Effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (2005) on populations of nonindigenous Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in southern Mississippi. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina impacted coastal Mississippi with strong winds and an estimated 9-meter (30-foot) storm surge. Hurricane Rita followed less than a month later, and although its impact on coastal Mississippi was much less than that of Katrina, it reflooded much of the coastal ecosystem. Although these storms likely served to disperse Nile tilapia in southern Mississippi, the extent of the spread was unknown. Learn More

The quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis), a small exotic species from Europe, has been discovered this year in Lake Mead near Boulder City, Nevada. Until this population was detected, quagga mussels had been primarily confined to the Great Lakes Region where they were introduced along with the zebra mussel in the late 1980s. Most likely the quagga mussels were introduced to Lake Mead by a boat that had recently been in infested waters.

Quagga mussels look very similar to zebra mussels. And like the zebra mussel, the quagga mussel has the potential to cause problems for water users and ecological damage to sensitive ecosystems. Even though both species of mussels have been in the United States for approximately twenty years, scientists are just beginning to understand their long-term impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Impacts for water users are more obvious; quagga mussels can clog pipes and restrict water flow.

In an effort to keep resource managers as well as the public informed, USGS is tracking the range expansion of quagga mussels and making this and other information available. Link: Zebra -vs- quagga FAQs and current distribution.
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program (NAS): Distribution Records
High resolution images: zebra_quagga1.JPG, zebra_quagga2.JPG
Maps: Compare Distribution Map.

Characterization of the Hydrology, Water Chemistry, and Aquatic Communities of Selected Springs in the St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida, 2004. Open-File Report 2006-1107. By G.G. Phelps, S.J. Walsh, R.M. Gerwig, and W.B. Tate. The hydrology, water chemistry, and aquatic communities of Silver Springs, De Leon Spring, Gemini Springs, and Green Spring in the St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida, were studied in 2004 to provide a better understanding of each spring and to compile data of potential use in future water-management decisions. Ground water that discharges from these and other north-central Florida springs originates from the Upper Floridan aquifer of the Floridan aquifer system, a karstic limestone aquifer that extends throughout most of the State's peninsula. This report summarizes data about flow, water chemistry, and aquatic communities, including benthic invertebrates, fishes, algae, and aquatic macrophytes collected by the U.S. Geological Survey, the St. Johns River Water Management District, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection during 2004, as well as some previously collected data.  Learn More

Smith-Vaniz, W.F., H.L. Jelks, & L.A. Rocha. 2006. Relevance of cryptic fishes in biodiversity assessments: a case study at Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix. Bulletin of Marine Science 79: 17- 48. This study was initiated to inventory the coral reef fishes of Virgin Islands that might be missed by visual surveys that are used to assess coral reef fishes. While visual surveys were non-consumptive, they were missing over half of the species present. The majority of fish species on these reefs were hidden from view in the cracks and crevices. A plant-derived ichthyocide proved effective in sampling this cryptic fauna. By complementing visual surveys with rotenone sampling, a more complete assessment of coral reef fishes was achieved. Learn More

Preserving Gulf Sturgeon—A Fish Tale of Gargantuan Proportions

The weather is beautiful, sunny and warm, perfect for a day outdoors and on the water. It´s hard to imagine a better job than doing fieldwork with the USGS Coastal Ecology crew working to keep tabs on the Gulf sturgeon population. Almost every day in Florida is a great day to be out on the river, but it´s especially nice when it´s a workday and you have the water practically to yourself. Learn More

Reep, R.L. and R.K. Bonde. 2006. The Florida Manatee: Biology and Conservation. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. xvi + 189 pp.

Reep is a neuroscientist and professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida; Bonde is a biologist with the US Geological Survey Sirenia Project. Reep and Bonde engage the reader with a tale of manatees that weaves facts and real life scenarios to explain what science has learned from the Florida manatee. Spanning from microorganisms that cause manatee die-offs during red-tide blooms, to complex long-range migrations; the authors discuss the range of issues that are affect manatee survival. Their complex biology, landmark legislation of the 1970s, and the resulting biopolitics of where science and wildlife management intersect are all vital aspects of the ongoing story of the manatee.

Tadpoles of the Southeastern United States Coastal Plain
The intent of this guide is to provide biologists and laypersons with a usable field reference for identifying tadpoles of most of the frog species found in the Southeastern United States Coastal Plain region. Specifically this guide is focused on the 23 species of frogs found at Southeast ARMI inventory and monitoring sites in Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, including St. Marks, St. Vincent, Lower Suwannee, Cedar Keys, Okefenokee, Harris Neck, and Savannah National Wildlife Refuges and the Katharine Ordway Preserve-Swisher Memorial Sanctuary in Putnam County, Florida. Learn More

Genetic Modeling of Manatee Populations: Although progress has been made in the protection of manatees against threats from human activities, many populations continue to exhibit limited growth or decline, and so the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) remains an endangered species. Visible threats, such as fatal propeller wounds and habitat depletion, are not the only causes for concern when it comes to protecting the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), a subspecies of the West Indian manatee. Scientists have determined that animals of this subspecies face the additional threat of low genetic diversity, a trait that could make them more susceptible to diseases and more sensitive to climate changes. Learn More

Schofield, P.J., Williams, J.D., Nico, L.G., Fuller, P., and Thomas, M.R., 2005, Foreign Nonindigenous Carps and Minnows (Cyprinidae) in the United States—A Guide to their Identification, Distribution, and Biology: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5041, 103 p.

Carps and minnows (Family Cyprindae) are native to much of the world, including Africa, Eurasia, and North America.  Although there are about 300 species native to the United States, a number of foreign cyprinids have also been introduced.  Some of these, such as the Goldfish, have a long history of introduction reaching back to the 1600s.  Other species are recent introductions, such as the Black Carp.  Many of these foreign nonindigenous cyprinids have caused – or have the potential to cause – environmental and economic harm.

This guide contains  an identification key to the eleven foreign nonindigenous cyprinids, as well as species accounts that include physical characteristics, reproduction, ecology, and distribution in its native habitat and in the United States. Biologists, resource managers and others interested in nonindigenous fishes will find it a useful tool for identifying foreign cyprinids, some of which superficially resemble their native North American counterparts. Currently available online (Click Here), and in Acrobat PDF format: 20 megabyte file. Get Acrobat Reader.

Nico, L.G., J.D. Williams, and H.L. Jelks. 2005. Black Carp: Biological Synopsis and Risk Assessment of an Introduced Fish. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 32, Bethesda, Maryland. 337 p.

U.S. Geological Survey biologists Nico, Williams, and Jelks recently published a book on the Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), a fish native to eastern Asia that has been introduced into the USA and is now present in the Mississippi River. The species is a close relative of Grass Carp and individuals commonly grow to well over one-meter long, with a maximum of two meters or more. Black Carp are bottom dwellers with specialized diets consisting largely of snails and mussels, consequently they pose a threat to native mollusks many of which are already endangered.  Similar to Bighead Carp and Silver Carp, two other Asian species that have invaded the Mississippi River basin, Black Carp normally make annual migration runs and spawn in large rivers.

A detailed description of the book and information on how to obtain copies can be found on the web site of the publisher, the American Fisheries Society: http://64.224.98.53/publications/catbooks/x51032C.shtml.