Evaluation of chemical control for nonnative crayfish at a warm-water fish production hatchery
Published Online: 12/31/2016
Abstract
Invasive crayfish are known to displace native crayfish species, alter aquatic habitat and community structure and function, and are serious pests for fish hatcheries. White River Crawfish (WRC; Procambarus acutus) were inadvertently introduced to a warm-water fish hatchery in Missouri, USA, possibly in an incoming fish shipment. We evaluated the use of chemical control for crayfish to ensure incoming and outgoing fish shipments from hatcheries do not contain live crayfish. We conducted acute (≤ 24 hr) static toxicity tests to determine potency, dose-response, and selectivity of pesticides to WRC, Virile Crayfish (VC; Orconectes virilis), and Fathead Minnow (FHM; Pimephales promelas). Testing identified a formulation of cypermethrin (Cynoff®) as the most potent of five pesticides evaluated for toxicity to crayfish. A 4-hr exposure to a cypermethrin concentration of 100 µg· L-1 was found to kill 100% of juvenile and adult WRC; however, adult VC were not consistently killed. Concentrations of cypermethrin ≤ 100 µg· L-1 did not cause significant (> 10%) mortality in juvenile FHM. Additional testing is needed to examine selectivity between crayfish and hatchery fish species. Biosecurity protocols at hatcheries that use chemical control have the potential to reliably prevent inadvertent transfers of live crayfish in fish shipments.
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How to Cite
Allert AL, McKee MJ, DiStefano RJ and Fairchild JF. (2016). Evaluation of chemical control for nonnative crayfish at a warm-water fish production hatchery. Freshwater Crayfish 22(1):81-93. doi: 10.5869/fc.2016.v22-1.81
Author Information
Ann L. Allert,* Columbia Environmental Research Center, USGS, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO, USA65201. E-mail: aallert@usgs.gov
Michael J. McKee, Research, Missouri Department of Conservation, 3500 East Gans Road, Columbia, MO, USA65201. E-mail: Mike.McKee@mdc.mo.gov
Robert J. DiStefano, Research, Missouri Department of Conservation, 3500 East Gans Road, Columbia, MO, USA65201. E-mail: Bob.DiStefano@mdc.mo.gov
James F. Fairchild, Columbia Environmental Research Center, USGS, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO, USA65201. E-mail: james.fairchild@yahoo.com
Corresponding Author indicated by an *.
Publication History
Manuscript Submitted: 8/23/2016
Manuscript Accepted: 12/15/2016
Published Online: 12/31/2016
Published in Print: 12/31/2016
Funding Information
No specific funding statement is available for this article.