February 18, 2007
Help Needed Searching for Invasive Bloody Red Shrimp, Great Lakes
Credit: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental
Research Lab
I recently recieved an urgent email from one of the BluePlanetDivers listed on this site seeking help in monitoring yet another potential problem invasive of the Great Lakes, Hemimysis anomala.
Winston can be contacted via email. Here's his email to me in almost it's entirety:
Yet another invasive species has turned up in the Great Lakes. It's a form of shrimp (Hemimysis anomala or 'Bloody Red Shrimp') and hails from the Baltic Region (yep - same as the zebra and quaga mussels).
So far, it's only been confirmed in two locations (Muskegon, Michigan and Oswego, New York), but scientists are confident it'll spread to other areas shortly. Researchers on both sides of the border (GLERL/NOAA in the U.S. and the DFO and Environment Canada in Canada) have developed a Rapid Response Research Plan and set up a Hemimysis Monitoring Network to track and record its progression. (See below link for additional info).
NOAA National Center for Research on Aquatic Invasive Species
I've been in contact with researchers associated with the above organizations and have been added to the Monitoring Network distribution list. I'm currently developing a search plan and evaluating various capture and preservation methodologies with a diving associate.
This may present an area of research (on an individual or organizational basis) that other research divers living in the Great Lakes Region may be interested in pursuing.
Again, contact Winston via email to help.
Posted by Dida at February 18, 2007 4:27 PM
Comments
Hi Dida,
Just a quick update to say that confirmed captures of Hemimysis have now been made on the Canadian side of Lake Ontario. The first near Pickering, Ontario east of Toronto and more recently in Hamilton Harbor, Burlington, Ontario west of Toronto.
Winston Stairs
SDI Research Diver
Posted by: Winston Stairs at June 22, 2007 10:45 AM
