Sea Lamprey

Invasion of

The Great Lakes

Fig 1. Sea Lamprey (Jensen,2005)

Invasive species through out the United States have become an enormous problem for not only wildlife managers but for fisherman and whole ecosystems in general. Invasive species in the Great Lakes have been decimating native species at an alarming rate. The Sea Lamprey in particular have been killing off many native fish populations. Management, control, and education have helped to pacify the rate of population growth though their numbers are still increasing.

April 27, 2006

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Petromayzon Marinus

Fig 2. Lamprey mouths on glass (CORA,nd)

Fig 3. Alien Invader (EPA, 2006)

Invasive Species

The EPA defines an invasive species as " an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.(EPA,2006a)" Invasive species can have an extensive impact on ecosystems by depleting species' populations at many trophic levels. "Invasive species threat biodiversity, undermine the ecological integrity of many native habitats and push some rare species to the edge of extinction (Biodiversity, 2006)" They are also responsible for the harming of 42% of listed species protected by Federal Endangered Species Act. (Biodiversity, 2006)

Fig 4.Sea lamprey in the Great Lakes (Kolar,2004)

Introduction of the Sea Lamprey
The Sea Lamprey is native to the Atlantic Coast which is how they were first introduced to the Great Lakes by traveling up through the man made Welland Canal. (See Fig 4) This canal was opened to bypass Niagara falls in 1829 once access to Lake Erie was established the sea lamprey could travel to the remaining 3 lakes. (Fuller et al,2006) The Sea Lamprey features look like an eel in its appearance but in fact is a jawless fish. Sea Lampreys have become such a large problem because they act as vampires of the sea, sucking out body fluids and blood from fish. To the dismay of fisheries, the sea lamprey's favorite fish is the Lake Trout. Along with over fishing by humans and water pollution, the sea lamprey has greatly reduced fish populations. Since communities of the Great Lakes rely on the fishing business, there has been a lot of work done to eradicate the sea lamprey. Lampricides and traps have been used to keep the sea lamprey population from completely exploding. However when the sea lamprey's killed off the large fish predators in the Great Lakes, the Alewife population was able to explode and create its own problems. There is a growing concern for the natural ecosystems of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain not only because of the Sea Lamprey but also because of the impacts of other invasive species.

Transformer populations

Fig. 5 Seal Lamprey Transformers in the Lake Champlain River Basins (Marsden et al, 2004)

Transformers are the juvenile sea lampreys that have not transformed into their parasitic adult stage. Transformer populations are spread through out the rivers of the Lake Champlain river basin though their densities vary. (See Fig 5)
It is important to monitor transformer populations to assess adult populations in the future. Since transformers can live up to 10 years in the river basins it can be difficult to get an accurate account of their numbers.

Fig 6.Lamprey Life Cycle (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, nd)

Life Cycle

Adult Sea Lampreys travel into connecting rivers to spawn. Once a female has laid her 30,000 - 100,000 eggs, she and her mate die. The fertilized eggs drift down stream where they will hatch in a few weeks. Once the eggs hatch the larva will burrow into the river bed where they can spend 2-10 years feeding on detritus and algae. After their time as larva they will begin a process of transformation. During this transformation time they will form eyes and a round disk of teeth.
(U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, nd)
Female spawning in stream (sohn, 2005)

Physical Features

The Sea Lamprey is a cartilaginous jawless fish which means it's back is made up of cartilage instead of boney vertebrates. It has many gill openings that look like small holes. The most distinctive feature of the sea lamprey is its round mouth lined with many sharp curved teeth. Unlike what we commonly think of as a fish, the sea lamprey does not have a jaw that can open and close. This mouth is used to grasp onto a fish and hold on tight. Once it has grasped onto its prey it will extract blood and other body fluids. Survival of a sea lamprey attack is dependent on the size of the fish and the lamprey. While one fish may survive the initial attack, it can soon get and infection and die.

Fig 7. Lake Superior Lake Trout (USGS,2004)

As seen in Fig 7, the introduction of sea lampreys was directly correlated with the drastic fall of wild Lake Trout populations in Lake Superior. When streams were treated for Lampreys, the wild Lake Trout populations were able to recover. The delay of recovery is a natural process that happens with population fall and rise.

Fig.5 Lake Trout (Mikel, 2006)

Lake Trout ,Salvelinus namaycush

In 1936, lake trout fell from 3.4 million pounds in Lake Huron to almost extinction in 1947. In Lake Michigan, catch plummeted from 5.5 million pounds in 1946 to 402 pounds in 1953. Lake Superior's catch fell from 4.5 million pounds to 368 thousand pounds in 1961.See Fig 7.(Fuller et al ,2006)

Fig 6. Lake trout wounded in Lake Champlain (Lake, 2004)

In 2005 it was reported that sea lampreys were in fact native to Lake Champlain, however sea lamprey populations have been rising and causing a lot of problems for Lake Champlain. Since 1998 there has been a steady increase in fish wounding rates due to sea lampreys. (See Fig 6 )

Great Lake Invasive Species

There are more than 140 aquatic nuisance species identified in the Great Lakes Basin with 1 new organism being introduced each year. The EPA has concluded that 10% of non native species of Great Lakes have had significant economic and ecological impacts. Zebra mussels alone have cost 120 million dollars between 1989-1994.(EPAb, 2006) It is estimated that the U.S. economy spends 138 billion dollars a year on invasive species.

Purple Loosestrife
(GLIN, 2006)

Purple Loosestrife

Purple Loosestrife was first introduced in the 1980s on the East coast of the United States from Europe and Asia. Once here the Purple Loosestrife quickly spread along roads and drainage ditches. Because of its beauty the plant was harvested and distributed for ornamental purposes. This spreading has greatly assisted in the plants invasion. The problem with Purple Loosestrife is that its brushy thickness prevents native plants from growing under its shade as well inhibiting nesting for aquatic animals such as ducks, muskrats, toads, and bitterns. (GLIN, 2006)

Fig.6 Alewife (Mikel,2006)

Alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus

Alewives were first introduced to lake Superior in 1945. This small fish feeds on zooplankton in the Huron and Lake Michigan. The problem that Alewives create comes from their large population that competes with lake heron and white fish for food. However Alewives are preyed on by salmon and trout. (Mikel,2006)

Zebra Mussels (EPAb, 2006)

Zebra Mussel, Dreissena poymorpha

Zebra Mussels are thumbnail size crustaceans that are native to the Caspian Sea by Asia. There were first discovered in 1988 in the Great Lakes. Their populations have since exploded. The problem with Zebra mussels is that they take over the lake floor covering native plants and animals as well as clogging intake pipes and navigation locks which has cost nearly 120 million dollars from 1989-1994. (EPAb, 2006)

Control

Land managers fight just to limit invasive species further spread; therefore control relies on understanding the species biology, the ecosystem it has infested, introduction pathways and effective tools, as well as follow through with monitoring.

Integrated Pest Management

Uses biological, physical or mechanical, cultural, and chemical techniques as well as an assessment of risk, identification of thresholds for action, and planning to reach the most desired outcome. (USDA, 2006)

1. Prevention
2. Coordination
3. Better and faster transfer of information
4. Rearrangement of institutional authority
5. Building public support to take advantage of teachable moments when the publics attention is focused on an incident(USDA, 2006)

Lampricide

The eradication of the Sea Lamprey began as early as the 1950's. Lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol or also called more simply, TFM. This lampricide kills the juvenile lampreys in their river homes. Traps have also been used at the tributaries where the juveniles transform into adults and make their way to the lakes. (Fuller et al,2006)

Bush's Policy

Establishment of Great Lakes Interagency Task Force and Promotion of a Regional Collaboration of National Significance for the Great Lakes

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to help establish a regional collaboration of national significance for the Great Lakes, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. The Great Lakes are a national treasure constituting the largest freshwater system in the world. The United States and Canada have made great progress addressing past and current environmental impacts to the Great Lakes ecology. The Federal Government is committed to making progress on the many significant challenges that remain. Along with numerous State, tribal, and local programs, over 140 Federal programs help fund and implement environmental restoration and management activities throughout the Great Lakes system. A number of intergovernmental bodies are providing leadership in the region to address environmental and resource management issues in the Great Lakes system. These activities would benefit substantially from more systematic collaboration and better integration of effort. It is the policy of the Federal Government to support local and regional efforts to address environmental challenges and to encourage local citizen and community stewardship. To this end, the Federal Government will partner with the Great Lakes States, tribal and local governments, communities, and other interests to establish a regional collaboration to address nationally significant environmental and natural resource issues involving the Great Lakes. It is the further policy of the Federal Government that its executive departments and agencies will ensure that their programs are funding effective, coordinated, and environmentally sound activities in the Great Lakes system.

Sec. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this order:

(a) "Great Lakes" means Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron (including Lake Saint Clair), Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior, and the connecting channels (Saint Marys River, Saint Clair River, Detroit River, Niagara River, and Saint Lawrence River to the Canadian Border).

(b) "Great Lakes system" means all the streams, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water within the drainage basin of the Great Lakes.

Sec. 3. Great Lakes Interagency Task Force.

(a) Task Force Purpose. To further the policy described in section 1 of this order, there is established, within the Environmental Protection Agency for administrative purposes, the "Great Lakes Interagency Task Force" (Task Force) to:

(i) Help convene and establish a process for collaboration among the members of the Task Force and the members of the Working Group that is established in paragraph b(ii) of this section, with the Great Lakes States, local communities, tribes, regional bodies, and other interests in the Great Lakes region regarding policies, strategies, plans, programs, projects, activities, and priorities for the Great Lakes system.

(ii) Collaborate with Canada and its provinces and with bi‑national bodies involved in the Great Lakes region regarding policies, strategies, projects, and priorities for the Great Lakes system.

(iii) Coordinate the development of consistent Federal policies, strategies, projects, and priorities for addressing the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes system and assisting in the appropriate management of the Great Lakes system.

(iv) Develop outcome‑based goals for the Great Lakes system relying upon, among other things, existing data and science-based indicators of water quality and related environmental factors. These goals shall focus on outcomes such as cleaner water, sustainable fisheries, and biodiversity of the Great Lakes system and ensure that Federal policies, strategies, projects, and priorities support measurable results.

(v) Exchange information regarding policies, strategies, projects, and activities of the agencies represented on the Task Force related to the Great Lakes system.

(vi) Work to coordinate government action associated with the Great Lakes system.

(vii) Ensure coordinated Federal scientific and other research associated with the Great Lakes system.

(viii) Ensure coordinated government development and implementation of the Great Lakes portion of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems.

(ix) Provide assistance and support to agencies represented on the Task Force in their activities related to the Great Lakes system.

(x) Submit a report to the President by May 31, 2005, and thereafter as appropriate, that summarizes the activities of the Task Force and provides any recommendations that would, in the judgment of the Task Force, advance the policy set forth in section 1 of this order.

(b) Membership and Operation.

(i) The Task Force shall consist exclusively of the following officers of the United States: the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (who shall chair the Task Force), the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Army, and the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality. A member of the Task Force may designate, to perform the Task Force functions of the member, any person who is part of the member's department, agency, or office and who is either an officer of the United States appointed by the President or a full-time employee serving in a position with pay equal to or greater than the minimum rate payable for GS‑15 of the General Schedule. The Task Force shall report to the President through the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality.

(ii) The Task Force shall establish a "Great Lakes Regional Working Group" (Working Group) composed of the appropriate regional administrator or director with programmatic responsibility for the Great Lakes system for each agency represented on the Task Force including: the Great Lakes National Program Office of the Environmental Protection Agency; the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and United States Geological Survey within the Department of the Interior; the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce, the Department of Housing and Urban Development; the Department of Transportation; the Coast Guard within the Department of Homeland Security; and the Army Corps of Engineers within the Department of the Army. The Working Group will coordinate and make recommendations on how to implement the policies, strategies, projects, and priorities of the Task Force.

(c) Management Principles for Regional Collaboration of National Significance. To further the policy described in section 1, the Task Force shall recognize and apply key principles and foster conditions to ensure successful collaboration. To that end, the Environmental Protection Agency will coordinate the development of a set of principles of successful collaboration.

Sec. 4. Great Lakes National Program Office. The Great Lakes National Program Office of the Environmental Protection Agency shall assist the Task Force and the Working Group in the performance of their functions. The Great Lakes National Program Manager shall serve as chair of the Working Group.

Sec. 5. Preservation of Authority. Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, regulatory, and legislative proposals. Nothing in this order shall be construed to affect the statutory authority or obligations of any Federal agency or any bi‑national agreement with Canada.

Sec. 6. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve the internal management of the Federal Government and is not intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, or trust responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

/s/ George W. Bush

(EPA, 2004)

Invasive species Executive Order 131112
of February 3, 1999

Directs federal agencies to use relevant programs and authorities to

Prevent the introduction of invasive species
Detect and respond rapidly to and control population of such species in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner
Monitor invasive species populations accurately and reliably
Provide for restoration of native species and habitat conditions in ecosystems that have been invaded
Conduct research on invasive species and develop technologies to prevent introduction and prove for environmentally sound control of invasive species
Promote public education on invasive species and means to address them
Not authorize, fund, or carry out actions that it believes are likely to cause or promote the introduction or spread of invasive species in the United States or elsewhere unless, pursuant to guidelines that it has prescribed, the agency had determined and made public its determination that the benefits of such an action clearly outweigh the potential harm caused by invasive species and that all feasible and prudent measures to minimize risk of harm will be taken in conjunction with the action. (USDA, 2006)

(Lifesaver, np)

Integrated Pest Management for the Sea Lamprey

The Commission will provide an integrated sea lamprey management program that supports the Fish Community Objectives for each of the Great Lakes and that is ecologically and economically sound and socially acceptable.

Milestones for Sea Lamprey Management

Establish target levels of sea lamprey abundance by 1994 that maximize net benefits of sea lamprey and fisheries management.
Suppress sea lamprey populations to target levels through an optimal program of control, assessment, and research. This program will be characterized by:
- maintenance of lampricide registrations with environmental agencies,
- development and use of alternate control techniques to reduce reliance on lampricides to 50% of current levels,
- development of quantitative assessment and improved control technologies for lentic areas and connecting channels, and
- improvement of information gathering and research through program coordination among sea lamprey control agents, fish management agencies, other agencies and private groups, and researchers. (GLFC,1994)

Get Involved

Click here for a letter to send addressing concerns with stricter regulations for hitch hiking invaders in North East waters.

Lake Champlain Basin Program

54 West Shore Road - Grand Isle, VT 05458
800/468-5227 (NY & VT) or 802/372-3213

Representative Bernie Sanders

(800) 339-9834 (toll free in Vermont)
(202) 225-4115

bernie@mail.house.gov

Lake Champlain Basin Program

54 West Shore Road - Grand Isle, VT 05458
800/468-5227 (NY & VT) or 802/372-3213

Click on the Eel to see a simulation swim!!

Swimming Lamprey Simulation (Lansner, 2002)

Links:

http://www.wcax.com/Global/SearchResults.asp?qu=sea+lamprey: Local WCAX news on the sea lamprey in local Vermont waters.

http://www.protectyourwaters.net/prevention/prevention_generic.php : Find ways to prevent further aquatic hitchhikers from invading our waters.

http://www.watershedcouncil.org/press68.html : President Bush's Budget Hangs the Great Lakes out to Dry

References

Biodiversity Parnership. 2006.Invasive Species. http://www.biodiversitypartners.org/invasive/index.shtml

Chippewa Ottawa Research Authority (CORA)Environmental Issues. http://www.1836cora.org/environmentalissues.html

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).2004.Regional Collaboration: Interagency Task Force Executive Order http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/collaboration/taskforce/eo.html

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).2006a. Introduced Species. www.epa.gov/maia/html/intro-species.html

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).2006b.

Fuller Pam,.Nico,Leo.,Maynard,Leao.2006.Petromyzon marinus.USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database,Gainesville,Fl.http:nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.asp?speciesID=836> Retrieved on March 8,2006

Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) 1994.http://www.glfc.org/pubs/visimsl.htm

Great Lakes Information Network.(GLIN) 2006. Purple Loosestrife. http://www.great-lakes.net/envt/flora-fauna/invasive/loosestf.html

Jensen,Johnny.June 7, 2005.Petromyzon marinus.Nonindigenous Aquatic Species. http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=836.

Kolar,Cindy.2004.Technical Assistance Provided to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission for Lampricides. United States Geological Survey. www.umesc.usgs.gov/invasive_species/sea_lamprey/tech._assistance.html .Retrieved on March 8, 2006.

Lake Champlain fish and wildlife managament cooperative. (Lake)2004. www.lcbp.org/atlas/html/is_lampreyfig.htm

Lansner, Anders. 2002. Autonomous Walker and Swimming Eel. http://www.ip-atlas.com/pub/nap/

Lifesaver.nd.http://www.inmagine.com/pdil095/pdil095041-photo

Marsden,Ellen J., Eric Howe, Patrick Sullivan, Mark Malchoff.2004. Great Lakes Fishery Commision. Project Completion Report. "Movement and Population Size of Sea Lamprey in Lake Champlain and its Tributaries. February 16, 2006.

Mikel,Gina.2002.SeaLamprey.February 9, 2006. www.seagrant.wisc.edu/greatlakesfish/sealamprey.html.

Sohn, E.2005. Smelly Traps for Lampreys. http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20051116/Note2.asp

United States Geological Survey.USGS.2006.Retrieved on

USDA Forest Service Authorites. 2006. Invasive species. http://www.fs.fed.us/invasivespecies/policy.shtml

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.nd. Sea Lamprey Life Cycle. http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Marquette/cycle.html