CO2-Soaked Lake Mats Trigger Rapid Zebra Mussel Die-Off in Michigan
Michigan scientists tested heavy lakebed mats with carbon dioxide pumped beneath them in Loon Lake. After five days, over 80% of caged zebra mussels died under the CO2 mats (versus about 20% under ordinary mats and 13% in untreated plots), with CO2 concentrations near 200 mg/L and sustained low pH. The approach may selectively target zebra mussels—native unionid mussels showed greater tolerance—but it also reduced overall benthic invertebrate numbers and could disrupt habitat. While promising for a faster, reusable control, researchers caution that refinement and broader testing are needed before widescale deployment.