Aquatic Invasive Species
National Sea Grant Goals: (1) Understand AIS impacts on aquatic systems and our economy; (2) understand the biology of invasive species to develop effective means of prevention and control; (3) identify safer and more effective control strategies, and (4) identify more effective and less expensive strategies to prevent new introductions.
This theme is another Wisconsin Sea Grant priority area because of the significant threats to coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems as well as economic costs and human health risks posed by aquatic invasive species (AIS). From parasitic sea lampreys in the 1940s to zebra mussels in the 1990s, the Great Lakes in particular have been severely impacted by invasions of nonindigenous aquatic species. Today, there are 162 confirmed invasive species in the Great Lakes. Since 1990, the Great Lakes have been invaded at a rate of one new aquatic species a year, and some studies indicate the rate of introductions is likely to increase in the future.
<< Back
to list of Theme Areas
|