New Zealand Mudsnail Containment: Tests of Chemicals, Copper Strips, Fluorochrome Marking and Terrestrial Movement

Authors

  • Randall W. Oplinger Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Fisheries Experiment Station, Logan, Utah
  • Eric J. Wagner Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Fisheries Experiment Station, Logan, Utah

Keywords:

New Zealand mudsnail, containment, invasive, toxicity, chemicals, copper strips, fluorochrome, movement

Abstract

New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum; NZMS) arc a non-native species that can have a significant influence the structure of an aquatic community. More research on methods that help prevent the human spread and immigration of the species need to be conducted. We performed four studies in an attempt to increase our understanding of NZMS containment. In the first study, we selected several chemicals that are known to kill NZMS and compared the effectiveness of these chemicals when applied to snails either through a fine spray (0.7-1.1 ml) or immersion in 15-min exposures. We found that copper sulfate (504 and 1,008 mg/L as copper), hydrogen peroxide (30,000 and 60,000 mg/L), Clorox Commercial Solutions 409 Cleaner, Degreaser, and Disinfectant, and Hyamine 1622 (3,880 mg/L) all killed 100 percent of NZMS when applied as a fine spray. This indicated that these chemicals can be used by managers or the public to disinfect equipment that cannot nonnally be immersed in a chemical. In the second study, we conducted a series of experiments to determine the aptitude and ability of NZMS to move when placed out of the water and found that NZMS were not inclined to move on land, thus indicating that terrestrial movement ability is not a major factor in the design of in-stream barriers. In the third study, we tested a potential immigration barrier constructed using copper strips and found that snails readily crossed strips ≤ 10 cm wide. In the final study, we found that calcein (100 mg/L for 24-48 hr) and tetracycline (300 mg/L for 24-48 hr) can successfully mark NZMS. The calcein mark was visible for at least 5 wks, whereas the tetracycline mark was visible for at least 2 wks. Thus, these chemicals can be used by ecologists and managers to track NZMS movements.

Published

2024-02-20

Issue

Section

Biological Sciences - Aquatic Ecosystems [Articles]