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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #143290
Title: EFFECT OF CITRIC ACID, COPPER SULFATE CONCENTRATION, AND TEMPERATURE ON A POND SHORELINE TREATMENT FOR CONTROL OF THE RAMS-HORN SNAIL PLANORBELLA TRIVOLVUS AND THE POTENTIAL TOXICITY OF THE TREATMENT TO CHANNEL CATFISH

Author
item Mitchell, Andrew
item Hobbs, Melissa

Submitted to: North American Journal of Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2003
Publication Date: 10/1/2003
Citation: Mitchell, A.J., Hobbs, M.S. 2003. Effect of citric acid, copper sulfate concentration, and temperature on a pond shoreline treatment for control of the rams-horn snail planorbella trivolvus and the potential toxicity of the treatment to channel catfish. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 65:306-313.

Interpretive Summary: The pond shoreline treatment was further evaluated for its effectiveness in controlling snails and for its toxicity to catfish. A treatment temperature range of 21 to 28°C is recommended. The use of citric acid in the treatment does not appear necessary if there are no aquatic weeds or erosion control grasses in the perimeter waters. Further testing is required to determine the need for citric acid in weedy ponds. Lower rates of copper sulfate are less effective within the recommended treatment range. There is little concern that this treatment will be toxic to fish if production size ponds (4.1 ha) with total alkalinity levels of about 200 mg/L are treated within the temperature range given above. Copper levels in the water drop to background levels in about 5 days.

Technical Abstract: Experiments were run to determine if any refinements were warranted in the copper sulfate-citric acid (CuSO4-CA) pond shoreline treatment (589 g of CuSO4 with 58.9 g of CA applied in a 2 m swath over a 10 m length of shoreline) for rams-horn snails (EPA registration #1278-8). The use of this treatment without the CA was significantly more effective in research ponds without vegetation. Copper sulfate rates lower than the original treatment level both were found to be significantly less effective than the original amount except at 35°C, where ½ the CuSO4 rate (294.5g) was observed to be equally effective. At 17±0.5°C, a significantly higher snail survival was noted over the same treatment given at temperatures of 21.5°C and above. Significant snail survival differences could not be demonstrated between treatments at temperatures of 21°C and 35°C. The combination treatment when applied around 0.41 ha research ponds (ponds smaller than recommended for the shoreline treatment) was found to be significantly more toxic over a 5 d period at 31°C (<35% survival) than at 28°C (>95% survival). At 31°C it was also more toxic than CuSO4 without CA at the same temperature. Fifteen and 30 minutes after application of the shoreline treatment significantly higher levels of Cu++ were found in the water following the CuSO4-CA combination at 0.5 m of the pond shore than with CuSO4 alone at 0.5 m. Based on efficacy and toxicity data, application of the shoreline treatment is suggested in waters with temperatures from 21 to 28°C.