Invasive Species Dive
Shedd invited dive-certified members of the media to see firsthand some of the invasive species affecting Lake Michigan, including zebra mussels and round gobies. Check out the footage from WGN, FOX and NBC. Preventing aquatic invasive species from entering the lakes to protect our beaches, water supply systems, and native wildlife is one of the ways we can help to restore the health of the Great Lakes.
Posted by Melanie Napoleon, Great Lakes conservation
I knew there were round gobies in Lake Michigan but I was really astounded at how many showed up in the videos! I didn't see any crayfish. Have the round gobies affected those too?
Posted by: Linda Wilson | August 28, 2008 at 05:37 PM
This is a great question! As of this moment, we are not aware how the gobies are affecting crayfish populations. It is known that round gobies of all year classes prey on young of the year crayfish, but prefer other food items like fish eggs.
The area that the video was taken was not near shore, where most of the crayfish populations are found, that may account for the lack of crayfish in the videos. The gobies are truly found in great densities wherever they are found!
The interesting thing about the question is what species of crayfish are you asking about? The most commonly seen crayfish is the rusty crayfish, which is an invasive. Rusty crayfish have displaced or extirpated most native crayfish from near shore areas in the Great Lakes.
Posted by Kurt Hettiger, fishes
Posted by: Kurt Hettiger | August 29, 2008 at 12:05 PM