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Effects of Carbon Dioxide on Non-Target Organisms

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By Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center January 17, 2020

Chemical controls are a vital component of many effective Integrated Pest Management plans. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is being evaluated as a new fishery chemical for invasive carps as a general toxicant or behavioral deterrent. Administration of non-selective chemicals, such as CO2, into public waters could pose a risk to non-target organisms (e.g. native mussels, native fishes) through direct or indirect exposure. Resource managers need to understand potential risks to ecologically and economically important species to ensure that chemical applications provide a high degree of effectiveness towards target pests (e.g. invasive carps) and minimize potential impacts on native species.

Media
Plain pocketbook mussels being used to evaluate effects of CO2 on non-target species.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Plain pocketbook mussels being used to evaluate effects of CO2 on non-target species.

Invasive Carp Control: Carbon Dioxide

 

The goal of this project is to determine the physiological and toxicological effects of CO2 exposure on native species. Studies are conducted in laboratory, mesocosm and field settings to collect data on various acute and chronic aspects of CO2 exposure.

Media
USGS scientist monitoring water quality during evaluation of CO2 on non-target fish during toxicity trials.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
USGS scientist monitoring water quality during evaluation of CO2 on non-target fish during toxicity trials.

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
USGS scientist monitoring water quality during evaluation of CO2 on non-target fish during toxicity trials.

Registration of Carbon Dioxide–Carp

Registration of new fishery chemicals is critical for resource managers to incorporate chemical controls as part of their Integrated Pest Management plans. In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) obtained a Section 3 registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for carbon dioxide (CO2) as a new pesticide under the name Carbon Dioxide–Carp...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Mississippi River
link

Registration of Carbon Dioxide–Carp

Registration of new fishery chemicals is critical for resource managers to incorporate chemical controls as part of their Integrated Pest Management plans. In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) obtained a Section 3 registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for carbon dioxide (CO2) as a new pesticide under the name Carbon Dioxide–Carp...
Learn More
link
Rusty crayfish used in lab CO2 deterrent trials.

Carbon Dioxide for General Aquatic Invasive Species Control

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is being evaluated as a new fishery chemical for general aquatic invasive species control. Most research has focused on its effectiveness as a behavioral deterrent and lethal control or invasive carps. However, because CO2 is generally non-selective, there is potential for this new control chemical to be applied across a wide range of aquatic invasive species challenges.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Mississippi River
link

Carbon Dioxide for General Aquatic Invasive Species Control

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is being evaluated as a new fishery chemical for general aquatic invasive species control. Most research has focused on its effectiveness as a behavioral deterrent and lethal control or invasive carps. However, because CO2 is generally non-selective, there is potential for this new control chemical to be applied across a wide range of aquatic invasive species challenges.
Learn More
link
Liquid CO2 supply tanks for field testing.

Carbon Dioxide as an Invasive Carp Lethal Control

Management agencies often rely on commercial harvest for invasive carp population control. Piscicides, or fish toxicants, are an alternative method that could supplement Integrated Pest Management plans to kill and remove large quantities of invasive carps in a relatively short period of time. This non-selective removal strategy could greatly improve removal efficiency, particularly where high...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Mississippi River
link

Carbon Dioxide as an Invasive Carp Lethal Control

Management agencies often rely on commercial harvest for invasive carp population control. Piscicides, or fish toxicants, are an alternative method that could supplement Integrated Pest Management plans to kill and remove large quantities of invasive carps in a relatively short period of time. This non-selective removal strategy could greatly improve removal efficiency, particularly where high...
Learn More
link
Carbon dioxide being delivered for field trials near Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Engineering and Testing of Carbon Dioxide Infusion Systems

Management agencies have identified key pinch-points where there is a need to block invasive carp passage. Recent studies have shown that carbon dioxide (CO2) can be an effective behavioral deterrent for invasive carps and could be used independently or in combination with other deterrents to reduce the risk of migration into new areas. Installation of a deterrent at these management locations...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Mississippi River
link

Engineering and Testing of Carbon Dioxide Infusion Systems

Management agencies have identified key pinch-points where there is a need to block invasive carp passage. Recent studies have shown that carbon dioxide (CO2) can be an effective behavioral deterrent for invasive carps and could be used independently or in combination with other deterrents to reduce the risk of migration into new areas. Installation of a deterrent at these management locations...
Learn More
link
USGS and USFWS personnel preparing to electro fish for common carp near Kaukauna, WI.

Carbon Dioxide as an Invasive Carp Behavioral Deterrent

Introduction of invasive carps into public waters of the United States has resulted in a large effort to limit dispersal beyond the Mississippi River watershed. Navigation structures positioned throughout most major rivers are potential pinch-points to block further range expansion into new areas. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is being evaluated as non-physical fish deterrent that could reduce fish passage...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Mississippi River
link

Carbon Dioxide as an Invasive Carp Behavioral Deterrent

Introduction of invasive carps into public waters of the United States has resulted in a large effort to limit dispersal beyond the Mississippi River watershed. Navigation structures positioned throughout most major rivers are potential pinch-points to block further range expansion into new areas. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is being evaluated as non-physical fish deterrent that could reduce fish passage...
Learn More

Below are publications associated with this project.

 

Chemical controls for an integrated pest management program

Chemical controls ranging from natural products to synthesized chemicals are widely used in aquatic pest management activities. Chemicals can be used to lure organisms to traps or can cause direct mortality by altering the physiological function of an organism. Much of what is known about controlling pests with chemicals is from research done on terrestrial pesticides. This paper focuses...
Authors
Kim T. Fredricks, Terrance D. Hubert, Jon Amberg, Aaron R. Cupp, Verdel K. Dawson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Toxicity of carbon dioxide to freshwater fishes: Implications for aquatic invasive species management

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a new aquatic pesticide to control invasive Asian carps and other aquatic nuisance species in the United States. However, limited CO2 toxicity data could make it challenging for resource managers to characterize the potential risk to nontarget species during CO2 applications. The present study quantified...
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, Justin Smerud, Linnea M Thomas, Diane L. Waller, David R. Smith, Richard A. Erickson, Mark P. Gaikowski
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Lethal and sublethal responses of native mussels (Unionidae: Lampsilis siliquoidea and Lampsilis higginsii) to elevated carbon dioxide

Levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) that have been proposed for aquatic invasive species control (24 000 – 96 000 μatm partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2); 1 atm = 101.325 kPa) were tested on two juvenile mussels, the fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea) and the US federally endangered Higgins’ eye (Lampsilis higginsii). A suite of responses (survival, growth, behavior, and gene expression) were...
Authors
Diane L. Waller, Michelle Bartsch, Lynn Bartsch, Craig Jackson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Effects of carbon dioxide on juveniles of the freshwater mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea [Unionidae])

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has shown promise as a tool to control movements of invasive Asian carp, but its effects on native freshwater biota have not been well studied. The authors evaluated lethal and sublethal responses of juvenile fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea) mussels to CO2 at levels (43–269 mg/L, mean concentration) that bracket concentrations effective for deterring carp movement...
Authors
Diane L. Waller, Michelle Bartsch, Kim T. Fredricks, Lynn Bartsch, Susan M. Schleis, Sheldon Lee
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Carbon dioxide as a tool to deter the movement of invasive bigheaded carps

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...
Authors
Michael R. Donaldson, Jon Amberg, Shivani Adhikari, Aaron R. Cupp, Nathan Jensen, Jason G. Romine, Adam Wright, Mark P. Gaikowski, Cory D. Suski
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Below are partners associated with this project.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

University of Illinois

Chemical controls are a vital component of many effective Integrated Pest Management plans. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is being evaluated as a new fishery chemical for invasive carps as a general toxicant or behavioral deterrent. Administration of non-selective chemicals, such as CO2, into public waters could pose a risk to non-target organisms (e.g. native mussels, native fishes) through direct or indirect exposure. Resource managers need to understand potential risks to ecologically and economically important species to ensure that chemical applications provide a high degree of effectiveness towards target pests (e.g. invasive carps) and minimize potential impacts on native species.

Media
Plain pocketbook mussels being used to evaluate effects of CO2 on non-target species.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Plain pocketbook mussels being used to evaluate effects of CO2 on non-target species.

Invasive Carp Control: Carbon Dioxide

 

The goal of this project is to determine the physiological and toxicological effects of CO2 exposure on native species. Studies are conducted in laboratory, mesocosm and field settings to collect data on various acute and chronic aspects of CO2 exposure.

Media
USGS scientist monitoring water quality during evaluation of CO2 on non-target fish during toxicity trials.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
USGS scientist monitoring water quality during evaluation of CO2 on non-target fish during toxicity trials.

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
USGS scientist monitoring water quality during evaluation of CO2 on non-target fish during toxicity trials.

Registration of Carbon Dioxide–Carp

Registration of new fishery chemicals is critical for resource managers to incorporate chemical controls as part of their Integrated Pest Management plans. In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) obtained a Section 3 registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for carbon dioxide (CO2) as a new pesticide under the name Carbon Dioxide–Carp...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Mississippi River
link

Registration of Carbon Dioxide–Carp

Registration of new fishery chemicals is critical for resource managers to incorporate chemical controls as part of their Integrated Pest Management plans. In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) obtained a Section 3 registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for carbon dioxide (CO2) as a new pesticide under the name Carbon Dioxide–Carp...
Learn More
link
Rusty crayfish used in lab CO2 deterrent trials.

Carbon Dioxide for General Aquatic Invasive Species Control

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is being evaluated as a new fishery chemical for general aquatic invasive species control. Most research has focused on its effectiveness as a behavioral deterrent and lethal control or invasive carps. However, because CO2 is generally non-selective, there is potential for this new control chemical to be applied across a wide range of aquatic invasive species challenges.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Mississippi River
link

Carbon Dioxide for General Aquatic Invasive Species Control

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is being evaluated as a new fishery chemical for general aquatic invasive species control. Most research has focused on its effectiveness as a behavioral deterrent and lethal control or invasive carps. However, because CO2 is generally non-selective, there is potential for this new control chemical to be applied across a wide range of aquatic invasive species challenges.
Learn More
link
Liquid CO2 supply tanks for field testing.

Carbon Dioxide as an Invasive Carp Lethal Control

Management agencies often rely on commercial harvest for invasive carp population control. Piscicides, or fish toxicants, are an alternative method that could supplement Integrated Pest Management plans to kill and remove large quantities of invasive carps in a relatively short period of time. This non-selective removal strategy could greatly improve removal efficiency, particularly where high...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Mississippi River
link

Carbon Dioxide as an Invasive Carp Lethal Control

Management agencies often rely on commercial harvest for invasive carp population control. Piscicides, or fish toxicants, are an alternative method that could supplement Integrated Pest Management plans to kill and remove large quantities of invasive carps in a relatively short period of time. This non-selective removal strategy could greatly improve removal efficiency, particularly where high...
Learn More
link
Carbon dioxide being delivered for field trials near Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Engineering and Testing of Carbon Dioxide Infusion Systems

Management agencies have identified key pinch-points where there is a need to block invasive carp passage. Recent studies have shown that carbon dioxide (CO2) can be an effective behavioral deterrent for invasive carps and could be used independently or in combination with other deterrents to reduce the risk of migration into new areas. Installation of a deterrent at these management locations...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Mississippi River
link

Engineering and Testing of Carbon Dioxide Infusion Systems

Management agencies have identified key pinch-points where there is a need to block invasive carp passage. Recent studies have shown that carbon dioxide (CO2) can be an effective behavioral deterrent for invasive carps and could be used independently or in combination with other deterrents to reduce the risk of migration into new areas. Installation of a deterrent at these management locations...
Learn More
link
USGS and USFWS personnel preparing to electro fish for common carp near Kaukauna, WI.

Carbon Dioxide as an Invasive Carp Behavioral Deterrent

Introduction of invasive carps into public waters of the United States has resulted in a large effort to limit dispersal beyond the Mississippi River watershed. Navigation structures positioned throughout most major rivers are potential pinch-points to block further range expansion into new areas. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is being evaluated as non-physical fish deterrent that could reduce fish passage...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Mississippi River
link

Carbon Dioxide as an Invasive Carp Behavioral Deterrent

Introduction of invasive carps into public waters of the United States has resulted in a large effort to limit dispersal beyond the Mississippi River watershed. Navigation structures positioned throughout most major rivers are potential pinch-points to block further range expansion into new areas. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is being evaluated as non-physical fish deterrent that could reduce fish passage...
Learn More

Below are publications associated with this project.

 

Chemical controls for an integrated pest management program

Chemical controls ranging from natural products to synthesized chemicals are widely used in aquatic pest management activities. Chemicals can be used to lure organisms to traps or can cause direct mortality by altering the physiological function of an organism. Much of what is known about controlling pests with chemicals is from research done on terrestrial pesticides. This paper focuses...
Authors
Kim T. Fredricks, Terrance D. Hubert, Jon Amberg, Aaron R. Cupp, Verdel K. Dawson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Toxicity of carbon dioxide to freshwater fishes: Implications for aquatic invasive species management

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a new aquatic pesticide to control invasive Asian carps and other aquatic nuisance species in the United States. However, limited CO2 toxicity data could make it challenging for resource managers to characterize the potential risk to nontarget species during CO2 applications. The present study quantified...
Authors
Aaron R. Cupp, Justin Smerud, Linnea M Thomas, Diane L. Waller, David R. Smith, Richard A. Erickson, Mark P. Gaikowski
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Lethal and sublethal responses of native mussels (Unionidae: Lampsilis siliquoidea and Lampsilis higginsii) to elevated carbon dioxide

Levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) that have been proposed for aquatic invasive species control (24 000 – 96 000 μatm partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2); 1 atm = 101.325 kPa) were tested on two juvenile mussels, the fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea) and the US federally endangered Higgins’ eye (Lampsilis higginsii). A suite of responses (survival, growth, behavior, and gene expression) were...
Authors
Diane L. Waller, Michelle Bartsch, Lynn Bartsch, Craig Jackson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Effects of carbon dioxide on juveniles of the freshwater mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea [Unionidae])

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has shown promise as a tool to control movements of invasive Asian carp, but its effects on native freshwater biota have not been well studied. The authors evaluated lethal and sublethal responses of juvenile fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea) mussels to CO2 at levels (43–269 mg/L, mean concentration) that bracket concentrations effective for deterring carp movement...
Authors
Diane L. Waller, Michelle Bartsch, Kim T. Fredricks, Lynn Bartsch, Susan M. Schleis, Sheldon Lee
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Carbon dioxide as a tool to deter the movement of invasive bigheaded carps

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...
Authors
Michael R. Donaldson, Jon Amberg, Shivani Adhikari, Aaron R. Cupp, Nathan Jensen, Jason G. Romine, Adam Wright, Mark P. Gaikowski, Cory D. Suski
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)

Below are partners associated with this project.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

University of Illinois

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