Great Lakes

Invasive weather fish in the Des Plaines

Shedd staff recently conducted surveys on the invasive weatherfish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) and here’s a picture of a weatherfish we found in the process. As a popular fish for home aquariums, it’s believed that weatherfish were released into Chicago waterways by well-intentioned pet owners attempting to dispose of them.  This is a good reminder to never release pets into the wild if you can no longer care for them.  It could potentially become another invasive population in an already taxed Great Lakes ecosystem! Stay tuned for a future posting about our project!

Posted by Nicole, conservation

Threatened fish found

Banded Killifish

Phil Wilink from the Field Museum and I went out to 12th Street Beach last week for a quick survey of the fish in the area.  I was amazed to see the banded killifish which is a native Great Lakes fish I have never seen before in my more than 20 years of fishing.  The banded killifish is a state threatened species based on Illinois Department of Resources standards which means it is a fish likely to become a state endangered species within the foreseeable future in Illinois.  It has most likely suffered because of invasive species like round gobies and alewives dominating the food supply in Lake Michigan.  I hope that seeing them near Burnham Harbor is a positive sign for their populations.

I go out regularly with the Great Lakes team to do beach sweeps at 12th Street Beach and never knew this fish was so close!

--Posted by Kurt, Fishes

Asian Carp knocking on the door

New testing methods have shown DNA evidence of Asian carp being as close as 5 miles from the electric barrier in Romeoville.  Many are speculating what may happen if the carp get past the barrier and into Lake Michigan.  Some of my colleagues say the carp will immediately head for river and stream systems to find plankton.  Others question the amount of plankton left in Lake Michigan after the zebra mussel infestation.  Either way, we don't want to find out what will happen! Check out the SunTimes article here.

-Posted by Kurt, fishes

Carp Corral 2009

For the 14th year in a row the US Fish and Wildlife Service welcomed volunteers from Shedd Aquarium, US Coast Guard, Army Corp of Engineers to resume the survey of the Illinois River.  The survey is commonly known as the carp corral since the focus is on monitoring the movement of the invasive bighead carp and silver carp toward Lake Michigan.  Volunteers also track the movement of invasive round gobies toward the Mississippi River basin and the spread of a deadly fish pathogen called viral hemorrhagic septicemia.

Eric Leis from US Fish and Wildlife Service with a big head carp found in Peru, Illinois near Starved Rock State Park.

Protect your pastime

At Shedd, we have a special relationship with the creatures inhabiting the Earth’s waters. Even the smallest amount of mercury can be deadly to fish – and anything that eats them. In 1996, we took a first step in eliminating mercury through a lighting retrofit. By changing the kind of fluorescent tube lights that we use, we eliminated more than 61 grams of mercury, or the equivalent of 87 thermometers’ worth of the toxic substance, building-wide. The current tubes that we use, although ecofriendly, still contain trace amounts of mercury, so we dispose of burned-out lights through a company that recycles them within our specifications. Since 2002, we’ve prevented a further 11 thermometers’ worth of mercury from contaminating a landfill or as much as 16 acres of water.

I grew up in a small town and used to walk to a pond to go fishing. I just caught little sunfish and bluegills, but for a kid, it was a thrill. Wouldn’t it be a shame if kids today were deprived of this childhood ritual because the water or the aquatic life in their local pond was contaminated? By recycling these fluorescent tubes – and getting others around me to participate as well – I feel that I’m looking out for the future of our environment and for the future of those kids, wherever they may go fishing!

-- Posted by Susan, facilities

Great Lakes on the big screen

"If you could take everyone on this continent on an expedition from one end of the Great Lakes to the other, you would change the way that they look at these natural treasures."

That was the thought behind Canadian film producer David Lickley's movie Mysteries of the Great Lakes playing now at Imax and Omnimax theaters around the basin.  I recently saw this movie at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and absolutely loved it.  It was incredible to see footage of ship wrecks, caribou in the wild and the beautiful bluffs of Lake Superior.  Watching this movie made me proud to live in the Great Lakes region.  I give the film two thumbs up!

For teachers, the film has an educator's guide to use after your students see the movie.  Check it out!

--Posted by Elizabeth, conservation

Electric Barrier Lacks Proper Spark

The electric barrier in Romeoville has structurally been completed since 2006.  The only problem is, as of today, the "on" switch has not been flipped for the electricity to start flowing.  The barrier, designed to keep Asian Carp out of Lake Michigan, is not currently serving its purpose.  According to journalist Dan Egan of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Great Lakes governors and taxpayers alike are frustrated with the slow pace of the process.  Read the complete story here.

The Coast Guard and Army Corp of Engineers have been testing the barrier for two and a half years to ensure its reliability and safety.  The main concerns still lingering are the safety implications if a person should fall in the water near the barrier and the possibility that flammable materials might not safely pass on cargo ships through the barrier.

"The longer we wait the greater the chance is for an Asian Carp invasion," said Jim Robinett.  "Asian carp are dangerous for the ecosystem, the native Great Lakes fish, outdoorsmen and tax payers.  Invasive species are expensive to control so prevention is the key."

--Posted by Elizabeth, conservation

Salmon spawning in unusual place

According to the Gary Post-Tribune, this November marks the 20th annual return of Chinook salmon to a wastewater treatment plant in Indiana for the purpose of spawning.  Many are shocked and surprised that a wastewater treatment plant would be the spot these salmon choose for spawning each year.  An added surprise comes when you see how the fish get into the plant.  Salmon must swim up a 200 foot drain pipe that spits out 15 million gallons of water per day.  That is a tough task!

Shedd's senior aquarist in the local waters gallery, Kurt Hettiger, visited the site several years ago to see if the rumors were true.

"Sure enough," said Kurt.  "I spotted the Chinook salmon in what seemed to be a small oasis of fish in the plant.  I was completely surprised and happy to hear that the conditions were clean enough to allow this spawning to go on each year." 

Kurt went on to mention that he went back a second time just to make sure the first visit wasn't a fluke.  "Sure enough, I saw them again," said Kurt.

New Natural control methods

Today's blog was written by Kim, Assistant Director of Great Lakes conservation

Invasive species have affected many waterways throughout the United States.  They represent an issue that affects all of the Great Lakes and some of the most devastating invasive species include zebra mussels and quagga mussels.  Recently, an article was published in the Daily Gazette, bringing to light a biopesticide that has been developed to kill off these destructive mussels.  A New York State Museum researcher was looking for a non-toxic alternative to treating this infestation because previously the only way to get rid of them was to use highly toxic pesticides.  

This biopesticide, which uses natural bacterium, will prove fatal to the mussels that eat too much of it and will likely be available in early 2009. 

We invite you to share your thoughts on invasive species and how beneficial you believe this new pesticide may be to improving the quality of life and sustainability of the Great Lakes’ native species.

Dangerous fish virus

Today's blog is written by Elizabeth, Great Lakes field coordinator

The "fish virus" was a hot topic today at Mayor Daley's Fishing Festival on the Chicago River.  Many were wondering how the virus got here and what this means for fish in the Great Lakes.

The virus is called viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) and it has affected more than 30 different species of fish in the Great Lakes region.  Many believe that the virus came over to the Great Lakes in ballast tanks which is how most of the 180 invasive species have entered our fresh water.  VHS does not harm humans or other animals even if we eat an infected fish.  But this virus has the potential to be devastating to the $4 billion commercial and sport fishing industry if native populations continue to decline. Learn more about VHS here.

This virus is a very tangible example of how important it is to prevent invasive species from getting into our Great Lakes because once they are here it is impossible to get rid of them.

The image below shows the round gobies we caught today on the Chicago River.  We caught about 20 round gobies in the first 2 hours!