As if there werent enough problems for scientists trying to save the Great Lakes Eco System. Many non-native species have entered the eco system and many of them are harmful. Every species in itself has played a role in the eco system. These non-native species make it increasingly difficult for the Great Lakes Eco System to be regulated. One species in particular, the Round Goby (Neogobious Melanostomus), is particularly harmful. This is a freshwater fish that originated from the Europe and Asia area, mostly residing in the Caspian and Black seas. The round goby was most likely introduced into this area by accident. It was brought over by ships traveling in the ocean to the Great lakes region. The first big outbreak of the round goby was found in Lake Michigan, with large amounts now found in Lakes Huron and Erie. Round gobies have only been noticed in the Great Lakes Region since about 1990. By 1994 they were found in many bays and rivers outside of Cleveland. Most of the goby sightings have remained in the Midwest. There are many problems that the round goby creates. First the goby reproduces quickly and in large amounts. Second the round goby, witch is very small, is a very aggressive fish and disturbs and eats many native fish and their eggs. Gobies are also a problem among fishermen because they often scare off the specific kind of fish that the fishermen are looking for. Another problem with the round goby is that it appears to be very similar to many native fish, which makes it hard to identify. While this species is relatively new to the ecosystem of the Great Lakes, it has had an impact. The goby is known to harass and kill many fish of its kind and eat the eggs of many different species of fish. When they first arrived it was not totally apparent to scientists whether they would be harmful or not. However, as more showed up their behavior has been monitored and it has been determined that they are harmful t...
