Sea Lamprey

#DYK sea lampreys are native to the Atlantic Ocean, and their ancestors have been living in the ocean for millions of years? However, in the 1800s and early 1900s, two canal systems were constructed and modified that made pathways into the Great Lakes. First, the Erie Canal was constructed, which allowed ships—as well as sea lampreys—to travel from the Atlantic Ocean into Lake Ontario (though the canal also connects to Lake Erie, sea lampreys never traveled that far through the canal). Second, the Welland Canal was constructed to bypass Niagara Falls, creating a navigable connection between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Sea lampreys were first recorded in the mid-1800s in Lake Ontario, in 1921 in Lake Erie, and then by 1938 sea lampreys were found in all the Great Lakes.