Premium
Effectiveness of Rotenone in Pond Reclamation
Author(s) -
Clemens Howard P.,
Martin Mayo
Publication year - 1953
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1952)82[166:eoripr]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - alkalinity , rotenone , environmental science , benthic zone , fishery , zoology , environmental chemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , chemistry , biology , geology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , mitochondrion , biochemistry
The use of rotenone as a means of eradicating fish was studied in 30 ponds distributed throughout Oklahoma, and representing various summer conditions in 1951. In addition, one pond was investigated during the winter. Over 90 percent of the ponds were thermally stratified and rotenone did not penetrate to the bottom of these shallow ponds (6–13 feet). Agitation with an outboard motor was effective in increasing the penetration of the rotenone. Subsequent to the application, the lower concentrations of rotenone were found in the waters nearest the bottom, and the higher concentrations in the surface waters. This difference was probably due to the limited mixing of the subsurface waters which resulted in an increase of density with depth, and perhaps to greater dissipating power at the lower levels of these chemically stratified ponds. Rotenone in clear waters of low alkalinity (16 p.p.m.) became detoxified in 3 to 6 days depending on the concentration used whereas in clear ponds of high alkalinity (60–284 p.p.m.) detoxification occurred in 1 to 3 days when similar concentrations were used. In turbid waters of high alkalinity, dissipation took from 1 to 2 days longer. Dissipation in a clear‐water pond of high alkalinity during the winter took 9 or 10 days. Dissipation occurred from the bottom toward the top. Completeness of the kills was evaluated for 2 to 3 days after treatment. Two to 3 months following application, 18 ponds were re‐evaluated. Of these, 16 contained fish and in all but one, only young‐of‐year were collected.