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~~~~ ~~ his S-ear is the eighth Year the Freshwater Sodety has compiled, edited, published, and distributed the Aquatic Nursmrce Species L?igest. The ANS Digest, ~a-ith a distribution list of about 15,000, is sent to professionals who are charged ~.vith controlling or eliminating harmful species who an-ive lie various means to our nation's waters. The Fresh-voter Society Chas chosen to do this publicationbv the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. Invasive species start out as newcomers to an environmental niche. lust how successful they are in their new location depends upon the competition and how well they, get along with their new neighbors. If they do well a t the expense of their neighbors, they become nuisance species, such as Eurasian water milfoil and zebra mussels. Several state and a few professional organizations follow the discovery of nuisance species in the environment. The ANS Digest concentrates on aquatic nuisance species. The distribution of meaningful information on aquatic nuisances is of prune importance to those professionals who must keep our ~-eaters usable. Recipients of the ANS Di gent include ?,000 envirorunental and conservation organizations, state and federal congressmen and their staff, and many other interested parties, such as the U.S. Coast Guard. A strong and recognizable editorial board is of prime importance for the credibility of a professional publication. The AV'S~Di;esf maintains a ~-aluable editorial board of scientists from a variety of highly regarded institutions and organizations. b~ a past issue, far instance, whirling disease in the wild trout of Colorado T-vas reported. Three scientists were authors of the report and the editorial board fiom that particular issue included scientists b•om the following institutions: Great Lakes Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture, L.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, iVortheast-Midwest Institute, Williams College, U.S. Geological Survey, and University of 1~Ziru~esota Sea Grant. Such aline-up of knowledge can't help taut add credence to the report. The ANS Divest takes an in-depth look at the aquatic nuisance species. In the September ?000 issue, for example, an article nlfonned readers about the threat of the Ceropngis pert,oi, the fishhook flea. Introduced via foreign ships' ballast water, the flea has proliferated in Great Lakes` waters. It's called the fishhook flea because of its spiny tail, which gro~~~s 3 rj times the length of the tlea's body. Of special interest, is its means of producing eggs. Most of the time it produces eggs asexually and only females are born. When their environment changes, a ~~ G remarkable process takes place in c-ti~hich the fleas produce only male eggs. ~~%hen both males and females are present in the same water, diapausillg eggs are produced, and these eggs remahl viable for nears, even when dried or frozen. The fishhoal: flea has been classified as an aquatic nuisance species because it consumes zoaplanlaon and other foods in large quantities, affecting the populations of indigenous fish. Also, the large populations of the spiny tails entangle fishing nets. The main purpose of the ANS Dig;cst is to serve an early warning of potential harmful species, and to proy7de ll1t01'matlall On CO11tZ01 methods, if needed. After eight years the ANS Di gc°st is still a ~~~ell regarded publication and the Fresh-eater Societti- is proud to be working on this important issue. Dick Grnil, fi,iu~idcr ol~ hlu~ Freshrcnter SocieFU, has rnrith~n ~lic 1~'nssrvor~fs cohnni~ sine 796. Tli~~ columns m~e Lensed on Grni~'s bcli~~t flint roe rni~st use DI11' i~nti(" ICnOr('IeijgC f0 rL'(ll'IC t0iUn1'~~ fIIC pres~~r~~ntion of renter. The Freshwater Society recently lost along-time supporter, huger L. Baker. '~ ~ He was an original board member of the Freshwater Foundation and served dilige~atly for several years. In 1970, Pour and his brother Bill were instru- `~ ~ mental. in a~nvincing Ins estors Diversified Sereices (IDS} to cun~ ev nearly 20 acres of prime Lake Minnetonka propert}~ to the Freshwater I=oundation for the location of the Freshwater Biological Institute. The Baker Foundation also gave :'._~ the Freshwater Foundation a substantial grant to plan and cimstruct the Roger L. Bakes- Institute. The Freshwater Society pledges to hold true to its purpose -"to keep our water useable"- an ideal. that Poger Baker also held so dearly. ,, <;~;~ FACETS July 2005