About Rob Grafton Expertise I can offer help up to UK degree level and have access to the national oceanographic library in Southampton. My speciality areas are marine biology ecology and physiology although I have a good understanding of chemical oceanography and physical Oceanography.
Experience I studied and am continuing my studies of M MarBiol at the university of Southampton
Organizations University of Southampton (uk)
National Oceanography Centre Southampton (uk)
JMBUK member
Expert: Rob Grafton Date: 11/19/2007 Subject: The Norhtern Snakehead
Question dear Rob Grafton,
I am a 6th Grade student at Gower Middle school. We were asked to research a invasive species. I am researching the northern snakehead. I have researched it and i can not find control options for the Northern Snakehead. I was wondering if you could either give me information about control options or point me in the right direction.
Ryan
Answer I do not know much about this species but with any invasive species that you wish to get rid of you can either disrupt its breeding, (remove the habitat it uses to reproduce or use chemichals to confuse them into miss identifying a mate or to prevent them from spawning.), remove their food, (this usually involves killing everything in the area and letting the native species return with time) or try to target fish that specific species (design traps to catch it based on behaviour, size and shape). most of these will have an impact on the4 local ecosystem even the targeted fishing as many other species may have the same characteristics that the target species does.
The national geographic has reported that the government are using Thus far, sandbags, electroshock equipment, traps, and hordes of anglers have been recruited to capture the alien fish. Wanted posters alert anglers to cut and bleed the fish if they catch it, since it can live on land for several days at least.
If a species is particularly invasive (very good at adapting or somehow particularly suited to its new environment and lacks decent competition), then it can be very hard to remove them and sometimes destroying the habitat and letting it regrow is the only option (although should always be the last resort.)
I hope this has helped you.
If you need anything clarified dont hesitate to ask.
