The round goby is an example of an invasive species that has changed Lake Erie. But the extent of its impact, and how it has changed our lake was not something that was easily predicted.

• How has the round goby affected the Lake Erie ecosystem?
• How have other invasive species changed Lake Erie’s ecosystem?

Lesson Plan

Additional Resources

Student Investigation Resources:

• LEWS Just Love Gobies (PDF) - Article in Winter 2005-Twine Line Magazine
• "Nab The Aquatic Invader" - Activity produced by the National Sea Grant College Program, NOAA

Supplemental Resources:

These resources can be used to explore the wide variety of plant and animal invasive species already in the Lake Erie watershed ecosystem.

• Ohio’s Invasive Species Challenges (PDF) - Union of Concerned Scientists
• Great Lakes Invasive Species - United States EPA
• Invasive Species in the Great Lakes Region - Great Lakes Information Networks
• Round Goby Research - Biology Department, Duke University
• United States Invasive Species - U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
• Non-Indigenous Aquatic Species Database - USGS
• 100 Worst Invasive Species in the World - Global Invasive Species Program
• Freshwater Invasives Prediction - The Nature Conservancy