Carp Ponds Research Articles

Increasing the efficiency of growing carp in ponds by improving their diet

Increasing the efficiency of growing carp in ponds by improving their diet

First record of stone moroko (Pseudorasbora parva), an invasive alien fish species, in water bodies of urban green areas in Poland

Abstract Invasive alien species are currently a major ecological problem. One such species is stone moroko, Pseudorasbora parva (Gobionidae), which has only been found to date in natural or agricultural water bodies (lakes, rivers and streams, carp ponds). Therefore, the current study is the first description of stone moroko in urban green areas (Warsaw, Poland). The fish were caught with a hydrobiological net. Four catches were conducted in ponds located in Morskie Oko Park (pond 1) and the Saxon Garden (pond 2) – two in fall and two in the spring, while two spring catches were conducted in Dolinka Służewska Park (stream). The population in pond 2 apparently survived the winter, and the fish caught in June displayed visible signs of sexual dimorphism and were significantly larger (average body mass: 1648 ± 1123 mg; range: 460–6090 mg) than those caught in the pond in the two fall samplings (404 ± 122 mg; 154–729 mg). After recording substantial numbers of specimens in the fall, no fish were caught in pond 1 during either of the spring catches, while only a few moroko were caught in the stream in April (1212 ± 869 mg; 454–2901 mg) and none were caught in June. Throughout the study, 59 specimens were caught in pond 1, 74 in pond 2, and 7 in the stream.

Harnessing the Potential of Naturally-stabilized Earthen Ponds for Hill Aquaculture: A Demonstration Using Fish Species Combinations in Meghalaya

Aquaculture plays a pivotal role in sustaining livelihoods in the hilly regions of India. However, these areas face challenges in aquaculture production due to prolonged cold climates and suboptimal water temperatures. This study aimed to develop a low-input aquaculture system tailored for hilly conditions in Meghalaya, Northeast India, by employing naturally-stabilized earthen ponds. Ranging in area from 700 to 1500 m2 and with a depth of 1.5 to 2m, these ponds were stocked with fish of different feeding niches at a density of 5000 fish per hectare, with the following compositions: 20% Catla, 40% Rohu, and 40% Gonia in Pond 1; 20% Catla, 40% Rohu, and 40% Common carp in Pond 2; and 20% Catla, 40% Rohu, 20% Gonia, and 20% Common carp in Pond 3. The average size was 28.4±1.8 g for Catla, 7.5±0.4 g for Rohu, 7.6±0.5 g for Gonia, and 10.8±1.3 g for Common carp. The culture duration spanned 8 months, with the initial two months involving feeding fish with commercial feed and the subsequent 6 months with farm-made feed at 2% body weight. Monthly assessments of water quality parameters and bi-monthly evaluations of fish growth attributes were conducted. Analysis of water temperature revealed suboptimal average temperatures ranging from 19.5°C to 20.2°C. Fish production attributes at the end of 8-month was found to be better in Pond 2 (survival 83.2%; biomass 1227.5 kg/ha; FCR 1.53), followed by Pond 3 (survival 82.3%; biomass 1114.8 kg/ha; FCR 1.60) and Pond 1 (survival 81.1%; biomass 998.7 kg/ha; FCR 1.64). Ponds containing Common carp exhibited lower biomass, potentially due to their aggressive feeding behavior leading to competition with co-habiting fishes. It is concluded that naturally-stabilized earthen ponds in hilly areas could serve as a valuable resource for hill aquaculture. However, optimizing productivity requires appropriate fish combinations to minimize inter-specific competitions.

Synergistic digestibility effect by planktonic natural food and habitat renders high digestion efficiency in agastric aquatic consumers

A digestibility enhancing effect of natural food on stomachless fish model (Cyprinus carpio) was verified by fluorogenic substrate assays of enzymatic activities in experimental pond carp gut flush and planktonic food over a full vegetative season. Then compared with size-matched conspecific grown artificially (tank carp) and an advanced omnivore species possessing true stomach (tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus). Results suggested activities of digestive enzymes (except amylolytic) were significantly higher in pond carp (p ≤ 0.05) than in the size-matched tank carp. Even compared to tilapia, pond carp appeared superior (p < 0.05; proteolytic or chitinolytic activities) or comparable (p > 0.05; phosphatase or cellulolytic activities). Amylolytic, chitinolytic, and phosphatases activities in pond carp gut significantly increased (p ≤ 0.01) over season. Several orders-of-magnitude higher enzymatic activities were detected in planktonic natural food than expressed in carp gut. Amino acid markers in planktonic food revealed a higher share of zooplankton (microcrustaceans), but not phytoplankton, synchronized with higher activities of complex polysaccharide-splitting enzymes (cellulolytic and chitinolytic) in fish gut. Periods of clear water phase low in chlorophyll-a and nutrients, but high in certain zooplankton (preferably cladocerans), may create a synergistic digestibility effect in pond carp. We conclude aquatic ecosystem components (natural food, water, microbiota) enhance fishes' hydrolyzing capabilities of C/N/P macromolecules and even their complex polymers such as cellulose, chitin, and maybe phytate (to be validated), to the extent that being stomachless is not an issue. Aquatic nutritional ecologists may consider that laboratory-based understandings of digestibility may underestimate digestion efficiency of free-ranging fish in ponds or lakes.

Multiple stressors unpredictably affect primary producers and decomposition in a model freshwater ecosystem

Freshwater ecosystems are affected by various stressors, such as contamination and exotic species, making them amongst the most imperilled biological systems on the planet. In Australia and elsewhere, copper is one of the most common metal contaminants in freshwater systems and the European carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) is one of the most pervasive and widespread invasive fish species. Copper (Cu) and carp can both directly affect primary production and decomposition, which are critical and interrelated nutrient cycling processes and ecosystem services. The aim of this study was to explore the direct and indirect effects of Cu and carp individually, and together on periphyton cover, chlorophyll a concentration, growth of the macrophyte Vallisneria spiralis L., and the decomposition of leaf litter and cotton strips in a controlled, factorial experiment in outdoor experimental ponds. In isolation, Cu reduced macrophyte growth and organic matter decomposition, while chlorophyll a concentrations and periphyton cover remained unchanged, possibly due to the Low-Cu concentrations in the overlying water. Carp addition alone had a direct negative effect on the biomass of aquatic plants outside protective cages, but also increased plant biomass inside the cages, periphyton cover and chlorophyll a concentrations. Leaf litter was more decomposed in the carp only ponds compared to controls, while there was no significant effect on cotton strip decomposition. Aquatic plants were absent in the Cu + carp ponds caused by the combined effects of Cu toxicity, carp disturbance and the increase in turbidity due to carp bioturbation. Increases in periphyton cover in Low-Cu + carp, while absence in the High-Cu + carp ponds, and differences in the decomposition of surface and buried cotton strips were not as predicted, which highlights the need for such studies to understand the complex interactions among stressors for environmental risk assessment.

Biometric analysis of food products of hybrid hypoophthalmichthys (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) to determine their nutritional value and use in the food industry

This scientific work describes research, the purpose of which was to study the spectrum of nutrition and the composition of the food lump, as studies aimed at assessing specific weight (%) of essential nutrients (glycogen, proteins, and lipids) in particular organs and tissues of different size and mass groups of the hybrid of Silver carp and Bighead carp in ponds and reservoirs in different periods of the year. In 2018, and 2019, the juveniles of the hybrid of Silver carp and Bighead carp in ponds and reservoirs mainly consumed phytoplankton organisms (from 30 to 90% by mass), among which green, diatom, and euglena algae predominated by mass in the food group. Zooplankton occupied an insignificant place in fish nutrition (up to 5%), even though its quantity and biomass were sufficient in reservoirs. The hybrid of Silver carp and Bighead carp does not hurt zooplankton communities, so it can be included in the stocking volume of Silver carp. The feeding spectrum and rations of different groups of Silver carp and Bighead carp in ponds and reservoirs had a well-defined seasonal character related to the composition of feed objects. In all size and mass groups of the hybrid of silver and bighead carp from ponds and reservoirs in 2018, and 2019, mostly satisfactory values of general metabolism indicators were found – glycogen, proteins, and lipids in the liver, gills, and muscles of fish. The difference found in the availability of essential nutrients in the body of the studied fish indicates a change in the intensity and direction of their metabolic processes.

The rank of intensification factors strength in intensive pond production of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Intensive common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) pond production offers an alternative to traditionally practiced extensive and semi-intensive farming technologies. Global warming increases the scarcity of water available for aquaculture, requiring increased productivity per unit of used water. The present trial was conducted on intensive rearing of two-summer-old common carp (0.5 ± 0.1) kg. Fractional factorial design (24–1, resolution IV) was applied to identify how production performance is affected by the following four factors and their interactions: I) feeding rate: ad libitum (4%) vs. restricted (2%); II) stocking density: low (1.1 t/ha) vs. high (2.2 t/ha); III) aeration rate: low (11 kW/ha) vs. high (25 kW/ha); and IV) presence or absence of co-cultured species: monoculture vs. polyculture with pikeperch (Sander lucioperca L.) reared in cages. The feeding rate appeared to be the most influential factor in growth, meat quality, water quality, and stress parameters. Although the higher stocking density might be economically justified in the short term, due to impaired welfare it brings risks in the long run. The higher rate of artificial aeration showed a negative effect on meat and water quality; however, its cooling effect might be helpful in tackling issues with extreme water temperature. The test showed feasible cage production of pikeperch even in intensive pond production. The recommended goals for feasible intensification of common carp pond aquaculture are feeding regimes aiming at better feed utilization instead of growth maximization, stocking densities up to the limits of fish welfare (gross yield <11 t/ha), optimized paddle wheel aeration in favor of algae development (<11 kW/ha), and species/technology diversification.

Health Risks Associated with the Concentration of Heavy Metals in Sediment, Water, and Carp Reared in Treated Wastewater from a Slaughterhouse

The use of purified slaughterhouse wastewater in carp ponds, and the use of wastewater from the pond for the irrigation of agricultural fields, was the basis for the construction of an integrated system of agricultural production as a sustainable solution for the food and fish production industries. The negative side of such integrated production systems is the concern related to the safety of fish meat produced in such a system. The aim of this research was to determine the concentration of heavy metals and metalloids in the wastewater from the slaughterhouse, in the pond water and sediment, in the carp tissue and in the water leaving the pond, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the integrated system and the safety of the produced fish. Sampling was carried out in spring and autumn. The mean concentrations in all water samples (µg/L) were: As (12–125), Cd (0.12–4.2), Hg (1.14–14.21), Pb (&lt;0.1–17.2), Cu (&lt;0.1–44.6), Fe (17.02–425.2) and Zn (2.91–186.2), with the highest numbers in the wastewater, where it was above the prescribed limit values for the wastewater discharged from the slaughterhouses into natural recipients in both samplings. The efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant for heavy metals and metalloids was very high, in the range of 87% to 98%. The water from the pond corresponded to class 3 in terms of the concentration of heavy metals and metalloids both in spring and autumn, and can be used freely for breeding cyprinid fish species. The water from the irrigation canal corresponded to class 2/3 and can be used for irrigation. The mean concentrations of heavy metals and metalloids in the sediments (mg/kg) were: As (3.00–4.88), Cd (0.16–0.96), Hg (0.21–1.47), Pb (0.77–2.29), Cu (49.60–60.90), Fe (3.94–5.32) and Zn (92.8–115.20). The content of heavy metals in different organs of carp differed significantly depending on the season. The trend of heavy metal accumulation in common carp muscles in spring was: Zn &gt; Fe &gt; Cu &gt; Pb &gt; Hg &gt; Cd &gt; As, and in autumn: Zn &gt; Fe &gt; Cu &gt; Pb &gt; As &gt; Cd &gt; Hg. Metal concentrations in the examined fish samples were far below the WHO guidelines. It can be concluded that carp produced in a pond supplied with purified wastewater from the slaughterhouse industry, in terms of the concentration of residues of the tested heavy metals and metalloids, is safe for human consumption.

Unlocking Eco-solutions: Analyzing parasitic disease resistance in Yellow River carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) under different ecological treatments

Combatting parasitic diseases in intensive aquaculture is crucial for sustainable and healthy fish production. The use of chemical pesticides, although effective, poses environmental and public health risks. To address this issue, we investigated the impact of ecological treatments on the occurrence of parasitic diseases in intensive culture of Yellow River carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) pond. A comprehensive survey was conducted in 160 ponds, and the data were collected through a normative questionnaire which included the main factors related to ecological management such as pond water sources and depth, stocking methods, whether or not mixed culture with carps, water quality adjustment and sediment operation methods. Whether parasitic diseases have happened was determined by combination of both field investigation and laboratory diagnostic methods. For assessment the relationship between ecological treatments and parasitosis occurrence, the data were analyzed using two methods, including univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. The final model revealed the influence of five significant ecological treatments (P < 0.05) on parasitosis occurrence in the ponds. The three ecological treatments significantly reduced disease occurrence, which were mixed culture with silver and/or bighead carp, maintaining water quality at intervals of ≤7 days, and aeration time > 10 h in 24 h. Additionally, utilizing underground water, avoiding sediment stirring increased the incidence of the parasitosis. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of appropriate ecological treatments in minimizing parasitic diseases in Yellow River carp, supporting sustainable aquaculture development.

Utilization of tds sensors for water quality monitoring and water filtering of carp pools using IoT

Carp is a type of consumption fish that is much favored by people in Indonesia, because Carp has a lot of protein and meat with good taste. In addition, Carp can be cultivated using tarpaulin ponds, because it saves land and land rental costs. In addition, Carp can be harvested in just 7 months. According to carp cultivators, market demand tends to increase every day, making the need for carp increase and causing Indonesian people to cultivate carp. In this case, it is necessary to apply technology that can help the community in the field of aquaculture, which can be controlled remotely and can monitor the condition of the water in the ponds. The purpose of this study is to find out how pool water filtration works and monitor water conditions using a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) sensor. The selection of sensor inputs and set point values must be in accordance with the water quality conditions in the Carp pond. The use of the TDS sensor here functions as a detector for turbidity values in Carp ponds that have been set on the NodeMCU ESP32, a submersible water pump as output and the Blynk application as monitoring. The method used, Literature Study, Research Design, Field Study, Functional Testing, Data Processing, Analysis. Because it uses Internet of Thing (IoT) technology in this study, the monitoring and filtering control process can be done anywhere and anytime as long as it is connected to the internet network. From the results of testing the tool on 3 types of water, namely mineral water, clean water, and turbid water, the results for turbid water with 400–600 ppm turned out to be 479 ppm, the value is in the middle between 478 ppm mineral water and 480 ppm clean water. So it can be concluded that this tool works well and can be used in Carp ponds

Evaluation of Aeration Intensities for Rearing of Carp Fingerlings

The levels of aeration intensities on growth and survival of fingerlings of Indian major carps and exotic carps were evaluated during March-June 1994 in three carp ponds of 0.08 ha each, the treatments being provision of one aerator and two aerators operated for 4-6 hours daily during late night hours along with a control without any aerator. The ponds were stocked al 50,000 fingerlings per hectare with catla, rohu, mrigal and grass carp at a ratio of 30:35:30:5 and reared for a period of 90 days. The results demonstrated the positive effect of aeration intensities on fish growth and survival rates of all the carp species. The influence was observed to be minimum on mrigal and maximum on grass carp.

Nutrient footprint versus EPA + DHA security in land-locked regions—more of local pond farmed, imported marine fish or fish oil capsules?

EPA + DHA intake in land-locked central Europe (CE) is barely fulfilled. Imported marine fish/farmed salmonids are likely the backbone of an ailing EPA + DHA security. Supplementing with captured marine fish oil capsules (~0.5 g up to 1.6 g CO2-eq. mg EPA + DHA−1) could be comparable in GHG emissions with fish consumption itself (~1 g to as low as 0.6 g CO2-eq. mg EPA + DHA−1). But synergistic benefits of EPA + DHA intake by consuming fish protein need consideration too. Taking semi-intensive pond carp and intensively farmed salmon as models, we analyzed footprint, eco-services, and resource use efficiency perspectives of achieving EPA + DHA security in a CE region. Despite a lower production footprint, pond-farmed fish greatly lag in EPA + DHA supply (carp 101–181 mg 100 g−1 < salmon 750–1300 mg 100 g−1). It doubles-to-quadruples footprint ‘per mg’ of EPA + DHA: nitrogen (carp 18.3 > salmon 8.7 mg N), phosphorus (carp 6.8 > salmon 1.6 mg P), and climate change (carp 1.84 > salmon 0.8 g CO2-eq.). With enhancements in pond carp (>300 mg EPA + DHA 100 g−1), these differences may cease to exist. Harnessing EPA + DHA bioaccumulation pathways active in ponds, finishing feeding strategies, and polyculture, the EPA + DHA content in pond fish may be increased. Ecosystem services with EPA + DHA mining from pond food web or high EPA + DHA output-to-input ratio (pond carp 1–200 > RAS salmon 0.75) make ponds an eco-efficient system. As fish consumption in CE must improve, pond-farmed fish would be needed to complement (but not substitute) salmonid/marine fish/oil capsules consumption. Achieving EPA + DHA security with minimum pressure on the environment or global resources.

End-of-season supplementary feeding in European carp ponds with appropriate plant protein and carbohydrate combinations to ecologically boost productivity: Lupine, rapeseed and, triticale

The present study investigated end-of-season (July–September) supplementary feeding strategies for European fishponds (carp farming), which suffer from collapsed natural food base (protein availability). Treatment ponds receiving white lupine (Lupinus albus), resulted in higher polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content (276.1 mg n − 3 PUFA 100 g−1) in skinless fillet of Cyprinus carpio than control ponds receiving triticale (179.5 mg n − 3 PUFA 100 g−1). Despite lupine being richer in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) than triticale, eutrophication was likely suppressed in treatment ponds. Treatment ponds (∼120 g acid detergent fiber, ADF kg−1 lupine) had higher water transparency and lower water column P than control ponds (∼31 g ADF kg−1 triticale). Surprisingly, triticale (8.5% digestible protein; low DIAASLYS 36%) resulted in similar yield (∼1 ton ha−1) as lupine (26.5% digestible protein; higher DIAASLYS 52%, but low DIAASMET 32%). Therefore, protein quality (methionine) deficiency in lupine was investigated. It was balanced iso‑nitrogenously (38% crude protein) with rapeseed expeller meal (Brassica napus): diets T1 (only lupine; Met 0.9% of protein) → T2 (75% lupine: 25% rapeseed; Met 1.2% of protein) → diet T3 (50% lupine: 50% rapeseed; Met 1.4% of protein). A gradual improvement in yield, N and P retention values was observed from T1 to T3 but it did not exceed a low protein (16% crude protein) ‘control’ diet (only triticale; Met 1.9% of protein). Nutrient conversion to fish biomass (protein efficiency ratio and P: N retention ratio) seemed highest in ‘control’ followed by ‘T3’. This could be attributed to starch-mediated protein sparing effect or high organic matter digestibility of triticale (ADCNFE 76%; ADCOM 72%). Which is lacking in either lupine or rapeseed (ADCNFE ≤ 1%; ADCOM ≤ 34%) due to predominance of fibrous carbohydrates (non-starch polysaccharides, NSP). However, in ponds, they may still enhance the food web. In absence of starch, higher ADF influx in pond carp gut may halve absorption of n-3 PUFA from zooplankton. The study concludes end-of-season supplementary feeding with high DIAASMET, LYS protein combinations (e.g., lupine-rapeseed) and inclusion of starch sources (e.g., triticale) could achieve higher yield and nutrient efficiency in ponds. Most proteinaceous plant feedstuff are rich in NSP or ADF and may contribute to improving pond water quality or food web. Balanced supplementary feeds (e.g., 50% triticale +25% lupine +25% rapeseed expeller), that feed both fish (starch, optimum DIAASprotein) and pond (NSP, ADF) are suggested.

Morphological variability of the white carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) during domestication

Acclimatized in the last century in the reservoirs of Russia, the white silver carp is the only consumer of phytoplankton in our country. In conditions of artificial reproduction and domestication, uncontrolled deterioration of fish habitus often occurs. In this regard, a comparative analysis of the variability of the most informative morphological parameters, namely length, mass, head length, body girth and their main indices in the samples of the white silver carp of varying degrees of domestication, was carried out. The Chinese, Amur and local lineages, the Ergenin sample and the Romanian population were studied, of which the least domesticated is the Chinese line. The presented materials show that the Chinese white carp line of the second generation of domestication differs in a smaller head, high indices of relative head length and physical development from the local and Ergeninsky fish samples domesticated for several decades. In pond lines domesticated in several generations, there is an increase in the relative size of the head and a deterioration in the index of physical development, which indicates the presence of selection for fitness to insufficient food supply in conditions of weak flow. It is recommended in the breeding program when growing reproductive herds of white carp in ponds to provide for selection to preserve the commercial qualities of fish.

Perception of ecosystem services provided by carp ponds in Pasłęk, Poland

An assessment of perceptions of fishpond ecosystem services was conducted in Pasłek, a town located in northeastern Poland. Ninety-four expert interviews were conducted with non-fishermen. The survey included a list of 28 possible ecosystem services provided by fishponds. Environmental benefits were considered the most important, followed by social and productive services. Respondents rated the ponds' function as a place for fish spawning and reproduction highest, followed by their role as fire reservoirs and as a place for recreation and leisure. A comparison with other surveys showed that perceptions of ecosystem services in local surveys could be influenced by a number of conditions, including, among others, the nature and location of fish ponds. The survey showed that people not involved in fisheries and fish farming are aware of the wide range of ecosystem services fishponds provide. This is a positive social recommendation for European fisheries policy, which aims to develop aquaculture without deteriorating the environment, creating a balanced relationship between producers and consumers of production and non-production aquaculture products.

Energy flow analysis of grass carp pond system based on Ecopath model

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) is the most productive freshwater fish in China, but its traditional aquaculture model still has problems, such as poor water quality and frequent diseases. We have taken monoculture and 80:20 polyculture grass carp ponds as the research object and used EwE software to build the Ecopath model of two ponds. We analyzed and compared the characteristics of ecological structure and energy flow in two ponds. The result showed the highest effective trophic level in the polyculture pond that was higher than that in the monoculture pond, and fish in polyculture had higher EE values which showed the production of fish in polyculture contributed more to the energy conversion efficiency of the ecosystem. Flows into detritus were the largest component of TST both in the two ponds, which accounted for 49.34% and 50.37%. And the average transfer efficiency in monoculture was 13.07%, while that in polyculture was 15.6%. The ascendency/total development capacity (A/TDC) and overhead/total development capacity (O/TDC) were 0.35 and 0.65 both in the two ponds, respectively, which indicated that both systems had a strong anti-perturbation ability, but the stability could be improved. Finn’s cycling index (FCI) in polyculture was higher and showed that the polyculture pond was more mature and stable. Unused energy of functional groups will flow to detritus, and that in the monoculture pond was higher, the energy of C. idellus that flowed to detritus in monoculture was 48.17% higher than that in polyculture; unused energy of bacteria and phytoplankton were also high. The result showed that polyculture could improve energy utilization, increase transfer efficiency, and raise the stability of the ecosystem. Grass carp ponds still need to be improved in the aspects of mixed species and energy consumption. It is necessary to improve the ecological and economic benefits of grass carp ponds by optimizing the aquaculture structure and adjusting the aquaculture proportion.

Burning the Breeze: Three Generations of Women in the American West

In Burning the Breeze, Lisa Hendrickson tells the stories of three women who came of age in the American West, from the first generation who followed the Overland Trail to the third-generation in twentieth-century Montana. They charted paths common to white women in the West, yet the author brings out their individuality through firsthand narratives, oral histories, family scrapbooks, and newspapers. What emerges, powerfully, are the ways individual successes were not accomplished alone. If a person fulfilled their ambition, it was because they recruited family members to their enterprise and asked for help from friends, neighbors, mentors, and benefactors. A dense web of family and social networks form the backdrop to the stories in this book.In 1863, the widow Lizzie Nave Martin headed West with a large wagon train. She fled both her late husband's debts and wartime violence in Missouri. Hendrickson dramatizes Lizzie's experience crossing the plains by using the diaries of women in similar circumstances, as well as family lore shared by fourth-generation daughter Sherry Stursberg. The author tracks Lizzie's progress from Missouri to Warm Springs Creek, in the Crow country. Like many women in settler colonial towns, Lizzie earned her keep cooking and sewing for lodgers. Her story demonstrates themes common to Rocky Mountain history: white encroachment on Indigenous lands, the grandeur of Montana landscapes, mineral booms and busts, and women's economic survival through the service industries.Lizzie Martin's daughter Lulu married a cattle rancher in Crow country, “Doc” Bembrick. Lulu's story speaks for many second-generation white settlers who took up agriculture on the plains. Doc and Lulu's Circle J provided a subsistence living, with its vegetable garden, plum orchard, livestock, and carp pond. Lulu worked as a co-provider with Doc, harvesting and processing the food, sewing clothes and linens, tending the animals, training horses, and welcoming visitors, including Indigenous people. The Bembricks shared meals with everyone who came by, a tradition of hospitality that presaged their daughter Julia's career as a dude ranch owner.Julia Bembrick Bennett, a third-generation daughter, brings readers into the mid-twentieth-century West. Raised on a ranch, she knew her way around horses, kitchens, and people. At age twenty-two, she married Anson Bennett and they took over management of the Circle J. But Anson disliked ranching. Instead, he started and failed at several businesses, as did Julia. Their checkered early careers echo the stories of many settlers in Montana who didn't make it in a difficult regional economy.The most interesting chapters explore Julia's life as a dude rancher in the 1930s and 1940s. By 1931, she had divorced Anson and hatched a plan to start a tourist ranch. Julia's audacity was striking: she went to New York City during the Great Depression to recruit wealthy clients, without sufficient money for lodging, food, or creditors back in Montana. Her pattern of moving forward with a plan despite insufficient funds would be repeated several times over, as she built the Diamond J in Montana and the Diamond W in Arizona. But Julia survived crushing debt by asking for and accepting help from family members, friends, and wealthy patrons. Her charm and skill as a dude ranch proprietor carried the day.Of special interest to historians are glimpses of the early tourist industry in Montana: the selling of the West to easterners, the roles of Indigenous people in promoting tourism, and the economic fragility of dude ranching. Also of interest to historians is evidence of the ranch ethos of stoicism. If it sustained people through hard times, it also sometimes crippled people emotionally. Julia's daughter committed suicide, and her son-in-law took refuge in alcohol. These tragedies, too, are part of the western landscape and are told here with compassion and restraint. An excellent read, well researched, this book will have broad appeal to academics and lay persons alike.

Analysis of the structure and function of microbial community in late-stage of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) farming ponds

Microbial communities in aquaculture ponds play a critical role in pond productivity and the success of fish production. Nevertheless, our current understanding of the functional diversity of bacterial microbiomes in grass carp pond water and sediments is fragmentary. This study utilized high-throughput sequencing technology and community level physiological profiling (CLPP) methods to investigate microbial communities and metabolic activity of bacterial found in water samples and sediments from eight typical grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) culturing pond in southern China. The correlations between putative function using PICRUSt2 and actual metabolic profiles via Biolog EcoPlates was assessed. Carbohydrates (32.51 %), amino acids (23.13 %), and polymers (16.61 %) were the most dominant carbon sources utilized by the microbial community in the sediment; while carbohydrates (34.72 %), amino acids (25.49 %), and polymers (16.15 %) were also utilized most often in the water samples. In the sediment samples, Proteobacteria (24.67 %), Chloroflexi (15.30 %), and Firmicutes (13.74 %) were the most dominant bacteria phyla. Actinobacteriota (32.62 %), Cyanobacteria (25.06 %), and Proteobacteria (17.51 %) were the most dominant bacteria phyla in the water samples. Moreover, our results suggested that the nitrogen transformations bacterial genera (Bacillus, Bradyrhizobium, Brocadia, Halomonas, and Vogesella) were positively correlated with carbon source utilization of the microbial community in the Biolog EcoPlates in the sediment. Dechloromonas and Pseudomonas were significantly negatively correlated in the water samples. In addition, there was a significant correlation between predicted function and the actual metabolic characteristics of microbial communities in sediment and water samples. The results facilitate detailed perspective of the relationship between the microbial community structure and the function in grass carp ponds and also provide a reference for the selection of suitable carbon sources in aquaculture wastewater treatment technology.

The analysis of a cluster of koi herpesvirus disease outbreaks in intensive carp aquaculture using molecular and conventional epidemiology.

The analysis of a cluster of koi herpesvirus disease outbreaks in intensive carp aquaculture using molecular and conventional epidemiology.

Factors Affecting Colony Size and Breeding Parameters of Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) in Carp Ponds

Understanding important factors for breeding Eared Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) is essential for its conservation. We aimed to study the impact of some factors on nests and breeding success in this species in fishponds (S Poland). Number of Eared Grebe nests were counted on particular carp ponds. Pond size, vegetation cover, number of nests in colonies of associated gull or tern species, and age of stocked common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were determined for all ponds with nests. We also investigated the relationship between nest size, material used to construct them and clutch size. Number of Eared Grebe nests positively correlated with number of breeding pairs of associated colonial species (terns or gulls). Selection of the breeding site by the Eared Grebe can be explained by appropriate nest protection by large colonies of associated species (Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida and Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Nest size was not related to clutch size. A negative relationship between breeding success and number of nests of Eared Grebe was found. Food is a not limiting factor for the Eared Grebe on fishponds with extensive production, and presumably other factors such as weather conditions may explain the low breeding success of this species.