Response of grass carp eggs to turbulence

We examined enhanced turbulence levels as an alternative grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) control strategy through turbulence-induced mortality at embryonic stages. We exposed pre-water-hardened and water-hardened grass carp eggs to increased levels of turbulence in a grid-stirred turbulence tank to find threshold values of turbulence parameters and shear stresses that have lethal and sub-lethal effects. In addition to assessment of embryonic mortality, a post-hatching inspection revealed larval abnormalities that ranged in severity from yolk sac deterioration, pericardial edema, and underdevelopment, to spinal deformities and missing heads.