Channel Catfish

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia - are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that consume organic material, breathe oxygen, and can move and reproduce sexually.

Phylum: Chordata  - Five distinct physical features: notochord, a hollow dorsal nerve cord, an endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail.

Class: Actinopterygii—Ray-finned fish are bony fish that comprise more than half of all living vertebrate species. They have lightly built fins made of webbings of skin supported by thin, bony spines.

Order: Siliriformes  - Catfish, Diverse group named for prominent barbels.

      Superorder: Ostariophysi, second largest superorder of fish. Characteristics include an alarm substance and a Weberian apparatus.

  
Family: Ictaluridae  - Native to North America, an important food source that contains around 51 species.

Genus:  Ictalurus  - North American freshwater catfishes.

 
Species: I. punctatus  - Most populated and most fished catfish species in North America. Posses keen senses of smell and taste.

 

 

 

 

Source:

Channel catfish. (2024, July 9). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_catfish

Ostariophysi. (2024, March 27). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostariophysi

Dendrology of LKN

 

Online Resources for Species Identification

 Since I have started diving deeper into Lake Norman's biodiversity and more specifically, what makes its waters unsafe the topic of Algae seems to be the driving factor.I have come across two websites that can help dive further into Algae research and one not very helpful. 

Global algae database 

aka https://www.algaebase.org/

-  Thinking this would be perfect to find out more information about Lyngbya Cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae that causes unsafe conditions for swimming on Lake Norman and other waters I was surprised that it doesn't show up. But this doesn't mean it can't be helpful to others.

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Plant Directory   

aka https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/lyngbya-species/

- Center for Aquatic and invasive plants list based out of University of Florida. Thankfully or not so thankfully this toxic bacteria is worldwide so I was able to look at this Flordia based directory and learn more about Lyngbya Cyanobacteria and this directory is full of other invasive species so it is likely you will be able to find more information on your invasive plants and animals since usually they have spread to multiple locations. 

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NC Algae Blooms 

aka https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-sciences/algal-blooms

 - Available on phone, tablet or computer you are able to report and track algae blooms in North Carolina.Attached is a screenshot of reports made on or around Lake Norman, with the most recent report being 7/2/2024. Also provided are a list of Regional offices in your location that you can contact about your findings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Invasive Zebra Mussels