Category Archive: Invasive Species

May 05

See Sea Species in the Sea, Not the Lakes

Sea-faring ships, ballast water, and invasive species . . . Learn more: Ships use water as ballast to add weight and increase their stability. But that water can bring invasive species into the Great Lakes from elsewhere. “They’re bringing in all the stuff that’s in the water. So zooplankton, fish, plants, bacteria, diseases, all those …

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Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/invasive-species/see-sea-species-in-the-sea-not-the-lakes/

Apr 29

The Wetlands’ Devil in Disguise

purple loosestrife in wetland area

A beautiful purple plant has some very ugly effects on many wetland ecosystems—listen up: What do you call a purple alien that’s really tough to get rid of? Purple loosestrife…and it’s no joke. First spotted in the Great Lakes region near Lake Ontario in 1869, this pretty but invasive purple flowering plant takes over wetland …

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Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/citizen-science-2/the-wetlands-devil-in-disguise/

Apr 27

European Frogbit

A bit about European Frogbit: European Frogbit  may look beautiful – like tiny, white water lilies floating on the edges of ponds and slow-moving rivers. But this plant is a ruthless invader. Frogbit was brought to Canada in 1932 as an ornamental pond plant. But it’s now spread to places such as the bays and …

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Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/invasive-species/european-frogbit/

Apr 16

A tiny green insect does major damage

Tens of millions of ash trees in the U.S have fallen victim to an invasive insect called the emerald ash borer. That’s not just a problem for forests. Trees are important for water quality. “The roots help control the nitrates and phosphates, which are some of the pollutants that can enter streams and waterways. They …

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Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/stormwater-management/a-tiny-green-insect-does-major-damage/

Apr 09

One small turtle, one big reason not to let it go

Red-eared sliders are popular pet turtles. But according to Sara Stahlman of Pennsylvania Sea Grant, “People don’t often realize that these turtles can grow to be up to twelve inches, and they can actually live longer than 30 years. So most pet owners just aren’t prepared for that long-term commitment and so what they do …

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Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/biodiversity/one-small-turtle-one-big-reason-not-to-let-it-go/

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