Asian swamp eels threaten Florida ecosystems

Biologists are concerned that Asian swamp eels (Monopterus albus) can destroy many native fish and invertebrate species in the state of Florida, USA, Florida Today reported on January 18. “Although they have not been reported in Brevard County, they have appeared in neighboring Orange County and are likely also living in the water systems of some east coast canals,” said Paul Evans, research coordinator at the University of California, Los Angeles. Florida College, said.

Evans and other University of Florida researchers are urging people to report invasive eels that have worried ecologists for three decades. They are one of the exotic creatures that have transitioned from pets to pests in Florida.

According to biologists, there are many reasons why this eel species needs to be controlled. First, the ability to breathe air when out of water helps them crawl across the ground and enter new water areas. They adapt very quickly and can survive in a variety of environments, from slow-moving streams to swamps and wetlands.

Next, they are opportunistic foragers with diverse prey, including small fish, amphibians, and invertebrates. As a result, they can disrupt food webs and harm native biodiversity, leading to ecological changes.

Finally, eels reproduce a lot, making it difficult to control the number of individuals. Their burrows damage canals and other infrastructure.

Asian swamp eels can live up to 10 years or longer. The largest individual ever collected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was 85.6 cm long and weighed 0.8 kg. An adult female typically has about 440 eggs ready to lay, according to FWC. They are hermaphrodites so they all develop into females, then some turn into males. Most populations have a sex ratio heavily skewed towards females.

Asian swamp eels are native to Southeast Asia. They thrive in muddy, stagnant water. They were first discovered in Florida in 1997 and are also present in many places in the US, including Hawaii and Georgia. Experts believe they entered the natural environment in Florida by being released from aquariums and/or escaping from fish farms. American biologists say that eels have delicious meat and a mild taste, considered a specialty in their native area.