Criminal #1Criminal #1The Round GobyThe Round Goby

•Facts:Facts:• Originated in Eastern EuropeOriginated in Eastern Europe

• Now found in many Now found in many freshwater areas, including freshwater areas, including parts of Lake Simcoeparts of Lake Simcoe

• Mostly found near bottom of Mostly found near bottom of shoreline areasshoreline areas

• Aggressive and can spawn Aggressive and can spawn multiple times/seasonmultiple times/season

• Adults feed on zebra Adults feed on zebra mussels and eggs of other mussels and eggs of other fishfish

CrimesCrimes

• Round Goby predators are exposed Round Goby predators are exposed to high levels of contaminantsto high levels of contaminants

• Reduce other fish population due to Reduce other fish population due to egg consumptionegg consumption

• Alters behaviour, feeding habits, and Alters behaviour, feeding habits, and stress levels of other fish due to stress levels of other fish due to aggressive nature aggressive nature

VictimsVictims

• Mottled Sculpin Mottled Sculpin and Native and Native Logperch (found in Logperch (found in St.Clair River, near St.Clair River, near London, ON)London, ON)

• Ducks, WalleyeDucks, Walleye

Accessory to CrimeAccessory to Crime

• Most likely came to Canada in ship ballast Most likely came to Canada in ship ballast waterwater

• Ballast water is required for ship stabilityBallast water is required for ship stability

Criminal #2Criminal #2Zebra MusselsZebra Mussels

• FactsFacts• Originated in RussiaOriginated in Russia

• Now found in many Now found in many freshwater bodies all over freshwater bodies all over the world; prolific in the the world; prolific in the Great Lakes (& Lake Great Lakes (& Lake Simcoe!)Simcoe!)

• Can produce 30,000 up to Can produce 30,000 up to 1,000,000 eggs/year1,000,000 eggs/year

• Management costs Management costs estimated to be $250 - estimated to be $250 - $500 million/year$500 million/year

CrimesCrimes

• Can completely cover undersides of docks, Can completely cover undersides of docks, entire boat motors, and anchorsentire boat motors, and anchors

• Can grow so densely they’ve been known to Can grow so densely they’ve been known to completely cover populations of native completely cover populations of native musselsmussels

• Can also clog water intake pipes for Can also clog water intake pipes for municipalities and hydroelectric companies, municipalities and hydroelectric companies, and can completely cover water current and can completely cover water current metersmeters

• Positive – are very efficient water cleaners Positive – are very efficient water cleaners (due to filter feeding) (due to filter feeding)

VictimsVictims

• DiporeiaDiporeia

• Whitefish, Smelt, Whitefish, Smelt, Sculpin (again!) Sculpin (again!) due to declining due to declining DiporeiaDiporeia

Accessory to CrimeAccessory to Crime

• Most likely came to Canada in ship ballast Most likely came to Canada in ship ballast waterwater

• Is now spread unintentionally by people, as Is now spread unintentionally by people, as larvae are microscopic and are very hardylarvae are microscopic and are very hardy

Other notorious criminalsOther notorious criminals

• Sea LampreySea Lamprey

Purple LoosestrifePurple Loosestrife

Asian Longhorned BeetleAsian Longhorned Beetle

European StarlingEuropean Starling