Exotic Species

-!ntre~u£-t~6ns Otsego Lake has had its share of invasions of nui­ sance aquatic organisms over the years. European carp (Cypril1us carpio) got into the lake in the 1800s and had important impacts on both animals and plants in the lake before those communi­ ties were even documented. In the 1930s curly leaved pondweed (Potamogetol1 crispus) arri ved and created a serious nuisance for star sailor~ and other keclboats e;.l.ch spring until it was sup­ planted by Eurasian mi Ifnil (Myriophyllum spicatum) which now dominates the vascular plant community in Otsego. A notorious aggres­ sive exotic, the milfoil has out competed curly leaved pondweed rendering it less of a problem. Milfoil itself. although abundant in the lake. creates less of a prob­ lem than is typical because we have at least four insects in the lake that feed on it preventing it form forming the massive beds that occur in most lakes hindering recreation. Several years ago another plant, south­ ern niaid (Nojos guodo­ /llpemis) appeared but has apparently had no negative effects. In 1990 European rudd (Scardinius erthroph­ tha/wns), a carplike fish closely related to our native golden shiner (Notemigol1us crysoleucas), got into the lake after being sold locally for fish bait. Unlike golden shiners, which never reach over 7 inches in Otsego, rudd are now are over a foot long. No one knows what impacts these carp-like fish will have. Alewife (A/oso pselldohorengus) was first recorded in Otsego Lake by Ru I'us Thayer who brought us a specimen he found in a lake trout stomach in 19Ro. Since then our greate. t chal­ lenge in mainraining water quality is been associated with attempts to control that popul'ltion. Water chest­ nllL~ (lm/w lI{/fallS • which crcate~ probl I1h in lakes and rivc:rs by completely covering the waters sUlf·acc. \ ere founcJ by BFS students in Otsego La~e ~e\ eral years l1l.':{). After removal they were nOI seen again until ConI. on p.2 INSIDE • 2008 Intcrns • Exotic Species Introduction.!....F. H. V. Mecklenburg High School Internship Awards • Updates