Silver carp

Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) is a large freshwater fish native to East Asia. It filter-feeds on plankton and often leaps from the water when startled.

Filter feeding: A feeding method that strains suspended particles from water or air. Silver carp use gill structures to retain plankton while water passes through.
Yangtze River: The longest river in Asia, flowing through China to the East China Sea. The Yangtze lies within the species’ native range.
Polyculture: The cultivation of multiple species together in one production system. Silver carp can be raised with other fish that use different food resources.
Bighead carp: A large East Asian carp that filter-feeds mainly on zooplankton. It is a close relative often found in the same introduced waterways, but differs in feeding emphasis.
Phytoplankton: Microscopic photosynthetic organisms that drift in aquatic environments. These organisms form much of the silver carp’s food.
Pearl River: A major river system in southern China that drains into the South China Sea. The Pearl River basin is part of the silver carp’s native East Asian range.
Biological control: The use of living organisms to reduce unwanted populations or ecological effects. Silver carp have been stocked to consume plankton in managed waters.
Grass carp: A large East Asian carp that feeds chiefly on aquatic plants. Its plant-based diet contrasts with silver carp’s plankton feeding.
Zooplankton: Small animals and animal-like organisms drifting in water. Silver carp consume zooplankton alongside phytoplankton, especially when young.
Chinese aquaculture: The cultivation of aquatic organisms in China for food and other uses. Silver carp has long been raised in Chinese fish ponds and polyculture systems.

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