Feeding behaviour of silver carpHypophthalmichthys molitrixVal. and its impact on the food web in Lake Kinneret, Israel
✍ Scribed by P. Spataru; M. Gophen
- Publisher
- Springer
- Year
- 1985
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 507 KB
- Volume
- 120
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1573-5141
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Silver carp Hypophtha/michthvs molitrix Val . have been stocked in Lake Kinneret, Israel, since 1969 . From 1972 to 1981, 11 X 10 6 fingerlings were introduced into the lake . Total silver carp catch however was only 642 during this period, resulting in a progressive increase in the silver carp population .
Silver carp feed mostly on phytoplankton from February through August . From September to January, sampled gut contents contained predominantly zooplankton . Indices of electrivity for zooplankton were positive from September to December, negative during January to August and vice versa for phytoplankton .
Predation pressure of planktivorous fish on zooplankton in Lake Kinneret has been intensified recently . It is likely that accumulation of silver carp in the lake supported this process .
Silver carp compete with commercially valuable native fish species by feeding on the same zooplankton resources during summer and fall . Additionally, the grazing population of microcrustaceans is reduced at the time it is needed to prevent microalgae blooms .
Market demands for silver carp are low, catchability of this fish is poor and it can be cultured efficiently in ponds . Consequently it is recommended to stop the stocking of silver carp in Lake Kinneret .