Introduction
The Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), is a small freshwater mollusk that is an invasive species. It has slowly been making its way into the United States. It has done this by showing up in lakes and in rivers. The mussels get their name due to the striped pattern on their shells. They are a relatively small species, only growing to the size of a human finger nail but there have been cases of larger (“Zebra Mussels,” 2013, para. 2). Mussels live a short life span of 4-5 years and most do not make into adulthood. They live in freshwater at depths of 6 to 24 feet. The female produces 30,000 to 1,000,000 eggs per year starting at the age of two. Zebra Mussels are free moving and can move with an external organ called the byssus (“Zebra Mussels,” 2013, para. 3). But they can be moved around by currents and other objects too. Zebra Mussels are a threat to ecosystems. They damage the natural habitat of lakes and rivers and cause negative effects to the native aquatic life. They multiply in vast majority casing a lake of food and space for other animals. And also the U.S. has spent millions on the removal of these pests from our water (“Zebra Mussels,” 2014, para. 8). The Zebra Mussel has now made its way into Colorado. Just a few has been found in the waters of Colorado but a few is enough to cause a big stir. Extreme precautions have now been put into effect to make sure that the threat of Zebra Mussels is under control.
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It’s important that Zebra Mussels are dealt with great care. Zebra Mussels get their food and energy from filtering water. Nearly a quart can be filtered by and adult Zebra Mussel (“Zebra Mussels,” 2013, para. 5). So if there was an infestation of Zebra Mussels in a lake they could filter a lo...
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...bility to multiply fast and to attach to almost any hard surface they are a hard species to handle (“Zebra Mussels,” 2013, para. 3). They can ruin ecosystems and ruin economies with their effort to eradicate them. It is unfortunate that at present time there’s no really good or safe way to get rid of them and return lakes and rivers back to normality. Until then we have to take the necessary measure to ensure that the spread of Zebra Mussels is at halt. The people who work at Lake Pueblo and the DOW have done a great job in making sure Zebra Mussels are not a threat. Since the first incident no Zebra Mussels or larvae have been found at Lake Pueblo or in any other water in Colorado (“Pueblo Chieftain,” 2008, para. 12). Hopefully the Zebra Mussel is a thing of the past here in Colorado but a watchful eye must always be present just in case they do ever show up again.
On July 9, 2011, a major fish kill (fish kill I) was observed by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (OKDEQ) in the Red River, near Ketchum’s Bluff, Oklahoma. The Red River, with headwaters in the Texas panhandle, flows for 917 kilometers, between the borders of Oklahoma (OK) and Texas (TX), before emptying into the Mississippi River. During this fish kill, hundreds of large bottom feeder fish (i.e., catfish and buffalo) were observed as either dead, struggling, or actively dying. Nearly two months later, on September 14, 2011, another fish kill (fish kill II) occurred further south along the Red River, approximately 130 km downstream from Ketchum’s Bluff near Lake Texhoma. Again, it was observed that hundreds of only the large bottom feeder fish were affected by an unknown toxin(s). OKDEQ believed that the two fish kills were related, with the unknown toxicant(s) traveling further downstream from the first fish kill (July 9, 2011), but causing fish mortality 60 days later downstream. The following year, on June 13, 2012, another fish kill (fish kill III) occurred, again near the area of Ketchum’s Bluff and Red Creek confluence. And a final fish kill (fish kill IV) occurred on January 31, 2013, in the same watershed, near Red River and Beaver Creek confluence. Environmental samples (i.e., water, sediment, and fish) were collected, by OKDEQ and the United States Envi...
Invasive species do not only affect other species in their ecosystem, but also cost the United States more than one hundred and twenty million dollars each year in damages (“Cost” par. 2). Invasive species come in all different forms, and all have a negative impact on the environment. These species can come into a new area without being detected at first, but as time goes on their effects can soon be seen. Efforts are being made to prevent these invasive species from destroying fish population and habitat, but in order to be successful they need to be done on a much larger scale. In order to protect Wisconsin's waters, which are already infected with many invasive species that cause great damage to our bodies of water, more actions need to be taken. It is vital to remove all invasive species from Wisconsin’s waters because it will improve fish habitat, native fish population, and water quality.
Zebra along with quagga mussels look as if to promote the development of the bacteria answerable for type E botulism in addition to distillate the botulism contaminant. Zebra along with quagga mussels transfer pollutants from aquatic column in addition sediments into their tissues. Zebra along with quagga mussels connect to hard substrates, comprising aquatic intake edifices, triggering the edifices to become stopped up. This greatly upsurges upkeep costs for aquatic treatment as well as sway generation services (Zebra and quagga mussels,
In 1831, Asian carp were brought over as a delicacy. Asian carp are originally from Asia (Barbara A. Somervill 13). They were imported by catfish farmers in 1963 for federal research on controlling aquatic vegetation. In 1966, the first Asian carp had escaped into Arkansas waters. By 1970, grass carp we're being stocked in Arkansas waters to help with over vegetation. In 1972, big head carp were brought in the United States by a fish farmer in Arkansas to improve his water quality and fish production. In 1973, silver carp were introduced for phytoplankton control (Watershed Council 1). Over time, they were brought over for different reasons and made their way into many of the United States waters. The federal government had transported the invasive species to help the waters but, they did not realize the bad effects that the fish would have on the future environment. People need to find a way to stop them before it’s too late. Their rapid breeding has had a great toll on the environment and is still affecting it today. Over population can destroy the environment
Also in a PRC reaction, DNA Polymerase is made of many complicated proteins with the function of duplicating DNA before division occurs (2).
Methodology: The experimenter used two ten gallon tanks. One tank will be used for the controlled group and the other tank will be used for the experimental group. Each tank will have two pounds of sand spread among the bottom of the tank along with rocks and artificial habitats to add nitrogen to the tanks. To add optimal living conditions for the oceanic life water filtration systems, temperature regulator, circulation systems, and a light to mimic the sun’s rays were added to each tank. At all times both tanks had a temperature of 75 degrees F. This experiment was done over a three month period. The first month was to allow the nitrogen cycle to occur. This allows the fish to be exposed to the water without having stress reactions due to unhealthy living conditions due to the nitrogen. Once the first month was complete six fish was added to both tanks. Two tangs, two damsels, and two clownfish. At first both tanks had a pH level of 8.2, ideal living conditions. After one week the experimental group was exposed to a pH level of 8.6. After two weeks it was raised to 9. Two weeks later it was raised to 9.3. The final raise was done two weeks after making the pH level 9.5. The final week of the experiment the pH lev...
An incredibly scary new type of algae is on the loose on the eastern seaboard of the United States and worst of all not many people know about it. Phiesteria piscicida- Latin for “fish killer” has been living in the mud of rivers for millions of years, but until recently something has jolted its metabolism into overdrive and has caused it to become a fearsome predator. This newly discovered type of dinoflagellate or marine protozoa, which generally has two flagella and cellulose covering, has been living off simple nutrients in the river waters of primarily North Carolina, until now that is. Near the Neuse River in NC, there is a slaughterhouse for pigs and chickens; all of the waste from the pigs is stored in massive lagoons where it is later sprayed onto crops as fertilizer. Unfortunately, a lot of this raw sewage ends up in streams that flow into the Neuse, which in turn enters the Pamlico Sound, a 2,000-mile long estuary in NC. This ultimately brings an immense amount of nutrients to the water thus causing the Phiesteria to shape-shift and enter a state of lethal attack on everything from fish to human. The Center for Disease Control has yet to do anything about this at all, which may be the scariest fact so far.
Pinkish in color, with spots on their eight fins and back, thin long body with an average weight of 23 kg and length up to 76 cm, and a distinct back fin called the adipose fin. They are saltwater fish which spawns in fresh water, travelling over 20,000 kilometers in the ocean with speeds of up to 50 km per hour. They can jump more than four meters to climb waterfalls and any obstacles they encounter in the water. The Northwest Salmon is one miraculous fish. However, Northwest Salmon are now on the verge of being protected under the Endangered Species Act due to their dramatic decline in their population in the Northwest region of the United States. Their declines in numbers are causing great problems for their surrounding ecosystem, those that rely on the salmon as a food source, and the fishing industry. All of which humans are contributing to all these by overfishing, either commercial or for sport, and the construction of dams on major rivers. Then with the attempt to fix this problem, fisheries, or farms for fish, end up genetically changing the fish and making them more vulnerable to predator fish. Predator fish that are nonindigenous to the rivers the salmon swim in. Eating the salmon’s food or in most cases, eating the salmon themselves. If all of these acts continue at full force, I predict that the Northwest Salmon will not be naturally running up and down our American rivers within the next 50 years if not everyone is totally aware of their situation.
Manatees, also known a sea mermaids or cows, are on the brink of extinction with funding and environmental protection required to save these amazing animals. Humans are the biggest threat to their existence. Humans have carelessly injured and killed thousands of manatees by slicing and dicing them with boat propellers, all in the name of entertainment. Other negative factors include pollution, environmental reduction due to human encroachment, and poaching with manatees consumed as food. The existence of red tides is another factor posing a natural threat. While manatees may be viewed as large animals in the way of boaters with no real purpose, manatees serve a major purpose by eating vegetation and weeds that cause damage to underwater pipe systems in larger cities. Without them, the removal of this vegetation comes at a huge cost. The existence of one of the most gentle mammals in the world is being threatened. Action needs to be taken now to prevent brutal injuries or death by boat propellers, habitat loss, poaching, and other careless actions that threaten the manatee population.
All discussions regarding the phenomenon of invasive species will inherently result in the consensus that they are an unwanted or an even evil entity. Ever since the age of exploration humans have been primary dispersers of these so called “exotic” species (Mooney and Cleland 2001). Famous examples include the release of cane toads in Australia (Urban et al., 2008); the rainbow trout (Fausch 2008) and the Japanese Kudzu vine in the southern U.S. (Blaustein 2001) and zebra mussels in the great lakes of Canada (Nalepa and Schloesser 1992). However, documented marine invasions compared with
“Fish: Friend or Foe?” Harvard School of Public Health. The President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2011. n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2011.
Zebras are native to eastern and Southern Africa. Their habitats are arid savannas, grasslands and woodlands. Zebras are able to digest many different types of vegetation. This allows them to migrate to many different areas without having to face starvation. Africa is home to many predators including lions, leopards, and hyenas. In order to combat against a great amount of predators, zebras have developed many senses in order to survive. Zebras have excellent eyesight and superior night vision. But like their stripes, they only see in black and white. Their eyes sit on the side of their heads to give them a full range of vision. Usually, zebras prefer to stay in open areas in order to see incoming predators and to escape if necessary. If
The Great Lakes are the largest surface freshwater system on Earth, with a basin that is home to around 30 million people (USEPA, 2015). Lake Michigan is the only one of the Great Lakes that lies entirely within the United States, with a maximum length of 307 miles and maximum width of 118 miles. The Lake Michigan shoreline, composed mainly of sand and pebble beaches, stretches 1,640 miles along the coasts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, as well as some islands (NOAA, 2015a). The Illinois portion of the Lake Michigan watershed (Figure 1) is only 100 square miles (0.22% of the lake’s total area) and the state’s coastline borders the lake for a short 63 miles (IEPA, 2014). However, despite this relatively small area of Lake Michigan, half of the state’s population lives within the watershed. Recreational water activities are popular throughout the Great Lakes and along Illinois’ Lake Michigan coastline. Lake Michigan is Illinois’ biggest recreational resource, as well as the state’s largest supply of drinking water and a major economic boon (IEPA, 2014). With so many people engaging in water activities, and both affecting and being affected by the lake in turn, it is important to frequently monitor the lake for potential health hazards.
"Ocean Pollution." MarineBio Conservation Society ~ Marine Biology, Ocean Life Conservation, Sea Creatures, Biodiversity, Research... Web. 19 May 2014.
Invasive alien species are disrupting and changing the normal ecological functions of biomes, ecosystems, and the biosphere as a whole (CBD, 2009). They are a threat to biodiversity and can cause damage to, or even eradicate native species which natural cycles and other organisms depend on. While disrupting energy flow, food chains, and shaking the structure of ecosystems to the core, invasive species create not only ecological, but also a whole host of social, economical, and health issues that affect the livelihood of almost every organism on earth, including humans (CBD, 2009).