The round goby fish may seem harmless but it is one of the most powerful invasive species, it is a freshwater fish that originated from the Europe and Asia area, mostly residing in the Caspian and Black seas. (Cerwanka, 2023) 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. But to this day the round goby is still attacking ecosystems. The round goby poses a lot of problems and this essay goes into detail about the major ones. Firstly, the round goby fish is a small but powerful species that affects native species of the habitats it invades. The round goby species can have devastating and irreversible effects on pre-existing ecosystems and habitats,…show more content… These adaptations make it difficult to eradicate the round goby once it has invaded an ecosystem. The round goby causes harm to ecosystems in various ways, including competing for food, consuming native species, and spreading diseases. Its spread is primarily caused by human activities, such as anthropogenic translocations (e.g. ship ballast water transport) and modifications to habitats, such as connecting previously separate river systems and channelization. By consuming eggs and competing for food, the round goby decreases the levels of native fish. It has also been suggested that round gobies can pass a strain of botulism to birds and fish that consume them. This toxin comes from the zebra mussels that the round goby feeds on and can cause death in fish and birds. In summary, the round goby is a highly successful and harmful invasive species that poses a threat to ecosystems and native species. It is important to be aware of its presence and take measures to prevent its spread in order to protect the balance of our…show more content… The round goby species also impacts Sociology in ways such as the transformation of native aquatic communities resulting in the intrinsic loss of natural capital and enjoyment of natural areas. (J. Ray et al, pg2, 2018) Humans contribute to the spread of round gobies. The round goby species is spreading rapidly and getting out of control. The spread of this species is caused by anthropogenic translocations (e.g., ship ballast water transport) and facilitated by human activities such as connection of formerly separate river systems as well as channelization and habitat modification. Several of the above-mentioned factors interact in a synergistic way. Scientists first identified the round goby in 1990 in the St. Clair River. Since then it’s become “one of the most successful invaders of the Great Lakes and its tributaries,”(cerwanka, 2023). People who specialize in zoology and marine biology are becoming worried about the extreme spread of round goby and we should be too due to the fact that the round goby fish is responsible for botulism type e in the fish and birds that eat them. Round gobies pose serious harm to the bodies of water they invade. The round goby is most commonly found in the Great Lakes.
