Spiky creature plaguing Canadian lakes now threatens New Hampshire waters
The spiny waterflea is just one of more than 1440 invasive species in Canada.
Authorities tracking invasive species at New Hampshire’s famous Newfound Lake, a spring-fed waterway known for its pristine surrounding landscape, recently received an unwanted surprise.
A new report by the New Hampshire Bulletin says in September, the Newfound Lake Association logged a photo of a small, spiky invader.
The image had been taken by an angler and posted to social media, the bulletin says.
Newfound Lake Region Association Conservation Program Manager Paul Pellissier confirmed the creature was a spiny waterflea, which made its way into the state two years ago. Authorities had hoped the tiny invasive creature wouldn’t make its way into Newfound Lake, because once it arrives, it is extremely hard to eliminate.
This is something Canadian conservationists know all too well: Currently, the spiny waterflea inhabits all of the Great Lakes, as well as around 100 other waterways in Ontario, including several in Algonquin Park and the Ottawa River’s Lake McConnell area. Elsewhere in Canada, it is detectable in Manitoba’s Winnipeg River and Lake Manitoba, and in Quebec’s St. Lawrence and Richelieu Rivers.
The spiny waterfelea is about 1.5 cm in length. (Emily DeBolt/New York Department of Environmental Conservation)
What is the spiny waterflea?
The spiny waterflea (Bythotrephes longimanus) made its North American appearance in 1982 in Lake Ontario. Experts believe it migrated through the ballast water of Asian and European ocean liners.
They are small — measuring about 1.5 centimetres in length — but they can clump together and form large, jelly-like masses that can move to other waterbodies with greater ease.
Why are spiny waterfleas harmful to the environment?
Spiny waterfleas have no natural predators in Canada, which can allow their populations to expand rapidly, and they consume large amounts of the zooplankton that supports Canada’s food chain, The Government of Manitoba says.
Spiny waterfleas can join together to form clumps that allow them to migrate easier. (Invading Species Awareness Program)
Weather-hardy eggs
Spiny waterfleas will not dry out in drought-like conditions and can remain dormant for decades, until environmental conditions improve. If eaten, the eggs can survive a fish’s digestive system and be moved into new lakes. The eggs are also extremely cold-resistant and can ride out the chilliest months at the bottom of a lake, hatching when temperatures climb above four degrees Celsius.
Preventing the spread of the spiny waterflea
An individual waterflea can be hard to see, so sometimes they are unknowingly transferred to other locations. The Government of Manitoba says the best way to stop the spread of the spiny waterflea is to prevent human-caused movement. This can be achieved by:
Cleaning all equipment thoroughly to remove any traces of invasive species before entering a waterway, making sure nothing remains attached.
Not transporting live bait from one location to another to avoid accidentally spreading spiny waterfleas.
Making sure all equipment is cleaned and properly drained after being in the water, and is dried for at least five days.
Members of the public are encouraged to report spiny waterflea sightings to local conservation authorities.
Invasive species are a big drain on Canada’s economy
The spiny waterflea represents just one of the more than 1440 invasive species being tracked in Canada, all of which are taking an economic toll.
A recent report by The Weather Network’s Lauren O’Neil says invasive species subtract around $35 billion from Canada’s economy each year, adding pressure to our forest, agricultural, and fishing industries.