Lake Superior State University’s Center for Freshwater Research and Education will host a virtual symposium to inform the public about invasive species research and issues affecting Great Lakes ecosystems and economies.
Over 3,500 pounds of water lettuce and water hyacinth have been removed by the Lake St. Clair Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy biologists.
Caring for water gardens in fall reduces problems in winter and spring msu.edu - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msu.edu Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
How to report suspicious fish and aquatic plant sightings msu.edu - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msu.edu Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
SHARES
Adult zebra mussels are large enough to be seen in containers with moss balls. Image: U.S. Geological Survey
By Taylor Haelterman
The new hitchhikers in the Great Lakes region aren’t stopping drivers with a thumbs up. They’re riding moss balls across the ocean.
Midwesterners with moss balls in their aquariums should be on the lookout for invasive zebra mussels, experts from Michigan and Wisconsin warn.
The invasive mussels feed on nutrients and microscopic organisms. That harms native species by altering the food web and changing the water chemistry, said Paige Filice, the coordinator of Reduce Invasive Pet and Plant Escapes. The program works to prevent the spread of invasive species in Michigan waters by educating retailers and the public.