Control strategies for established populations of invasive alien species can be costly and complex endeavours, which are frequently unsuccessful. Therefore, rapid-reaction techniques that are capable of maximising efficacy whilst minimising environmental damage are urgently required. The Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea Müller, 1774), and the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha Pallas, 1771), are invaders capable of adversely affecting the functioning and biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems. Despite efforts to implement substantial population-control measures, both species continue to spread and persist within freshwater environments. As bivalve beds often become exposed during low-water conditions, this study examined the efficacy of steam-spray (≥100 °C, 350 kPa) and open-flame burn treatments (~1000 °C) to kill exposed individuals. Direct steam exposure lasting for 5 min caused 100% mortality of C. fluminea buried at a depth of 3 cm. Further, combined rake and thermal shock treatments, whereby the substrate is disturbed between each application of either a steam or open flame, caused 100% mortality of C. fluminea specimens residing within a 4-cm deep substrate patch, following three consecutive treatment applications. However, deeper 8-cm patches and water-saturated substrate reduced maximum bivalve species mortality rates to 77% and 70%, respectively. Finally, 100% of D. polymorpha specimens were killed following exposure to steam and open-flame treatments lasting for 30 s and 5 s, respectively. Overall, our results confirm the efficacy of thermal shock treatments as a potential tool for substantial control of low-water-exposed bivalves. Although promising, our results require validation through upscaling to field application, with consideration of other substrate types, increased substrate depth, greater bivalve densities, non-target and long-term treatment effects.

中文翻译：

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蒸汽和火焰应用作为入侵亚洲蛤（Corbicula fluminea）和斑马贻贝（Dreissena polymorpha）种群控制的新方法

对已建立的外来入侵物种种群的控制策略可能是昂贵且复杂的努力，而且常常是不成功的。因此，迫切需要能够最大限度地提高功效同时最大限度地减少环境破坏的快速反应技术。亚洲蛤（Corbicula fluminea Müller，1774）和斑马贻贝（Dreissena polymorpha Pallas，1771）是能够对淡水生态系统的功能和生物多样性产生不利影响的入侵者。尽管努力实施大量的人口控制措施，但这两种物种继续在淡水环境中传播和生存。由于双壳类动物床经常在低水位条件下暴露，因此本研究检查了蒸汽喷雾（≥100 °C，350 kPa）和明火烧伤处理（~1000 °C）杀死暴露个体的功效。持续 5 分钟的直接蒸汽暴露导致埋在 3 cm 深度的 C.fluminea 100% 死亡率。此外，联合耙子和热冲击处理，在每次应用蒸汽或明火之间扰乱底物，导致 4 厘米深的底物斑块内的 C.fluminea 标本 100% 死亡率，在连续三个处理应用程序之后。然而，更深的 8 厘米斑块和水饱和基质将双壳类物种的最大死亡率分别降低到 77% 和 70%。最后，在暴露于分别持续 30 秒和 5 秒的蒸汽和明火处理后，100% 的 D. polymorpha 标本被杀死。总体而言，我们的结果证实了热冲击处理作为有效控制低水暴露双壳类的潜在工具的功效。虽然很有希望，