Background Information
Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) defines an invasive species as a “nonindigenous species whose introduction causes economic or environmental harm or harm to human health” (WI Statute Section 23.22 (1) (c). These nonindigenous or non-native species can succeed in new habitats because they can quickly adapt to new environments and their native predators and competitors are absent. Invasive species can significantly alter ecosystem functions, economic value, ecological relationships, recreation, and human health.
AIS DNR Logo. Why Should We Care About Invasive Species?
The website’s goal is to provide a modern tool for public education about aquatic invasive species around Wisconsin, especially larval and adult fish identification. Currently, the Great Lakes have been significantly impacted by Sea Lamprey, Tubenose or Round Gobies, Eurasian Ruffe, Zebra Mussel, Alewife, White Perch, Asian Clam, and Asian Carp (Grass, Bighead, Silver, Common, etc). Some methods to control aquatic invasive species in Lake Michigan are reducing human transportation of these species, evaluate restoration efforts towards fish and aquatic habitats, assistance from local communities, enhance outreach and education efforts, increase monitoring, respond to emerging threats, step-up enforcement, and continue to collaborate with other organizations (DNR & UW – Sea Grant).
Aquatic Invasive Species Library (AIS Logo). Adam Dziewa/Katie Vogel. 2018
AIS Library
This library consists of aquatic invasive species pictures and resources to assist interested parties in properly recognizing and reporting a discovery of one of these species. The AIS Library was created using multiple links from numerous sources that include the DNR, UW-Sea Grant, USGS, USFWS, and other agencies or universities.
*Please click on the photos in order to access more information on each species.*
Aquatic Invasive Species Visuals
 Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii). |
 Asian Clam (Corbicula fluminea). |
 Asian marshweed (Limnophila sessiliflora). |
 Aquatic-forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides). |
 Banded Mystery snail (Viviparus georgianus). |
 Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis). |
 Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus). |
 Bloody-Red Shrimp (Hemimysis anomala). |
 Brazilian waterweed (Egeria densa). |
 Brittle Naiad (Najas minor). |
 Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense). |
 Carolina Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana). |
 Cattail hybrid (Typha x glauca). |
 Chinese mysterysnail (Cipangopaludina chinensis). |
 Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). |
 Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio). |
 Common Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum). |
 Curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus). |
 Cut-leaved teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus). DNR: Regulated/Restricted). DNR. |
 Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. |
 Didymo or Rock Snot (Didymosphenia geminata). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. |
 Duck Lettuce (Ottelia alismoides). |
 Eurasian water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). |
 European frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. |
 European stream (Valvata piscinalis). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. |
 Faucet snail (Bithynia tentaculate). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. |
 Floating Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. |
 Floating Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. DNR. |
 Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. DNR. |
 Giant Reed (Arundo donax). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. David Moorhead & DNR. |
 Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. |
 Goldfish (Carassius auratus). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. |
 Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. USFWS, USGS, DNR. |
 Hawaii Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. |
 Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. Kerry Dressler/DNR. |
 Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. Nisa Karimi & DNR. |
 Java Waterdropwort or Vietnamese parsley |
 Killer Algae (Caulerpa taxifolia). |
 Malaysian Trumpet Snail (Melanoides tuberculatus). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. Bill Frank (FL), USGS, DNR. |
|
 Narrow-leaf Cattail (Typha angustifolia). |
 Non-native Phragmites or Common reed (Phragmites australis). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited & Restricted. Elizabeth J. Czarapata, DNR. |
 New Zealand Mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum). |
 Parrotfeather (Myriophyllum aquaticum). |
 Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum). |
 Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. |
 Quagga Mussel (Dreissena bugensis). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. Myriah Richerson, USGS, DNR. |
 Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. |
 Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. |
 Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. |
 Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. |
 Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. |
 Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn University, Alabama, USA. USGS. DNR. |
 Snakehead Family (Channidae).DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. P.R. Sweet, USGS, DNR. |
 Spiny naiad (Najas marina). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. |
 Spiny Water Flea (Bythotrephes longimanus). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. |
 Starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. Paul Skawinski, DNR. |
 Tubenose Goby (Proterorhinus marmoratus). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. UW – Sea Grant, DNR. |
 Water chestnut (Trapa natans). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. DNR. |
 Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. Leslie Mehrhoff/DNR. |
 Water Spinach, Swamp Morning-Glory (Ipomoea aquatica). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. |
 Yellow Floating Heart (Nymphoides peltata). DNR: Regulated/Prohibited. |
 Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. DNR. |
 Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). DNR: Regulated/Restricted. Amy Benson, USGS, DNR. |