Applying Life Stage Sensitivity Data in Chemical Control Strategies for Invasive Animal Species

摘要

This technical note discusses how quantifying the relative sensitivity of different life stages of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) to chemical exposures may optimize control strategies. It is generally accepted that the early life stage of an organism is more sensitive than adults to chemicals. Therefore, it is intuitive that chemical control strategies designed to target sensitive life stages may provide more effective control and would require lower treatment doses, incurring lower product cost and risk for non- target species. Generation of chemical life stage toxicity data for different ANS is critical for the development of such an approach, providing supporting guidance for dosages used in field applications. Ultimately, the probability of survival of different life stages of ANS in the presence of a chemical control along with their ecology and demographic information could be utilized in a population model to provide projections of control efficacy. For this effort, life stage sensitivity data were generated using a model ANS to provide relevant information to develop such a control strategy; the invasive marine bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis was exposed to the chemical stressors chlorine, copper, and a molluscicide, Bayluscide(Registered).