Invaders in hot water: a simple decontamination method to prevent the accidental spread of aquatic invasive non-native species

Anderson, L.G, Dunn, A.M, Rosewarne, P.J and Stebbing, P.D (2015) 'Invaders in hot water: a simple decontamination method to prevent the accidental spread of aquatic invasive non-native species.' Biological Invasions, 17 (8). pp. 2287-2297. ISSN 1387-3547

[img]
Preview
Text
12872.pdf - Published Version
CC BY 4.0.

Download (690kB) | Preview
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-015-0875-6

Abstract

Watersports equipment can act as a vector for the introduction and spread of invasive non native species (INNS) in freshwater environments. To support advice given to recreational water users under the UK Government’s Check Clean Dry biosecurity campaign and ensure its effectiveness at killing a range of aquatic INNS, we conducted a survival experiment on seven INNS which pose a high risk to UK freshwaters. The efficacy of exposure to hot water (45 °C, 15 min) was tested as a method by which waters users could ‘clean’ their equipment and was compared to drying and a control group (no treatment). Hot water had caused 99 % mortality across all species 1 h after treatment and was more effective than drying at all time points (1 h: χ2 = 117.24, p < 0.001; 1 day χ2 = 95.68, p < 0.001; 8 days χ2 = 12.16, p < 0.001 and 16 days χ2 = 7.58, p < 0.001). Drying caused significantly higher mortality than the control (no action) from day 4 (χ2 = 8.49, p < 0.01) onwards. In the absence of hot water or drying, 6/7 of these species survived for 16 days, highlighting the importance of good biosecurity practice to reduce the risk of accidental spread. In an additional experiment the minimum lethal temperature and exposure time in hot water to cause 100 % mortality in American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), was determined to be 5 min at 40 °C. Hot water provides a simple, rapid and effective method to clean equipment. We recommend that it is advocated in future biosecurity awareness campaigns.

Item Type: Article
Keywords: angling equipment, biosecurity, invasive species management, watersports equipment
Divisions: School of Sciences
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-015-0875-6
Related URLs:
Date Deposited: 26 Nov 2019 10:36
Last Modified: 21 Oct 2022 15:44
URI / Page ID: https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/12872
Request a change to this item or report an issue Request a change to this item or report an issue
Update item (repository staff only) Update item (repository staff only)