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Humans called most invasive species on Lake Superior
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Three day conference on Lake Superior begins at the DECC/story posted Monday at 3:49 p.m. 10/29/2007 |
The worst invasive species in the Great Lakes isn’t some organism from Europe. It’s people, according to scientists gathering in Duluth this week. Danielle Kaeding reports from Superior.
Invasive species remains a top concern among scientists studying Lake Superior. But Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority Fishery Biologist Mark Ebener of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan says most of the stress on fish results from lakeshore development. “These are the areas that have really suffered the greatest amount because of habitat loss and destruction through man’s activities: logging, mining, shipping—whatever you choose. Complete restoration of the fish community and the Lake Superior ecosystem is going to depend upon our ability over the next hundred to two hundred years is to restore some of the functionality of those tributary systems.” Ebener says the impact of foreign organisms to the lake is nothing compared to the effects people have on the lake. “We are the invasive species. I mean, our activities—we’re going to continue to reproduce. We’re going to continue to have children. As our populations expand, we expect better and better lifestyles for ourselves and our children. We describe that as progress. Progress to fish communities and ecosystems is usually a bad thing. We have to balance sustainability with our needs and the ecosystems’ needs. Ultimately, the ecosystem always loses.” University of Minnesota’s Environmental Institute Director Deborah Swackhamer says people are going to have to put forth a great amount of effort to keep Lake Superior great. “It’s not pristine. It’s not unmarked. It’s not something we can walk away from and say, ‘Oh, it’ll take care of itself. It’s going to require stewardship. It’s going to require thoughtful development. It’s going to require continuing to be mindful of the future threats that we know already impact out other water resources in the other Great Lakes.” Ebener says decreased brook trout populations is just one example of how fish numbers have been depleted because of people’s influence on the lake.
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