Top 10 Great Lakes Invasive Species Causing Most Damage

Hundreds of aquatic species are causing problems in the Great Lakes. Here are the top 10 invasive species.

The Great Lakes and the Shipping Industry

Michigan is lucky to have the largest bodies of fresh water wrapped around the state with the Great Lakes.

👇BELOW: Strange Creatures of the Great Lakes👇

With bodies of water like the Great Lakes comes the fishing and shipping industry. Boats coming into the Great Lakes from other parts of the world sometimes bring invasive species along for the ride. Species not native to a body of water can have disastrous consequences, and that is why teams of scientists are constantly monitoring what is causing problems for the Great Lakes.

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Top 10 Invasive Species in The Great Lakes

According to FOX 17, the Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS) has listed the top 10 invasive species affecting the Great Lakes.

Number 10 is the white perch that preys on other native species' eggs.

Number 9 is the round goby. These little buggers can outcompete native fish for food and habitat and specialize in eating up native fish eggs. The round goby can also transmit diseases.

Number 8 is the common reed plant. These can alter wetland habitats and outcompete native plants.

Number 7 is the water chestnut plant. When these grow, they can form dense mats that obstruct the growth of native plants and reduce oxygen levels in the water.

Number 6 is the grass carp. These fish consume large quantities of aquatic plants, which leads to algal blooms.

Number 5 is Japanese stiltgrass. These plants can alter soil chemistry and reduce light availability for native plants.

Number 4 is the sea lampreys. These attach to other fish, feed on their blood, and often lead to native fish dying.

Number 3 is the alewife fish. These are a favorite for salmon to eat, but they compete with native species of minnows for resources, and the alewife can harm native species populations.

Number 2 is the quagga mussel. These are not just in the Great Lakes anymore. They are in Michigan rivers, streams, creeks, and inland lakes. Quagga mussels can wipe out food sources for native species, clog pipes and infrastructure, and change the fish food web.

Number 1 is the zebra mussel. These filter out plankton, outcompete native species, and contribute to botulism outbreaks.