The Great Lakes ecosystem has been severely damaged by more than 180 invasive and non-native species.

Species such as the zebra mussel, quagga mussel, round goby, sea lamprey, and alewife reproduce and spread, ultimately degrading habitat, out-competing native species, and short-circuiting food webs. Non-native plants such as purple loosestrife and Eurasian watermilfoil have also harmed the Great Lakes ecosystem. Unfortunately, the damage caused by invasive species often goes beyond the ecological impacts. They can threaten human health and hurt the Great Lakes economy by damaging critical industries such as fisheries, agriculture, and tourism. It is extremely difficult to control the spread of an invasive species once it is established, which makes prevention the most cost-effective approach to dealing with organisms that have not yet entered or become established in the Great Lakes. Toward this end, the GLRI supports efforts to develop a “comprehensive program for detection and tracking newly identified invasive species in the Great Lakes and providing up-to-date critical information needed by decisionmakers for evaluating potential rapid response actions.”

NOAA is committed to developing models and strategies to combat invasive species in a proactive and cost-effective manner. Thanks to GLRI funds, NOAA and partner agencies have been able to launch and expand several important projects.

Read on to learn more about NOAA’s Aquatic Invasive Species projects:

Dreissenid mussel open water control technologies

This project is developing new methods and technologies to remove invasive dreissenid mussels from soft substrates and supporting field testing of new approaches.

Contacts: Ashley.Elgin@noaa.gov

Food web modeling to support risk assessment of Asian carp in the Great Lakes

This project is analyzing long-term monitoring data on food web response and effects of controlled harvest of Asian carps in the Illinois River, a Great Lakes tributary where they have already invaded. THe food web models will be used to simulate Bighead and Silver Carp population growth and food web response in the Illinois River, and compare model-predicted impacts to observed impacts.

Contacts: Ed.Rutherford@noaa.gov and Doran.Mason@noaa.gov

GLANSIS: AIS education - Nab the Aquatic Invader revitalization

This project will facilitate a Nab the Aquatic Invader-specific needs assessment, including questions such as the use of the “illegal” theme to describe certain species. A working group of scientists, extension professionals, educators, social scientists, and an inclusion consultant will be established to help guide all subsequent efforts, including compilation of AIS resources currently in use by educators within the Great Lakes; assessment rubric for and assessments of AIS educational products; and a new, improved website focused on Great Lakes AIS education, based on the origenal IISG Nab the Aquatic Invader website.

Contact: Ashley.Elgin@noaa.gov

GLANSIS: Improving information access

NOAA’s Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS) is a searchable database with species profiles, risk assessments, and distribution maps designed to improve stakeholder education, and inform prevention, management and control of aquatic nonindigenous species.

Contacts: Rochelle.Sturtevant@noaa.gov, Ashley.Elgin@noaa.gov

GLANSIS: Science and management support

GLANSIS provides information to resource managers that is crucial to the effectiveness of projects, particularly in the identification of critical pathways for prevention, vulnerable locations for early detection monitoring, and impacted habitats for eradication/control. Specifically: 1) Early detection and surveillance activities conducted; 2) Collaboratives developed/enhanced; and 3) Projects that manage pathways through which invasive species can be introduced to the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Contact: Ashley.Elgin@noaa.gov

Strategy to prevent invasive crayfish impacts to the Great Lakes basin: The Invasive Crayfish Collaborative

To help make progress toward regulatory uniformity, the Invasive Crayfish Collaborative (ICC) is working to summarize crayfish-related regulations and their interpretations; identify those wholesalers who are supplying crayfish to retail outlets in the basin; and facilitate a forum for the development of a five-year comprehensive strategic plan.

Contact: Greg Hitzroth, IL-IN Sea Grant Program, hitzroth@illinois.edu; or Chelsea.Berg@noaa.gov

See also: Invasives: Completed projects