Body features
What type of animal is it?
A fish
Round gobies love rocky areas at the bottom of lakes and rivers, especially in this famous North American region, what is it?
The great lakes
This fish species loves eating zebra and quagga mussels, which are both invasive species with tough shells, what is the species
Round Gobies
True or false, Round Gobies are non invasive species?
False, Round Gobies are invasive species
Round gobies often outcompete native fish for food and space. What is one reason they can do this so well?
They are aggressive and eat a wide variety of foods, letting them outcompete native species.
These sit high on the round goby’s head, helping it spot food and predators
It's eyes
True or false, These aggressive little fish often take over habitats and push out native species.
True
This powerful sense helps round gobies locate prey in dark or muddy waters by feeling vibrations.
Their sense of touch (or ability to detect vibrations)
Male round gobies guard these under rocks until they hatch.
Eggs
What happens to native fish when round gobies take over their homes and food?
The native fish populations go down.
What shape head does it have
A Round head, that's how it got its name
Round gobies eat just about anything, but they especially like this hard-shelled food that lives on rocks.
Mussles
Round gobies can survive in poor water conditions because they can handle both fresh and slightly salty water—also known as, what type of water is it?
Brackish water
Round gobies use this body part like a suction cup to stick to rocks and the bottom of lakes.
Pelvic fin
By eating zebra and quagga mussels, round gobies accidentally pass this dangerous substance up the food chain. What is it?
Toxins or contaminants, like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls).
How many fins does it have?
It has 4 fins
Round gobies first invaded the Great Lakes after traveling in this part of cargo ships.
Ballast water
Even though they’re small, round gobies can harm other fish by eating these before they hatch.
Fish eggs
When competing for food and space, round gobies often chase away this type of fish that looks similar to them.
Sculpins
True or false: Round gobies can actually help some larger fish species by becoming a new food source.
True — fish like smallmouth bass and lake trout eat round gobies.
What color is the round goby? (Trick Question)
Round Gobies are camo
This term describes how round gobies stay close to the bottom instead of swimming in open water.
Bottom dwelling
The round goby is originally from this part of the world before invading North America.
Eastern Europe (the Black and Caspian Seas)
This Great Lake was one of the first in North America to be invaded by round gobies in the 1990s, what lake is it?
Lake Erie
How do round gobies change the food chain in the Great Lakes?
They eat small creatures and mussels, then become food for bigger fish, which changes who eats what in the ecosystem.