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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 56(8)

Population biology of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in the mid-Murray River and Barmah Forest Wetlands, Australia

Paul Brown A C , K. P. Sivakumaran B , Daniel Stoessel A and Annie Giles A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic), Department of Primary Industries, Private Bag 20, Alexandra, Vic. 3714, Australia.

B PIRVic, PO Box 114, Queenscliff, Vic. 3225, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: paul.brown@dpi.vic.gov.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 56(8) 1151-1164 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF05023
Submitted: 17 February 2005  Accepted: 11 August 2005   Published: 22 November 2005

Abstract

The present study quantitatively describes a significant stock of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), an exotic pest species, in a temperate riverine floodplain wetland. Intensity and duration of flooding influenced relative abundance, distribution and recruitment. Average growth (mm) in length was described with the von Bertalanffy growth model for males (L∞ = 489, k = 0.249, t0 = –0.519), and females (L∞ = 594, k = 0.177, t0 = –0.609) to age 28. Variation in growth was described with a lognormal distribution of k. Total mortality (Z year–1) was 0.268–0.407 for males, 0.311–0.422 for females, 3.24 for age-0 juveniles and 1.80 for age-1 juveniles. Natural mortality (M year–1) was 0.199 for males and 0.262 for females. Fishing mortality (F year–1) was <0.05 for males and 0.11–0.30 for females. Gonadal changes indicated extended spawning seasons peaking in September 1999 and October 2000. Median sizes and ages at initial maturation were 307 mm, 584 g and 1.1 years for males and 328 mm, 688 g and 2.7 years for females. Sex ratio varied significantly with age from equal as juveniles to a significant male-bias as adults. This description will enable better stock assessment and development of simulations that evaluate potential pest management strategies.

Extra keywords: age, biomass, environmental water allocation, exotic pest fish, flooding, growth, mortality, reproduction, sex ratio, spawning season.


Acknowledgments

This work was carried out under New South Wales Fisheries collecting permit F98/452. We gratefully acknowledged the dogged field assistance of Fisheries Officers, David Trickey and Glen Sharp from the Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment. We thank K&C Fisheries’, Keith Bell and Zorro Parmigiani for making their catch and data available. Thanks to Terry Walker, Lachlan McKinnon and Wayne Fulton, Primary Industries Research Victoria and to two anonymous referees for providing useful comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript.


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