Among them are the Asian swamp eel and the bullseye snakehead, two air-breathing predators that live in the region and pose growing risks to native wildlife and fragile ecosystems like the Everglades.

To uncover these elusive invaders, scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have developed a breakthrough approach to detect the cryptic species before they spread farther.  The findings, published in the journal of Ecology and Evolution, have broad implications for wildlife conservationists.

Read more about Researchers Create DNA Detection Tool To Stop Spread of Invasive Asian Swamp Eels, Bullseye Snakeheads.

The two-year project will focus on identifying and advancing treatment technologies to mitigate phosphorus pollution while engaging regional stakeholders to ensure practical implementation and sustainability.