Invasive Species

[Carl Guffey]

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<font color="#000000">We have been inundated with invading species from many places on earth. Be it birds, insects, or fish the last twenty years have provided a frightening look at what can happen when a species is moved into an area with no natural predation. The following is a list of aquatic plants and animals that will probably be at your back door. Please read and follow inspection guidelines and clean your boats and trailer every time you are in or on the water. You cannot stop free movement of plants and animals but with a little diligence we can slow down the progression of these invaders.</font></font></p>

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</font><a name="aqpl"></a><font color="#000000" /><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Aquatic Plants
</font><font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)</font></font></font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Brazilian Waterweed (Egeria densa)</font></font></font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">
</font><font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Caulerpa, Mediterranean Clone (Caulerpa taxifolia)</font></font></font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Common Reed (Phragmites australis)</font></font></font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">
</font><font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)</font></font></font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata)</font></font></font>
<font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Giant Reed (Arundo donax)</font></font></font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)</font></font></font>
<font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)</font></font></font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia)</font></font></font>
<font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)</font></font></font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Water Chestnut (Trapa natans)</font></font></font>
<font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)</font></font></font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)</font></font></font>
<font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)</font></font></font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">
</font></p><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="594" border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 1px"><font face="georgia,palatino">
<font color="#000000" size="2" /></font></td><td style="width: 593px"><a name="aqan"></a><font color="#000000" /><font face="georgia,palatino" size="2"><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Aquatic Animals
</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Asian Carps</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Asian Swamp Eel (Monopterus albus)</font>
<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis)</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">
</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Clubbed Tunicate (Styela clava)</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Eurasian Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus)</font>
<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas)</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Flathead Catfish (Pylodictus olivaris)</font>
<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Lionfish (Pterois volitans)</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Northern Snakehead (Channa argus)</font>
<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">New Zealand Mud Snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum)</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Nutria (Myocastor coypus)</font>
<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Quagga Mussel (Dreissena bugensis)</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2"> , </font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus)</font>
<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2"> , </font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)</font>
<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Sea Squirt (Didemnum vexillum)</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Spiny Water Flea (Bythotrephes longimanus)</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">
</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Veined Rapa Whelk (Rapana venosa)</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">, </font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)</font>
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<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Following is the web address if you would like to follow up and look at any of these threats:</font></p>
<font face="Calibri"><font face="Calibri"><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/main.shtml</font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2"> </font></font><font face="Calibri">

<font color="#000000" /></p><ul>[*]<a name="pets"></a><font color="#000000" /><font face="georgia,palatino" size="2"><font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">While on land, but before leaving a body of water:
</font></font></font><ul>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Drain water out of every conceivable item that can hold water:
</font>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Follow factory guidelines for eliminating water from engines. All engines hold water, but jet drives on personal watercraft and other boats can hold extra water.
</font>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Remove the drain plug from boats and put boat on an incline so that all the water drains out.
</font>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Drain live-wells, bilge and transom wells
</font>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Empty water out of kayaks, canoes, rafts, etc.
</font>[/list][*]<font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Remove any visible plant, fish, and animal or fragment as well as mud, which can house them. Check:
</font></font></font><ul>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Trailer
</font>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">In and around the boat itself
</font>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Anchor
</font>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Props or with jet engines pull plants out of steering nozzle.
</font>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Ropes
</font>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Boat bumpers
</font>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Paddles
</font>[/list][*]<font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Clean all parts and equipment that came in contact with the water.
</font></font></font><ul>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Use high-pressure water and/or water above 104° F (40° C) to clean trailers, boats and equipment. If you do not have access to 104° water, be sure to dry your boat after washing.
</font>[*]<font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Clean boat's entire hull. Feel the hull for rough or gritty surfaces, which could mean that young zebra mussels are present. Rub down these gritty areas and spray again with hot water. Dispose of towels in the garbage.
</font>[/list][*]<font face="georgia,palatino"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">Clean anchors, live wells, buckets and other items that either were in or held water. <span />
</font></font></font><font face="georgia,palatino" color="#000000" size="2">Use a warm water solution of bleach, one cup of bleach to five gallons of water, pour this into livewells and bilge areas, This solution will work without much or any discoloration. Make sure to run aerators on all cycles for at least five minutes including pumpout. Drain livewells and bilge through the lowest outlet, open all lids and allow to air dry.
</font></font>[/list]</font></font></font>

 

[shrtfysh]

<font face= "calibri" size="3" color="#FF0099">I didn't realize there were so many invasive plants and animals. emoDoh Great info on how to avoid making the problem worse. Nice links. Each one has a pictures which really helps in identifying them.</font>

<font face= "calibri" size="3" color="#0099FF">
Kathy

 

[wrechin2]

Cool!

 

[Longhorn]

I hate it when i get the boat covered in Nutria.....

 

[Superbad]

Very informative. emoThumbsup

 

[digitalcb]

Felt soles on wading boots are also being blamed for transferring invasive species. Google "felt soles banned" or see this Field and Stream article:

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/fishing/2010/02/should-felt-soles-be-banned