CONTROL AND PREVENTION

 

Monitor used to make studies of reproductive biology ,population and individual growth of golden mussel.

      
                 
Test of anti-incrusting paints on concrete.
  
  Prevention is easily implemented and presents lower operative costs than control methods. Thus, it is the optimal starting point to face the problem of the invading bivalve in the human environment. Likewise, control treatments are more complex, and get more so as their application is postponed (an early control treatment is easier and cheaper than a later control treatment).
  
       
  The control of plague molluscs is tried in other countries usually though electrical discharges, biocides (highly toxical), electromagnetism, high temperatures, ultrasound,etc. These methods cause operative difficulties and very high monetary costs. In the case of poisons or other inadequate chemicals, the result is a residual toxicity in the environment.
 

Test of anti-incrusting paints on piping (1)
    
                 




Close-up of the test of anti-incrusting paints on concrete.






The boga has included the golden mussel in its diet.

             
  There is not a single method for control and prevention that is sustainable for this new economical and environmental problem of fresh water macrofouling in South America. On the contrary, it is a combination of methodologies, that takes into account:

  
  * The great adaptative and reproductive capacity of the golden mussel.

  *  The environmental characteristics of each geographical region.

  * And the individual features of each human environment (water system) to be treated.

   At the Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo (UNLP) the work of the research group on invading bivalves is aimed at generating the biological knowledge and bio-essays needed for the control and prevention of the golden mussel.
     

Learn about the biology of invasive species, both in the human and natural environment, is one of the most important requirements for an effective control and to avoid undesirable impacts of the environment. Every water intake in particular presents special structural characteristics to choose the type of control system that should be used (chemical and/or physical or biological). There is no general formula to be applied to control the golden mussel, but it is a combination of treatments according to the biological characteristics of the species in each environment and the characteristics of each human environment to be treated, in this case, water intakes (2).

 

COUNSELLING.

The Division of Zoology of the Museo de La Plata (FCNyM-UNLP), Argentina, through the research group on invading mollusks (GIMI), is responsible for generating the knowledge and apply it towards the prevention and control of the golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei), as well as other invading mollusks. Through the services program and under the direction of its technical representative, Dr. Gustavo Darrigran (CV), develops a framework to deal with this relatively new economic and environmental problem, such as the "macrofouling" in freshwater in South America, caused by the golden mussel.

The GIMI activities include:
• Coordinate and perform the generation of scientific knowledge on this species, or other invading mollusks, particularly oriented towards their control.
• Develop environmental and economically sustainable methods for prevention and control.
• Provide the necessary information on how to limit the expansion of the invading mollusks to new regions.



Bioessays.


MAROÑAS, M. & C. DAMBORENEA. (2006). Efecto de biocidas y tolerancia a la exposición al aire. pp 167-180.
En: Darrigran & Damborenea (Eds.) Bio-invasion del mejillón dorado en el continente americano. Edulp, La Plata, 2006. 220 pág.

PRIMERAS ESTIMACIONES DE CONCETRACIONES LETALES DE UN BIOCIDA PARA EL MOLUSCO INVASOR Limnoperna fortunei (MYTILIDAE)
G. Darrigran, M. Maroñas y D. Colautti. ACTAS Seminario Internacional sobre Gestión Ambiental e Hidroelectricidad 19 al 22 de setiembre de 2001 - Complejo Hidroeléctrico de Salto Grande. Pag. 131.

CONCENTRACIONES LETALES DE UN BIOCIDA PARA ADULTOS DEL MOLUSCO INVASOR Limnoperna fortunei (Mytilidae)
G. Darrigran y C. Damborenea. ACTAS Seminario Internacional sobre Gestión Ambiental e Hidroelectricidad 19 al 22 de setiembre de 2001 - Complejo Hidroeléctrico de Salto Grande. Pag 119.

TOLERANCIA DEL "MEJILLÓN DORADO" Limnoperna Fortunei (DUNKER, 1857) (BIVALVIA: MYTILIDAE) A LA EXPOSICIÓN AL AIRE.
Gustavo A. Darrigran, Miriam E. Maroñas y Darío C. Colautti. ACTAS Seminario Internacional sobre Gestión Ambiental e Hidroelectricidad 19 al 22 de setiembre de 2001 - Complejo Hidroeléctrico de Salto Grande. Pag 123.

(1) CAPRARI, J. J. (2006). Pinturas anti incrustantes. pp 181-212. En: Darrigran & Damborenea (Eds.)
Bio-invasion del mejillón dorado en el continente americano. Edulp, La Plata, 2006. 220 pág.

(2) Darrigran y Damborenea (eds.) 2006. Aspectos generales vinculados a la prevención y control. Pp 154- 167.
En: Darrigran & Damborenea (Eds.) Bio-invasion del mejillón dorado en el continente americano. Edulp, La Plata, 2006. 220 pág.


DARRIGRAN, G. & P. PEREYRA (im press). Estandarización de métodos de control para Limnoperna fortunei.
En: S. Barbosa dos Santos; A. Dias Pimenta; M. Ammon Fernandez; S. Carvalho Thiengo (Organización).Tópicos em Malacologia – Ecos do XIX Encontro Brasileiro de Malacologia, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (2008) IN PRESS (call pdf to invasion@cnym.unlp.edu.ar)

For more information contact us by e-mail:
invasion@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar
gdarrigran@hotmail.com
 gdarrigran@malacología.com.ar

Main Page/ Golden Mussel?/ History and Distribution/ Ecosystem engineers/ Natural Environment/ Human Environment/ Economical Impact/ Preventing Spreading/ Control and prevention/ Counseling done/ Macrofouling Services Consultant / Distinctions and Prizes/ Meetings/ Researchers/ Bibliography / Conclusions of Workshops