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Shedd Opens Aquatic Invasives Exhibit

Peering into the Asian carp tank in John G. Shedd Aquarium’s new permanent exhibit on invasive aquatic species in the Great Lakes, visitors can see what the lakes could look like if this invasive species escaped into Lake Michigan from the Illinois shipping canals: a bleak, barren, monoculture of carp with no sign of biodiversity. In contrast, the next tank simulates a lake ecosystem without the carp invaders, displaying multiple types of native fish, an abundance of plankton, and other living things.

The exhibit is part of a conservation initiative to draw attention to the value and vulnerability of the complex Great Lakes ecosystem. According to exhibit placards, one new invasive species enters the Great Lakes every eight months, and each decreases water quality, reduces food sources for native species, and diminishes the overall health of the lakes. Display tanks show the effects of invasive water plants, such as water hyacinths, and point out the threat of ballast water from ships, currently the primary source of new species entering the Great Lakes. (The Shedd says that there is no possibility of these invaders escaping into Lake Michigan from the lakefront aquarium itself.)

The exhibit also highlights the abundance and importance of native Great Lake species, such as paddlefish, bigmouth buffalo, and lake sturgeon. Placards suggest ways to reduce the impact of invaders, such as hosing off all equipment before moving between bodies of water, buying only native or noninvasive pet fish from reputable distributors, and never flushing live fish down the toilet. By giving audiences the opportunity to see both invasives and natives up close, the exhibit makes a frequently abstract topic tangible.

— Catherine Bendowitz