Carbon Dioxide as a Tool to Deter the Movement of Invasive Bigheaded Carps

Abstract

Nonnative bigheaded carps are established in the Mississippi River and there is substantial concern about their potential entry into the interconnected Laurentian Great Lakes. While electrical barriers currently exist as a preventative measure, there is need for additional control mechanisms to promote barrier security through redundancy. We tested the effectiveness of infused carbon dioxide gas (CO2) as a tool to influence the movement and behavior invasive bigheaded carps, namely Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and Silver Carp H. molitrix, as well as native Bigmouth Buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus, Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus, Paddlefish Polyodon spathula, and Yellow Perch Perca flavescens in an experimental pond. Individuals were monitored with acoustic telemetry before, during, and after CO2 addition to the pond. We noted distinct changes in fish behavior following CO2 addition. Each species except Paddlefish maintained farther distances from the CO2 infusion manifold relative to controls. Both bigheaded carp species had slower persistence velocities (persistence of a movement in a given direction) following CO2 infusion and Bighead Carp used a smaller area of the pond immediately after CO2 addition. Pond pH progressively decreased up to 1.5 units following CO2 infusion. This work provides evidence that could inform future research to enhance existing control measures used to deter high‐risk invasive fishes, such as bigheaded carps. Received July 27, 2015; accepted January 11, 2016 Published online April 27, 2016

Chronic exposure of a freshwater mussel to elevated pCO2: Effects on the control of biomineralization and ion‐regulatory responses

“…As previously indicated, the responses of freshwater bivalves to elevations in p CO 2 have been largely understudied compared with the work that has been carried out on marine bivalves in the context of ocean acidification. Although the levels of CO 2 in the present study exceed those typically used in ocean acidification studies (i.e., ∼ 15 000–50 000 μatm vs ∼ 800–4000 μatm for marine studies ), these levels may not be improbable for some freshwater systems , particularly in the case of invasive species management . Further studies into the carry‐over effects of elevated p CO 2 exposure―as well as consequences for reproduction and the role that reproductive state and sex of the mussel may play in mediating responses―would provide additional information on population level consequences for freshwater mussels exposed to high p CO 2 .…”

Physiological responses of three species of unionid mussels to intermittent exposure to elevated carbon dioxide

“…Thus, animals were held at elevated p CO 2 levels for 0.5 h and returned to control levels during the 1.5 h recovery period and then raised back up to elevated conditions for 0.5 h, repeatedly during the course of the experiment. A level of 55 000 µatm was targeted because this level has previously been defined as being a potential target CO 2 level that could deter the movement of fishes (Donaldson et al ., 2016) and will possibly be the target level of a CO 2 barrier. Twelve fluctuations per day represents the historical lock usage of Brandon Road Lock (41.5054 ° N, 88.0996 ° W), a possible site for deployment of a CO 2 barrier within the Des Plaines River, IL, USA (United States Army Corps of Engineers, 2014a, 2015).…”

Selective fragmentation and the management of fish movement across anthropogenic barriers

“…It does not appear that carbon dioxide plumes would afford much opportunity for selective fish passage since the testing to date indicates that most species and fish sizes show avoidance of this dissolved gas (Donaldson et al. , Treanor et al. ).…”