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Carbon dioxide as an under-ice lethal control for invasive fishes

Aaron R. Cupp·Zebadiah Woiak·Richard A. Erickson·Jon Amberg·Mark P. Gaikowski
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Abstract

Resource managers need effective tools to control invasive fish populations. In this study, we tested under-ice carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) injection as a novel piscicide method for non-native Silver Carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ), Bighead Carp ( Hypophthalmichthys nobilis ), Grass Carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella ), Common Carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) and native Bigmouth Buffalo ( Ictiobus cyprinellus ). Fish were held overwinter in nine outdoor ponds (0.04 ha surface area; 340,000 L volume) treated with no CO 2 (control), 43.5–44.0 kg CO 2 (low treatment), and 87.5–88.5 kg CO 2 (high treatment). Ponds were harvested immediately after ice-out to assess survival and condition. Resulting survival in low (mean = 32%) and high (mean = 5%) CO 2 -treated ponds was significantly lower than untreated control ponds (mean = 84%). Lethal efficacy varied across species with no Bighead Carp, Silver Carp, or Bigmouth Buffalo surviving the high CO 2 treatment. External infections were observed more frequently after CO 2 treatments (means = 49–67%) relative to untreated ponds (mean = 2%), suggesting a secondary mechanism for poor survival. This study demonstrates that CO 2 can be used as a lethal control for invasive fishes, but effectiveness may vary by species and CO 2 concentration.

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Aaron R. Cupp, Zebadiah Woiak, Richard A. Erickson, Jon Amberg, Mark P. Gaikowski. 2017-05-24. Carbon dioxide as an under-ice lethal control for invasive fishes. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1462-9

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