Michelle R. Bartsch Diane L. Waller 2018 <p>Control technology for dreissenid mussels (<i>Dreissena polymorpha</i> and <i>D. bugensis</i>) currently relies heavily on chemical molluscicides that can be both costly and ecologically harmful. There is a need for more environmentally neutral tools to manage dreissenid mussels, particularly in cooler water. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) has been shown to be lethal to several species of invasive bivalves, including zebra mussels and Asian clams (<i>Corbicula fluminea</i>). We evaluated the effectiveness of unpressurized infusion of CO₂ for 24 to 96 h (100 000–300 000 µatm PCO₂) at a water temperature of 12 °C on mortality, byssal thread formation, and attachment of zebra mussels. The safety of elevated CO₂ to a nontarget native freshwater mussel (Fatmucket, <i>Lampsilis siliquoidea</i>) was also determined. Elevated PCO₂ exposure induced narcotization and reduced attachment of zebra mussels within 24 h. Mortality increased with exposure duration and PCO₂. An estimated LT50 (lethal time to produce 50% mortality) for fixed PCO₂ ranged from 24 h at 275 000 µatm to ~ 96 h at 100 000 µatm. Exposure of zebra mussels to CO₂ for 96 h caused 80–100% mortality at all treatment levels. Fatmucket juveniles survived all PCO₂ treatments but burial and byssal thread production were adversely affected during exposure. Our results demonstrate that CO₂ is a viable option for management of zebra mussels in cool water and may have less adverse effect for native lampsiline mussels than current-use molluscicides.</p> application/pdf 10.3391/mbi.2018.9.4.07 en REABIC Use of carbon dioxide in zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) control and safety to a native freshwater mussel (Fatmucket, Lampsilis siliquoidea) article