Primary Threats in the the great lakes
Zebra Mussels
Quagga Mussels
Quagga Mussels
The most infamous of the dangerous invasive species, the Zebra Mussel poses a threat to ecosystems, infrastructure, recreation, and humans in the Great Lakes
Quagga Mussels
Quagga Mussels
Quagga Mussels
Closely related to the Zebra Mussel is the Quagga Mussel, another emerging threat with large-scale impacts on the environment of the Great Lakes
Grass Carp
Quagga Mussels
Grass Carp
Originally from Asia, the Grass Carp is harmful to the Great Lakes based on its tendency to carry parasytic organisms and outcompete other species in an ecosystem
Alewife
Sea Lamprey
Grass Carp
This small, unassuming fish first recorded in the Great Lakes in 1868 has been known to detrimentally impact lake food-webs, and have negative health and socio-economic effects
Sea Lamprey
Sea Lamprey
Sea Lamprey
A fierce and carnivorous freshwater species of lamprey known as the "vampire fish." It is just as scary as it is harmful to Great Lakes's ecosystems, economy, and human health
Round Goby
Sea Lamprey
Sea Lamprey
The Round Goby is a small fish present in all five of the Great Lakes that has introduced harmful chemicals and contaminants, and is toxic to humans and other fish in the ecosystem
What is GLIDE?
The Great Lakes Invasive Defense Effort, or GLIDE, is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the Great Lakes through the removal of invasive species.
A variety of species have made it to our Great Lakes from Europe and Asia, but many of them aren't quite suited for their new ecosystem. In extreme cases, they disrupt the ecosystem by out-competing other organisms, and are considered "invasive." Over 33% of the Great Lakes non-native species are invasive.
Our Mission at GLIDE is to minimize the population of Invasive species in the Great Lakes. We strongly encourage the following:
- Wash your boat to remove highly invasive zebra mussels.
- Visit the GLANSIS website for more information on invasive species and contribute to their peer review by sharing any data you may have collected.
Who is GLIDE?
My name is Antonio Borrello, and I love fishing in our Great Lakes. Therefore, preventing further damage to them has become my mission.
I first learned of Invasive Species in the 5th grade. I was shocked at how easily animals could destroy our ecosystems if we let them. Since then, I have taught myself how to fish, and founded the fishing club at my high school. During one of our expeditions, we noticed that the shore of the local lake was smothered with zebra mussels. From there, I was inspired to make a difference.