By Alice Rossignol and Rachael Gleason
And it’s time to reveal whether the eel-like fish, which sucks the life out of its victims, or the alewife, a 6-inch silver fish that eats things like young fish, will prevail.
And the winner is…
The sea lamprey prevails over the alewife. Photo: U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
THE GREEN LAMP-REY!
Thirty-five percent of those who filled out brackets guessed that the lamprey would dominate in Round 2. Eighteen percent said the alewife was in it to win it, while the rest wrote in other competitors.
In the poll the race was tight. Fifty-seven percent picked the lamprey for the championship round.
But don’t pat yourself on the back just yet. The scientific answer isn’t as clear as your picks.
“I think it would be tough to put one ahead of the other,” said Chuck Madenjian, a research fishery biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center.
Both fish had big impacts on the lakes by affecting fish populations.
And humans attempt to control them both. Control methods for the lamprey include barriers and lampricides. And lakes are stocked with fish like salmon that feed on the alewives.
But like Batman and Robin, together, the duo seems to create a super-invasive.
“I can tell you one thing. Working together, having them at the same time, it was devastating, that combination,” Madenjian said. “I don’t think the lakes have seen something as serious as that as far as fish invaders, ever.”
But for the sake of the competition, Echo SmackDown! judges agreed to honor your picks.
Thirteen percent of bracketeers have called each battle correctly so far, and bragging rights may soon belong to one of them.
Tomorrow: Results from Quagga vs. Eurasian Watermilfoil.
Thursday: FINAL SMACKDOWN!
In my humble opinion, the lamprey is the most miserable curse the good Lord could have ever plagued a sportsman with. They.the lamprey, are of abosoltely no value.I can’t tell you how many of them I’ve caught in the streams of Michigan and have cut into pieces on the stream banks.I urge every fisherman to do the same and support any, and all lamprey erradication programs.
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