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New Hampshire Habitat Stewardship Series:
Do you recognize important wildlife habitat when you see it?
Brochures can be found at the following link: click here
UNH Cooperative Extension announces publication of a brochure series to help landowners learn about and help conserve important wildlife habitats found on their land.
The New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan: Habitat Stewardship Series brochures cover a variety of habitat types critical for wildlife species at risk in New Hampshire. The first four brochures, available now, focus on grasslands, marsh and shrub wetlands, floodplain forests, and vernal pools.
The colorful brochures include practical information for landowners. Pictures and text explain how to identify habitat types, describe the major threats to the health of those habitats, and offer information about wildlife species that depend on each habitat. The brochures also provide specific recommendations for landowners interested in helping protect and conserve the wildlife that depend on each critical habitat type.
Thank you to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and also UNH
Information
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New England Red Tide
Information provided by The Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR)
web site link
Current Status of 2008 New England Red Tide
June 26, 2008
ECOHAB GOMTOX researchers aboard the R/V Tioga surveyed the waters of Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays last week. The Alexandrium cell counts indicated that the bloom was ongoing with the highest concentrations observed in Cape Cod Bay. The maximum concentration was observed near the east entrance of the Cape Cod Canal. Another patch of elevated cell numbers was observed off of Boston/Scituate. For maps of Alexandrium abundance and more on cruise observations, visit WHOI’s 2008 cruise observation page
In eastern Maine, the area closed to clam harvesting was expanded on June 24 and two new closures—one for mussels, carnivorous snails, and European oysters in a new area and one for part of the mahagony clam beds—were issued on June 25. In western Maine, an area previously closed to clam harvesting was reopened. In Nova Scotia, shellfish harvesting was closed from Sambro to Halifax.
Click on the state name for up to date information on shellfish closures. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and New York
For archived updates click here
For a summary of the bloom progression click here
Thank you for the information provided from The Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR)
web site link
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Alewife (Vermont)
Information provided by Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
web site link
Alewife
The alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) is an anadromous marine fish that is native to the east coast of North America from Newfoundland to South Carolina. It feeds and grows to maturity in the ocean, then migrates into freshwater rivers and lakes to spawn. Under certain circumstances it is able to live its entire life cycle in freshwater, and as a result, self-sustaining, landlocked alewife populations have become established in at least nineteen states.
How to Identify the Alewife
A large alewife population was discovered in Lake St. Catherine, in Rutland County, Vermont, in July 1997. How the alewives got into the lake is somewhat of a mystery. One possibility is that alewives migrated naturally into Lake St. Catherine via the Champlain Canal, the Mettawee River, Wells Brook, and Mill Brook from the Hudson River, into which anadromous alewives make yearly spring spawning migrations. However, alewives have not been reported anywhere along this hypothesized migration route, and alewives probably would not have been able to navigate Lake St. Catherine's outflow dam to get into the lake. The only remaining possibility is that alewives were introduced to the lake by human activity, either as accidental bait bucket releases or as a purposeful introduction to the lake. Since no bait shops in the area sell alewives, it is believed that they were transported from out-of-state and purposely released into Lake St. Catherine by a member of the public.
Thank you for the information provided from Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
web site link
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Water Milfoil (New Hampshire)
Information provided by New Hampshire Dept of Environmental Services
http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/bb/bb-1.htm
Water Milfoil
Aquatic plants are found in most of the lakes and ponds in New Hampshire. They are a natural component and a vital link to a healthy and diverse aquatic ecosystem. When aquatic plants interfere with man's activities, the plants are quickly designated "weeds" - something that must be removed. However, complete eradication of native aquatic plants is not recommended. Not only is it costly and impractical, it is detrimental to a healthy lake ecosystem. Nature abhors a vacuum - and will quickly repopulate an empty niche. A balanced population of plant life is the ultimate goal.
New Hampshire has been fortunate not to have had many serious "weed" problems in its lakes and ponds. The one exception has been the introduction of exotic or non-native weeds such as milfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum). Most exotic species of animals or plants introduced to a foreign habitat have few, if any, enemies to keep them in check. Milfoil is no exception - and has become an economic and recreational nuisance in certain waters of the state.
How did exotic milfoil become established in this state?
Researchers feel that milfoil was introduced from one of the southern New England states. It was most likely a "stowaway" fragment attached to a boat or trailer that came to this region. Milfoil can live out of water for many hours attached to a trailer and can quickly rebound to full life once back in the water. They are often first observed in a lake at a launch site.
What is a weed watcher?
A weed watcher is a person who lives along a lake and maintains a constant vigil for any new or unusual plant growth in the lake. The best method to protect a lake from an exotic weed infestation is to find the weed when first introduced. Small exotic weed infestations can be eradicated; large infestations, which can occur within 2 to 3 years after introduction, can only be managed by a costly annual maintenance program. Eradication of large infestations is impossible. Thus, early detection is essential to protect a lake from exotic weeds.
Thank you for the information provided from New Hampshire Dept of Environmental Services
http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/bb/bb-1.htm
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Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife)
Information provided from Conservation New England
http://efg.cs.umb.edu/conne/index.html
Few people in the continental United States can say that they've never seen Lythrum salicaria. The bright purple flowers of this invasive species bloom profusely during the summer, and the plants form great stands across wetland areas. Purple Loosestrife was first introduced into the United States in the early 19th century, and has been enjoying great prosperity ever since. Apparently this plant was introduced through several different vectors, as different sources attribute the introduction to differnt factors, including herbal uses, accidental introduction via ship's ballast (Malecki et al. 1993), as a food source for bees (pollen), as a garden ornamental (Thompson et al. 1987), and in wool-waste (Committee on the Boston Flora 1907-1924).
There are several reasons that Lythrum salicaria has been such a successful invasive species. One is the ability for massive seed production, with a single plant often producing over one million seeds! The resulting seedlings will grow in a dense mat in the area surrounding the parent plant, crowding out neighboring species in the process. Also, Purple Loosestrife resprouts easily when cut, and can reproduce vegetatively. These factors, taken into account with the lack of natural enemies that might browse on the foliage or destroy roots, make Loosestrife a formidable opponent in wetland ecosystems (Malecki et al. 1993).
What does all this mean for the ecosystems that L. salicaria invades? Diverse native plant communities have been replaced by large populations of a single species, resulting in a loss of biodiversity and threatening rare plants. Wildlife that depend on these native plant communities are now also at risk. Purple Loosestrife also fills in areas of open water, threatening the habitats of waterfowl. (Stein and Flack 1996).
As you can see from the animated image below, Lythrum salicaria first started showing up in the published flora in the mid-1800's, in areas along the coastline (Bristol County, Essex County), possibly due to introduction through ballast. By the late 1800's it was probably already well-established in all of the Massachusetts counties along the Atlantic coast; the late records for Plymouth and Barnstable counties are merely a reflection of when the earliest published flora were compiled.
Purple Loosestrife is just another example of a non-native plant species whose invasive potential has only recently been realized, even though the species was introduced over a century ago. The links at the bottom of this page will point you to more information about how people are handling this invasive plant. There are even experiments currently underway to test the ability of a beetle from L. salicaria's native habitat to control the plant here in the United States (Malecki et al. 1993). For now, we can all do our part by refusing to buy and plant Purple Loosestrife in our gardens (Recent evidence has indicated that garden varieties of Loosestrife can hybridize with Lythrum salicaria and therefore contribute further to the problems caused by that species), and by making sure that if we are trekking through wetland habitats, our bodies and our clothing do not become vectors for the spread of this species' seeds.
Thank you for the information provided from Conservation New England
http://efg.cs.umb.edu/conne/index.html
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Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) fact sheet
provided by ESPN
What is Largemouth Bass Virus?
It is one of more than 100 naturally occurring viruses that affect fish but not warm-blooded animals. Origin is unknown, but it is related to a virus found in frogs and other amphibians and nearly identical to a virus isolated in fish imported to the U.S. for the aquarium trade. Although the virus is carried by other fish species, to date, it has produced disease only in largemouth bass. Scientists do not know how the virus is transmitted or how it is activated into disease. In addition, they know of no cure or preventative, as is commonly the case with viruses.
What are the signs of Largemouth Bass Virus?
Most bass infected with LMBV will appear completely normal. In those cases where the virus has triggered disease, however, dying fish will be near the surface and have trouble swimming and remaining upright. That's because LMBV appears to attack the swim bladder, causing bass to lose their balance. Diseased fish might also appear bloated.
What are the impacts to bass populations?
Scientists do not know enough yet about the virus to determine if it will have long-lasting effects on bass populations. Indications are, however, that it will not harm fisheries long-term. Surveys on lakes following a kill suggest that fish populations r emain within the normal range of sampling variability.
Thank you to ESPN for this very informational piece www.espn.com
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Aquatic Nuisance Species in New Hampshire: Didymo or "Rock Snot"
New Hampshire anglers and boaters: be on the lookout for a new invader! The aquatic nuisance algae known commonly as "Didymo" or "rock snot" has invaded the northern reaches of the Connecticut River, marking the first official report of Didymosphenia geminata in the northeastern U.S.
This diatom species already affects freshwater rivers and streams in other parts of the U.S., Canada (including Quebec province) and New Zealand. It is not known at this time how Didymo will affect water quality, aquatic habitat and fish populations in New Hampshire. N.H. Fish and Game and the N.H. Department of Environmental Services are monitoring the situation closely and working to stop its spread to other waterbodies in the state.
It is critical for anglers and boaters to be aware that Didymo is on the move and is easily spread by even just one cell of the alga breaking off and drifting downstream in infested reaches. It is also very easily spread by waders, fishing gear and other gear that touches the bottoms of streams in infested areas, so it is essential to check and clean your fishing gear to prevent the spread of Didymo and protect New Hampshire's waters.
Anglers and boaters: How to clean your gear
Prevent the spread of Didymo by cleaning all equipment before moving from one location to another, even on the same river. If you see Didymo in New Hampshire, contact Amy Smagula at the N.H. Department of Environmental Services at 603-271-2248 or email asmagula@des.state.nh.us.
CHECK: Remove everything that sticks to fishing gear, boats and trailers. Remove all visible clumps of algae and plant material from fishing gear, waders, clothing, water shoes and sandals, canoes and kayaks, and anything else that has been in the water. It takes a number of cells present before Didymo is visible to the human eye, so cleaning is also very important.
CLEAN: Use HOT tap water and lots of soap (a good squirt of dishwashing detergent). Scrub boats and other “hard” items thoroughly; scrub all gear at least one minute. Soak clothes, felt-sole waders and other “soft” items for 30 minutes!!
Read more info here
Thank you to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's web site for this information
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Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC)
Barbara D. Petty, Allen C. Riggs, RuthEllen Klinger, Roy P.E. Yanong and Ruth Francis-Floyd
Introduction
Spring viremia of carp (SVC) is a viral disease that can cause significant mortality of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). This species is raised as a food fish in many countries and has also been selectively bred for the ornamental fish industry, where it is known as koi. Historically, the disease has been a problem in Europe, the Middle East, and Russia. Recently, SVC has been reported in koi in the United States for the first time. This information sheet is intended to inform veterinarians, biologists, culturists, and hobbyists about SVC.
What is Spring Viremia of Carp?
Spring viremia of carp is caused by Rhabdovirus carpio, a bullet-shaped RNA virus. The disease has been reported in common carp (or koi) (Cyprinus carpio), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), and Crucian carp (Carassius carassius), a close relative of the goldfish. Recent evidence suggests that common goldfish (C. auratus) are also susceptible.
The disease was initially diagnosed in Yugoslavia (Fijan et al. 1971). Since then, it has been identified in other European countries, Russia, and the Middle East. Mortality has reached 70% in yearling carp from European populations. Adult fish can also be affected but to a lesser degree.
What are the Signs of SVC?
Clinical signs of SVC are often non-specific and may include darkening of the skin, exophthalmia (pop-eye), ascites (dropsy), pale gills, hemorrhages in the gills, skin, and eye, and a protruding vent with a thick mucoid (white to yellowish) fecal cast.
Internally, edema (fluid build up in organs and in the body cavity), inflammation, and pinpoint hemorrhages in many organs, including the swim bladder, may be present.
The presence of pinpoint hemorrhages in the swim bladder is considered an important indicator of this disease. The intestine is often severely inflamed and may contain significant amounts of mucus. The spleen is often enlarged.
Concurrent infection with bacteria, particularly Aeromonas (A. salmonicida or A. hydrophila), may confuse the diagnosis as fish will show signs of systemic infection such as ascites and hemorrhages.
Behaviorally, infected fish may appear lethargic, exhibit decreased respiration rate, and loss of equilibrium. Moribund fish have been reported to lie on their sides, often on the bottom of the tank, and when startled swim up but then return to the bottom. Fish are also reported to congregate where there is slow water flow and near pond banks (Fijan 1999).
How is SVC diagnosed?
Diagnosis of SVC can be accomplished by several methods. Direct methods include virus isolation and identification using fathead minnow (FHM), epithelioma papillosum of carp (EPC), and primary carp ovary cells (COC) cell lines. Indirect tests for SVC include ELISA, virus neutralization and immunofluorescence of suspect tissue.
How is SVC treated?
Antiviral drugs are not available to treat SVC or other viral diseases of cultured fish. Temperature manipulation is probably the most practical means of preventing or controlling mortality once an epizootic is in progress. Maintaining water temperature above 20°C (68°F) may prevent a potential outbreak.
In active outbreaks, efforts are directed at depopulating infected stock, and disinfecting all areas where infected fish were held. However, in some circumstances, this may be difficult. The virus can be infective in mud and water for up to 42 days (Plumb 1999).
The virus can be inactivated by formalin, ozone, sodium hypochlorite (chlorine at 500 ppm for ten minutes), organic iodophors, gamma and ultraviolet irradiation, pH extremes of < 4.0 or greater than 10.0, and heating at 60°C (140°F) for 15 minutes (Smail and Munro 1989; Fijan 1999). All equipment and tanks, raceways, and ponds should be disinfected.
Fish that are exposed to physiological stressors such as crowding, handling, poor water quality, malnutrition, and sudden temperature changes are most susceptible, because of resulting immune system suppression.
Vaccine development has been attempted in the Czech Republic (Macura et al. 1983) with promising results but further studies are necessary. The development of genetically resistant strains should also be pursued (Fijan 1999).
How can SVC be prevented?
In the face of infection, maintaining a water temperature of 20°C (68°F) or higher will increase the chances for infected fish to develop an immunity to SVC, reducing mortalities. It is unknown at this time whether fish that have been exposed to SVC, and subsequently become immune, will serve as a source of virus to unexposed fish. These actions will help stop the spread of VHS and other fish diseases.
New fish should be purchased from SVC-free suppliers and farms.
This report has been furnished from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
For more info go to:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VM106
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Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)
VHS is an infectious disease of fish. There are several strains of VHS that affect fresh and salt water fishes. The strain of VHS that is currently present in the Great Lakes is a strain most closely related to one that is found on the Atlantic coast. VHS affects several different species of fish, including sportfish. Some of the affected species include: Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides), Freshwater Drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), Round Goby (Apollonia melanostomus), and Walleye (Sander viteus).
Characteristics
Clinical signs of VHS in fish varies greatly, where some fish will show obvious signs of the virus and others will show none. Severity of infection can be broken down into three different forms, acute (rapid onset), chronic (long lasting), and latent (dormant).
Acute infection usually results in rapid mortality (death). Signs of acute VHS infection include lethargy, darkening in color, protruding eyeballs, and anemia (red blood cell deficiency). Hemmoraging (bleeding) is also common in acute cases of VHS, it can be seen externally in the fish’s eyes, skin, gills, and fins. Internally small hemorrhages can be seen in some of the tissues surrounding the eyes, muscles attached to the skeleton, swim bladder and organs. The organs most commonly affected include the liver and kidneys, with the liver appearing mottled in color and engorged with blood. The kidneys in VHS infected fish appear thin and red.
Chronic infection also results in high mortality, however the period between infection and death is longer than in acutely infected fish. Chronically infected fish show lethargy, darkening of pigmentation, protruding eyeballs, and severe anemia. Unlike acute infection, chronically infected fish do not show the excessive external hemorrhaging, but do show a notably distended abdomen. Internally, VHS chronically infected fish show alterations to the liver, kidney, and spleen. The liver often shows small red spots on the surface, and the kidneys appear grayish in color. The infected fishes gills will also often appear pale in color
Latent infections show very low total mortality, with no clinical symptoms being observable. Although these fish do not show any external signs of the virus, they are still capable of passing the disease on to other fish.
The final cause of death in VHS infected fish is usually kidney failure, which results in fluid and waste products building up in their bodies. Another cause of death in infected fish is an inability to osmoregulate, meaning that the fish is unable to maintain the proper balance of fluids in their body.
Distribution
The strain of VHS that has been seen in the Great Lakes is a mutation of a VHS strain that has been documented on the Atlantic coast. In the Great Lakes region VHS has been found in the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, the Niagara River, Lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron. It has also been found in two inland lakes in Wisconsin (Lake Winnebago) and Michigan (Budd Lake). It is unknown exactly how the virus gained entry to the Great Lakes. Ballast water of ocean going ships, aquarium/live fish releases, or hitching a ride on migrating fish are potential vectors for its introduction.
Transmission/Impact
VHS is a highly contagious disease of fresh and saltwater fishes. VHS is transmissible to fish of all ages, and a number of different species. Transmission of the virus can occur in different ways, fish to fish transfer can occur by contact with one infected fish to another fish, or shed with bodily fluids. Virus can be spread from one waterbody to another through the movement of fish, water, boats, or equipment that has come in contact with the virus.
VHS implicated fish kills are most common in the spring and fall when water temperatures are cooler, with the optimum temperature for VHS replication being in the 14-15°C (57-59°F) range. VHS replicates slowly below 6°C (43°F), and little to no replication occurs at or above the 20°C (68°F) mark.
Mortality varies by species and environmental conditions. Stress appears to increases the likelihood of infection. Mortality occurs most often during these stressful times, such as near spawning time, or towards the end of winter. Outbreaks of VHS can also occur during stressful environmental events, such as changes in water temperature or other environmental alterations. Different species of fish show varying degrees of mortality, and much is still unknown.
Although it is too early to tell what the impact will be on the fishery in the Great Lakes, large fish kills of certain species have already been observed. The Great Lakes fishery represents an estimated annual 4 billion dollar (US dollars) industry, and VHS has the potential to impact this industry greatly.
There is no indication that consuming or handling VHS contaminated fish poses any threat to human health. However hand washing is always good practice when handling fish and wildlife that show disease symptoms of any kind.
Help Prevent VHS from Spreading
Use baitfish that has been harvested locally
Remove all mud, aquatic plants and animals from all gear, boat motors and trailers before leaving a body of water.
For Further Information:
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Natural Resource Information Centre
1-800-667-1940
Thank you for the information provided by invadingspecies.com
