Control technology for dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis) currently relies heavily on chemical molluscicides that can be both costly and ecologically harmful. There is a need to develop more environmentally neutral control tools to manage dreissenid mussels, particularly in cooler water. Previously, carbon dioxide (CO2) showed selective toxicity for Zebra mussels, relative to unionids, when applied in cool water (12 °C). Carp-Carbon Dioxide (carbon dioxide, CO2) is registered as a pesticide by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for deterrence of Asian carp and to control aquatic nuisance species when applied under ice (USEPA 2019). The current registration would allow the use of CO2 to kill Zebra mussels in water bodies during periods of ice cover, but first efficacious treatment regimes in cold water need to be determined. We compared toxicity endpoints (lethal concentrations, time to lethality) and behavioral responses of Zebra mussels (gaping, attachment) and juveniles (burial) of two unionid species (Plain pocketbook, Lampsilis cardium) and Fragile papershell (Leptodea fragilis) to CO2 across a temperature range to determine treatment scenarios that had the greatest efficacy to invasive mussels and safety margin to native mussels. We found CO2 treatment regimens at all three temperatures that were efficacious to Zebra mussels and caused minimal mortality of unionid. At 5 °C, Plain pocketbook survived 96 h exposure to the highest PCO2 treatment (139 atm). At 20 °C, the 96 h LC10 for Plain pocketbook (173 atm PCO2, 95% confidence interval CL 147 – 198 atm) was significantly higher than the LC99 for Zebra mussels (118 atm PCO2, CL 109 – 127 atm). Lethal time to 99% mortality (LT99) of Zebra mussels in PCO2 ~ 110 – 120 atm ranged from 100 h at 20 °C to 300 h at 5 °C. Mean survival of unionids exceeded 85% in LT99 CO2 treatments at all temperatures. Seasonal behaviors of native mussels are also considered to assess the potential risk of a CO2 treatment to unionids. Short-term infusion of 100 to 200 atm PCO2 at a range of water temperatures could reduce biofouling by Zebra mussels.

Control technology for dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis) currently relies heavily on chemical molluscicides that can be both costly and ecologically harmful. There is a need to develop more environmentally neutral control tools to manage dreissenid mussels, particularly in cooler water. Carbon dioxide has been shown to be lethal to several species of invasive bivalves, including zebra mussels and Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea). We evaluated the effects of various treatment regimes [i.e., exposure duration and pCO2 (partial pressure of carbon dioxide)] on mortality, byssal thread formation and attachment, and narcotization behavior. The effects of elevated carbon dioxide on nontarget native freshwater mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea were also measured. Results of trials conducted at 12°C indicated that carbon dioxide exposure induced narcotization behavior and reduced attachment of zebra mussels within 24 h. An extended exposure duration (96 h) produced 80-100% mortality of zebra mussels, and was safe to juvenile L. siliquoidea mussels. The results indicate that carbon dioxide could be used in an integrated pest management program for dreissenid mussels

Carbon dioxide has shown promise as a tool to control movements of invasive Asian carps. We evaluated lethal and sublethal responses of juvenile fat mucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea) mussels to carbon dioxide concentrations (43–269 mg/L, mean concentration) that are effective for deterring carp movement. The 28-d LC50 value (lethal concentration to 50% of the mussels) was 87.0 mg/L (95% confidence interval, CI 78.4–95.9) and at 16-d post-exposure was 76.0 mg/L (95% CI 62.9–90.3). A proportional hazards regression model predicted that juveniles could not survive CO2 concentrations 160 mg/L for more than 2 weeks or 100 mg/L CO2 for more than 30 days. Mean daily shell growth was significantly lower for mussels that survived carbon dioxide treatments; however, growth during the post-exposure period did not differ among treatments, indicating recovery of the mussels. Carbon dioxide also caused shell pitting and erosion of the periostracum in mussels. Behavioral effects of carbon dioxide included movement of mussels to the substrate surface and narcotization in the highest concentrations. Mussels in 110 mg/L, mean CO2 had the most movements, particularly in the first 3 days of exposure. If carbon dioxide is infused continuously as a fish deterrent, concentrations below 76 mg/L are recommended to prevent juvenile mussel mortality and shell damage. Mussels may survive and recover from brief exposure to higher concentrations.

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have continued their spread within inland lakes and rivers in North America despite diligent containment and decontamination efforts by natural resource agencies and other stakeholders. Identification of newly infested waterways with early detection surveillance programs allows for rapid response zebra mussel eradication treatments in some situations. Previous eradication treatments have been conducted during times of variable water temperatures and temperature has been shown to influence the efficacy of molluscicides. Natural resource managers would benefit from knowledge regarding the impacts of water temperature and exposure duration on toxicity of molluscicides to zebra mussels. In particular, temperature specific data are needed to inform the selection of an effective molluscicide and the proper dose that will induce 100% zebra mussel mortality. We evaluated the influences of temperature and exposure duration on the toxicity of two EPA-registered (EarthTec QZ and Zequanox) and two nonregistered (niclosamide and potassium chloride) molluscicides to zebra mussels at water temperatures of 7, 12, 17, and 22 °C. Our results indicate that treatment options for the eradication of zebra mussels in waters ≤ 12 °C include 336 h or longer treatments with EarthTec QZ and KCl and treatments with niclosamide ≥ 24 h in duration. In waters ≥ 17 °C, multiple toxicant and exposure duration combinations would be effective for zebra mussel eradication treatments. However, site specific variables should be considered prior to treatment including: the extent of the infestation, water chemistry, aquatic vegetation, substrate, and the presence of nontarget organisms. The use of on-site or in situ zebra mussel bioassays would also be a useful tool for the evaluation of treatment efficacy. The dataset includes: Water Quality, Chemical Concentrations, Mortality, and Zebra Mussel Condition Data

Many taxa of North American unionid mussels are imperiled due to biofouling by invasive dreissenid mussels. Here, we report on biofouling rates of unionid mussels suspended in cages during the growing season in nearshore embayments in Lake Erie (2013-2016), Lake Michigan (Green Bay 2016, Grand Traverse Bay 2015) and Lake Huron (Saginaw Bay 2015). Mussels were deployed in early summer (late May or early June) and retrieved in late summer or fall (late August or early September). Wet weights were collected from mussels before and after removal of biofouling taxa (primarily dreissenid mussels).

Data are included for laboratory studies evaluating the thermal biology of several freshwater mussel species and their host fish including dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon), brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa), creeper (Strophitus undulatus), eastern elliptio mussel (Elliptio complanata), tesselated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi), and slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus). Thermal endpoints include critical thermal maximum, temperature preference, oxygen consumption rates, and clearance rates of organisms acclimated to a range of temperature treatments.

Invasion of North American waters by Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis bugensis has resulted in declines in native North American Unionoida mussels. Dreissenid mussels biofoul unionid mussels in large numbers and interfere with unionid movement, acquisition of food and ability to open and close their shells. Initial expectations for the Great Lakes were that unionids would be extirpated where they co-occur with dreissenids, but recently adult and juvenile unionids have been found alive in several apparent refugia. These unionid populations may persist due to reduced dreissenid biofouling in these areas, and/or due to processes that remove biofoulers. For example, locations inaccessible to veligers may reduce biofouling and habitats with soft substrates may allow unionids to burrow and thus remove dreissenids. Here, biofouling was measured by deploying caged unionid mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea) at 36 sites across the western basin of Lake Erie to assess spatial variation in biofouling and to identify other areas that might promote the persistence or recovery of native unionid mussels. Biofouling ranged from 0.03 – 26.33 g per mussel, reached a maximum in the immediate vicinity of the Maumee rivermouth, and appeared to primarily consist of dreissenid mussels. A known mussel refugium in the vicinity of a power plant near the Maumee rivermouth actually exhibited very high biofouling rates, suggesting low dreissenid colonization is unlikely to be the primary cause of unionid survival in this refugium. The southern nearshore area of Lake Erie, near another refugium, also had very low biofouling. A large stretch of the western basin appeared to have low biofouling rates and muddy substrates, raising the possibility that these open water areas could support remnant and returning populations of unionid mussels.

Data were collected during experiments to determine the effects of water chemistry on carbon dioxide toxicity to zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha). Water chemistry parameters were collected for the water used in the study. Data were collected to model the relationship of carbon dioxide and pH in various water chemistries. Measurements were made to describe the animals used in the study.

This data set contains toxicity data from short term 7-day chronic water-only bioassays to assess the effects pH on ammonia toxicity to survival and growth of a juvenile fatmucket mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea). We conducted 4 concurrent exposures at nominal pHs of 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, and 8.5 with varying ranges of ammonia to capture effect concentrations. This data set has three tables: (1) routine water quality, including measured pH and ammonia (2) survival and dry weight of juvenile mussels, and (3) length measurements of juvenile mussels

An important physiological constraint influencing distributions of coastal freshwater organisms is their tolerance for saline conditions. We experimentally evaluated salinity tolerance for three freshwater mussel species (Utterbackia imbecillis, Elliptio jayensis, and Glebula rotundata). Mussels were transferred abruptly from well water to one of five treatments (0 [control], 6, 12, 18 or 24 parts per thousand [ppt]) with no acclimation. Utterbackia imbecillis survived on average about 2 days at treatments ≥ 6 ppt, while Elliptio jayensis survived slightly longer (about 4 days). Glebula rotundata was most tolerant to salinity, surviving as well at 6 and 12 ppt as it did in the control. Additionally, G. rotundata survived at higher salinities (18 and 24 ppt) for an average of 7–8 days. To our knowledge, this is the highest salinity tolerance ever reported for a unionid. The salinity tolerance of U. imbecillis may be influenced by its inability to completely seal its valves. The variation we found in salinity tolerance of these species corresponds with their distributions in the Gulf Coastal Plain drainages: U. imbecillis and E. jayensis are primarily found in strictly freshwater habitats whereas G. rotundata inhabits lower reaches of rivers closer to the coast.