CT Aquatic Invasive Species

0: Japanese Knotweed

1: Zebra Mussels Invasion and How they are Spreading

2: European Flat Oyster

Ostrea edulis is a bivalve mollusc that has an oval or pear-shaped shell with a rough, scaly surface. The two halves (valves) of the shell are different shapes. The left valve is concave and fixed to the substratum, the right being flat and sitting inside the left. The shell is off-white, yellowish or cream in colour with light brown or bluish concentric bands on the right valve. Ostrea edulis grows up to 11 cm long, rarely larger. The inner surfaces are pearly, white or bluish-grey, often with darker blue areas.

3: Lionfish

4: Zebra Mussel

5: Rusty Crayfish: Titicus River

Bad stuff Rusty Crayfish do:

Reduce the amount of aquatic plants

They reduce the fish population

Good stuff they do:

They are a source of food for larger game fish

6: Eurasian Watermilfoil

7: European Green Crab

 

8: Eurasian Watermilfoil

Eurasian Watermilfoil has long, skinny, reddish-brown stems. There are feathery leaves that often grow in a spiral pattern. These feathery leaves grow small flowers. These flowers stick out of the water and can have 3-5 petals. Eurasian Watermilfoil is quite tall, and can grow up to ten feet.

9: Eurasian Watermilfoil

 

10: Eurasian Watermilfoil

11: Eurasian Watermilfoil

Where it's found:

12: Orange Striped Anemone

13: Eurasian Watermilfoil

There have been movements in Connecticut to try to rid the state of this species. In 2003, the species was named invasive. In 2007, the state made it illegal to "import, move, sell, buy, transplant, or distribute" Eurasian Watermilfoil. And finally, in 2007 the state provided conservation companies with 500,000 to help clean up. However, this money was not enough and the milfoil continues to intrude our waters.

14: European Green Crab

   

15: Rusty Crayfish- Weekeepeemee River

The habitats for Rusty Crayfish:

16: European Green Crab

17: Watkinson

18: Rusty Crayfish- Weekeepeemee

19: Weekeepeemee Rd

Bethlehem, CT 06751

20: Japanese Knotweed

 

21: Lionfish

22: Chinese Mitten Crab pictures and links

Your information about Chinese Mitten Crab

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23: Chinese Mitten Crab

24: Avon, CT DaKoTa FoRd

The common Reed or in other words, Phragmites, is perennial grass found in wetlands in tropical areas throughout the whole world. It was introduced into North America however from Europe. While certain Phragmites are considered native, others are not. The invasive Phragmites though was introduced into North America by the Europeans when they first colonized in 1492. This plant tends to grow over water sources. This causes other plants not to grow, birds not to be able to get to the water because the plant blocks it, and makes fish not be able to swim to the top of the water which causes it to be eaten more by predators.

25: Common Reed (Phragmites)

26: Codium Fragile Origin

27: Green Fleece Seaweed

For more information CLICK HERE



 

28: Green Fleece

Damage to Ecosystem:



- Green Fleece causes species such as shellfish, mussels, and oysters to wash to shore.

- The Green Fleece can also be known as the oyster and/or scallop thief because it will attach itself to the shells, then a plant called hold fast would grow around the oyster or scallop and algae grew on it too. Then the oyster or scallop would float to the top and wander off into the ocean and it could occasionally be found on shore with the Green Fleece attached to it.

Measures to control or prevent spread:

- Dredging where green fleece was sited.

- use chemical herbicides

- release the Sea Slug because it eats green fleece.

- Removing by hand, which requires time and labor.

- Wash your boat off after you take it out of the body of water and make sure that there is no allergy on the hull.

29: Asian Shore Crabs

Began turning up on the shores of the eastern United States in 1988. Scientists believe it hitchhiked to the Atlantic coast in the ballast water discharged from Pacific trade ships
Easily adapts to its new habitats making it less challenging for their population to spread across the United States highly reproductive, females are capable of producing 50,000 eggs per clutch with 3-4 clutches per breeding season. This makes it difficult to stop the asian shore crabs population from expanding and invading other habitats.

 

30: Japanese Knotweed

31: Japanese Knotweed

Japanese Knotweed grown is dense stands in sunny areas often along the edges of forests and rivers.  Rapidly growing, Knotweed quickly shading out other species.  It grows rapidly by spreading through it roots and rhizomes. Flooding can move stems downstream where they can sprout and establish new stands. Watkinson has a stand of Knotweed along the Lower Field. Learn more HERE.

32: Japanese Knotweed

33: European Flat Oysters

34: Chinese mitten crab

35: European Flat Oysters

European flat oysters can change their sex up to two times in one season.  When pregnant they can produce 500,000 to 1 million eggs per spawning.

36: Lionfish

Lionfish were accidentally released from an aquarium during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Also, They are venomous, which makes them very dangerous

37: Water Chestnut

A leafy, aquatic plant that floats in the water.

38: Chinese mitten crab

39: Lionfish

40: Water Chestnut Video

41: Rusty Crayfish: Connecticut River

42: Orange Striped Anemone

43: Didymo (didymosphenia geminata)

44: Orange Striped Anemone

The Orange Striped Anemone is an invasive species that originates from the Japanese/Chinese Coasts. It was brought accidentally by trading ships who didn't clean the bottom of their boats.

45: Didymo (didymosphenia geminata)

46: Common Periwinkle Origin|Habitat|Transportation

47: Mute Swans in the Long Island Sound

The Mute Swan is found around here, as well as freshwater ponds, slow rivers, inland lakes, and coastal bays. They were brought here from Eurasia to decorate ponds in parks and such, but their much needed occupation in beautification went haywire when they began to consume underwater vegetation vital to aquatic life.

48: Asian Stalked Tunicate Movement

The Asian Stalked Tunicate was introduced by accident to California in the 1920's, but was not discovered until 1930. Then in the 1970's the invasive species was accidentally introduced to the east coast. eventually making it's way into the Long Island Sound.

Click Here or Here

 

Ways To Prevent Movement

• Check your boat before leaving and throw away any tunicates
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49: Asian Stalked Tunicate- Damage to Ecosystem

The Asian Stalked Tunicate has taken over Blue Mussel habitat. It smothers shellfish, and outcompetes filter feeders for space and food.

50: Mute Swan Description

Average weight: 25-30 pounds

Makes hissing/high pitched purring sounds

Can fly 50-55 MPH

Males are larger

Wing span 8-9 feet

Yellow/Black bill

Average size is 56-62 inches long

51: Asian Stalked Tunicate (style clava)

Origin

52: Common Periwinkle Features

• Physical Features: The maximum shell length is 52mm. These are found in either black, brown, or gray color.
• Reproduction: Females breed between 10,000 and 100,000 eggs of about 1mm size per year. This is done by releasing egg packets into the water.
• Habitat Preference: Found in estuaries and tolerate low salinities. They are also found on intertidal rocks. Common Periwinkle's can tolerate temperatures as low as -4 degrees fahrenheit.

53: Mute Swan

54: Common Reed

The common reed leaves are typically 1 - 1.5cm wide. The grass can grow over 15 feet long.
The seed head is at the end of the stem is multi branched. The plant has silky hairs along the flowers to give it appearance. The stem of the plant is hollow inside.

55: My House

56: Common Reed

57: Asian Shore Cran