Freshwater Biodiversity Toolbox
Barriers To Restrict Invasive Species – Bubble Curtains/Nets
Invasive species adversely impact their introduced environments by causing environmental, ecological, and economic damages. Due to the reproductive biology and competitive strength of many invasive species, they can be extremely difficult or impossible to eradicate once established. Many practitioners must therefore implement conservation strategies that limit their spread if their establishment cannot be prevented. Non-physical deterrent systems that guide or repel invasive fish away from an area of concern are useful in environments where habitat connectivity must be maintained but limiting movement of invasive species is still a priority. Bubble curtains and/or using an unnatural screen of diffused air bubbles representing a visual and tactile cue to invasive species that a certain area is not accessible to pass through or restricts growth in the case of invasive plants.
Rating:
All syntheses for this intervention scored low in CEESAT demonstrating limitations in the rigour and the transparency in which these syntheses were conducted (i.e., no a-priori protocol, critical appraisal, or search strategy provided). Zielinski et al. (2019) scored Green in one category as this synthesis utilized a diverse array of sources (e.g., grey literature, peer-reviewed scientific literature).
All syntheses were scored highly according to RASCAT, demonstrating high applicability and relevancy to a Canadian freshwater context. Syntheses scored Gold or Green in all elements except in regards to the applicability of the syntheses to practitioners, where most syntheses did not provide appropriate considerations of implications, practical advice, or recommendations.
Photo Credit: Hydrotechnik Lübeck GmbH
