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Field Application of Carbon Dioxide as a Behavioral Control Method for Invasive Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in Southeastern Michigan Water Retention Ponds

Open-File Report 2022-1105
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program
Prepared in cooperation with Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State University, and Auburn University
By: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20221105

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  • Document: Report (1.08 MB pdf) , HTML , XML
  • Data Release: USGS data release —Water quality and atmospheric carbon dioxide data for field application of carbon dioxide during summer 2018 as a behavioral control method for invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in southeastern Michigan water retention ponds
  • Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

This study evaluated carbon dioxide (CO2) injected into water as a possible behavioral stimulant to enhance capture and removal of invasive red swamp crayfish (RSC, Procambarus clarkii [Girard, 1852]) from a retention pond in southeastern Michigan. Objectives of this study were (1) to determine if target CO2 concentrations were attainable within the infested pond and (2) to determine if CO2 treatment was effective to push RSC either towards shorelines or onto dry land, where they could be collected and removed. Carbon dioxide was applied directly into one treatment pond (about [~]2,500 cubic meters) in Novi, Michigan. Two nearby ponds in Livonia, Mich., were used as untreated control ponds. Crayfish removal efficiency was evaluated in all ponds using baited traps and shoreline surveys. Results showed that the CO2 treatment pond reached its target concentration of greater than (>) 200 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of CO2, a benchmark determined from previous laboratory studies, approximately 11 hours after injection started, and maintained concentrations between 200 and 351 mg/L of CO2 for about 2.5 days. During treatment, some emergent crayfish were observed near influent culverts around the pond, which possibly brought about a behavioral response. However, the number of individuals and crayfish observations were minimal and infrequent. Crayfish continued to be removed throughout CO2 treatment with baited traps and perimeter surveys, but differences in catch rates between the treatment and control ponds were not apparent and confounded by a temporal decline in catch rates across all ponds. Overall, this study demonstrated that open-water treatment applications with CO2 are possible, but its effectiveness to enhance RSC removal was unclear because of the limited crayfish observations.

Suggested Citation

Smerud, J., Rivera, J., Johnson, T., Tix, J., Fredricks, K., Barbour, M., Herbst, S., Thomas, S., Nathan, L., Roth, B., Smith, K., Allert, A., Stoeckel, J., and Cupp, A., 2022, Field application of carbon dioxide as a behavioral control method for invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in southeastern Michigan water retention ponds: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2022–1105, 12 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20221105.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Data, Findings, and Observations
  • Discussion
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Field application of carbon dioxide as a behavioral control method for invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in southeastern Michigan water retention ponds
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2022-1105
DOI 10.3133/ofr20221105
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Description Report: vii, 12 p.; Data Release
Country United States
State Michigan
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details