Prussian Carp (Carassius gibelio), the New ‘Asian Carp' in North America

The first record of Prussian Carp (Carassius gibelio) was found recently in Alberta, Canada. In Eurasia, Prussian Carp have been assessed as one of the most harmful invasive fish species because of its ability to reproduce asexually, high environmental tolerances and preference for human modified habitats. The arrival of Prussian Carp in North America poses concerns for many native freshwater species. The objectives of this study were to assess the severity of Prussian Carp’s invasion in North America by 1) mapping Prussian Carp distribution and rate of spread; 2) analyzing the impact on native fish species; and 3) identifying environmental parameters that predict Prussian Carp presence. We found that the range of Prussian Carp increased in from approximately 500 km² since its arrival to over 20,000 km² in 2014, with an exponential rate of spread over five year increments (e.g. 1.6, 2.1, and 2.3 times). The most important habitat variables that best predicted the presence of Prussian Carp were: dense aquatic vegetation, high conductivity, pH, high dissolved oxygen and low flow rates indicating preference for relatively slow, eutrophic streams. Successful management of this species in North America will require the integration of all levels of government and across national borders.