Quagga Mussel Contamination of Fish Haul Trucks by Fish and Development of Effective Potassium Chloride and Formalin Treatments

Abstract

Dreissenid larvae (veligers) can be spread by fish stocking, but the role of fish in contamination is unknown. Recent findings suggest the standard potassium chloride and formalin treatment produces low quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) mortality. The goals of this research were to validate this claim and determine if veligers become attached to fish, and if they can be removed by rinsing. Complete mussel mortality was not achieved with the standard treatment, but a longer treatment time with higher chemical concentrations was effective. Veligers were found on fish after exposure to 100 veligers/L for 24 h, but not on fish rinsed for 12 h.

KEYWORDS:

• Quagga mussel
• zebra mussel
• potassium chloride
• formalin
• dreissenid treatments