A mysterious and unknown sea creature of origins from some far away body of water has invaded the Indian River Lagoon

A mysterious and unknown sea creature of origins from some far away body of water has been found in Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County, Florida.

The invading creature that looks like bunched up bright red blob with daisy petals, it appears to be an ascidian, better known as a sea squirt. The million-dollar question and mystery resides in exactly how this invader got into the lagoon and where it came from.

The one thing researchers and scientists know for sure is that the invader is overgrowing native oysters, a keystone organism for the health of the waterway as well as an important part of the local economy. And it may be part of an ugly trend.

Dr. Walters

According to our hero, University of Central Florida biologist Dr. Linda Walters; global warming may be partly to blame with this invader, as water temperatures rise and create inviting environments for species that typically stay in tropical climates farther south.

Dr. Walters has been monitoring the lagoon and helping to restore its oyster population for the past 14 years. “You go girl!” This new unnamed invader competes with native species and is disrupting the natural ecosystem, and like other known aquatic invasive species it also has very real consequences. 

In Brevard, for example, if oysters can’t grow because of an invasive species, they can’t clean the lagoon. It’s estimated that one oyster filters five gallons of water a day, which quite possibly… these oysters could be out performing my Brita Water Filter!

Oyster Mats

So here’s the skinny for all of us seafood lovers… The oysters provide refuge to native species such as blue crab, shrimp and red fish. Without our native oysters, many other creatures’ food sources disappear. In the Indian River Lagoon, Walters has identified 149 species that rely on native oysters in a balanced ecosystem. 

Oh Carp! We’ve got to Stop the Spread!