Invasive Species–Asian Carp
Asian Carp, or Silver Carp, were brought over to the U.S. in the 1970’s and 1980’s to control plankton and algae in fish ponds. During floods in 1993 and 1995, however, the fish were transported into Midwest rivers, including the Mississippi River. These carp eat about 40% of their body weight in plankton daily. They have become a nuisance for fishers, seen as how their reaction to immediate environmental disturbances is jumping out of the water. This can cause major problems for boaters, who can in some cases be pushed off of their boat. Many fishers wear protective facial gear while boating at high speeds to prevent broken noses, and many boats have protective nets.
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With the abundance of this asian carp in our rivers, you would think fishers would start profiting. These fish, however, and nearly impossible to gain a profit from. So, unchecked by humans, the carp keep multiplying. The newest idea is to start using the fish in a “carp cake” as food at zoos. The carp would be cheaper for the zoo to buy, and it would cut down on their population. While these fish are not full of nutrients, it is easy for the zoologists to inject vitamins and minerals into carp cakes.
People are doing whatever they can to keep the carp out of the Great Lakes. If they start cutting down the population and area occupied by these fish, there is a greater chance of saving our own Lake Michigan from invasion.
Hurricanes Can Help
Studies now say that Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina helped coastal wetlands to stabilize. These claims strongly counter previously held beliefs that these storms only harmed the environment. The health of these wetlands is key, seen as how they provide a home for a multitude of marine animals and serve as protection from hurricanes and other large tropical storms.
It seems as if through hurricanes, the wetlands are able to be replenished. This should not come as such a surprise, seen as how nature works in a cyclical fashion, and environmental scientists have been observing this for years.
The U.S. Geographical Survey says that over 100 square miles of wetlands were lost to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, however 1 to 6 inches of sediment were left behind after the storms. LSU researchers said that the two hurricanes left over 227 times more sediment than the Mississippi River can in one year.
This research has brought up many questions by scientists all over the world. Some doubt the data, saying that the estimates for sediment left by the hurricanes is too high. All of this will lead to more research of America’s coastal wetlands, which will enable us to protect our coastal cities even better from future hurricanes.
