Great Lakes SmackDown!

By Alice Rossignol and Rachael Gleason

Zebra mussel, sea lamprey, round goby — they’re household names when it comes to Great Lakes invasive species – but which one is the worst for the ecosystem?

That’s what the “Great Lakes SmackDown!” will find out.

We chose eight of the Great Lakes’ most formidable invasive species and we’ll pit them against each other in “lake fights” over the next few weeks. We’ll introduce the contenders – including weight class, fighting skill sets and other information. But you make the  case for which  is the most ecologically destructive for the lakes.

Make your choice based on sound scientific principles. Don’t know the science? You are  welcome to vote based on personal vendettas, bad feelings and general contempt for a certain species.

Winners will be chosen based on your comments and votes posted on Great Lakes Echo.

OK, we realize that they’re all bad news. But just because they’re losers doesn’t mean that readers can’t be winners.

Use this bracket (pdf) to fill out this form (word doc) and e-mail it to greatlakesecho@gmail.com or drop it off at the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Communication Arts, Room 381 before Friday, Oct. 15^th.

Readers who call the shots correctly win a prize. More importantly, they win smack down bragging rights.

Round 1 contenders will be announced Tuesday, Oct. 12^th

Let’s fight!