Carp are the most prominent fish species in Murray Bridge, DNA study proves
Rich biodiversity can be found across the Murray–Darling Basin ... but not so much in parts of the Murraylands.
Next time you’re fishing at near Murray Bridge, don’t get your hopes up for anything other than carp.
A recent study conducted by the Odonata Foundation, on behalf of the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, found the pest species was by far the most prominent.
Citizen scientists collected 648 water samples for the study: two samples from each of 324 sites Australia-wide.
They then counted the number of DNA sequences they found for each species at each location.
Although this was not an indication of how many individuals were detected, it did offer a fair answer about what was most dominant in any given area.
At Murray Bridge’s Rocky Gully Wetland, common carp, the carp gudgeon and eastern mosquitofish were the only species found.
The latter two fish are no bigger than your pointer finger.
A wider range of species were evident at Wellington: bony herring, carp, freshwater catfish, smelt, redfin perch, goldfish, congolli, golden perch and dwarf flat-headed gudgeons.
The fish species discovered at other Murraylands locations included:
- Paiwalla Wetland, Burdett: European carp, bony herring, carp gudgeon
- Reedy Creek, Palmer: Eastern mosquitofish, Murray cod, golden perch, bony herring, dwarf flat-headed gudgeon, carp gudgeon
- Bremer River, Callington: Goldfish, fly-specked hardyhead, European carp, eastern mosquitofish, flat-headed gudgeon, dwarf flat-headed gudgeon, carp gudgeon
- Bremer River, Harrogate: Carp gudgeon
Mammal DNA was also prominent in the River Murray, with pigs, cows, rats and dog or dingo DNA sequences found.
A total of 144 species were detected, including 17 threatened species, which included the endangered silver perch and vulnerable Murray cod.
The nationwide results also highlighted the presence of feral fish, such as trout, redfin and carp.
This provided needed data to inform future conservation strategies to safeguard native fish populations and protect ecologically significant areas.
You can view an interactive map of the results on the Great Australian Wildlife Search website.
- More information: www.wildlifesearch.org.au/results.
Stories create community. Help Murray Bridge News tell our community’s stories by subscribing today.
