Invasive Aquatic Species: The Basics

Invasive aquatic species can include mussels, crustaceans, plants, fish and more. While some of the species are fairly mundane and have little impact, others can be devastating to local ecosystems. You may have heard of the zebra mussel and how difficult it is to deal with, but plant life such as the water hyacinth has greatly increased the use of the aquatic weed cutter due to its negative effects and robustness. Here are some of the worst aquatic invasive species and how they are dealt with.

Zebra Mussels

No discussion about invasive species would be complete without mentioning zebra mussels. Ever since they were discovered in 1988 they have been wreaking havoc in lakes and ponds in North America. Zebra mussels are so devastating due to the fact that they are extremely resilient and prolific. Not only can they hitch a ride on boats and spread between lakes, they can also clog water systems, sink navigation buoys, and disrupt water supplies by clogging pipelines and intake structures, crowd out other organisms in a lake’s ecosystem and more. It is estimated that $3 billion is spent on zebra mussel control each year, with methods involving chemicals, mechanical removal and even electromagnetic devices. Outside of these methods however, a large amount of resources is spent on preventing the spread of zebra mussels by increasing awareness of the problem and encouraging boat owners to clean and drain their boats after every use.

Water Hyacinth

The water hyacinth is a type of surface weed that is capable of covering an entire lake if unchecked. When this happens, the lack of sunlight has a direct impact on all plant life in the lake and fish are often starved of oxygen. Chemical controls have been largely abandoned due to the desire to keep water bodies clean, so the water hyacinth is mostly controlled via mechanical methods. Aquatic weed cutters are used to remove the plant and prevent its spread. Recently however, biological controls in the form of insects that prey on the water hyacinth are being tried out as an alternative, since the cost of maintaining and operating an aquatic weed cutter can be high.

Eurasian Watermilfoil

The Eurasian watermilfoil is another invasive species that collects near the surface and creates dense mats that stifle other organisms. It can spread from broken stems as well as hybridize with other species, making it highly difficult to eradicate. Its persistence and ability to choke out other organisms from a body of water has earned it the status of noxious weed across North America. It is most commonly dealt with through hand harvesting and introduction of insects that feed on it.

Any kind of invasive species earns that designation for a reason. They are usually extremely prolific and difficult to eliminate, thus disrupting ecosystems and causing other harmful effects. Aquatic invasive species are especially difficult to eliminate as they present a challenge to biologists hoping to surgically remove the perpetrator while preserving the local ecosystem. Fortunately, biological controls such as insects and mechanical controls such as an aquatic weed cutter can bring an invasive species under control in most situations.