Friday, April 27, 2012

Ten-fold Increase in Asian Tiger Shrimp Sightings

A press release from the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) Newsroom reports a ten-fold increase in the number of invasive Asian tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) sightings both along the U.S. southeastern coastline and the Gulf of Mexico coastlines. The Asian tiger shrimp is much larger than our native shrimp species. Not only can the non-native shrimp compete directly with native species for food but the invasive shrimp can actually eat the smaller native species. This combination of competition and predation can have a devastating impact on native shrimp populations.