1. Dr. Melissa Gibbs Stetson University
What are we doing about Blue Spring’s Invasive Non-native Fish Species?
Dr. Melissa Gibbs
Stetson University

2. Vermiculated Suckermouth Sailfin Catfish
Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus
Tilapia
Oreochromis aureus
video clip

3. What does “Invasive” really mean?
invasive species
grow fast, reproduce at young age, produce large numbers of offspring, are tolerant of a wide variety of conditions, can adapt, and are capable of ecological harm
may also be non-native (exotic)
if it does not naturally live in an area; usually introduced by human intervention

4. Can we control invasive species?
No....tilapia and armored catfish are established in Florida (they are everywhere, and can’t be eradicated).
What can we do about them?
All we can do is improve conditions for our native species by controlling human impacts on the environment
fertilizer pollution
water conservation
manatee speed zones
not releasing aquarium fish