Ultrasonic Control of Aquatic Invasives
Species introduction is a leading cause of biodiversity
loss. All around the globe, exotic
species are replacing native species and altering ecosystem they invade. One major vector of species introduction is through discharge of ship ballast water. Thousands of ships travel around the world daily and can carry up to thousands of gallons of ballast water in order to maintain stability during voyage. Sea water along with marine creatures living in the water can be ballasted from a coastal port and be transported to the next destination of call where the water may be deballasted along with organisms it carries.
Zebra mussel is one of the many notorious invasive species introduced into North America via discharge of ship ballast water; zebra mussel invasion has caused detrimental ecological and economic impacts including the endangerment of native North American bivalves.
For the past eight years, Dr. Wu and collaborator Dr. Junru Wu of University of Vermont have been working on the development of an ultrasonic device to control aquatic species introduction and invasion supported financially by the Sea Grant and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Ultrasound is a sound wave above human audible frequency range. When directly encounter with aquatic organisms, ultrasound can form cavitation bubbles that damage/kill target organisms. The sound energy dissipates naturally as it travels in the water without causing secondary environmental impacts.
We identified a specific ultrasonic frequency that is most effective in controlling aquatic invaders and is developing a treatment system to control unwanted aquatic invaders before ballast water is released at coastal ports. Our goal is to stop hitchhikers in ship ballast water and to preserve aquatic biodiversity for future generations.
Zebra mussel is one of the many notorious invasive species introduced into North America via discharge of ship ballast water; zebra mussel invasion has caused detrimental ecological and economic impacts including the endangerment of native North American bivalves.
For the past eight years, Dr. Wu and collaborator Dr. Junru Wu of University of Vermont have been working on the development of an ultrasonic device to control aquatic species introduction and invasion supported financially by the Sea Grant and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Ultrasound is a sound wave above human audible frequency range. When directly encounter with aquatic organisms, ultrasound can form cavitation bubbles that damage/kill target organisms. The sound energy dissipates naturally as it travels in the water without causing secondary environmental impacts.
We identified a specific ultrasonic frequency that is most effective in controlling aquatic invaders and is developing a treatment system to control unwanted aquatic invaders before ballast water is released at coastal ports. Our goal is to stop hitchhikers in ship ballast water and to preserve aquatic biodiversity for future generations.