Dennis Anderson, outdoor columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, has done great work this past few months exploring the history of wetland destruction and this piece on the introduction of carp to the waters of the region is another example. Aside from looking nice in a child's aquarium, the chief benefit non-native carp provide is concentrating toxic pollutants in their bodies because they feed on the bottom and nose around in the polluted sediments. So many environmental agencies use levels of toxins in carp as a key environmental indicator.
The story's the same throughout the Great Lakes region.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/533/5223895.html
Posted by Dave at February 7, 2005 10:24 PM