ResearchTopic: Invasive Species

Zebra & Quagga Mussels Fact Sheet

Species at a Glance Zebra and Quagga Mussels are fingernail-sized freshwater mollusks that attach to objects and other organisms. These two species are cousins, originating from the Caspian Sea region of southeastern Europe. Since their discovery in the Great Lakes, they have quickly spread to become one of the most intrusive, prolific, and costly aquatic […]

Yellow-bellied Slider Fact Sheet

Species at a Glance  The Yellow-bellied Slider is a large, semi-aquatic, basking turtle that can be found resting on logs, stumps, or rocks in sunny, mild weather. It can live for more than 25 years in the wild, and up to 40 years in captivity. This species can mate with the Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta […]

Didymo Fact Sheet

Species at a Glance Didymo commonly referred to as “rock snot”, is a species of freshwater diatom native to cool water regions of northern Europe and North America. Didymo can form large colonies, or “mats” that may negatively impact fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Species Description Didymo is a large diatom, which is a type of […]

Freshwater Tubenose Goby Fact Sheet

Species at a Glance The Freshwater Tubenose Goby is a small, bottom-dwelling fish that gets its name from its tubular-shaped nostrils. It feeds mainly on aquatic insects, and while it may have negative impacts similar to that of the Round Goby, its range expansion has been fairly limited in comparison. Species Description The Freshwater Tubenose […]

Northern Snakehead Fact Sheet

Species at a Glance  The Northern Snakehead is a large, predatory fish species considered a popular food fish in its native range of China, Russia, and the Korean peninsula. It is a freshwater obligate air breather that possesses an air bladder that works like a primitive lung, allowing it to survive out of water in […]

Rusty Crayfish Fact Sheet

Species at a Glance The Rusty Crayfish is a large, aggressive crayfish that can outcompete native crayfish species and alter ecosystems with its appetite for aquatic plants and organisms. This species tends to grow faster, become larger, and exhibit more aggression than native crayfish species. While it gets its name from the rusty colored spots […]

Water Chestnut Fact Sheet

Species at a Glance Water Chestnut is a rooted aquatic plant that can dominate ponds, shallow lakes, and rivers. A single plant can produce multiple floating rosettes of leaves that grow in thick colonies, displacing native vegetation and limiting recreation and navigation. Each plant can produce up to 20 nuts, also called drupes, that have […]

Aquatic Invasive Species Slide Decks

Aquatic Invaders Attack Packs

The Aquatic Invaders Attack Pack is a toolkit for educators, available for loan. Request the attack pack today! The pack includes a classroom guide, a Sea Lamprey model, giant posters of the Silver and Bighead Carp, and acrylic block specimens of Zebra Mussels, Rusty Crayfish, Round Goby, and the Eurasian Ruffe. Also included is a […]

Round Goby Fact Sheet

Species at a Glance The Round Goby is a small, but aggressive bottom-dwelling fish that grows rapidly and reproduces several times in one spawning season. It is a threat to aquatic ecosystems as it causes declines in native species of fish and poses a threat to health as it can harbor contaminants such as heavy […]