Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #145410
Title: FURTHER STUDIES ON THE COPPER SULFATE-CITRIC ACID POND SHORELINE TREATMENT TO CONTROL THE RAMS-HORN SNAIL PLANORBELLA TRIVOLVUS

Author
item Mitchell, Andrew
item Hobbs, Melissa

Submitted to: American Fishery Society (Fish Health Section) Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2003
Publication Date: 7/15/2003
Citation: MITCHELL, A.J., HOBBS, M.S. FURTHER STUDIES ON THE COPPER SULFATE-CITRIC ACID POND SHORELINE TREATMENT TO CONTROL THE RAMS-HORN SNAIL PLANORBELLA TRIVOLVUS. AMERICAN FISHERY SOCIETY (FISH HEALTH SECTION) PROCEEDINGS. 2003. p.12.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tests 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 aquatic snails (EPA registration #1278-8). In research ponds without vegetation, the use of this treatment without the CA was significantly more effective. Copper sulfate rates lower than the original treatment level 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. Significant differences in snail efficacy of the original treatment could not be demonstrated at temperatures ranging from 21° to 35°C (average snail survival at each temperature was <6%). However, a significant reduction in effectiveness was noted at 17±0.5°C (40% snail survival). The combination treatment, when applied to the perimeter of 0.41 ha research ponds (ponds smaller than recommended for the shoreline treatment), was found to be significantly more toxic to channel catfish over a 120 h period at 31°C (<35% survival) than at 28°C (>95% survival). It was also more toxic than an application of the same amount of CuSO4 without CA at 31°C. Significantly higher levels of Cu++ were found in the water 15 and 30 min after treatment with the CuSO4-CA combination at 0.5 m from the pond shore than with CuSO4 alone at the same times and distance. Five days post treatment the copper levels at 0.5 m had fallen to within 0.1 mg/L of the pretreatment levels (#0.01 mg/L). Based on efficacy and toxicity data, application of the shoreline treatment is suggested in waters with temperatures from 21°C to 28°C.