Answer: Five to six species; to utilize all food resources in different water zones simultaneously.
- A Three species; specifically chosen to maximize overall genetic diversity within the pond
- B Five to six species; to utilize all food resources in different water zones simultaneously
- C Two species; deliberately chosen to allow competitive exclusion of the weaker species over time
- D Eight species; stocked mainly to increase species richness for general ecosystem stability
Correct answer: B. Five to six species; to utilize all food resources in different water zones simultaneously
Explanation: Composite fish culture typically uses five to six compatible species (e.g., Catla, Rohu, Mrigal, common carp, silver carp, grass carp) to utilize all food resources across different zones of the water body simultaneously, maximizing production without interspecific competition.
Different fish species occupy different feeding depths in the same pond without competing for food: Catla feeds near the surface, Rohu in the middle zone, and Mrigal or common carp at the bottom - letting a single pond support far more total fish than one species alone.
Concept context
Learn about animal husbandry, plant breeding, tissue culture, biofortification, and single cell protein.
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