SANTA CRUZ, Calif.—Researchers say a tiny, invasive freshwater snail has spread faster in California waterways than previously thought.
The New Zealand mudsnail has now been found in the higher elevations of the Santa Cruz Mountains by local researchers. The snail had been found previously in a dozen or so inland California rivers.
The snail reproduces quickly and can even survive in the stomachs of predators.
Researchers fear the snail will crowd out the insects that the threatened steelhead feeds on. They say it also could push out other aquatic life important to the food web.
Officials are asking all fishermen who wade into area rivers to freeze all of their gear for eight hours, which is the only way to decontaminate.
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_13900552?nclick_check=1
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment