University of Minnesota professor Peter Sorensen has proposed a plan to bring a research center to campus that will research an invasive species, the Minnesota Daily reported.
Sorensen, of the university's Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation program, went before the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Council to ask the Legislature to increase the current funds spent on fighting invasive species to $5.5 million, reported Minnesota Public Radio. He expressed concern for the state Minnesota's water wildlife due to the introduction of a number of invasive species.
Invasive species are species introduced to an area outside of their original habitat who oftentimes threaten the local wildlife. For Minnesota, this issue is extremely important, as the introduction of Asian carp, snakeheads, and zebra mussels have been competing against -- and defeating -- our prized natural wildlife, reported the Star Tribune.
Sorenson told Minnesota Public Radio that he was confident that he will be able to do something about the Asian carp, should he get the funding. In fact, the university is already researching the use of audio barriers to deter carp, since their hearing is over 50 times more sensitive than that of other fish.
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