plants influence habitat and types of prey used by sunfish (Centrarchidae), which must also avoid their own predators. Prey use among sunfish species depends on density and taxonomic identity of both prey and vegetation. This was a one-year analysis of stomach contents from three common species of invertivorous sunfish: bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis), and redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus). Thirteen sampling stations were randomly selected using ArcGIS software. Percentage of water surface covered by vegetation was recorded at each station. A five-minute electrofishing sample was performed within the littoral zone early morning in late September. The stomach contents of all targeted sunfish (N=489) showed high percentages of diet overlap pre- (0.77-0.92) and post- (0.83-0.88) introduction of grass carp. Multivariate analysis showed total explained variation (15.5%) in sunfish diet composition was (P < 0.05) correlated significantly with sunfish species (6.67%), percent surface vegetation coverage (3.97%), and sampling periods pre- versus post-introduction of grass carp (2.13%). Prey-specific abundance showed that all sunfishes displayed a generalized feeding strategy in both sampling periods. Diets of each sunfish species showed differences in abundance (by volume) and occurrence (among individual fish) of prey items between sampling periods. Levin?s standardized index of diet breadth for all sunfish species decreased from pre- (0.12) to post-introduction (0.05). Results imply that vegetation control by grass carp influenced the diets and feeding strategies of three cohabitating sunfish species. These findings may help fisheries biologists to plan future management actions that influence assemblages of aquatic plants and macroinvertebrates, herbivorous fish, invertivorous prey-fish, and piscivorous game fish, to promote a healthy and balanced ecosystem for Lake Conroe stakeholders.

Orientador: Flávio Ruas de Moraes / Banca: Joel Aubin / Banca: Jérôme Lazard / Banca: Maria Inez Eapagnoli Geraldo Martins / Banca: Márcia Noelia Eler / Resumo: O estudo teve como objetivo desenvolver um novo sistema de cultivo de peixes, denominado de peixe verde. O princípio básico do sistema é alimentar a carpa capim, espécie principal do policultivo, com vegetais cultivados. O estudo analisou três intensidades de produção. Foi realizado no Oeste do Estado de Santa Catarina e abrangeu três segmentos: análise bioeconômica, análise do ciclo de vida e análise da fauna parasitária do sistema peixe verde. Os resultados do estudo indicam que o peixe verde é um sistema de baixa intensidade de produção. Demonstrou ser um sistema de baixo impacto ambiental. As intensidades de produção estudadas demonstraram ser economicamente viáveis, principalmente para piscicultores familiares. O peixe verde demonstrou ser mais dependente de mão-de-obra quando comparado com outros sistemas de produção. O estudo da análise do ciclo de vida (ACV) permitiu analisar os principais impactos ambientais do sistema peixe verde. O tratamento mais intensivo foi o que apresentou os maiores impactos nas categorias analisadas. Os alevinos foi o fator que mais contribuiu nas categorias de impactos. Com base nos resultados o sistema pode ser considerado como sistema de baixa intensidade parasitária. O tratamento com maior densidade mostrou ser o mais eficiente economicamente, enquanto o de menor densidade mostrou ser ambientalmente o mais eficiente. / Abstract: The study had as objective to develop a new system of fish culture, called green fish. The basic principle of the system is to feed the grass carp, main species of the polyculture, with cultivated vegetables. The study analyzed three intensities of production. It was carried out in the West of Santa Catarina State and enclosed three segments: economic analysis, life cycle assessment and analysis of the parasitic fauna of the system green fish. Results of the study indicate that the green fish is a system of low production intensity. It demonstrated to be a system of low ambient impact. The studied intensities of production had economically demonstrated to be viable, mainly for family fish farmers. The green fish showed to be more dependent of man power when compared with other systems of production. The study of the life cycle assessement (LCA) allowed to analyze the main ambient impacts of the system green fish. The most intensive treatment presented higest impacts within the analyzed categories. Fry were the factor that more contributed in the categories of impacts. On the basis of the results the system can be considered as system of low parasitic intensity. The treatment with higher density showed to be more efficient economically, while the one of lesser density ishowed to be ambiently more efficient. / Doutor

Dissertação(mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Aqüicultura, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2008. / Submitted by Cristiane Silva (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2012-07-11T23:03:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertao joo xavier.pdf: 1487730 bytes, checksum: 9f6f514ac325ecefb839402bca0f89a4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Bruna Vieira(bruninha_vieira@ibest.com.br) on 2012-11-06T17:13:55Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertao joo xavier.pdf: 1487730 bytes, checksum: 9f6f514ac325ecefb839402bca0f89a4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-11-06T17:13:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertao joo xavier.pdf: 1487730 bytes, checksum: 9f6f514ac325ecefb839402bca0f89a4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / A carpa capim Ctenopharyngodon idella é uma das espécies de maior importância na aqüicultura mundial. Por ser herbívora, pode ser produzida com abaixo custo, uma vez que se alimenta de vegetação aquática, de gramíneasterrestres ou de outros vegetais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a possível utilização de gramíneas nativas da região Sul do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil na alimentação da carpa capim. O experimento foi conduzido alimentando alevinos de carpa capim com peso inicial de 2,69 ± 0,47 g, com 4 gramíneas: Pennissetum purpureum, Cynodon dactylum, Paspalum urvillei e Spartina alterniflora. Foram utilizadas 12 caixas de polietileno com volume útil de 200 litros, com fluxo constante de água (600% ao dia). Foram colocados dez alevinos em cada caixa, os quais foram alimentados diariamente com as respectivas gramíneas acrescidas, a cada dois dias, de ração comercial (1% da biomassa). O experimento teve duração de 45 dias, realizando-se biometria quinzenalmente. Os resultados de Ganho de Peso (GP) e Taxa de Crescimento Especifica (TCE) mostraram que as carpas alimentadas com C.dactylum e P.urvillei obtiveram um maior GP (respectivamente 1,45 e 1,32g) e uma melhor TCE (respectivamente 0,95 e 0,88%), quando comparadas com carpas alimentadas com P. purpurem e S. alterniflora. Cynodon dactylum e P.urvillei são, portanto, gramíneas indicadas para alimentação da carpa capim. / The grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella is one of the species of great importance in the world-wide aquaculture. As herbivore it can be produced by low cost, as soon as it is fed with aquatic vegetation, with grasses or other vegetables. The objective of this work was to analyze the possible use of natives grasses from south of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil as food of the grass carp. The experiment was accomplished feeding grass carp fingerlings with initial weight of 2.69 ± 0.47 g, with 4 grasses type: Pennissetum purpureum,Cynodon dactylum, Paspalum urvillei and Spartina alterniflora. They were used 12 boxes of polyethylene with useful volume of 200 liters, with constant water flow (600 % by day). Ten fingerlings were placed in each box, which were fed daily with the respective grass, being added, each two days, commercial ration (1 % of the biomass). The experiment had duration of 45 days, happening biometry fortnightly. The results of Weight Gain (WG) and Specific Growth Rate (SGR) showed that the carps fed with C. dactylum and P. urvillei had a bigger WG (respectively 1.45 and 1.32g) and a better SGR (respectively 0,95 and 0,88%), when compared with carps fed with P. purpureum and S. alterniflora. Cynodon dactylum and P. urvillei are, so, grass indicated as food of the grass carp.

The primary objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate the movement patterns, habitat use, and survival of triploid grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella stocked to control hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata in a riverine reservoir (Claytor Lake, Virginia), 2) to examine grass carp population dynamics and hydrilla growth dynamics in Claytor Lake to guide long-term management efforts, and 3) to describe the aquatic plant community in the New River upstream of Claytor Lake to assess the potential for alterations due to potential grass carp herbivory. Only 3% of radio-tagged grass migrated out of Claytor Lake during the 2-year study. Grass carp movement patterns were significantly correlated with temperature-, weather-, and habitat-related variables. Grass carp selected specific cove, shoal and tributary habitats colonized by hydrilla. First-year survival of grass carp was 44% in 2011, and 25% in 2012. Grass carp growth rates were rapid in 2011, but declined in 2012 concurrent with significant reductions in hydrilla abundance. Based on grass carp population dynamics observed in Claytor Lake, our stocking model predicted that hydrilla could be controlled through 2030 by a grass carp standing stock of 5-6 metric tons. We documented 12 plant species in the New River upstream of Claytor Lake, 9 of which are preferred plants for grass carp suggesting that the plant community could be altered if migration rates increase. Grass carp can be effective for managing hydrilla in riverine reservoirs; however, continued monitoring of grass carp population dynamics, migration rates, and vegetation abundance could facilitate greater precision in management efforts. / Master of Science

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-08-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:40:46Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 casaca_jm_dr_jabo.pdf: 10010578 bytes, checksum: 0a5d07e48907122164e78e3cf5a8e3f1 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O estudo teve como objetivo desenvolver um novo sistema de cultivo de peixes, denominado de peixe verde. O princípio básico do sistema é alimentar a carpa capim, espécie principal do policultivo, com vegetais cultivados. O estudo analisou três intensidades de produção. Foi realizado no Oeste do Estado de Santa Catarina e abrangeu três segmentos: análise bioeconômica, análise do ciclo de vida e análise da fauna parasitária do sistema peixe verde. Os resultados do estudo indicam que o peixe verde é um sistema de baixa intensidade de produção. Demonstrou ser um sistema de baixo impacto ambiental. As intensidades de produção estudadas demonstraram ser economicamente viáveis, principalmente para piscicultores familiares. O peixe verde demonstrou ser mais dependente de mão-de-obra quando comparado com outros sistemas de produção. O estudo da análise do ciclo de vida (ACV) permitiu analisar os principais impactos ambientais do sistema peixe verde. O tratamento mais intensivo foi o que apresentou os maiores impactos nas categorias analisadas. Os alevinos foi o fator que mais contribuiu nas categorias de impactos. Com base nos resultados o sistema pode ser considerado como sistema de baixa intensidade parasitária. O tratamento com maior densidade mostrou ser o mais eficiente economicamente, enquanto o de menor densidade mostrou ser ambientalmente o mais eficiente. / The study had as objective to develop a new system of fish culture, called green fish. The basic principle of the system is to feed the grass carp, main species of the polyculture, with cultivated vegetables. The study analyzed three intensities of production. It was carried out in the West of Santa Catarina State and enclosed three segments: economic analysis, life cycle assessment and analysis of the parasitic fauna of the system green fish. Results of the study indicate that the green fish is a system of low production intensity. It demonstrated to be a system of low ambient impact. The studied intensities of production had economically demonstrated to be viable, mainly for family fish farmers. The green fish showed to be more dependent of man power when compared with other systems of production. The study of the life cycle assessement (LCA) allowed to analyze the main ambient impacts of the system green fish. The most intensive treatment presented higest impacts within the analyzed categories. Fry were the factor that more contributed in the categories of impacts. On the basis of the results the system can be considered as system of low parasitic intensity. The treatment with higher density showed to be more efficient economically, while the one of lesser density ishowed to be ambiently more efficient.

The study compared survival and growth rate in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) juveniles in pond and recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) during winter time. The juveniles of grass carp were stocked to 5 tanks and three ponds during 2013 and 2014. In the RAS, the fish were fed by dry pellets and rearing was in constant temperature. In the pond, the temperature and feeding were only natural. In the RAS, the survival rate was significantly higher 97.79 % 0.52 % compared to 10.94 % 11.42 % in the pond. At the end of experiment, the weight of fish, Specific growth rate (SGR) and Fulton coefficient (FK) was significantly higher in RAS in comparison with the pond. The results showed that the rearing of grass carp is more effective in RAS in comparison with pond during winter time.

No description available.