Assessing the spread and potential impact of Prussian Carp Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) to freshwater fishes in western North America

Cassandra Docherty,Mark Poesch,Jonathan Ruppert,Tyana Rudolfsen,Andreas Hamann

doi:10.3391/bir.2017.6.3.15

Abstract

Assessing the spread and potential impact of Prussian Carp Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) to freshwater fishes in western North America

Highlights

Biological invasions have been identified as one of the biggest threats to freshwater ecosystems over the 100 years (Sala et al 2000)
Freshwater fishes of the genus Carassius are closely related to the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) and include Goldfish (Carassius auratus Linnaeus, 1758), one of the most widely distributed species globally (Rylková et al 2013)
Spatial analysis of the range expansion of Prussian Carp over the last 15 years demonstrates that the species has become well established in southern Alberta, Canada (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Biological invasions have been identified as one of the biggest threats to freshwater ecosystems over the 100 years (Sala et al 2000). Freshwater fishes of the genus Carassius are closely related to the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) and include Goldfish (Carassius auratus Linnaeus, 1758), one of the most widely distributed species globally (Rylková et al 2013). Prussian Carp were recently identified in Alberta, Canada and have the potential to establish and expand across much of North America (Elgin et al 2014). Described from north-eastern central Europe, recent evidence suggests two possible clades of Prussian Carp may exist: one in western Mongolia, and a second from Europe, the Russian Federation, eastern Mongolia and China (Kalous et al 2012). Kalous et al (2012) described a neotype specimen of Prussian Carp from the Czech Republic as Prussian Carp, and specimens from Alberta, Canada appear to match with this description (Elgin et al 2014) Described from north-eastern central Europe, recent evidence suggests two possible clades of Prussian Carp may exist: one in western Mongolia, and a second from Europe, the Russian Federation, eastern Mongolia and China (Kalous et al 2012). Kalous et al (2012) described a neotype specimen of Prussian Carp from the Czech Republic as Prussian Carp, and specimens from Alberta, Canada appear to match with this description (Elgin et al 2014)

Methods

Results

Conclusion