Unchanged for 340 million years, predating the dinosaurs, this parasitic species has survived 4 major extinctions and dates back to the Paleozoic era.

After being introduced to the Great Lakes in the 1800s, this invasive species has been wreaking havoc on native fish populations and is being called, "America's first destructive invasive fish species".

These prehistoric fish latch onto the side of other fish, using their sharp, horny teeth to tear away at the flesh to suck its blood and bodily fluid. In its native ranges, the northern and western Atlantic, the host fish are able to withstand the Sea Lamprey latching onto them. In the Great Lakes, the smaller and less adapted fish often die. Each Sea Lamprey kills roughly 40 pounds of fish per year, leading to urgent efforts to manage these populations.

Field biologists are doing everything they can to insert barriers that prevent them from moving upstream and use lampricides - a chemical that kills sea lamprey but not other fish - to reduce their numbers. Today, we talk with MSU graduate, Conor O'Kane, as he discusses his experience working with these field biology programs during his Master's Program.

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