Use of Carbon Dioxide to Prevent Settlement of Dreissenid Mussels

Dreissenid management has focused primarily on chemical tools which are efficacious, but not without ecological or economic costs. There is a need for additional control tools that are less expensive, readily available, and will not leave a residue after treatment. Carbon dioxide has these advantages over chemical pesticides and has demonstrated effectiveness for control of a range of aquatic invasive species, including dreissenid mussels. Carbon dioxide was lethal to adult zebra mussels at levels that were safe to juvenile unionid mussels and lower levels cause detachment and gaping. Dreissenid veligers are more sensitive than adults to water quality conditions, including pH. Therefore, we hypothesized that effective PCO2 levels to [...]