Are Sea Squirts a Threat to Marine Life?

[Rach3]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060525/ap_on_sc/sea_squirt_invasion

Look at the picture! It's an animal apparently.

"This thing has the potential for causing significant economic impact when it attaches to the floor of the Sound, where it blankets and suffocates shellfish and lobsters," said Ivar Babb, director of UConn's Undersea Research Center at Avery Point in Groton.

"This thing is ugly," Babb said. "It has no socially redeeming virtues."

Odd thing for a biologist to say...

 

[Rach3]

If the scientists don't find bigger quantities of the blob-like creature, they might use chlorine or vinegar to kill it. First, however, they plan to study the effect those substances might have on other marine life native to the Sound.

Vinegar. Interesting. Does significantly lowering the pH of a marine enviorment do any damage? Let's do a study and find out!

 

[Evo]

I hope they can be contained. They sound like a real problem.

On a slightly separate note -

There is a serious problem with the destruction of sea life. The attached is a very good article. The rate at which ocean resources are being destroyed for a quick profit is very disturbing.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/22/opinion/edbowring.php

 

[Gokul43201]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060525/ap_on_sc/sea_squirt_invasion

Look at the picture! It's an animal apparently.

Of course it's an animal. I can clearly discern well-formed fingers with nails at the ends.