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Open Water Control of Invasive Mussels Using Benthic Mats—Part 1, Short-Term Infusion of Carbon Dioxide Under a Mat

Open-File Report 2026-1019
Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Invasive Mussel Collaborative
By: , , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20261019

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Abstract

This study compared the efficacy of a benthic mat alone with carbon dioxide infusion under a mat for killing Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) (zebra mussel). Three sites were selected in Loon Lake, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Benzie County, Michigan, for replication of reference, benthic mat, and carbon dioxide mat treatments. Within a site, three 4-meter (m) x 4-m plots were delineated for each treatment and a reference. Pretreatment samples were collected to estimate zebra mussel density and macroinvertebrate community composition in reference plots. Zebra mussels (about 360) from outside of the treatment plots were caged and placed in the plots before treatment. Benthic mats (4.25 m x 4.25 m; polyethylene with a vinyl coating) were anchored on the lake bottom with sandbags and weights. Carbon dioxide was infused under a mat of the same material to a maximum of 200 milligrams per liter (mg/L; pH=6.13) every 2–4 hours, for about 12 hours. Benthic and carbon dioxide mats were deployed for 5 days. One day after mat removal, we assessed mortality of resident and sentinel caged zebra mussels and macroinvertebrate community abundance and diversity in each plot. Average pH (as a proxy for carbon dioxide) under the carbon dioxide mats was between 6.38 and 6.80, equivalent to 170.5 and 103.0 mg/L carbon dioxide, respectively. In the posttreatment survey, few zebra mussels were observed in the benthic mat and carbon dioxide treatment plots compared to the reference plots; survival was lowest in the carbon dioxide plots. Mortality of sentinel caged mussels was greater than 80 percent in carbon dioxide treatments compared to mean mortalities of 20.6 percent and 12.7 percent in the benthic mat and reference plots, respectively. Macroinvertebrate community total abundance was lower in both mat treatments compared to reference plots, but diversity was comparable among all treatments. Our study demonstrated that carbon dioxide treatment near 200 mg/L could produce greater than 80-percent mortality of zebra mussels within 5 days. Refinement of the carbon dioxide mat and delivery system could increase spatial coverage of the treatment and broaden its use to other habitats.

Suggested Citation

Waller, D.L., Erickson, R.A., Wise, J.K., Meulemans, M.J., Morris, B.E.C., Severson, T.J., and Barbour, M.T., 2026, Open water control of invasive mussels using benthic mats—Part 1, short-term infusion of carbon dioxide under a mat: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2026–1019, 22 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20261019.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Purpose and Scope
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Open water control of invasive mussels using benthic mats—Part 1, short-term infusion of carbon dioxide under a mat
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2026-1019
DOI 10.3133/ofr20261019
Publication Date June 08, 2026
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Description Report: viii; 22 p.; Data Release; Software Release
Larger Work Title USGS Open-File Report
Country United States
State Michigan
County Benzie County
Other Geospatial Loon Lake
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details