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 to (1) determine if target CO2 concentrations were attainable within the infested pond, and (2) determine if CO2 treatment was effective to push RSC towards shorelines or onto dry land where they could be collected and removed. Carbon dioxide was applied directly into one treatment pond (~2,500 m3) in Novi, MI. Two nearby ponds in Livonia, MI 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 >200 milligrams per liter (mg/L) CO2, a benchmark determined from previous laboratory studies, approximately 11 hours after injection started and was maintained between 200-351 mg/L CO2 for approximately 2.5 days. During treatment, some emergent crayfish were observed near influent culverts around the pond, possibly indicative of 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 due to limited crayfish observations.

This study evaluated the use of dissolved carbon dioxide as a control method for invasive crayfish. Five concentrations of CO2 were administered to twenty-four test tanks at a water temperature of 5°C. Initially, Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) were intended to be the test species used in the study. However, problems with obtaining a healthy population of RSC occurred, so Virile Crayfish (Faxonius virilis) were used instead. These datasets include water quality, biometric, behavioral observation, and CO2 titration data from two trials.

This data was collected to determine responses of red swamp crayfish and rusty crayfish to CO2-enriched water to determine the utility of CO2 as a crayfish control tool. Avoidance tests, emergence tests, and loss of equilibrium (LOE) tests were performed to determine crayfish behavior in CO2-enriched water. Avoidance data (TimeinChamber2.csv, Crossings.csv, FirstLastShuttle.csv, AvoidanceLengthsandWeights.csv) were collected on 20171220 through 20180214. CO2 was injected in one side of a choice chamber under light or dark conditions and 10oC or 24oC water temperature. Shuttle movements were recorded and used to determine the number of crossings from the CO2 injected side to the non-injected side, the CO2 concentration and time of the first and last shuttle after CO2 injection began, and the total times spent in the injected and non-injected chambers. Loss of equilibrium (LOE) data were collected on 20180117 through 20180119 (LOEStats.csv). Crayfish were placed in a bucket with water and CO2 was injected into the bucket until the crayfish lost equilibrium. The concentration of CO2 and time until LOE occurred was recorded along with other behaviors induced by the elevated CO2 concentration. Red swamp crayfish emergence data was collected on 20180221 through 20180227 (Incline.csv). One side of the choice chamber used in the behavior/shuttle trials was isolated and an incline ramp was placed on the tank. CO2 was then injected into the tank and the behavior of the crayfish was recorded. Behavior data was recorded as in the tank, on the incline, or out of the water.

This study evaluated the use of dissolved carbon dioxide as a control method for juvenile red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Four concentrations of CO2 and a control were administered to 18 test tanks over a 96-hour period. Red swamp crayfish were observed for behavioral changes during the exposure and were assessed for mortality 24 hours post treatment. Datasets include daily care, water quality, biometric, behavioral observation, flow rate, and CO2 titration data from one trial. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Resource agencies are searching for effective methods to prevent the spread of invasive Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), hereafter bigheaded carps, from the Mississippi River basin into the Laurentian Great Lakes. Elevating carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in water within locks and other pinch points is an approach being considered to reduce invasive fish passage. Laboratory studies have shown that bigheaded carps strongly avoid areas of elevated CO2 (Kates et al. 2012; Dennis et al. 2015). Similarly, telemetry studies found that CO2 can be used to exclude bigheaded carps from certain locations (Donaldson et al. 2016) and reduce upstream movement (Cupp et al. 2016). Previous studies were completed under controlled settings, and research to determine the feasibility and efficacy of elevated CO2 to control bigheaded carp movements in larger natural environments is needed. On October 21–28, 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Illinois-Iowa Water Science Center, and Columbia Environmental Research Center conducted a short field study at Emiquon Preserve (15T 750386.95m E, 4469041.70m N) near Havana, IL. Objectives for this study were to (1) characterize CO2 concentrations and distribution at various water velocities and (2) determine the effectiveness of CO2 to reduce general fish abundance and movement. During this study, water quality, atmospheric CO2, and fish presence were quantified across three water velocities (no flow, restricted flow, and unrestricted flow) with and without CO2 injection. The study was conducted at the water management structures (WMS) which served at the single connection between an isolated backwater lake and the Illinois River. Carbon dioxide was injected into the downstream portion of the WMS using air diffusers connected to compressed CO2 tanks. Fish abundance and movement was quantified using two Adaptive Resolution Imaging Sonar (ARIS) transducers placed across WMS entrances. Water quality was quantified using stationary sondes, grab sample, and mobile transects. Atmospheric CO2 concentrations were quantified at fixed locations throughout the study site. Dates and times of importance: no water flow with CO2 start (21OCT2016 0800 CDT) and stop (21OCT2016 1600 CDT), modified flow with CO2 start (25OCT2016 0800 CDT) and stop (25OCT2016 1600 CDT), unrestricted flow with CO2 start (24OCT2016 0800 CDT) and stop (24OCT2016 1600 CDT), no flow control day without CO2 (28OCT2016), modified flow control day without CO2 (27OCT2016), and unrestricted flow control day without CO2 (23OCT2016).

Invasive crayfish are known to displace native crayfish species, alter aquatic habitat and community structure and function, and are serious pests for fish hatcheries. White River Crawfish (WRC; Procambarus acutus) were inadvertently introduced to a warm-water fish hatchery in Missouri, USA, possibly in an incoming fish shipment. We evaluated the use of chemical control for crayfish to ensure incoming and outgoing fish shipments from hatcheries do not contain live crayfish. We conducted acute (less than or equal to 24 hr) static toxicity tests to determine potency, dose-response, and selectivity of pesticides to WRC, Virile Crayfish (VC; Orconectes virilis), and Fathead Minnow (FHM; Pimephales promelas). Data included are: Collection location and size of test organisms; Test chemical concentrations and recovery; Mortality and effect-based responses of test organisms; Water quality of test solutions

Locks and dams are possible management points to block the spread of invasive Asian carps in the United States. Infusion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into water is one deterrent strategy being considered at navigational structures to reduce upstream fish passage that would not directly interfere with lock and dam operations. The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy of CO2 as a behavioral deterrent to free-swimming fishes. Telemetered bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) were monitored within a U-shaped pond (30.5 m long x 13.7 m wide x 1 m deep) using a two-dimensional acoustic telemetry array. Gaseous CO2 was administered to one-half of the pond at 30, 75, or 150 L CO2/min while a comparable stimulus of atmospheric air without CO2 was simultaneously applied to the opposite side. Fish positions throughout nine independent trials were used to quantify and compare the spatial occupancy, movement patterns, and CO2 plume interaction of fish during CO2 treatment relative to normal swimming before treatment. See related manuscript for additional details on experimental methods.

Data were collected associated with the application of a pesticide to a stormwater retention pond and burrows to suppress or eradicate an invasive crayfish species, Procambarus clarkii, in support of high-priority research developing control methods to mitigate impacts of invasive crayfish within the Great Lakes Basin. Effectiveness of the treatment was accessed using an in-situ bioassay and by measuring pesticide concentrations in water, sediment, and caged crayfish. Water quality data, including temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, hardness, ammonia, and turbidity, in stormwater ponds was collected to evaluate whether environmental conditions may impact treatment effectiveness and persistence of pesticide. Pesticide concentrations were assessed prior to chemical application of ponds and monitored for 88 days post application. Pesticide concentrations in burrows and adjacent pond were monitored prior to treating burrows and for up to three days post application. Research will assist management and regulatory agencies in interpretating laboratory acute and chronic data relative to field-based treatment and effects data, and in developing permitting requirements and best management practices for open-water and burrowed invasive crayfish populations. Data associated with laboratory studies were collected to determine 24-hr acute lethal concentrations of two pesticides containing pyrethrin or cypermethrin for two crayfish species, Procambarus clarkii and Faxonius virilis. Tests investigated whether two nominal temperatures (10 and 22 °C) and total suspended solid affected pesticide toxicity. Water quality monitoring during testing followed standard testing protocols and included temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, hardness, ammonia, turbidity, and total suspended solids in test jars with sediment from West Bearskin Lake, MN (about 2% Total Organic Carbon (TOC)). Water was collected from water treatments with and without sediment for pesticide concentrations. Pesticide concentrations are reported for water and for filters plus sediment. Test organisms were exposed to pesticides for 24-hr before being assessed for survival.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is under consideration as a chemical fish deterrent at pinch points in rivers (e.g., inside locks) to reduce unwanted fish passage. This study evaluated the behavioral responses of invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) to dissolved CO2 in laboratory tanks. The goal of this project was to quantify CO2 concentrations that modify round goby behavior. More specifically, avoidance behavior (voluntary response) and loss of equilibrium (involuntary response) were quantified across 5, 15, and 25°C water temperatures. These data can be used to inform future field testing of CO2 as an invasive fish deterrent. Spreadsheets include data that were used to evaluate the efficacy of carbon dioxide (CO2) deterrence at different temperatures in invasive carps. This data release associated with a manuscript that evaluated the effectiveness of carbon dioxide to alter Round Goby behavior.

These data consists of three related tables describing in-situ field conditions including pesticide concentration, water quality, and post-treatment survival of crayfish associated with the application of a pesticide to a stormwater retention pond and burrows to suppress or eradicate an invasive crayfish species, Procambarus clarkii, in support of high-priority research developing control methods to mitigate impacts of invasive crayfish within the Great Lakes Basin. Effectiveness of the treatment was accessed using an in-situ bioassay and by measuring pesticide concentrations in water, sediment, and caged crayfish. Water quality data, including temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, hardness, ammonia, and turbidity, in stormwater ponds was collected to evaluate whether environmental conditions may impact treatment effectiveness and persistence of pesticide. Pesticide concentrations in pond water were assessed prior to chemical application of the treatment pond and monitored for 88 days post application. Pesticide concentrations in burrows and adjacent pond were monitored prior to treating burrows and for up to three days post application. Research will assist management and regulatory agencies in interpretating laboratory acute and chronic data relative to field-based treatment and effects data, and in developing permitting requirements and best management practices for open-water and burrowed invasive crayfish populations.