Identifying operational control options for high priority freshwater invasive aquatic animal species in the Great Lakes: existing tools and research needs
This study reviews operational control methods for 20 priority invasive aquatic animal species in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Evaluating mechanical, physical, chemical, and biological approaches, the authors identify limitations, research needs, and opportunities for integrated management. Findings support ecosystem-based strategies to reduce ecological and economic impacts.
Subject Tags
- Invasive Species
- Fisheries
- Habitat restoration
Abstract
Aquatic invasive species (AIS) cause substantial ecological and economic harm worldwide, yet options for controlling established populations remain limited, particularly in large, connected ecosystems such as the Laurentian Great Lakes. Considerable progress has been made in developing suppression methods for invasive aquatic plants, whereas comparatively there has been limited progress on animal taxa. Here, we compile and evaluate operational control tools currently available for 20 priority invasive aquatic animals in the Great Lakes, reviewing mechanical, physical, chemical, and biological methods, and summarizing their effectiveness and limitations. Our goal was to evaluate the overall availability of viable tools for each species of interest. We found that none of the reviewed species had high availability of control tools. Species with moderate availability of control tools tended to have higher impact scores, broader global distribution, and more years established in the Great Lakes than species for which there was low availability of viable control tools. Case studies, such as common carp control with exclusion barriers and targeted harvest in coastal wetlands, demonstrate both ecological benefits (e.g., macrophyte recovery, improved water clarity) and risks of unintended outcomes, such as enhanced recruitment under partial control. Across taxa, integrated control studies show that combining multiple tools in a site-specific, adaptive framework offers the greatest potential for achieving long-term ecological benefits. Finally, we identify key research needs that will advance operational control of invasive aquatic animals, including development of innovative tools, improved understanding of population-level responses to suppression, and decision-support frameworks to evaluate trade-offs among ecological outcomes. Many of the 20 species are considered invasive in other parts of the globe and may therefore also represent global priorities for control. By synthesizing the current state of control efforts for invasive aquatic animals in the Great Lakes, this work provides a foundation for prioritizing investments and guiding ecosystem-based management.
Citation
Davidson AD, Tank SN, Tucker AJ, Chadderton WL (2026) Identifying operational control options for high priority freshwater invasive aquatic animal species in the Great Lakes: existing tools and research needs. Management of Biological Invasions 17(2): 265–293, https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2026.17.2.04
TNC Authors
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Andrew Tucker
Conservation Scientist. Wisconsin
The Nature Conservancy
Email: atucker@tnc.org -
Lindsay Chadderton
The Nature Conservancy