A new documentary being shown at New Yorks American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) highlights the invasive species research of David Lodge, professor of biological sciences at the University of Notre Dame and director of its Center for Aquatic Conservation.
The film was produced, in part, during two days of filming last summer during field work by Lodges research team at UNDERC-East, the Universitys Environmental Research Center in northern Michigan. It examines the challenges posed by the increased exchange of ballast water among worldwide ports and the resulting introduction of mussels and crayfish that are stressing the vast freshwater network of the Great Lakes region and the North American continent.
In addition to a scheduled six-month run at the AMNH gallery, the film also will be screened at more than 40 museums and science centers that subscribe to the museums film service.
Lodge served as the first chair of the national Invasive Species Advisory Committee and was the lead author of the Ecological Society of America’s paper calling for a stronger government response to the problem of invasive species.
His research has identified global hot spots for biological invasions from ballast water and examined the best options for managing these invasions. He also has demonstrated that Great Lakes area commercial vendors in the nursery, pet and fish market trades are contributing to the introduction and spread of invasive species.
_ Contact: David Lodge, professor of biological sciences, 574-631-6094,_ " lodge.1@nd.edu ":mailto:lodge.1@nd.edu
p.
TopicID: 27187