Photo courtesy of the La Crosse Tribune 

The sea lamprey is a known invasive species that has been causing a stir in our Great Lakes since the 1920's; UW-La Crosse's recent graduate and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) biologist, Nick Schloesser, is currently exploring ways in which the sea lamprey dilemma can be strategically brought to an end. Schloesser's master's thesis project is focused on the ways in which Environmental DNA monitoring can help control the invasive sea lamprey population, and he is utilizing his new found information to aid the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center in providing solutions to these invasive obstacles.

Not only are sea lampreys harmful to our ecosystem and our environment, but to our economy as well, and with the modern methods of research that Schloesser is currently implementing, hopes of improving those deficits will continue to rise.