Killer shrimp assault British shrimp, threaten ecosystem
(Read article summary)Killer shrimp are invading UK waters and raising concern among scientists. Killer shrimp may threaten the balance of life in fresh-water ecosystems.
Boston
On Sept. 9, Britain's Environment Agency issued an alert that "killer shrimp" were spotted in a fresh-water reservoir in Cambridgeshire, England.
Before you have a 28 Days Later moment, take a deep breath.
These tiny crustaceans, the Dikerogammarus villosus shrimp, which can grow up to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) in length, pose no direct danger to humans.
But the killer shrimp is bigger than local species – and more aggressive.
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The "killer shrimp" eats other shrimp and small fish that are common across the UK. Like the Asian carp in Lake Michigan, the species is not native to this part of the world and may cause problems for the UK's water ecosystems.
"It tends to aggressively pursue its prey, often leaving it dead but uneaten. It is known to have caused the extinction of several other species in other areas," the Epoch Times reported.
Not only is it bully, it has few predators in this new habitat.
