Science Takes On a Silent Invader

Author: Robert H. Boyle
Published: February 24 2014
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/science/science-takes-on-a-silent-invader.html?ref=bacteria

Summary:
Invasive species of mussels, called zebra and quagga, are out competing native mussels, making them dangerous to native mussels and the environment in general To solve this problem, Daniel P. Molloy was enlisted. Molloy had worked on a project similar to this in the past, to eliminate both black flies and mosquito larvae, without harming the rest of the environment. To solve this problem, Molloy searched for a bacteria that could kill just the black fly and mosquito larvae. After many years of research, he finally found it in a stagnate pool in Israel, and it was rolled out to the mass markets, and currently is in widespread use. Molloy followed a similar process to solve the problem of the mussels, and currently he has finally found a bacteria that contains a compound which harms only zebra mussels. Currently this material is being evaluated for wide-spread use, but the evaluation seems to be going well.

Relevance: This article connects to our bacteria unit through it use of bacteria, and the connections to their effects. In addition, it connects to the unit on ecosystems due to how an invasive species is out competing another, and how this is affecting the environment.