The zebra mussel is native to Eastern Europe and Western Russia. The species was unintentionally introduced into the United States' Great Lakes through the discharge of contaminated cargo ship ballast water .
Why are zebra mussels in the Great Lakes?
Zebra mussels probably arrived in the Great Lakes in the 1980s via ballast water that was discharged by large ships from Europe . They have spread rapidly throughout the Great Lakes region and into the large rivers of the eastern Mississippi drainage.
How do zebra mussels help the Great Lakes?
Zebra mussels were first discovered in North America in Lake St. ... This allows zebra mussels to rapidly colonize ecosystems at the expense of native mollusk species. Zebra mussels filter large quantities of plankton from the water column , depriving fish and other aquatic life of a valuable food source.
Is there a benefit to the presence of zebra mussels in the Great Lakes?
Researchers are observing some of these effects as they study interactions between zebra mussels and native unionids in the Great Lakes. ... Zebra mussels filter out large amounts of phytoplankton , and compete with many species of zooplankton which are an important food source for young fish.
What was the source of zebra mussels in the Great Lakes?
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are native to the Caspian Sea in Asia. They entered the Great Lakes Region via ballast water of a transatlantic vessel in the late 1980s. Within 10 years, these mussels colonized the river basins of the Great Lakes, Mississippi, Tennessee, Hudson, and Ohio.
Will zebra mussels ever go away?
Zebra mussels were discovered on Pelican Lake in 2009 and some of those found were determined to be one or two years old because of their size. Zebra mussels have a 3 to 4 year life cycle in our area and go dormant at less than 55 degrees . They cannot survive freezing temperatures.
Are zebra mussels good for anything?
The dreaded zebra mussel — an invasive species — is killing off native species in lakes and rivers all over the country. But in Lake Ontario, it turns out the zebra mussel has had a positive impact for salmon fishermen. It's producing fatter, faster-growing salmon.
Can you swim in a lake with zebra mussels?
Yes ,” she said. Montz recommends checking the DNR's map of lakes with zebra mussels before you jump in the water. The mussels don't like sand, because there's nothing they can attach to, so he said that you should be fine swimming on a sandy shoreline.
Why are zebra mussels so bad?
Coating pipes
One of the more well-known problems with zebra mussels is the way they rapidly coat water intake pipes , which is a problem for drinking water treatment plants, power plants and any other industry that's pulling water out of the lakes through a pipe.
Can you eat zebra mussels?
Are Zebra Mussels edible? Most clams and mussels are edible, but that does not mean they taste good! Many species of fish and ducks eat Zebra Mussels, so they are not harmful in that sense. ... To be safe, it is not recommended to eat Zebra Mussels .
Are zebra mussels bad for humans?
Can I eat zebra mussels? Many species and fish and ducks eat zebra mussels, so they are not harmful in that sense . Zebra mussels are so small and do not have much in the way of “meat” inside them, you would have to be pretty hungry to want to eat them. Therefore to be safe, it is not recommend they be eaten by people.
How do zebra mussels destroy a lake?
One of the most damaging impacts of zebra mussels is that they filter out algae needed for food by native species . ... Crowding out native mussels and, in most cases, killing them by attaching to them. Coating and clogging pipes or water intakes creating costly problems for residents, power plants, and cities.
Do zebra mussels make pearls?
Every mussel, at least in the minds of men, has the potential to contain a pearl. Mussels, like their salt water counterparts, oysters, create pearls .
What are the predators of zebra mussels?
Do zebra mussels have any predators? Zebra mussels do not have many natural predators in North America. But, it has been documented that several species of fish and diving ducks have been known to eat them.
How were zebra mussels introduced to Ontario?
Zebra and Quagga Mussels
Both Zebra and quagga mussels are native to the Black Sea in Eurasia and were introduced to Ontario in the late 1980s via ship ballast . They both have the capability to densely colonize hard and soft surfaces of lake bottoms. ... Both mussels can have significant impacts on lake ecosystems!
Where did zebra mussels originate from?
Origin and Spread
Zebra mussels are a fingernail-sized mollusk native to the Black, Caspian, and Azov Seas of Eastern Europe . Their name comes from the dark, zigzagged stripes on each shell.
