AQUATIC INVASIVE ANIMALS OF MINNESOTA

What does INVASIVE mean? 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.

How do they get to Minnesota? 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.

The Great Lakes: Navigation “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)

LIMESTONE #1 COAL #1 IRON ORE #2 GRAINS #1 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

Ballast Water Management 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 free-swimming 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.

Ballast Water Management

Ballast Water Management 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

Ballast Water Management Present Ballast Water Management Practices Currently, ballast water exchange is the only effective management tool to reduce the risk of ballast-mediated invasion. 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

Invasive Species 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) http://www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/ais/index.html

Aquatic Nuisance Species Invasive Species Aquatic Nuisance Species More than 160 non-indigenous species have entered the Great Lakes. Of these, some 10 % are considered nuisance species, profoundly altering native ecosystems and processes. 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 1999 Mille Lacs 2005 Prior Lake 2009

Sea Lamprey

Sea Lamprey

Spiny Water Flea 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.

Spiny Water Flea

Asian Carp 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

Bighead Carp SILVER CARP

The Project 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

Guest Speaker 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