Research Says Dogs Are Able To Check Out Hazardous Invasive Fish Species

Illustration of a laboratory flood. (Wikimedia Commons/redjar)

JAKARTA - Dogs can actually sniff out invasive fish species in lakes without even seeing them, according to new research.

In lakes and rivers around the world, goldfish wreak havoc on local species. Coming from Central Asia, this common fish occupys lakes and freshwater rivers, beating other animals.

But scientists have discovered new tools in the fight against invasive creatures, the strong nose of human friends. According to research by Australian and New Zealand scientists, special-trained dogs can detect whether there are invasive goldfish in water.

In fact, they are considered better than lab tools.

"Our findings suggest that dogs can provide accurate and highly sensitive invasive fish detection methods," the study author wrote.

Why can dogs sniff goldfish? If you've opened a bag of pet food and your dog immediately appears, you'll know firsthand how strong the dog's nose is.

The dog's sense of smell is between 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than that of humans. To test this technique, Waikato University and Canberra University scientists presented Ruby, a female Labrador, with water samples.

Several tanks filled with water that had just been filled with goldfish or goldfish. Others contain clean water. Ruby is trained with snacks to properly identify fish odors, just like police dogs are trained to recognize the smell of illegal drugs.

He can detect goldfish even after the water is very deep. Even if the fish density is only 0.5 milligrams of goldfish per liter of water, Ruby can tell. If you put 1 kg of goldfish into 2 million liters of water, the dog will know that the fish are there.

"The dog can detect goldfish before dangerous density is achieved," according to the study.

In fact, Ruby has a "like level of sensitivity" to environmental laboratory tools, a special high-tech method used to detect foreign DNA in the environment. These tools are much more expensive than four-legged alternatives.

If scientists determine that goldfish are in the lake, they can take action before the problem gets worse.

It is known, in many parts of the world, goldfish have taken over the ecosystem. To hunt insects, fish suck up mud, stockpile water and damage water vegetation. It has an effect on other native species.

While in many places in the United States, such as the famous Illinois river, they now form 60 percent of the fish's weight.

To fight an invasion, conservationist needs to perfect the dog method. However, dogs can be a vital tool to save vulnerable local species.