An Intro To The Invasive Sea Lamprey
This is a close up, black-and-white photo of a sea lamprey.
Ok, well, first of all, you're probably wondering why we called the sea lamprey 'invasive'. Well, when I say invasive I mean that the species that I'm talking about is an invasive species. An invasive species is an organism, or a living thing, that were once native to one area, but were somehow moved to another spot, accidentally or purposely. They always have an affect on the ecosystem in some way. An invasive species can be any living thing, including plants and animals.
Wait, why is a sea lamprey an invasive species?
Sea lampreys are an invasive specie because they aren't from where they invade, which is the Great Lakes. They were originally from the Atlantic Ocean, but got to the great lakes in the 1800's through shipping cannals accidentally, and have reproduced and spread all over the great lakes.
True, but you said that invasive species affect the ecosystem in some way.
Well, we were just about to talk about that. The sea lamprey is killing all the important fish species in the Great lakes, such as lake trout, herring and other critical fish species. For us humans, sea lampreys are killing many sport fish, so it is harder to catch good fish. Also, because they are killing or scaring many fish populations, fisheries can't catch very many fish, and are losing money. For the ecosystem, the huge decrease in these fish populations, the organisms that prey on these fish will starve due to lack of food, thus creating a weak ecosystem.
Sea Lamprey Fast Facts
- In it's entire life span, sea lampreys can kill more than 40 pounds of fish
-Sea lamprey's were not native to the great lakes where they are commonly found, but are native to the Atlantic ocean
-Sea lampreys can repopulate very fast, which is why it is nearly impossible to destroy the population
-In Lake Superior in 1999 alone, the sea lamprey population was about 74, 000
-Their larvae can grow to be 6 inches
-The adult sea lampreys can grow to be from 50-60 inches
-Sea lamprey's were not native to the great lakes where they are commonly found, but are native to the Atlantic ocean
-Sea lampreys can repopulate very fast, which is why it is nearly impossible to destroy the population
-In Lake Superior in 1999 alone, the sea lamprey population was about 74, 000
-Their larvae can grow to be 6 inches
-The adult sea lampreys can grow to be from 50-60 inches