Sonny Skye Hawk

Expertise: Invasive Species Eradication Methods

Research interests: Research, development and application of new technologies for eradication of invasive species.

Current Research Project Title(s):
Effects of toxic stressors on Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) veliger mortality.

Abstract: The Asian clam, (Corbicula fluminea) is classified as an Aquatic Nuisance Species and is invasive across the entire North American continent, according to the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Asian clam’s biology and ability to reproduce numerous veligers in a short period make it one of the more successful invasive species, outcompeting most native bivalves. Asian clams are not as prevalent in the northern regions of the U.S. which includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota as compared to the rest of the U.S. In the fall of 2009, an established population of Asian clams was discovered in Lewis and Clark Lake in Yankton, South Dakota. The Gavin’s Point National Fish Hatchery supplies its outdoor holding ponds with water from the Lewis and Clark Lake. In 2003, zebra mussels were identified below Fort Randall Dam in the Missouri River. Since that discovery, the hatchery has followed strict zebra mussel treatment protocols to mitigate the risk of transport of zebra mussel larvae during stocking efforts. Since 2003 the hatchery has not updated or changed its chemical treatment protocols to treat for Asian clams. The chemical treatments used for zebra mussels were tested on Asian clam veligers and were less than 100% effective. There is limited toxicity information for adult and larval Asian clams and this project will investigate chemical dose responses on Asian clam veligers that can be used in the oxygenated transport trucks. Veliger’s have the ability to be lodged in gill rakers and orifices of fish, so it is important to treat the water while occupied with fish and that the fish not to be harmed in the process.