Post by diane9247 on Apr 7, 2015 5:40:45 GMT
Monster goldfish of Lake Tahoe CA.kmz (1.11 KB)
Invasive species of fish are nothing new and California's once-pristine Lake Tahoe is home to a lot of them. They include largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill and are part of what the US Forest Service calls the "warm-water fish invasion." The one that seems most bizarre, though, is the school of monster goldfish being studied at the U. of Nevada, Reno.
A Miracle Gro equivalent means great conditions for algae growth and bad news for the once crystal clear Lake Tahoe.
Christine Ngai, a researcher at the University of Nevada, Reno, holds a giant goldfish pulled from Lake Tahoe.
The monstrous creatures are just one of several aquatic invasive species that have colonized the lake for years,
scientists say. (Heather Segale / University of Nevada, Reno) Photo
The USDA / Forest Service website states, "Please do not dump your goldfish into Lake Tahoe!" They call the goldfish "among the most destructive non-indigenous species in North America." Backyard pond koi and indoor aquarium goldfish are obviously well-adapted to living in the freezing conditions of the lake in winter and - as you can see - thrive on their diet of oxygen-producing aquatic plants.
Invasive species of fish are nothing new and California's once-pristine Lake Tahoe is home to a lot of them. They include largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill and are part of what the US Forest Service calls the "warm-water fish invasion." The one that seems most bizarre, though, is the school of monster goldfish being studied at the U. of Nevada, Reno.
Searching for invasive species that have colonized the resort-town lake, researchers Sudeep Chandra and Christine Ngai at the University of Nevada, Reno, nabbed the monstrous fish in 2011. One of them, part of a school of about 15 fish, stretched 14 inches and tipped the scales at 4.2 pounds -- dwarfing its typically finger-length, aquarium-bound counterparts.
Chandra, speaking [late Feb. 2012] from a conference in New Orleans discussing aquatic invasive species, described the goldfish’s effect on the ecosystem. The animals prey on fish that are native to Tahoe waters – and, the limnologist added, "they also excrete nutrients that are kind of in the ratio of Miracle Gro." [Source]
Chandra, speaking [late Feb. 2012] from a conference in New Orleans discussing aquatic invasive species, described the goldfish’s effect on the ecosystem. The animals prey on fish that are native to Tahoe waters – and, the limnologist added, "they also excrete nutrients that are kind of in the ratio of Miracle Gro." [Source]
A Miracle Gro equivalent means great conditions for algae growth and bad news for the once crystal clear Lake Tahoe.
Christine Ngai, a researcher at the University of Nevada, Reno, holds a giant goldfish pulled from Lake Tahoe.
The monstrous creatures are just one of several aquatic invasive species that have colonized the lake for years,
scientists say. (Heather Segale / University of Nevada, Reno) Photo
The USDA / Forest Service website states, "Please do not dump your goldfish into Lake Tahoe!" They call the goldfish "among the most destructive non-indigenous species in North America." Backyard pond koi and indoor aquarium goldfish are obviously well-adapted to living in the freezing conditions of the lake in winter and - as you can see - thrive on their diet of oxygen-producing aquatic plants.
