Aquatic Invasive Species in Illinois and Indiana
What is an invasive species? National Invasive Species Information Center: Non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health (Executive Order 13112)
Why do we care? Economic impacts Sport and commercial fishing Tourism Water users & property owners Ecological impacts Native fish, invertebrates, plants impacted Recreational impacts Boating, recreational water use Angling
How do they get here? Unintentional: Shipping - ballast water Canals - migration from the ocean Nursery industry Anglers/Bait industry Aquarium trade Live fish market Intentional: Stocking, aquaculture, aquarium release
How do they spread? Boaters Anglers Other water users (sea planes, SCUBA, etc.) Water garden & aquarium owners Natural dispersal
Illinois Waters 3,256 lakes with more than 6 acres in surface area 87,000 ponds
Indiana Waters more than 300,000 acres of lake habitat 500 natural (glacial) lakes greater than 5 acres in size 25 public reservoirs of greater than 300 acres in size more than 10,000 artificial ponds
Zebra Mussels Ballast water introduction to the Great Lakes in 1980 s Present in a number of lakes in both IL and IN Attach to any hard surface - may reach tens of thousands per square meter! Are microscopic in early life stages Female can produce 1 million eggs/season
Quagga Mussels Found in all Great Lakes Ballast water introduction Can survive wide range of temperature and oxygen levels Can live directly on mud and sand Commonly found at 100 feet and deeper
Quagga vs. Zebra Mussels Zebra Quagga More effective filter feeders Thrive at greater depth and cooler temps May out-compete ZM Quagga - rounder sides & convex underside ZM - triangular shape & flat underside
Eurasian Watermilfoil Former aquarium plant First arrived in US late 1800 s Forms dense mats and interferes with water recreation Can spread from small plant fragments
Purple Loosestrife Imported from Europe for gardens (late 1800s), also seeds in ballast soil Crowds out native wetland species Spreads rapidly: >1 million seeds annually, plus vegetative spread Linda Wilson, University of Idaho, Bugwood.org
Rusty Crayfish Severely reduce aquatic vegetation, impacting spawning ID tip: Dark, rusty spot on each side of carapace. Aggressive; compete with native crayfish and fish for cover and food Native to KY and Ohio River Valley
Curly-leaf Pondweed Accidentally introduced as aquarium plant (1880s) Active very early in growing season even under ice Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Can form dense mats, interfering with recreation and native plants Spreads via turions
Spiny & Fishhook Waterfleas Ballast water introduction to Great Lakes in 1980s Disrupt food chain & harm native fish Foul fishing gear form gummy clumps
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Documented in Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, & Winnebago System Can kill more than 25 fish species No danger to humans Introduced by ballast water or migrating fish?
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Transmission: Virus shed in urine & reproductive fluids The Disease: Start shedding virus 2 days after infected Antibodies can be developed by fish Fish may or may not show clinical signs of virus Stress is important Signs of virus: Pop-eye Anemia Swollen organs
And Many More on the Way A few new threats: New Zealand mud snail Water hyacinth Northern Snakehead
Introduction to Hydrilla: An aquatic superweed Center for Aquatic Invasive Plants Hydrilla verticillata
Important Species Characteristics Rapid growth Tolerance of wide range of water quality Turions Tubers Vegetative spread
LOOK-ALIKES: Brazilian Waterweed; leaves longer, in whorls of 4-6 (8), bushier in appearance, without tubers. Hydrilla; leaves in whorls of 3-8 with tiny spines along the leaf margins. The midrib of each leaf is often reddish. Hydrilla produces tubers (small potato-like structures). Common Waterweed, Elodea canadensis; leaves occur in whorls of 3 around the stem (or opposite), without tubers. Common Waterweed University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/seagrant/hydcom22.jpg
Early Detection & Rapid Response New Invaders Watch Program (Northeast Illinois) www.newinvaders.org Register to become monitor Provide data about species and location of population detected Receive confirmation Notification of managers who then perform control and management
Illinois and Indiana s Aquatic Invasive Species Program Rules to Prevent Spread (Message to Public) INSPECT your boat, trailer, and equipment AND REMOVE any attached aquatic plants or animals (before launching, after loading & before transporting on a public highway). DRAIN all water from boats, motors and all equipment.
Illinois and Indiana s Aquatic Invasive Species Program Suggestions for boaters & anglers (cont d) DON'T MOVE live fish away from a waterbody. DISPOSE of unwanted bait in the trash. BUY minnows from a Illinois or Indiana bait dealer. Use leftover minnows only under certain conditions.* *Can take leftover minnows away from any state water & use them again on that same water. May use leftover minnows on other waters only if no water or other fish were added to their container.
Federal Laws and Regulations National Invasive Species Act Coast Guard is responsible for regulating ballast water management Federal Noxious Weed Regulations Defines noxious weeds and restricts their movement Federal Injurious Wildlife Act and List Prevention of introduction or establishment of listed species that are harmful to human health and welfare, agriculture, etc. Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Interim Rule regulated movement of certain fish species from designated States
Illinois Laws and Regulations Boat Registration and Safety Act Effective January 1, 2013- illegal to transport aquatic animals and plants on recreational water vehicles Administrative Rule 870 List of species approved for aquaculture and related permitting regulations Administrative Code 805 Injurious Species Code 805.20 List of vertebrate species prohibited without a permit Prohibited and Restricted Species in IL (VHS) Exotic Weed Act purple loosestrife and glossy buckthorn Noxious Weed Law (currently does not list aquatic species)
New in Illinois Administrative Code 805 Injurious Species Code 805.20 Effective August 31, 2013 A list of 27 aquatic invasive plants prohibited without a permit Butomus umbellatus (flowering rush) Egeria densa (Brazilian elodea, Brazilian waterweed, Anacharis, or Egeria) Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrilla or water thyme) Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (European frogbit or common frogbit)
Local Laws and Regulations City of Chicago Ordinance list of terrestrial and aquatic invasive species prohibited in the city
Chicago Ordinance: Aquatic Plants water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) water chestnut (Trapa natans) hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) greater spearwort (Ranunculus lingua) Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa) chameleon (Houttuynia chordata) European frogbit (Hydrocharis mersus-ranae) flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) parrot feathered watermilfoil (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Chicago Ordinance: Aquatic Animals Snakehead, any from the family Chanidae *Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) * Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) * Grass carp/white amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Monkey goby (Neogobius fluviatilis fluviatilis) European perch (Perca fluviatilis flavescens) Eurasian minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) Asian clam (Anodonta woodiana) African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) Chinese mystery snail (Cipangopaludina chinensis) Oriental weatherloach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) *Rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) *species that can be transported live, but not sold live
Indiana Laws and Regulations IC-14-24-12 Purple loosestrife 312 IAC 9-6-7 Invasive fish Prohibits sale or possession of listed species of fish 312 IAC 9-9-3 Invasive Mollusks Zebra mussel, Quagga mussel, Asiatic clam Indiana Watch List List of fish, mollusks, etc. not yet detected in IN waters
New in Indiana Prohibited Invasive Aquatic Plants Azolla pinnata (mosquito fern) Butomus umbellatus (flowering rush) Caulerpa taxifolia (caulerpa or Mediterranean killer algae) Egeria densa (Brazilian elodea, Brazilian waterweed, Anacharis, or Egeria) Eichhornia azurea (anchored water hyacinth) Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrilla or water thyme) Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (European frogbit or common frogbit) Hygrophilia polysperma (miramar weed, Indian swampweed, or hygro)
Prohibited Invasive Aquatic Plants Ipomoea aquatica (Chinese waterspinach or swamp morningglory) Iris pseudacorus (yellow flag iris or tall yellow iris) Lagarosiphon major (oxygen weed or African elodea) Limnophila sessiliflora (Asian marshweed or ambulia) Monochoria hastata (monochoria, arrowleaf, or false pickerelweed) Monochoria vaginalis (heartshape or false pickerelweed) Myriophyllum aquaticum (parrot feather or parrot feather watermilfoil) Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil)
Prohibited Invasive Aquatic Plants Najas minor (brittle naiad or brittle water nymph) Nymphoides peltata (yellow floating heart) Ottelia alismoides (duck lettuce) Potamogeton crispus (curlyleaf pondweed) Sagittaria sagittifolia (arrowhead) Salvinia auriculata (giant salvinia) Salvinia biloba (giant salvinia) Salvinia herzogii (giant salvinia) Salvinia molesta (giant salvinia) Sparganium erectum (exotic bur-reed) Trapa natans (water chestnut) Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaf cattail)
Being a member of the Crew
Volunteers DO make a difference!
Getting Started: Crew Duties Inform and educate boaters Demonstrate watercraft inspections (if requested) Collect and report exposure data
Boat Landing Message At launches give 1-2 minute talk and provide with sticker If boater is interested in learning more can ask for brochures or stop by cabana Offer to point out how to do a watercraft check Involve boater! Repeat boaters?
Two Approaches The SOFT touch: Discuss the prevention steps An assertive approach: Point out plants to be removed Remind them of the state laws regarding aquatic plant and animal transport
How to Change Boater Behavior Educational materials Prompts (decals, stickers) Personal contacts Modeling behavior Social diffusion
The major influence on our attitudes and behavior is not the media, but rather our contact with other people. Fostering Sustainable Behavior Doug McKenzie-Mohr, William Smith
CBC Resources & Gear Resources Volunteer Manual Outreach kit Web sites: IL-IN Sea Grant Northeast Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership Gear Vests Brochures Stickers Positive Attitude!
Please Contact Us! For more information contact: Cathy McGlynn, NIIPP 847.242.6423 cathy.mcglynn@niipp.net Before July 9 th - Sarah Zack, IL-IN Sea Grant 847.242.6440 szack@illinois.edu After July 9 th Danielle Hilbrich, IL-IN Sea Grant 847.242.6441 hilbrich@illinois.edu
Thank you!