Rotenone as a conservation tool in amphibian conservation. A case study of fish control operation undertaken at Orton Pit SSSI, Peterborough, UK

Published source details Piec D. (2006) Rotenone as a conservation tool in amphibian conservation. A case study of fish control operation undertaken at Orton Pit SSSI, Peterborough, UK. Froglife report.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Remove or control fish using rotenone Action Link

Remove or control fish using rotenone

A replicated study in 2005–2006 of 39 ponds in a nature reserve in England, UK (Piec 2006) found that rotenone application to eliminate sticklebacks Pungitius pungitius had a direct negative effect on a small number of newts at the time of application. Nine great crested newts Triturus cristatus (one adult; eight larvae) and 12 smooth newts Triturus vulgaris (seven adult; five larvae) were negatively affected, 19 from one pond. Additional newts were potentially affected but not found. Eight of the affected newts (38%; 5 crested newts) survived a 48-hour observation period in clean water and were released into nearby untreated ponds. Populations in the nature reserve were estimated at 30,000 adult great crested newts and several thousand smooth newts. Rotenone was applied (2.5%; 3 parts per million) in December 2005 using sprayers. Seventeen ponds received a second application (2 parts per million) in January 2006. Most ponds were hand netted prior to treatment in an attempt to remove newts; 14 newts were found in five ponds.