Ponto-Caspian gammarids: Dewater (dry out) the habitat

Overall effectiveness category Likely to be beneficial
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

60%
Certainty

50%
Harms

not assessed

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Draining invaded waterbodies may offer a tool for localised eradication or population reduction of gammarid shrimps.

Study locations

Key messages

A replicated, controlled laboratory study from Poland found that lowering water levels in sand killed three species of invasive freshwater shrimp, although one species required water content levels of 4% and below before it was killed.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated, controlled laboratory study in 2011, on specimens from a reservoir in Poland (Poznańska et al.2013) found that 50-90% of three invasive freshwater shrimp species Pontogammarus robustoides, Dikerogammarus haemobaphes and D. villosus were killed by drying out the sand, with differences in the kill rate explained by the species and level of drying. Only half of the experimental demon shrimps Dikerogammarus haemobaphes survived when the water content in the sand was reduced to 9% and only a tenth survived in sand containing 7% water. For the killer shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus, only half the shrimp survived in sand containing 11% water and only a tenth survived in sand containing 10% water. The shrimp Pontogammarus robustoides was more resistant to drying out. However, once the water content of the sand was below 4%, half of the P. robustoides shrimp had died. Five shrimp of each species were put in each of five ceramic trays with a 2 cm sand layer and 1.5 cm water depth. In control trays, water levels were held constant. Treatment trays were left to dry naturally. Dead and alive shrimp were counted daily and water content of the sand was measured by weighing 14 g of the sand before and after drying at 100°C.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Poznańska M., Kakareko T. & Krzyżyński M. (2013) Effect of substratum drying on the survival and migrations of Ponto-Caspian and native gammarids (Crustacea: Amphipoda). Hydrobiologia, 700, 47-59.

Please cite as:

Aldridge, D., Ockendon, N., Rocha, R., Smith, R.K. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Some Aspects of Control of Freshwater Invasive Species. Pages 555-87 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Control of Freshwater Invasive Species

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Ponto-Caspian gammarids: Cleaning equipment Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Ponto-Caspian gammarids: Dewater (dry out) the habitat Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	1	Synopsis Link
Ponto-Caspian gammarids: Exposure to parasites Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	1	Synopsis Link