Developing Species-Specific Delivery and Control Tools for Invasive Carps
Fish management agencies often rely on removal strategies for population control of aquatic nuisance species, such as invasive carps. Pesticides, or management chemicals, could supplement removal techniques within an Integrated Pest Management plan for invasive carps. This project is developing selective pesticide formulations that target invasive carps with the goal to control unwanted populations while minimizing non-target species mortality.
The goal of this project is to develop invasive carp management chemicals and delivery systems to determine their effectiveness with invasive carps. Each invasive carp species has a unique physiology (e.g., feeding strategy) and seasonal habitat preferences that could be considered for developing lethal species-specific control tools. Researchers have developed an in vitro (outside a living organism) fish cell line screening approach for evaluating chemical candidates, which aligns with goals to replace, reduce, refine the use of animals in research. Fish cell line and other cellular based cytotoxicity assays have been conducted in the laboratory for evaluating and predicting species-specific sensitivity to chemical candidates. Promising chemical candidates and formulations have been studied in vivo (whole organism) and in experimental ponds to verify target species sensitivity. These results and others are intended to be used for federal and state pesticide registration. Registered management chemicals aim to provide fisheries managers with lethal control tools for invasive carp population management.
Fish management agencies often rely on removal strategies for population control of aquatic nuisance species, such as invasive carps. Pesticides, or management chemicals, could supplement removal techniques within an Integrated Pest Management plan for invasive carps. This project is developing selective pesticide formulations that target invasive carps with the goal to control unwanted populations while minimizing non-target species mortality.
The goal of this project is to develop invasive carp management chemicals and delivery systems to determine their effectiveness with invasive carps. Each invasive carp species has a unique physiology (e.g., feeding strategy) and seasonal habitat preferences that could be considered for developing lethal species-specific control tools. Researchers have developed an in vitro (outside a living organism) fish cell line screening approach for evaluating chemical candidates, which aligns with goals to replace, reduce, refine the use of animals in research. Fish cell line and other cellular based cytotoxicity assays have been conducted in the laboratory for evaluating and predicting species-specific sensitivity to chemical candidates. Promising chemical candidates and formulations have been studied in vivo (whole organism) and in experimental ponds to verify target species sensitivity. These results and others are intended to be used for federal and state pesticide registration. Registered management chemicals aim to provide fisheries managers with lethal control tools for invasive carp population management.