Animal Story 1

Scientists: Sea Squirts Invading LI Sound


GROTON, Conn. -- A blob-like creature is invading Long Island Sound and posing a threat to its lobsters and other shellfish, University of Connecticut scientists say.

The researchers say they have found colonies of invasive sea squirts, blob-shaped animals that reproduce easily, on the floor of the sound.

They believe this variety of sea squirt, known as didemnum, arrived on the hulls of ships from Asia. They have no known predators.

"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.

The animals range in color from a creamy translucent pearl to olive or tan. In Japan, there are some red species.

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

They cannot break the colonies apart, Babb said. Like sea stars that become damaged, they can grow replacement parts. Splitting one sea squirt in half doesn't kill it; it only creates two of the plankton-eating creatures.

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.

Information from: Connecticut Post, http://www.connpost.com

I lost the squirts!!!!! But here they are. All gathered in one area, blanketing one of the new axis of evil places. Good job, squirts. Good job!!!!

A few points about this story:

1. No known predators, you say? So...in my next life, my choices have expanded on what I would like to be - a crocodile, shark or sea squirt.

2. Oooo, being chopped into pieces only creates more of us! That's one awesome creature. And so what if the trade off is that it's one ugly beast? Whatever.

3. It's blanketing LI, people! Muwahahahaha. I knew that place was evil.

4. I don't like LI but I do like shellfish... well, can't have something for nothing, I guess. It's for the greater good.

5. There's a red species in Japan. I am not so not surprised.