Aquatic Invasive Species

A species of fish called kiyi has evolved to see particularly well in deep parts of Lake Superior, giving it a significant advantage at those shadowy depths, according to recent research by the University of Buffalo.

How are invasive species impacting fish in Minnesota? How is Environment and Climate Change Canada advancing efforts to manage harmful algal blooms in Ontario?

Researchers who model climate change in the Great Lakes predict the waters will become warmer and subject to more intense storms in the decades ahead. These conditions will benefit some species and hurt others, including native and invasive creatures.

There are more than 180 nonnative species in the Great Lakes, and the rate of new ones entering the Great Lakes has slowed to a crawl since 2006. Still, those already in the water have been hitching rides with recreational boaters and kayakers.

Now more than ever, it’s time to embrace binational cooperation to ensure that the waters and people of the Great Lakes basin are healthy.

This broadcast will be live from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET Thursday, December 10, 2020. The broadcast will be available on-demand at this link immediately afterwards. For the report and more information visit ijc.org/en/2020-TAP-Report.

The IJC’s first Triennial Assessment of Progress report was released in November 2017, as well as a Highlights report, a Technical Appendix and a Summary of Public Comment Appendix.

Common reed (Phragmites australis) is an exotic invasive plant that has colonized extensive portions of Great Lakes coastal wetlands and shorelines and is less prominent in Lake Ontario – with some speculation this may be related to water-level regulation.