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B. G. H. Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to B. G. H. Johnson.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1980

Effects of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control in the Great Lakes on aquatic plants, invertebrates and amphibians

The chemicals 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) or a combination of TFM and 2a??,5-dichloro-4a??-nitrosalicylanilide (Bayer 73) have been used to control the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Great Lakes for about 20 yr. These chemicals cause some mortalities of Oligochaeta and Hirudinea, immature forms of Ephemeroptera (Hexagenia sp.), and certain Trichoptera, Simuliidae, and Amphibia (Necturus sp.). The combination of TFM and Bayer 73 may affect some Pelecypoda and Gastropoda, but its overall effects on invertebrates are probably less than those of TFM alone. Granular Bayer 73 is likely to induce mortalities among oligochaetes, microcrustaceans, chironomids, and pelecypods. No evidence exists that the lampricides have caused the catastrophic decline or disappearance of any species. The overall impact of chemical control of sea lampreys on aquatic communities has been minor compared with the benefits derived.

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences↗
USGS1974

Control of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in Lake Superior, 1953-70

The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) gained entrance into Lake Superior in the early 1940's, and began making drastic inroads on the fish stocks by the early 1950's. Serious efforts to control the parasite began in 1953 with the installation of electrical barriers in streams to block spawning runs. Control measures became much more effective after 1958, when a selective toxicant, the lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM), was used to destroy larval lampreys in streams. A unique methodology was developed for stream treatments which included surveys to find sea lamprey larvae, bioassays to determine effective lampricide concentrations, analytical techniques to monitor concentrations of lampricide throughout the treatment, and feeder systems to apply the toxicant in controlled amounts. Evidence of successful control was indicated first by reduced sea lamprey spawning runs, as measured by the numbers of adults taken at electrical barriers. The runs declined in 1962 by about 86%; periodic re-treatments of lamprey-infested streams held the population at a low level in 1963-70. Other indicators of success were decreases in the incidence of sea lamprey wounds on lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), in the numbers of sea lamprey larvae in streams, and in the number of streams regularly used by sea lampreys for spawning. Although sea lamprey control and heavy plantings of hatchery-reared stock had restored lake trout abundance to prelamprey levels in many areas by 1970, the trout had not yet become self-sustaining. Additional effort will be required to further reduce the effects of lamprey predation.

Technical Report↗
USGS1966

The relation between molecular structure and biological activity among mononitrophenols containing halogens

The results of tests of the biological activity of certain nitrophenols containing halogen are reported. Some of these are shown to be significantly more toxic to larvae of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus L.) than to fishes. It is proposed that the death of lamprey larvae exposed to these compounds results from an acute hypotension (shock) with concomitant circulatory and respiratory failure. Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), on the other hand, appear to die, at higher concentrations of the toxin, due to a chemically-caused mechanical interference with respiration through the gills. A systematic series of studies of mononitrophenols containing halogens disclosed that those phenols having the nitro group in the para-position and a halogen atom or group in the meta-position are generally more toxic to lampreys than to fish. The halogens or halogen groups used in this study were fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and trifluormethyl. The same substituents in other positions only occasionally gave rise to selectively toxic compounds. The relationship between the selectively active class of nitrophenols containing halogens and other related structures is discussed.

Technical Report↗
USGS1961

Use of 3-trifluormethyl-4-nitrophenol as a selective sea lamprey larvicide

The recent discovery of a group of chemical compounds that are significantly more toxic to sea lampreys than to other aquatic organisms offers promise of an early and effective control of this pest. The sea lamprey has all but destroyed the lake trout populations of Lakes Huron and Michigan. In Lake Superior, production of the lake trout fishery has declined to record low levels. Only a rapid and drastic reduction in sea lamprey predation can save the lake trout population there. Other species of food and game fishes have suffered severe decreases from persistent attack by the lamprey. The sea lamprey spends only a small portion of its life as a parasite in the Great Lakes. The fully grown and sexually mature adults migrate into streams to spawn and thereafter die. The eggs hatch in a week to 10 days and the larvae remain in the stream bottom for 5 years or longer before metamorphosis into the adult form. Following this transformation the young lampreys migrate downstream to the lakes to begin their parasitic existence. The life cycle of the sea lamprey has been described in detail elsewhere (Applegate 1950; Applegate and Moffett 1955). Control of the adult lampreys distributed throughout a body of open water as large as one of the Great Lakes, by known and available techniques, is not feasible. Fortunately, this pest can be attacked effectively at those stages in its life cycle when it is concentrated in restricted areas. Various devices have been developed which prevent spawning by blocking the streams below the spawning grounds. Electrical weirs, that repel or destroy the lampreys, have been used (Applegate, Smith, and Nielsen 1952; Erkkila, Smith, and McLain 1956). A serious shortcoming of this control method is the time required to achieve the desired effect. Even though the adults have been destroyed before spawning, 5 or more generations of larval lampreys are already in the stream-enough to provide an annual supply of parasitic adults for an equal period of time. Almost all the larvae of the sea lamprey live in the spawning streams. Treatment of these streams with selectively toxic chemicals that kill the larvae provides immediate reduction of all generations in the population before they become parasites. Control of the species can thus be achieved without a delay of several years.

Technical Report↗