Demonstrating the practical impact of publications in Aquatic Conservation – The case of crucian carp Carassius carassius in the East of England

Gordon H Copp,Carl D Sayer

doi:10.1002/aqc.3353

Abstract

Abstract The contribution of nearly three decades of research, much of it published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems (AQC), to the conservation of the crucian carp Carassius carassius in the East of England, including work coordinated by the Norfolk Crucian Project, is summarized. Although recent genetic studies indicate that this species was probably introduced to England about the same time as common carp Cyprinus carpio, the crucian carp is considered a cultural heritage species worthy of conservation in eastern England. This research covers the environmental biology of the species in the East of England, documentation of the species' decline in the county of Norfolk, and the pond management practices implemented in Norfolk to rehabilitate existing and fully terrestrialized pond habitat specifically for crucian carp conservation. The AQC papers that contributed to this line of research showed that England offers a particularly favourable environment for crucian carp growth and reproduction. These AQC articles provided the evidence base to complement crucian carp conservation initiatives in the London area (mainly the counties of Essex and Hertfordshire), as well as forming the basis for the designation of crucian carp as a Biodiversity Action Priority species in the county of Norfolk. The broader impact of the work in the East of England was to inspire the recently‐formed English National Crucian Conservation Project, which aims to promote the conservation of crucian carp and its habitat, and to encourage the development of well‐managed crucian fisheries. These evidence‐based conservation initiatives, perhaps the first throughout Europe, have witnessed a reversal of the species' fortunes in England, which is effectively an ideal geographical region in which to promote the conservation of this species within a wider, European context.

Highlights

This article summarizes the beneficial impact that research articles published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems (AQC) have had on management initiatives in support of the conservation of crucian carp Carassius carassius (L.) in England (Figure 1)
Before the 1980s, the environmental biology of crucian carp in Great Britain (GB) was virtually unstudied except for Marlborough (1966, 1967) and studies of crucian distribution in river floodplain water bodies (e.g. Copp, 1991). This lack of knowledge provided the incentive for the first detailed study in GB of a crucian population, which was reported in the AQC article by Copp, Černý, and Kovác (2008), where the disputed status of the species in GB was highlighted
That a recent genetic study has revealed a high likelihood of crucians having been introduced to England during the same era (15th century) as the common carp Cyprinus carpio L. (Jeffries, Copp, Lawson-Handley, Sayer, & Hänfling, 2017)

Summary

Introduction

This article summarizes the beneficial impact that research articles published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems (AQC) have had on management initiatives in support of the conservation of crucian carp Carassius carassius (L.) in England (Figure 1). These AQC articles provided the evidence base to complement crucian carp conservation initiatives in the London area (mainly the counties of Essex and Hertfordshire), as well as forming the basis for the designation of crucian carp as a Biodiversity Action Priority species in the county of Norfolk.

Results

Conclusion