Week of February 3, 2008

SUNY Oneonta scientist receives grant to study invasive crayfish

WKTV, Utica, NY

ONEONTA - Dr. Thomas Horvath, Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Environmental Sciences Program at the SUNY College at Oneonta, has received a grant of $6,910 from the Mid-Atlantic Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species for a project entitled "Current and projected distribution of the invasive rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus, in the Upper Susquehanna River basin."

Horvath will use the grant to conduct an intensive survey of Delaware and Susquehanna watersheds to determine the extent and range of the invasive species of crayfish and the threat that it poses to local ecosystems and native biodiversity.

According to Dr. Horvath, crayfish are among the most imperiled animals in fresh waters, with introduced species contributing to declines in biodiversity. Rusty crayfish can be keystone species in aquatic communities, and knowledge of their status is important for the management of this invasive crayfish and other aquatic organisms in thewatersheds. A systematic inventory of crayfish has not been completed in New York State since 1952. Full Article

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Laconia City Council (New Hampshire) warned of Milfoil spread

By JOHN KOZIOL (http://www.citizen.com/)

Although City Council members don't want Lake Winnisquam to return to the old days of being green with weeds, they're also leery of contributing municipal money toward what some see as the state's obligation to combat invasive milfoil. That said, the council on Monday nonetheless agreed that it would consider giving $5,000 annually to an ongoing five-year, roughly $30,000 effort to combat milfoil on Lake Winnisquam. That discussion will occur as part of the deliberations on the fiscal 2008-2009 budget, which should begin in March. Jody Connor, who is director of the state Department of Environmental Services' Limnology Center, and Brian Wolf of the Lake Winnisquam Association, told the council that milfoil is headed Laconia's way from Meredith, although some is already here. Full Article [Editor's note: I'm not sure, but I think they're talking about Myriophyllum heterophyllum (Variable-Leaf Milfoil).]

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