Invasive Aquatic Species with the Potential to Affect the Great Sacandaga Lake Region Tiffini M. Burlingame, Research Associate Lawrence W. Eichler, Research Scientist Charles W. Boylen, Associate Director Darrin Fresh Water Institute 5060 Lakeshore Drive Bolton Landing, NY 12814 TABLE OF CONTENTS FISH Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengu)s 3 Goldfish (Carassius auratus) 5 Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) 7 Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) 9 Eurasian Ruff (Gymnocephalus cernuus) 11 Brook Silverside (Labidesthes sicculus) 13 White Perch (Morone americana) 15 Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) 17 Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 19 Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) 21 White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis) 23 Tubenose Goby (Proterorhinus marmoratus) 25 Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) 27 European Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) 29 Tench (Tinca tinca) 31 PLANTS & ALGAE Ribbon Leaf Water Plantain (Alisma gramineum) 34 Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) 36 Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana) 38 Rock Snot (Didymosphenia geminata) 40 Brazilian Elodea (Egeria densa) 42 Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) 44 Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) 46 Frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) 48 Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) 50 Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) 52 Water Clover (Marsilea quadrifolia) 54 Parrot Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) 56 Variable Leaf Milfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) 58 Eurasian Water Milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) 60 Southern Naiad (Najas guadalupensis) 62 Brittle Naiad (Najas minor) 64 Starry Stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa) 66 Yellow Floating Heart (Nymphoides peltata) 68 Common Reed (Phragmites australis) 70 Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) 72 Curly Leaf Pond Weed (Potamogeton crispus) 74 Water Chestnut (Trapa natans) 76 Swollen Bladderwort (Utricularia inflata) 78 MOLLUSKS Mud Bithynia (Bithynia tentaculata) 81 Chinese Mystery Snail (Cipangopaludina chinensis) 83 Asian Clam (Corbicula fluminea) 85 Quagga Mussel (Dreissena bugensis) 87 Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) 89 Piedmont Elimia Snail (Elimia virginica) 91 Wabash Pigtoe (Fusconaia flava) 93 Buffalo Pebblesnail (Gillia altilis) 95 Greater European Pea Clam (Pisidium amnicum) 97 European Ear Snail (Radix auricularia) 99 Atlantic Rangia (Rangia cuneata) 101 European Fingernail Clam (Sphaerium corneum) 103 European Stream Valvata (Valvata piscinalis) 105 Banded Mystery Snail (Viviparus georgianus) 107 ARTHROPODS Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) 110 Freshwater Shrimp (Gammarus fasciatus) 112 Asian Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus) 114 Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) 116 ZOOPLANKTON Spiny Waterflea (Bythotrephes longimanus) 119 Fish-hook Waterflea (Cercopagis pengoi) 121 Daphnia (Daphnia lumholtzi) 123 Eubosmina Waterflea (Eubosmina coregoni) 125 Calanoid Copepod (Eurytemora affinis) 127 Calanoid Copepod (Skistodiaptomus pallidus) 129 PATHOGENS AND PARASITES Parasitic Copepod (Argulus japonicus) 132 Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia 134 Invasive Aquatic Species Invasive aquatic species are exotic or non-native organisms living in, on or near water that have the potential to alter habitats, outcompete native species and seriously interfere with recreational and industrial water users. These species are often transported and introduced, either intentionally or unintentionally, thru human activities, generally with disastrous consequences. The following organisms are either currently present in Great Sacandaga Lake or present in the Northeast region with the potential to reach Great Sacandaga Lake in the foreseeable future. Preventing the introduction of these species is the only foolproof method to control their spread. An educated population provides the most effective means to minimize the impact of invasive species. 1 | P a g e Fish 2 | P a g e Alosa pseudoharengus Alewife Habitat: Alewives are known to occupy all strata of a land-locked water body during the course of the year. Alewives have been found to prefer rocky habitats to sand sites. This may be related to their feeding on emerging insects associated with rocky areas. The majority of their time is spent in the limnetic zone. In late spring and summer they move into littoral areas for spawning and move into deeper water during fall. Alewives have a preference for warmer waters. Alwives move in large schools and are attracted to light. They move into shallow areas at night and return to deeper waters during the day. Description: Adult alewife is typically 10 to 12 inches in length (25 to 30 cm), with a green back and silvery belly; they have a single black spot located behind the eye. Scales line up in a row along the belly. The alewife is mostly a filter feeder, but has been known to be piscivorous, feeding on fry as large as 50mm. Principal Modes of Transport & Introduction: It is believed that the illegal stocking of alewives for forage is what fist introduced them to landlocked lakes. They may also be spread by fishermen using them as bait. Annual Cycle: Landlocked alewives move from deep water to shallow beaches in lakes or move up streams to ponds to spawn in spring. Females usually move to the spawning areas just before the males. Spawning takes place at night in groups of two or three over a sandy or gravelly bottom. Freshwater females deposit 10,000-12,000 eggs. Eggs are broadcast randomly, are demersal (that is, they sink), and are not particularly adhesive. Adults leave the spawning area after spawning; no care is given eggs or young by the adult fish. In less than a week, the young alewives hatch to begin feeding on minute, free-floating plants and animals. By fall, the young alewives make their way back to the deep waters of lakes. Landlocked alewives reach an average length of about 6 inches when adults. 3 | P a g e Look Alike: The blue-back herring (A. aestivalis) is a physically similar species, and it is difficult to distinguish between the two. The only definable difference (alewife tend to have larger eyes, and blueback herrings have more "compressed" bodies, but these are difficult to enumerate unless directly comparing the two species in hand) is the color of the peritoneum in the two species. The abdominal cavity in the blueback herring is much darker, almost black, whereas the alewife has a paler abdominal cavity with some black spots. Distribution: 4 | P a g e Carassius auratus Goldfish Habitat: In the wild, goldfish can be found in slow-moving, freshwater bodies of water with cold water and aquatic vegetation. As with their close relative the carp, they thrive in slightly sludgy water. Able to withstand prolonged exposure to salinities above 15 ppt and can tolerate low levels of dissolved oxygen. Description: Goldfish are small to moderately-sized fish with a deep body and rounded cross-section. They have a large head and eyes with a small mouth and a forked tail. Scales are large and the single dorsal fin has 3-4 stout spines at the leading edge. Color ranges from olive-bronze to deep golden along dorsal surface, fading to silvery-white along the belly. May grow up to 41cm in length, 2kg in weight and live for 30 years in captivity. Principal Modes of Transport & Introduction: It is believed that most infestations are the result of people dumping aquariums or ornamental ponds into the lakes. Annual Cycle: Spawning occurs in shallow water amongst weeds, and up to several hundred thousand small eggs (1-2mm diameter) are laid at once. Individual fish can spawn 3-10 lots of eggs at intervals of 8-10 days. Cold water during winter is essential for proper ova development.Eggs hatch in around a week. Young attach to aquatic plants for several days while yolk sac is absorbed. Look Alike: Goldfish most closely resembles the Common Carp and Crucian Carp. 5 | P a g e Distribution: 6 | P a g e Channa argus Northern Snakehead Fish Habitat: The Northern snakehead prefers stagnant shallow ponds or swamps with mud substrate and aquatic vegetation; slow muddy streams. Also occurs in canals, reservoirs, lakes, and rivers. It appears to occupy waters, usually with vegetation, close to shore, and also feeds in schools. The northern snakehead has been reported to be an obligate air breather, which means that it can live in oxygen-depleted waters by gulping air at the water's surface and survive several days out of water if kept moist. Description: A long, thin fish with a single dorsal fin running the length of the fish. This species also has a single long anal fin similar to our native species, the bowfin (Amia calva). Overall color is brown with dark blotches. It has a somewhat flattened head with eyes located in a dorsolateral position on the anterior part of the head; anterior nostrils are present and tubular; dorsal and anal fins are elongated, and all fins are supported only by rays. The maximum size exceeds 85 cm. Principal Modes of Transport & Introduction: This fish is popular in the Asian food market and most introductions are likely released for this purpose. The snakehead may move in stream and river networks, reproducing and spreading to adjacent watersheds. Annual Cycle: This species reaches sexual maturity in 2 to 3 years at approximately 30-35 cm (12-14 inches) in length. Females release 1,300 to 15,000 eggs per spawn, which can occur 1 to 5 times per year. The floating eggs take 28 hours to hatch at 31oC, 45 hours at 25oC and much longer at cooler temperatures. Larvae remain in a nest guarded by their parents until yolk absorption is complete at approximately 8 mm in length. At approximately 18 mm the young begin feeding on small crustaceans and fish larvae. 7 | P a g e Look Alike: The Northern snakehead is very similar in appearance to the native bowfin. Distribution: 8 | P a g e Ctenopharyngodon idella Grass Carp Habitat: Grass carp inhabit sub-tropical and temperate climates and prefer large rivers, lakes, and reservoirs with abundant vegetation and relatively shallow waters. They are tolerant of a range of conditions may inhabit temperatures of 0-33° C, oxygen levels as low as 0.5 ppm, and salinities as great as 10 ppt. Description: Grass carp has an oblong, slender body, a wide scaleless head, and very short snout.