Great Lakes Center Seminar:

"Aral Sea Ecological Crisis and Invasive Fishes in the Aral Sea Basin, Central Asia"

Ernest Khurshut, Ph.D.
Institute of Zoology
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Tashkent, UZBEKISTAN

Due to a drastic decrease of the water influx into the Aral Sea its surface area has decreased over 5 times. It has eventually split into four water bodies, and by 2009 the southeast part has dried up. The water mineralization in the southwest part of Aral is currently over 100 g/L. As a result, the unique biota of the Aral Sea is lost. Another factor contributed in the biodiversity loss is the introduction of alien species. This presentation will describe Aral Sea ecosystem and human impact, including water diversion, introduction of invasive species, and over fishing.

Thursday, September 30, 2010
12:15–1:30 p.m.
Classroom Building B119

Students, staff, and faculty are welcome. Light refreshments will be served.