Acute Toxicity of 5% Non‐Synergized Emulsifiable Rotenone to White River Crayfish Procambarus acutus acutus and White Perch Morone americana

AbstractAnnual drawdown of crayfish culture ponds to plant forage crops also serves to eradicate most predaceous finfish. Without annual drawdown predaceous fish populations may reach numbers that can significantly reduce the crayfish crop. Frequent drawdown may not be feasible or desirable in some management schemes. Evidence in the literature suggests that differential toxicity of rotenone would allow removal of fish without harming crayfish in the same pond. In the current study, laboratory and in situ acute toxicity bioassays (96 h) were conducted with 5% non‐synergized emulsifiable rotenone to define the maximum non‐lethal concentration (LC100) for white river crayfish Procambarus acutus acutus and the minimum lethal concentration (LC100) for white perch Morone americana. Six concentration levels of rotenone formulation were tested in each of six toxicity trials with crayfish using dechlorinated tap water at 21–25 C. LC0 (compensated for control mortality) was determined to be 3.0 mg/L. Significant crayfish mortality began at 4.0 mg/L. Acute toxicity to white perch was anticipated to be within recommended concentration levels on product label for similar fish, and was corroborated by laboratory bioassay (LC100 of 0.15 mg/L). Both species were then tested together in laboratory aquaria utilizing pond water at room temperature. Concentration levels of 0.05–2.5 mg/L killed all white perch with no crayfish mortality. In the final phase of the study a 1.0 mg/L concentration of rotenone was applied to a pond containing both species held in cages. All white perch were dead within 24 h; no crayfish mortality was observed for the 96‐h duration of the trial. It may therefore be possible to use this rotenone formulation to control white perch and other finfish in active crayfish culture ponds.