The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on October 9, 2009) Thesis advisor: Dr. Andrew D. Clarke. Includes bibliographical references.

The thesis deals with localization and quantification of Sphaerospora molnari (Myxozoa) in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Sphaerospora molnari is microscopic endoparasite which attacks various tissues and organs, preferentially parasitizing intracellularly (histozoic type) in a carp fry. In this work, we studied the course of parasite infection in the various tissues and organs of the host (blood, gills, skin, kidney, liver, and muscle) in laboratory conditions. The course of infection was detected using qPCR.

Seismic waterguns produce acoustic energy that has the potential to affect aquatic organisms. This study examined the effects of exposure to a 1,966.4 cm³ watergun array (two units) on the abundance, behavior, and spatial distribution of Asian carp (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) and native fish species (i.e., bigmouth buffalo, Ictiobus cyprinellus; black buffalo, Ictiobus niger; channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus; flathead catfish, Pylodictis olivaris; freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens; gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum; smallmouth buffalo, Ictiobus bubalus). Waterguns were deployed, approximately centered and perpendicular to the shoreline, in a channel that connects the Illinois River to a set of backwater gravel pits. To evaluate the effect of waterguns, six mobile side-looking split-beam hydroacoustic surveys were conducted at fixed times over a period of 12 days, during and between replicated watergun firing periods. Acoustic data collected over a five day period before placement of the waterguns were used as a control. Proximity to the waterguns of the first detected Asian carp while the watergun array was operational (52.95 ± 7.41 m, mean ± SE) was not different relative to when turned off (36.53 ± 6.08). In contrast, the closest detected native fish were farther from the waterguns while firing (32.38 ± 3.32 m) compared to when they were off (15.04 ± 1.6 m). The waterguns did not affect the abundance of acoustically detected Asian carp within the survey area, but the abundance of native fish was reduced during the firing treatment (115.82 ± 10.19) compared to both the control (203.46 ± 12.12) and off treatment (175.84 ± 12.16). The cumulative abundance of Asian carp relative to distance from the waterguns, examined at 50 m intervals up to 480 m bi-directionally away from the waterguns, was sporadically different (i.e., reduced abundance while the waterguns were firing) between treatments (i.e., at the 250, 300, 350, and 480 m intervals). In contrast, there was a significantly lower cumulative abundance of native fish during the firing treatment at every distance interval tested. The spatial distributions, relative to distance away from the waterguns, of both fish groups were affected by the firing of the waterguns. During active operation of the waterguns, there were proportionally less targets of both fish groups detected within a 50 m radius. While firing, there were proportionally more native fish farther than 400 m away on either side of the waterguns, and a larger proportion of Asian carp farther than 400 m from the waterguns on the northern side of the channel (i.e., closer to the Illinois River main channel). Asian carp and native fish were both more likely to be detected closer to the HMS pits when the waterguns were turned off. The watergun array did not influence the directional movement of detected Asian carp. In contrast, native fish were less likely to swim towards the IL River while the waterguns were firing versus not firing. The size distributions of both Asian carp and native fish species that remained in the survey area did not change across watergun treatments. It is concluded that the seismic watergun array examined in this study had a greater impact on native fish species than on Asian carp. Due to the lowered abundance, but not complete suppression of fish, it is suggested that the watergun array (as tested) is not suitable as a barrier for areas where absolute exclusion of fish is desired. The results from the spatial distribution analyses suggest the tested watergun array could be more suitable as a herding tool to facilitate removals of large fish aggregations. Caution should be taken to the extrapolation to other fish species and to fish exposed to seismic waterguns in different environments (i.e., deeper water, reduced shoreline interaction) or exposure to a larger array of waterguns.

Trophic interactions within aquatic ecosystems are complex, with many different pathways facilitating transfer of energy and nutrients among trophic levels and many different mechanisms that influence energy and nutrient transfer. This is illustrated in the “top down” and “bottom up” regulatory effects on aquatic food webs, through which primary producer biomass and, therefore, herbivore and carnivore densities, are influenced by both nutrient availability (bottom up) and densities of consumers at higher trophic levels (top down). In an aquatic food web, planktivore presence can directly alter zooplankton density via consumption, while indirectly shaping phytoplankton biomass via reduced herbivore abundance and the release of nutrients due to excretion, egestion, and decomposition. Novel species introduced into an established food web may have important consequences. An invasive species may impact an invaded food web through competition, predation, alteration of nutrient cycling, or, potentially, through facilitation of native species or other invasives. For example, an invasive planktivore may shift zooplankton density or community composition, thereby facilitating phytoplankton blooms. Such a planktivore may also compete with and, potentially, replace native species. Moreover, an invasive species that reaches high densities within its invaded range may serve as an important nutrient sink as it consumes a high biomass of native species or a nutrient source via excretion or decomposition. Two such invasive species with the capacity to dramatically alter native food web dynamics are bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix; collectively, bigheaded carp). Bigheaded carp are large-bodied, planktivorous fishes that were introduced into the United States in the 1970s and have since spread throughout much of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. These species currently threaten the Great Lakes, where they may constitute a threat to native planktivores such as gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) and commercially important species such as walleye (Sander vitreus), although there remains a great deal of uncertainty surrounding their potential ecosystem impacts. Consumption of both zooplankton and phytoplankton has been observed in bigheaded carp, although their impact on primary producer biomass is not well understood. Although field observations suggest that condition and abundance of native planktivores, including gizzard shad and bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus), as well as zooplankton density, have declined following the bigheaded carp invasion, there is little direct, experimental evidence of bigheaded carp food web impacts. Therefore, I sought to examine the effects of bigheaded carp on native ecosystems through a series of mesocosm experiments at the Southern Illinois University pond facility. My primary objectives were to 1) observe potential competition between bigheaded carp and the native gizzard shad, 2) evaluate effects of bigheaded carp predation on zooplankton and phytoplankton communities, 3) assess impacts of bigheaded carp decomposition on nitrogen and phosphorus availability, and 4) measure the rate at which bigheaded carp excrete nitrogen and phosphorus. In order to elucidate the impacts of bigheaded carp on gizzard shad growth and survival, zooplankton and phytoplankton densities, and nitrogen and phosphorus availability in the pelagic and benthic pools and to determine whether gizzard shad experience a diet shift in response to bigheaded carp presence, I performed two mesocosm experiments with three treatments: gizzard shad only, gizzard shad, bigheaded carp, and fishless control (Chapter 1). I predicted that bigheaded carp would reduce zooplankton densities but that gizzard shad, which are both detritivorous and planktivorous, would be unaffected due to their ability to use detritus as an alternative food source. Additionally, both predator release via zooplankton consumption and increased nutrient availability from bigheaded carp excretion would stimulate phytoplankton. I found that gizzard shad survival was reduced by bigheaded carp presence but that surviving gizzard shad did not experience a decline in growth in the bigheaded carp plus gizzard shad treatments. This may have been due to the ability of gizzard shad to consume detritus, as foreguts of sampled gizzard shad in Experiment 2 contained mostly detritus. Moreover, phytoplankton density declined in the presence of silver carp in Experiment 2, suggesting silver carp herbivory. In addition, nitrogen and phosphorus availability in either the pelagic or benthic pools did not appear to be impacted by bigheaded carp presence. After demonstrating experimentally the overall negative impact of bigheaded planktivory on native food webs, I focused my remaining two chapters on the effects of silver carp on nutrient availability. In Chapter 2, I outline a decomposition experiment testing for potential changes in pelagic and benthic nitrogen and phosphorus availability and, in turn, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and macroinvertebrate densities in response to silver carp decomposition. Although silver carp die offs have been reported throughout the Midwest, little is known about the magnitude of those die offs and their consequences for the ecosystem. In this study, silver carp decomposition did not appear to alter nutrient availability or densities of phytoplankton or invertebrates. However, in comparison to northern streams in which salmon spawning and decomposition provide an important nutrient subsidy, the mesocosms used in this study have relatively higher background nutrient concentrations. Thus, silver carp decomposition, at least at the densities studied, may have little importance to in-stream nutrient availability. Lastly, because I am interested in how bigheaded carp, particularly silver carp, alter nutrient dynamics in invaded food webs, it is necessary to calculate silver carp nitrogen and phosphorus excretion rates, as well as body nitrogen and phosphorus content (Chapter 3). Nutrient stoichiometry theory predicts a balance between the relative consumption of nutrients by an organism and the extent to which the organism retains nutrients in its tissues or excretes them. Thus, it is a useful tool in determining how an invasive species may alter nutrient availability via consumption and excretion. In Chapter 3, I describe the body and excretion N:P ratios for silver carp, which exhibit a lower body N:P ratio than excretion N:P, suggesting that these organisms may serve as a sink for phosphorus. Moreover, silver carp body excretion N:P ratios were higher than those reported for gizzard shad, suggesting that, in regions where silver carp may replace gizzard shad or lower gizzard shad population density via competition (Chapter 1), silver carp may alter nutrient cycling processes in aquatic ecosystems by shifting the overall available N:P ratio. Bigheaded carp may pose a significant threat to invaded ecosystems through their potential to compete with native species, reduce plankton densities, and alter nutrient availability. However, although bigheaded carp are expanding in range and approaching the Great Lakes, the full extent of their ecosystem impacts remain uncertain. Through my work on bigheaded carp food web impacts, particularly the influence of silver carp on native species and nutrient cycling processes, I have found that bigheaded carp have the capacity to negatively impact invaded ecosystems overall by reducing zooplankton, phytoplankton, and forage fish densities. Moreover, as bigheaded carp in particular continue to reach high densities as they expand in range, their capacity to alter relative nitrogen and phosphorus availabilities must be monitored to understand the extent of their influence. Due to their ability to disrupt top down and bottom up processes in freshwater ecosystems, bigheaded carp constitute a critical environmental issue in the Great Lakes area and throughout the Midwest and, thus, it is imperative to continue to experimentally assess how bigheaded carp interact with native species to the detriment or benefit of U.S. freshwater communities.

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

Theme of my Diploma work refers about possibility of feeding up the common carp with the cereal food in the ponds. Research was monitor on 4 ponds in Naděje ponds system. The ponds have 2,4 ha together. Three of them were used for research and fourth pond was for control. This control pound had only a natural food. During the research was every year plant into the ponds 363 carps type (K 3) for 1 ha and after fish out was this sort K 4. For the research were very pilot fish outs. Fish out carp were for weight, length of the body and perimeter of the body monitoring. This data was use for a statistics evaluation. Feeding run 3 days in a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) in a day ration 2 % of the fish weight in a pound.

The effect of temperature on the gill morphology and ion transporter distribution in the branchial epithelium of a freshwater teleost, the Koi carp (Cyprinus carpio, L.) was examined. Three different water temperatures were used to detect changes in expression level of transporter proteins in the gill epithelial cells. With increasing temperature, the expression level of all three ion transporters studied declined, and the gill lamellae protruded out of the cell mass, thus increasing the surface area of the branchial epithelium. A hypothetical organization of the transporter proteins within the ionocytes is proposed.

Ponds, carp breeding and fish farming from the general point of view were an inseparable part of manor economy in the early modern period in Czech Lands. This thesis is aimed at the complex development of fish farming in the region of Jindřichův Hradec, specifically the manor of Kardašova Řečice, Červená Lhota, Stráž nad Nežárkou and Žirovnice. The author has concentrated mainly at the reconstruction of the local pond system and related issues. The other significant aspects are fish trade, technology of fish farming, everyday operation and distribution of natural salary. The thesis has proved the existence of complicated network of social-professional relations among the people participating in the whole production.

The diploma thesis deals with statistical comparison of the textural properties of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) ? (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, chewiness) were kept during the experiment at store?ponds in Trebon. Carps in each pond were fed with triticale or modified form of triticale (not processed, pressed, crushed, not processed cooked at 120 °C and 100 °C and pressed at 120 °C) and one control pond with fish. After the experiment the fish were killed, and the recovery factor was esteblished. The fillets were obtained from samples of muscle precisely in a defined way, and property values texture by TPA (Texture profile analyst) was found. The results show that all four monitored mechanical properties of textures, reach the highest values of control (hardness: 4,756 kg, springiness: 0.689, cohesiveness: 0.788 and chewiness: 2,585 kg), and the lowest textural properties were observed in triticale, not processed, heat- prepared at 120 °C: hardness: 3,259 kg, springiness: 0.646 and chewiness: 1,579 kg, and cohesiveness was lowest in triticale not processed cooked at 120°C: 0.733. Only samples pressed at 120 °C and not processed triticale were statistically significanty different from the others in parameter of hardness. Triticale pressed at 120 °C were statisticanty different from not processed, pressed triticale and control in parameter of cohesiveness. Triticale samples pressed at 120 °C and not processed at 120 °C significantly were different from the others and triticale pressed from controlwere diferrent too. In springiness parameter, there was no statistically significant difference. Was used significancy level p=0.01.

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.