The Blue Catfish Essay

is the preferred scientific name given to the prolific fish, the blue catfish (Bledsoe et al., 2018). There other scientific names were given to the animal and included Amiurus meridionalis non-Gunther (1864), Ictalurus maridionalis (by Gunhter, 1864) and Pimelodus furcatus Valenciennes (1840) (Bledsoe et al., 2018). The blue catfish is found all over the world and has a few familiar names: in English, it is referred to as the catfish, chucklehead, forked-tailed cat and the humpback blue (Bledsoe et al., 2018). In Spanish, it is referred to as the Bagre Azul while in Russia it is known as the sinyaya zubatka.

b. Geographic Range

The blue catfish is native to the Central as well as the Southern States of the United States of America, Mexico and Guatemala. In the west, it is found in China but, introduced in aquaculture thus, makes it a non-invasive species (Bledsoe et al., 2018). To be specific, the species, blue catfish is native to the major rivers of Mississippi, Ohio besides the Missouri basins of the central in addition to the southern regions in America (Bledsoe et al., 2018). In Texas, they are common in the Red River, Sabine Lake, Galveston Bay, Brazos River, Colorado River (Alabama) and San Antonio as well as Nueces River.  The table below represents the distribution of the blue catfish in America (Bledsoe et al., 2018).

Twenty-nine states in America have reported having the blue catfish whereas, the 17 remaining states do not. The Pennsylvania state said that the blue catfish was last spotted in the Monongahela River in 1886 while Minnesota reported having last seen the species in 1977. The following table below represents the distribution of blue catfish in the United States region. 

c. Specific Range Biome

1. Table 1: A representation of the distribution of the blue catfish in the United States of America.

North America

Origin

References

Alabama

Native

(Bledsoe et al., 2018)

Arkansas

Native

(Bledsoe et al., 2018)

Florida

Introduced

(Bledsoe et al., 2018)

Georgia

Introduced

U.S. Geological Survey Archive, (2017)

Kentucky

Native

U.S. Geological Survey Archive, (2017)

Louisiana

Native

U.S. Geological Survey Archive, (2017)

Maryland

Introduced 

U.S. Geological Survey Archive, (2017)

Missouri

Native

U.S. Geological Survey Archive, (2017)

New Mexico

Introduced

U.S. Geological Survey Archive, (2017)

Tennessee

Native

U.S. Geological Survey Archive, (2017)

Texas

Native

U.S. Geological Survey Archive, (2017)

Virginia

Native.

U.S. Geological Survey Archive, (2017)

2. The lifecycle of the Blue Catfish

a. Description

The Blue catfish is a abstemiously healthy and lengthened fish with a deep fork-tailed with a round head. The fish, based on its scientific name, Ictalurus is a Greek word meaning ‘fish cat’ and furcatus – a Latin word meaning ‘forked.’ Its lower jaw never protrudes against the upper jaw hence, its significant difference (U.S. Geological Survey Archive, 2017). The coloration is on a basic blue-grey coloration on the vertebral with silver grey sides with a grey-white abdomen.

Nonetheless, there is a clear distinction between the male and the female. The male has a precise dark blue on them, and its papilla is more circular compared to female which is more recessed and slightly open (U.S. Geological Survey Archive, 2017). The growth patterns significantly differ for the males and females. It is estimated that a regular blue catfish can weigh exceedingly from 350 Lbs but, standard weights are between 20 and 40 lbs. A known fact is that the blue catfish has a high sense of smell and taste. 

b. Reproduction

Literature indicates that most blue catfish are not mature for sexual reproduction until they reach at least 60 cm in length  (Hiling et al., 2018).  Additionally, their growth factors into this with their diet being restrictive to how they spawn.  Breeding occurs in the late spring besides premature summer where water temperatures between 21 and 25 ºC ideal for reproduction (U.S. Geological Survey Archive, 2017).   Nonetheless, breeding is also contingent on the geographical areas. For instance, in Lousiana, April and May are the ideal months whereas, June is perfect for Illinois (Hiling et al., 2018). In general, the males create the nests which will serve as breeding grounds which attract the females. The nests are generally in protected areas, habitually in tarns and boondocks. Compared to other similar species, the blue catfish is the only catfish known to present such nurturing characteristics. The parents guard the young ones until they have hatched within the nest.

c. Longevity

The blue catfish is documented to live at least for fourteen years. Its size contributes majorly to this factor, and some can even live up to over twenty years (U.S. Geological Survey Archive, 2017).  The adult blue catfish are common solitary fish and usually feed at the bottom.

d. Nutrition

The blue catfish are predatory by nature and are known to consume other fish if they can. The species is highly adaptive to its environment and has three distinct feeding stages based on its weight as well as age (Hiling et al., 2018). For species below the 10 cm length mark, they feed on zooplankton but, as juveniles upgrade their consumption to invertebrates. As adults, the fish feed on large and more moveable creatures which are nocturnal since the grownups’ hunt at night.

e. Ecological Requirements for Survival

The blue catfish are recorded to have decreased in population due to climatic changes over the years. The blue catfish usually thrives in the warm temperatures, but due to the increase in cold weather patterns, their statistics are lowering. Blue catfish prefer the more temperate regions for optimal growth and survival. These can range above 21 ºc. Additionally, they prefer fresh water with a salinity range of between 3.7 ppt on the minimum end and at a maximum level of 15 ppt (Hiling et al., 2018).

f. Natural Enemies

The blue catfish has natural predators include the Haliaeetus luecocphalus (American bald eagle), Pandion haliaetus and Pylodictis olivaris (Flathead catfish). The former prefers consuming the blue catfish while at adult or fry stage whereas the latter at the fry or larval stage (Hiling et al., 2018).

g. Habitat

The blue catfish reside in larger rivers and streams. They mostly inhabit freshwater and can be found in deep water impoundments, main water channels as well as backwaters to larger rivers. The blur catfish is reported to prefer strong flowing water where they can reside in the silt-free gravel, sand and rubble substrates (Hiling et al., 2018). These characteristic habitats are normal for invasive species or introduced species. For the native blue catfish, the natural habitats range from broad, swift-flowing areas of the large rivers to lakes.  Some reports indicate that the blue catfish can live in shallow creeks of the tributaries of lakes such as the Chesapeake Bay in the United States of America. As such, they can migrate upstream from the warmer areas of the lake to the colder regions and downstream during winter to find warmer temperatures.

II. The Evolution

a. The blue catfish lineage is as follows:  

The following represents the taxonomic tree of the species:

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Metazoa

Phylum: Chordata

    Sub-phylum: Vertebrata

         Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Siluriformes

    Genus: Ictalurus

       Species: Ictalurus furcatus

The blue catfish through molecular and genetic analysis has revealed to be related to the headwater catfish (Ictalurus lupus) and the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). However, have some different features from each other (Hiling et al., 2018). For instance, the Ictalurus punctatus possess spots which lack in the juvenile Inctalurus furcatus. The former is larger as compared to the blue catfish and thus, may be difficult to tell them apart from each other since they often have similar color and general body shape. Nevertheless, the blue catfish is distinguished from the channel catfish and the headwater catfish through the positioned smaller eyes which are located anteriorly.  Additionally, the blue catfish has a straighter marginal anal fin with a keel-like crest anterior dorsal fin. In general, the blue catfish can be more than 32 cm in length whereas, and the channel fish ranges between 25 and 28 while the headwater fish ranger below 23 cm in length (Hiling et al., 2018).

b. Historical Perspective

 The blue catfish was reported to have been first seen by Lewis and Clark during the exploration of the Mississippi River. The most massive blue catfish recorded was 1.5 m in length during the investigation (Hiling et al., 2018). Different records in the 1900s in the United States of America provide that the fish was extensively adapted to the different climatic conditions of the North America region at the time.

III. Economic and Social Impact

a. Economic and Ecological Impact

 The spread of the blue catfish is assumed to have been predisposed by the resident fish populaces around the world. Thus, with the decline of the white catfish, the native species spread with traditional economic activities of fishing which was highly valued. The first documentation of the first harvest of the blue catfish was in the 1990s. Due to the economic impact, the catfish has made over the years, a series of reports have indicated a significant decline in the population since early 2000(Hiling et al., 2018).  Regardless, the blue catfish is noted to have a relatively significant impact on the transience for economically and environmentally crucial estuarine fish for instance, the young American shad, river herring, and the Atlantic menhaden.

The environmental impact is based on the rapid increase in the population of the species. It has raised concerns since the feeding capacities, and trend of the blue catfish can lead to the reduction in population sizes of the other non-predatory species. As a result, scientists have reiterated that the blue catfish is a competitive species for the native white catfish (Ictalurus catus), brown bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus) and the yellow bullhead (Ictalurus natalis). The only remedy to this, which is yet to be actualized, is the introduction of predators such as the Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish) and the Pylodictus olivaris (flathead catfish) (Bledsoe et al., 2018). For instance, the increased statistics of the blue catfish have adversely affected the herring-family fishes in James and Rappahannock Rivers. In Virginia as well, the blue catfish, I. furcatus is associated with declines in anadromous clupeid population (herring-fish) population of the American shad (Alsoa sapidissima) as well as the blueback herring (Bledsoe et al., 2018). But, there are significant restoration efforts in the areas due to the adverse economic and ecological effects of the invasive range species in the regions. Thus, the introduction of predators such as the centrarchids is considered as the best alternative.

b. Economic Value

The blue catfish is regarded to be of high commercial value as well as a recreational fish. As a result, it has been introduced in more than sixteen states in America outside its native range to diversify the diversity in fisheries. For instance, the introduction of the blue catfish in Virginia and Maryland have provided modest fisheries in the areas.  Moreover, there are additional commercial landings of the species from the tidal rivers of both Virginia and Maryland which has improved over the past decade to more than 7.5 tonnes (Bledsoe et al., 2018).

Additionally, hybrid populations between blue catfish and the channel catfish have been combined to improve the commercial attractiveness of the fish. States in North America have visualized the commodity as one of the best-commercialized value fish in the region and more so, the hybridized fish. However, the popularity of the hybrid is not welcomed by the aquaculturists who are opposed to the hybrids in the fee-fishing lakes (Bledsoe et al., 2018). Their issue is based on the improvement of the predator fish with another predator fish which eventually will have a long-term effect on other fish populations.  Notwithstanding, the fish has a significant social benefit in which the blue catfish in Virginia is considered a national trophy fishery which targets blue catfish of the most considerable length. Currently, the largest caught blue catfish ranges between 96.5 cm and weighs 13. 6 kg.  in general, the blue catfish is used for sport in which people hunt, fish, shoot and race whereas, for human consumption provide meat, fat, bone and blood for consumption (Bledsoe et al., 2018).

c. Risk and Impact Factors

The Blue catfish is recorded to be prone to invasive characteristics. They are known to have proven invasiveness outside their normal native ranges, and this encapsulates issues on native varieties. Additionally, the species is widely adaptable to the different environments. The blue catfish is capable of securing and ingesting a wide range of food, and in its green state can be highly locomotive (Bledsoe et al., 2018).  As a result, the impact outcomes are reduced the native biodiversity of the species and can be a threat to other non-invasive and native species. To resolve the issues, impact mechanisms such as competition from predators, hybridization, and predation are the controlling factors (Bledsoe et al., 2018). The likelihood to control the fish may be difficult since they are difficult to contain due to the invasiveness of the species on on-natural habitat regions.

Conclusion

The paper has provided a full markup of the species from geographical, ecological, physiological and biological information about the species. The Blue catfish, with a preferred scientific name, Ictalurus furcatus is an exciting fish. On one end, it serves to be an economically significant fish with economic value such as can be consumed by humans and can be used for sporting activities as seen in Virginia. However, there are ecological and scientific issues concerning the species. Due to the high adaptability characteristics, the species possess the risk of endangering the population statistics of other vulnerable species such as the red herring. Efforts to curb the prevalence have not yet reached full capacity, and this may be an issue in the coming years. There is a need to address the invasive species whether to eradicate them from the non-natural habitats or find a scientific solution to the problem.

References

Bledsoe, J. W., Waldbieser, G. C., Swanson, K. S., Peterson, B. C., & Small, B. C. (2018). Comparison of channel catfish and blue catfish gut microbiota assemblages shows minimal effects of host genetics on the microbial structure and inferred function. Frontiers in microbiology, 9, 1073.

Hiling, C., Bunch, A. J., Greenlee, R. S., Jiao, Y., & j., O. (2018). Natural Mortality and Size-Structure of Introduced Blue Catfish in Virginia Tidal Rivers. Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 5, 30-38.

U.S. Geological Survey Archive, U. G.-C.-N. (2017, November 22). Invasive Species Compendium: Datasheet report for Ictalurus furcatus (blue catfish). (I. S. catfish), Editor) Retrieved September 2018, from Cabi: https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/79120