Transcript aquatic invasive animals of minnesota

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Invasive species are species that are NOT native
to Minnesota and cause economic or
environmental harm or harm to human health.
Minnesota's natural resources are threatened by a
number of invasive species.
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Plants and animals have always traveled with us. The more we
travel, the more species we unknowingly transport. Our
transportation methods then become pathways for invasive
species
There are many such pathways, some more important than others:
 Importation of seeds, plants, fruits, and vegetables.
 Ballast water discharged from ships. (aquatic species)
 Soil brought in with nursery stock.
 Abandoned pets and ornamental plants.
“Soo” Canal (1855)
(Sault St. Marie)
St. Lawrence
Seaway (1959)
Welland Canal
(1829)
At the Soo Canal:
Typical “down-bound” (Eastward) cargo:
The “Big 3” of Great Lakes Shipping:
- grains (especially wheat)
- coal (lignite and sub-bitumunous from Upper Great Plains)
- processed iron ore (taconite)
Coming In:
“Upbound”
From US sources:
LIMESTONE
#1
Going Out:
“Downbound”
To US
Markets:
COAL #1
IRON ORE #2
Going Out:
“Downbound”
For Overseas
Markets:
GRAINS #1
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Every day, large quantities of ballast water from all over the world are
discharged into United States waters.
Carried in this water are plants, animals, bacteria, and pathogens.
These organisms range in size from microscopic to large plants and freeswimming fish. These organisms have the potential to become aquatic
nuisance species (ANS).
ANS may displace native species, degrade native habitats, spread
disease, and disrupt human social and economic activities that depend
on water resources.
Any ship carrying ballast water is a
potential invasion source for
non-native (exotic) species.
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In recent years there has been increased
international focus on Ballast Water
Management (BWM) due to the ecological,
economic, and potential health threats caused
by the spread of ANS from ballast water.
The United States Coast Guard is responding
to these concerns through a comprehensive
national BWM program.
This program applies to all vessels equipped
with ballast water tanks that operate in U.S.
waters and are bound for ports or places in the
U.S.
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mso/ans.htm
Present Ballast Water Management Practices
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Currently, ballast water exchange is the only
effective management tool to reduce the risk of
ballast-mediated invasion.
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Ballast water exchange involves replacing
coastal water with open-ocean water during a
voyage.
This process reduces the density of coastal
organisms in ballast tanks that may be able to
invade a recipient port, replacing them with
oceanic organisms with a lower probability of
survival in near-shore waters.
http://invasions.si.edu/nbic/managementpract.html
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http://www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/ais/index.html
Sea lamprey, carp, smelt, alewife,
Pacific salmon, zebra mussels,
goby, ruffe, and others
Most arrive via ships’ ballast
water from international ports
Most arrived after the alteration of
the Great Lakes system via
Welland Canal (1830s and 1930s)
and the St. Lawrence Seaway
(1950s)
Aquatic Nuisance Species
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More than 160 non-indigenous species have entered the Great
Lakes.
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Of these, some 10 % are considered nuisance species, profoundly
altering native ecosystems and processes.
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Many non-indigenous species arrived from foreign ports,
harbored in the ballast water of ocean-going freighters.
Zebra Mussels
1988
The zebra mussel has
been steadily invading
America's rivers and
lakes since it was first
introduced in Lake St.
Clair (near Detroit,
Michigan) in 1988 via
ballast water.
Zebra mussels are native
to Russia’s Black and
Caspian Sea region
(example of “movement map” for project)
Zebra Mussels
Found in Minnesota Lakes:
Lake Zumbro
Mille Lacs
Prior Lake
1999
2005
2009
The spiny water flea is one of the
most recent species to enter the
Great Lakes (1st discovered in 1998)
It is an exotic species that preys
upon native zooplankton in the
Great Lakes.
Due to its sword-like tail, juvenile
fish such as perch and walleye
cannot swallow it, thus enabling the
spiny water flea to outcompete
other zooplankton species.
Asian carp have been found in the Illinois River,
which connects the Mississippi River to Lake
Michigan.
Due to their large size and rapid rate of
reproduction, these fish pose a significant risk to
the Great Lakes ecosystem.
To prevent the carp from entering the Great
Lakes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S.
EPA, the State of Illinois, the International Joint
Commission, the Great Lakes Fishery
Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service are working together to install and
maintain a permanent electric barrier between
the fish and Lake Michigan.
SILVER CARP
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Groups of two.
 Research for 3 days.
 Create a “movement map” and a Power Point.
 Present your Power point at the end of the week to class
 Can only do 1 of the 13 aquatic invasive species listed
1. Bighead and Silver Carp
2. Common Carp
3. Zebra Mussel
4. Spiny water flea
5. Sea Lamprey
6. White Perch
7. Round Goby
8. Ruffe
9. Grass Carp
10. Rusty Crayfish
11. Chinese and Banded Mystery Snails
12. Faucet Snail
13. New Zealand Mud Snail
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Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention
Questions on aquatic invasive species permits, aquatic invasive
species laws and regulations, education and public awareness,
and prevention grants.
Jay Rendall
Invasive Species Prevention Coordinator
Students will write a reaction paper about the guest speaker and
what they learned.
(This will take place on the 5th day of the lesson plan)
“Ask-an-Expert about the Minnesota River” profiles
scientists and citizens answering questions about
the health of the Minnesota River.
Produced by the Water Resources Center at Minnesota
State University, Mankato
To learn more, visit the Minnesota River Basin Data:
mrbdc.mnsu.edu/learn