Look, another BIG Appaloosa! Did you know… What is an invasive species? …. An invasive species is any species that is not native to an ecosystem and whose introduction is likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human health…. Do you know these famous invaders? Altamaha flathead catfish Flathead catfish Snakehead Green porcelain crab Titan acorn barnacle Zebra mussel Red lionfish Green mussel in Georgia = Flathead catfish description unforked tail protruding lower jaw mottled colors vary from grey to yellowish brown flattened head Historically, flathead catfish, or Appaloosas, only occurred in Georgia’s Northwestern corner (Coosa River). However, flathead populations now live in many Georgia rivers, including the Altamaha. Introducing fish into non-native rivers can have long-lasting ecological consequences. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Native Georgia flathead populations (shaded blue) and areas where they’ve been introduced (shaded red)
Transcript
Look, another BIG Appaloosa!
Did you know… What is an
invasive species?
…. An invasive species is any species that is not native to an ecosystem and whose introduction is likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human health….
Do you know these famous invaders?
Altamaha flathead catfish
Flathead catfish
Snakehead
Green porcelain crab Titan acorn barnacle
Zebra mussel Red lionfish Green mussel
in Georgia
=
Flathead catfish description
unforked tail
protruding lower jaw mottled colors vary from grey
to yellowish brown
flattened head
Historically, flathead catfish, or Appaloosas, only occurred in Georgia’s Northwestern corner (Coosa River). However, flathead populations now live in many Georgia rivers, including the Altamaha. Introducing fish into non-native rivers can have long-lasting ecological consequences.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Native Georgia flathead populations (shaded blue) and areas where they’ve been introduced (shaded red)
Altamaha flathead catfish
THE GOOD THE BAD THE UGLY
A face only a mother could love: a flattened head, yellowish skin that is mottled with brown and green, a lower jaw that extends beyond the upper jaw, small eyes, and an unforked tail.
Although flatheads are not a native species, they have become an important social and economic resource by providing food and recreation. Anglers come from miles away to fish for these beasts. Since they can potentially weigh up to 100 pounds, they have also become a valuable trophy fish.
Flathead introductions have had negative ecological impacts in many areas: they have the potential to alter the delicate balance between predators and their prey. Flatheads are voracious predators known to eat redbreast sunfish, channelcatfish, bullhead catfish, and many others.
What is anendemic species?
…. An endemic species is unique to its own place or region; it is found only there, and not found naturally anywhere else.
Do you know these native mussels?
Altamaha Lance Altamaha Spinnymussel
Georgia Elephant Ear
Altamaha Arc-mussel
Inflated Floater
Altamaha Pocketbook
In Georgia, seven endemic mussel species occur in the Altamaha River Basin.
Mussels rely on specific fish to complete their lifecycle. Baby mussels must attach to a host fish’s gills or fins. If they can’t find their host, they will die.
When invasive predators like flathead catfish eat native fish, this could cause big problems for local mussels.
(1) Eggs develop into glochidia, (glow-kid-ee-uh) which look like Pac-Man. They need to find a fish and attach to the gills or fins to survive.
Rare Mussel Reproduction(2) Successful glochidia turn into juveniles & become free living mussels.
Mussels in troubleMussels aren’t the flashiest
creatures in the world, so you might not have heard that they are now the most imperiled animals in North America1. Many species are declining as a result of land use practices, damming of rivers, and the introduction of non-native species, such as flathead catfish in the Altamaha River.
Hostess with the Mostest?
Scientist are working to match each fish host with the mussel species that depends on it. While potential fish hosts remain a mystery, we know that flatheads eat them all.
The flathead connection
1Watters, G. 2008. FRESHWATER MUSSELS: CHALLENGING CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN A RACE AGAINST TIME" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Congress for Conservation Biology, Convention Center, Chattanooga, TN
