Question

1. How would the presence of invasive, non-native fish (such as carp) introduced into a lake affect this ecosystem? How can this be managed to minimize the impacts?

? Please give an elaborate answer.

Answer 1

Answer: The native fish like Asian carp was introduced in North America that poses a big threat to the ecosystem. The carp possess bighead and can be black, grass, and silver. It was initially introduced in the lakes to control the weed populations and parasites present in the aquaculture operations. But it showed high reproduction and was easily spread to the Mississippi River system that poses a threat to other fishes living along with high aggressive invaders carps.

This made several impacts on the ecosystem:

· Firstly, it compromised the water quality

· It started killing the other native fishes and also affected the populations of sensitive creatures in the aqua medium, for example, freshwater mussels.

· It modified the nutrient levels and turbidity concentrations.

· Other zooplanktons and benthic invertebrates were also affected via predation and incapable of foraging activities.

· Reduced aquatic macrophytes that changed the lake's water making it from the clear to turbid.

The management actions for controlling of the invader populations of carp:

· Firstly, dispersal needs to be suppressed or controlled. Therefore, eradication programs must be used in specific water areas.

· The Asian carps are consumed by the people as food. As they reach maturity level fast and are able to be harvested as food. Luckily, this food habit can also affect the population. So, the demands must be created to increase.

· The regulation over these species also require the attention of preventing its introduction. So, the systems that can monitor the new infestations must be looked after and restricted.