Testing proves 'lake snot' invasive, traced to USA

It's been proved for the first time that the snot-like mucus found in some of the country's most pristine lakes is an invasive species. To date the slime has been found in Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea, Lake Wakatipu, Lake Coleridge and Lake Dunstan, with fears it has also spread to Lake Waikaremoana and Lake Benmore. The genetic source of Lindavia intermedia (the algae responsible for creating the slime) has been linked back to specimens found in Lake Youngs, near Seattle. Kathryn Ryan talks to University of Otago freshwater scientist Dr Marc Schallenberg and Otago Regional Councillor Andrew Noone who says there now needs to be a national focus to address the problem.