7059

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7059
• Author: Binns, N. A.
• Title: Effects of Rotenone Treatment on the Fauna of the Green River, Wyoming.
• USFW Year: 1967.
• USFW - Doc Type: Fisheries Research Bulletin Number 1,
• Copyright Material: NO

Rotenone (C_3HrZOn), a principal constituent of Derris sp. and Lonchocar-
pus sp., has long been noted for its piscicidal and insecticidal properties; use
of the compound to control non-game fish populations has established it as an
excellent fisheries management tool. A concentration of 0.5 ppm of five percent
rotenone is generally believed to be the minimum effective level for fish control
work in lakes; however, some fish species, such as the bullhead (Ictalurus sp.),
are notoriously resistant to rotenone and may require as much as 2.0 ppm of
five percent rotenone for satisfactory kills (Leonard, 1938, and Krumholz,
1948). The concentration of rotenone needed for effective eradication of
undesirable fish is considerably higher in streams than. in lakes because of water
movement and the resultant dilution and detoxification. Thus, Berry and
Larkin (1954) recommended usage of a concentration greater than 5.0 ppm
of five percent rotenone when rehabilitating streams, especially when such
rotenone resistant fish as large carp and suckers are present.
In spite of widespread use, surprisingly little is known about the effects
of rotenone on stream fish food organisms. Observations made during various
treatment projects in the past 30 years appear to conflict regarding the influence
of rotenone on fish food organisms. M'Gonigle and Smith (1938), Leonard
(1938) , Smith (1940 and 1941) , Brown and Ball (1943 ), Ball and Hayne
(1952 ), Pinder and Johnson (1958) , Zilliox and Pfeiffer (1960) , and Prevost
(1960) all reported that treatment with various preparations containing five
percent rotenone did not significantly affect fish food organisms. A few of
these investigators did note, however, that some of the organisms suffered
adverse effects. Smith (1941), using 0.5 ppm derris (five percent rotenone),
found some mortality among Chaoborus larvae and that snails and leeches were
eliminated from the population. Smith (1940) noted that planktonic crusta-
ceans and amphipods were killed when exposed to 0.5 ppm of five percent derris
powder, and that caddisfly larvae of the family P'hryganeidae were killed by
prolonged exposure to the chemical. Brown and Ball (1943) , said that dragon-
flies, leeches, and a mosquito, Corethra sp., were seriously affected when ex-
posed to a 0.5 ppm concentration of five percent derris powder. Dragonflies
were again present in high numbers within three months. Ba11 and Hayne
(1952) reported that only Aeschnidae (dragonflies) and Hirudinea (leeches)
died when the fish population of a lake was removed with derris containing
five percent rotenone.
Conversely, numerous workers have noted rotenone. to be highly toxic to
aquatic invertebrates. Davidson (1930 j Ginsburg (1933) , Fellton (1940) ,
Cutkomp (1943), Zischkale (1952), Rudd and Genelly. (1956), and Dien and
McIntosh 119611 all documented the high toxicity of rotenone and rotenone
preparations to invertebrates. Scheuring -and Heuschman (19351, referred to
in Lindgren (1960), observed high mortality among Sialis sp. (Megaloptera),
Corixidae I Hemiptera 1, and Chironomns plnmosus (Diptera I rv'hen these
organisms were exposed to rotenone.
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