The Problem: Quagga and zebra mussel invasions have had catastrophic impacts in the ecosystems in which they have established. These organisms clog water intake structures e.
Recreational activities on lakes and rivers are adversely affected as mussels accumulate on docks, buoys, boat hulls, anchors, and beaches can become heavily encrusted.
The shells of both mussel species are sharp and can cut people, which forces the wearing of shoes when walking along infested beaches or over rocks. Mussels adhering to boat hulls can increase drag, affect boat steering, and clog engines, all of which can lead to overheating and engine malfunctions.
Ecological problems also result from mussel invasions. Zebra and quagga mussels can kill native freshwater mussels in two ways: 1 attachment to the shells of native species can kill them, and 2 these invasive species can outcompete native mussels and other filter feeding invertebrates for food.
This problem has been particularly acute in some areas of the USA that have a very rich diversity of native freshwater mussel species. The encrusting of lake and river bottoms can displace native aquatic arthropods that need soft sediments for burrowing.
In the Great Lakes this had lead to the collapse of amphipod populations that fish rely on for food and the health of fish populations has been severely affected. These mussels have been associated with avian botulism outbreaks in the Great Lakes which have caused the mortality of tens of thousands of birds.
Because of their filter feeding habit, it has been estimated that these mussels can bioaccumlate organic pollutants in their tissues by as much as , times when compared to concentrations in the water in which they are living. This also causes clearer water, allowing sunlight to penetrate deeper, increasing growth of aquatic vegetation. Impact fish and wildlife by increasing toxic algal blooms.
Large colonies affect spawning areas, potentially impacting the survival of fish eggs. Affects recreational activities by cutting swimmers feet as a result of their sharp shell. How to Identify. Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha Details Average Triangular in shape. Black or brown with white to yellow zigzagged patterns.
One should never move living invaders or attempt to expand their range. At best, humans may be just another form of biological control—capable of reducing the ecological impact of an invader, if not completely extirpating it.
Just look at our track record: Atlantic cod, bison, and Pismo clams have all but disappeared under the weight of human demand. We managed to dispatch all 5 billion passenger pigeons—many of them smoked, roasted, stewed, fried, or baked in pot pies—in fewer than years.
After the birds were gone, market hunters missed the pie—half a dozen pigeons with three crimson legs stuck in the crust—as much as they did the birds themselves. Why not put our destructive streak to good use for a change? Many species and fish and ducks eat zebra mussels, so they are not harmful in that sense.
However, because they are filter feeders, they can accumulate pollutants in their tissues that may not be healthy for people to consume. You should contact local public health officials to learn whether it is safe to eat mussels or fish from a specific waterbody.
Very hard to find on the internet or in cookbooks. Any help would be appreciated. The meat comes in a 1lb. Keep in mind that as the new apex predator in the Everglades, the Burmese python may have high levels of mercury. One of the earliest laws to address invasive species was the Lacey Act, first passed in Focused on trade, the law prohibited the intentional introduction of fruit bats, mongoose, meerkats, starlings, and English sparrows.
Last amended in , the law is the main legal defense against invasive animal species, but the list remains dauntingly small only about two dozen species. A study out of Notre Dame questioned the efficacy of the law, noting the size of the list; the delay in protecting against threats, which could take up to seven years; and the lack of an emergency provision to prohibit imports. Asian carp were added to the list in This law focused on unintentional, but preventable, introductions.
It was largely a response to the invasion of zebra mussels in the Great Lakes and focused on controlling species spread through ballast water. In , the law was expanded and renamed the National Invasive Species Act. The law has been valuable, but had several shortcomings, especially in its failure to regulate other vectors such as aquaculture and the pet trade.
NISA expired in , but aquatic nuisance species continue to be regulated by the law. Clean your muddy boots, shoes, and clothes before you travel. Remove invasive species from your yard. Carefully bag them for disposal.
Do not dump them in the wild. Garden with plants native to your area. If you want to plant wildflower seeds, make sure the seeds in the packet are for wildflowers native to your region, not invaders from elsewhere. The best way to insure this is not to buy a packet of wildflower seed from a national chain store or from a seed catalogue with an address outside of your state unless you have read the fine print regarding the source of the seeds carefully. Some wildflower seeds in such packets even come from abroad.
Geological Survey USGS was involved in years of testing of Zequanox on "non-target animals" — basically, everything else that could be in a lake. But thus far, Zequanox has only been used in isolated portions of lakes that were cordoned off with special barriers.
Now, a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization in northern Lower Michigan, the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, is working with Marrone Bio, state and federal environmental agencies and multiple universities to conduct the first open-water test. Tip of the Mitt officials hope to find their test lake this summer, one that has both native and invasive mussels, said Matt Claucherty, the organization's water resources specialist. But the top priority, Claucherty said, is making sure lake associations and those who use the chosen lake are "on board and comfortable with this," he said.
It's a desiccated bacterial cell — not even a living bacterial cell. It's found in soil naturally. Further research will help determine the most limited concentrations and exposure durations of Zequanox that work on zebra and quagga mussels in open water, while not harming other aquatic life, Link said.
Company officials may also learn of adjustments they can make to formulations of the product, currently designed for intake pipes, that make it more effective in open-water applications, she said.
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