Carp survives in toxic habitat
They should have been dead, but the mummichogs off the US east coast are thriving in spite of the fact that the waters are extremely polluted. The water is rife with heavy metals and is contaminated by chemicals such as dioxin and hydrocarbons, which factories have released into the ocean for more than 50 years.
According to research by the University of California, the mummichogs are up to 8,000 times more resistant to pollution than other fish species. According to scientists, the key to the fish's undisputed ability to survive is extreme genetic variation. The variation boosts evolution, allowing the fish to adapt to new environmental conditions quickly, ensuring the survival of the species.