The mussel has expanded to infest many lake and river systems of north america since then. The longer a boat remains in zebra mussel infested waters, the more likely it is to be fouled by zebra mussels. Zebra mussels are thumbnailsized mollusks with dshaped shells that are often striped with alternating light and dark bands like a zebra. Zebra mussels reached north america in the mid1980s in the ballast water of a ship. Each year, a mature female zebra mussel may release up to one million eggs. Org zebra mussels secrete durable elastic strands called byssal fibers, which can glue the mussel to hard objects.
They were likely brought to north america in the ballast water of ships and were discovered in lake erie in 1988. Zebra mussels what are zebra mussels and where do they come from. Dreissena polymorpha, photo by jonne kotta, source. The strategy to advance management of invasive zebra and quagga mussels is intended to drive investments, policy, and research around invasive mussels across the great lakes region and beyond. Nobanis invasive alien species fact sheet dreissena polymorpha. Nobanis invasive alien species fact sheet dreissena. Aquatic nuisance species coordinator, division of fisheries region 2, department of biology, university of texas, arlington, texas zebra mussels dreissena polymorpha are prolific invaders that. Zebra mussels are a small, destructive invasive species that can spread across texas by hitching a ride on boats and trailers. How to build a zebra mussel settlement sampler materials one brick with holes in it one 14inch polypropylene rope a piece of 14inch plastic mesh screen about 6 by 12 inches two 1foot sections of 1 12inch or 2inch pvc pipe two washers with a 14inch. Zebra mussel iowa aquatic invasive species dreissena polymorpha fact sheet zebra mussel fact sheet description. Jul 19, 2019 now, if we grabbed any great lakes native off the street and asked which great lakes invasive species is the densest and most dangerous, we can guarantee that at least 8 out of 10 would say the zebra mussel. Zebra mussel dreissena polymorpha invasive species. It is similar in appearance and biology to the zebra mussel, but can live in deeper and colder waters. Efforts to control zebra mussels have already cost billions of dollars in other states.
Zebra mussels were introduced into the great lakes, likely from ballast water from oceangoing vessels, in the mid 1980s. Zebra mussels grow up to two inches long, but most are less than one inch. Zebra mussels are small, thumbnailsize, dshaped mussels, with a zebra like pattern of stripes, that are native to the caspian sea region of asia. Zm fact sheet iowa department of natural resources. Zebra mussel these nonnative shellfish are usually less than an inch long, with dshaped, brown shells that are striped. This process can lead to increased water clarity and a depleted food questions and answers for inland lake managers the zebra mussel invasion of north america has generated. Quagga and zebra dreissenid mussels pose a serious threat to californias waters and fisheries. Lake champlain basin program fact sheet series number 1 zebra mussels dreissena polymorpha and quagga mussels dreissena bugensis are closely related species native to fresh waters of southeast europe. Zebra mussels are striped like a quagga mussel also invasive, but typically smaller and less rounded than a. Threatened species are animals and plants that are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. Historically, native americans not only ate mussels but also used the shells for.
A mussel refugium at presque isle state park on lake erie investigators. Zebra mussels fact sheet december 2019 what are zebra mussels. The invasive mussel collaborative announced today that it has released a new strategy to reduce invasive mussels and their negative impacts. Both mussel species can attach to hard surfaces in the water of lakes and rivers, and quagga mussels also attach to soft surfaces. The adults are slightly larger than the zebra mussels. Zebra mussels can cause tremendous environmental and economic damage hurting aquatic life, damaging your boat, hindering water.
Aquatic invasive species zebra mussel fact sheet minnesota dnr. The program is designed to assess zebra mussel occurrence, distribution, and densities in north texas waters by using four approaches. Adults range from 14 to 112 inches long and have yellow and brown striped shells. Dreissena polymorpha zebra mussels are in the dreissenidae family, the false mussel and zebra mussel family. Zebra mussels united states army corps of engineers. If you spot a suspected zebra mussel, freeze it in a plastic bag or preserve it in a small bottle of rubbing. Description of the usgs zebra mussel monitoring program the u. Quaggazebra mussel fact sheet state and federal agencies have initiated a unified response to the quaggazebra mussel invasion in california. The involved agencies include the california departments of fish and wildlife cdfw, water resources, food and agriculturecdfa, division of boating and waterways, parks and recreation, cal fire, caltrans. Endangered species are animals and plants that are in danger of becoming extinct. Mussel qu gg mussel zebra mussel occurrences quagga mussel occurrences both species. The zebra mussel gets its name from the dark and light stripes on its shell that resembles those on a zebra.
Zebra mussel the zebra mussel gets its name from the dark and light stripes on its shell that resembles those on a zebra. Unlike native mussels, they can attach themselves to hard surfaces in the. The quagga mussel was introduced via ship ballast water to the great lakes in the 1980s, and has similar impacts as the zebra. Since then, zebra mussels have spread rapidly throughout the great lakes and. Zebra mussels are striped like a quagga mussel also invasive, but typically smaller and less rounded than a quagga or dark false mussel. Although you might not have seen me in the wild, i bet youve seen me on a menu. Zebra mussel fact sheet the zebra mussel dreissena polymorpha is a small bivalve originally native to the area near the caspian sea. The involved agencies include the departments of fish and game dfg, water resources, food and agriculture, boating and waterways, parks and recreation, cal fire, caltrans, state water resources. The spread of these freshwater mussels threatens recreational boating and fishing, aquatic ecosystems and fisheries, water delivery systems, hydroelectric facilities, agriculture and the environment in general. The zebra mussel originated in the balkans, poland, and the former soviet union and was introduced in 1988 into the laurentian great lakes see figure 1 as a result of the discharge of contaminated ballast water which contained free swimming zebra mussel larvae, called veligers mackie et al. A long tradition of zebra mussel study exists in europe and the former soviet union, where the zebra mussel has been present for 150 years see mackie et al.
Zebra mussel fact sheet cary institute of ecosystem studies. Where theyre found quagga mussels are native to the black sea. Zebra mussel densities have been as high as 700,000m 2 at one power plant in michigan and have reduced water treatment pipe diameters by as much as twothirds griffiths et al. Invasive mollusk impacts, graphing and interpreting zebra mussel data. Zebra mussels feed by drawing water into their bodies and straining out most of the suspended microscopic plants, animals, and debris for food. The involved agencies include the departments of fish and game dfg, water resources, food and agriculture, boating and waterways, parks and recreation.
They will also know that the hudson river food web is changing in response to the zebra mussel invasion, and will be able to make predictions about how native organisms will be affected by this invasion. Wellington the zebra mussel dreissena polymorpha invaded presque isle bay in 1990, and quickly colonized most of the native unionid mussels freshwater clams. Byssal threads or ropes are on the hinge edge of its shell. Im a very popular food item, and am nutritious too. Now, if we grabbed any great lakes native off the street and asked which great lakes invasive species is the densest and most dangerous, we can guarantee that at least 8 out of 10 would say the zebra mussel. Quagga and zebra mussels california department of fish and. The zebra mussels is native to the black, caspian, and azov seas. Zebra mussels have an extremely high reproductive rate of 30,0001,000,000 new mussels per year and are able to reproduce at one year of age. Hot on the heels of the famous zebra, quagga mussels were first found in 1989 along lake erie. During the summer of 1993, the zebra mussel was discovered in lake champlain, vermont. They came to north american waters in international shipping ballast water and were discovered in lake st. On average, zebra mussels live 25 years and can reproduce by their second year. An aquatic invasive plant, eurasian watermilfoil, reduced. Environmental protection agency lists the golden mussel as a nonindigenous aquatic species with significant potential to invade the great lakes.
The quagga mussel dreissena bugensis invaded lake erie shortly after. They rapidly became established in the great lakes and. Natively the zebra mussel inhabits parts of western russia near the caspian sea and the ural river. Zebra mussels are small freshwater mussels that are not native to. The zebra mussel gets its name from the black or dark brown and white striped markings that. Vermont lakefront property values up to 16 percent and. Rangehabitat since being introduced to the great lakes, zebra mussels have spread to a number of waterways, including the mississippi, hudson, st. Zebra mussels and a related species, quagga mussels, are highly invasive mollusks native to the caspian sea region of europe and asia. In 1998, the mussel was found in east twin lake, connecticut. Choosing a monitoring site since recreational boating is the primary way that zebra and quagga mussels are spread in pennsylvania waters, boat ramps and public access areas along waterways are the most.
The program is designed to assess zebra mussel occurrence, distribution. Eurasian water milfoil most of this plant is submersed. A close relative to the zebra mussel is the quagga mussel dreissena bugensis, which is also native to eurasia. Zebra mussels have an extremely high reproductive rate of 30,0001,000,000. Sign up to receive quagga and zebra mussel information by email. Students will know what lives in the hudson river, and will be able to create a food web drawing to represent the organisms living in the river.
Native freshwater mussels french creek valley conservancy. For these reasons the zebra mussel is often described as the poster child of biological invasions. Quagga mussels were discovered in lake mead, lake mojave, and lake havasu on the colorado river in january 2007. Zebra mussel national invasive species information center. During the summer of 2009, the zebra mussel was identified in a pond in the berkshire region of massachusetts. Females produce 100,000 to one million eggs per year which. The scaleshell is a freshwater mussel that was listed in 2001 as an endangered species by the u. From its native origin, the species has spread to the point where the zebra mussel now affects the waters of most of europe. View all teaching resources use the filter to limit your results. Aquatic invasive species zebra mussel fact sheet author. It is vital that each boater takes responsibility to prevent the spread of zebra muss. Geological survey usgs zebra mussel monitoring program for north texas provides early detection and monitoring of zebra mussels dreissena polymorpha by using a holistic suite of detection methods.
Fact sheet written by john tautin native freshwater mussels freshwater mussels, sometimes called clams, have always been and continue to be, an important food source for muskrat, minks, raccoons, otters. Zebra mussels are a small, destructive invasive freshwater mussel that can be transported from waterway to waterway by boats and trailers. Zebra mussels are small shellfish marked by alternating light and dark bands. The dshaped shells have alternating light and dark bands, and the inside of the shell is white. Zebra mussels are in the dreissenidae family, the false mussel and zebra mussel family.
They can attach to any hard surfaces in the water, forming dense carpets of shells. Zebra mussel fact sheet ontarios invading species awareness. Quaggazebra mussel fact sheet state and federal agencies have initiated a unified response to the quagga mussel invasion in california. Zebra mussels can cause tremendous environmental and economic damage hurting aquatic life, damaging your boat, hindering water recreation and even threatening your water supply. Zebra mussels dreissena polymorpha are small, freshwater bivalve mollusks relatives to clams and oysters that are triangular in shape with an obvious ridge between the side and bottom. Threatened species are animals and plants that are likely to. Quagga mussel shell is normally striped, as is that of the zebra mussel. The zebra mussel dreissena polymorpha is a small bivalve originally native to the caspian sea region.
Invasive mussel monitoring network volunteers will be displayed using gis at the pennsylvania invasive mussel monitoring network website. Zebra mussels were confirmed to be present in pueblo reservoir in. They rapidly became established in the great lakes and the waters draining them. Continued attachment of zebra mussel can cause corrosion of steel and concrete, affecting its structural integrity. Geological survey usgs zebra mussel monitoring program for north texas provides early detection and monitoring of zebra mussels by using a holistic suite of detection methods. From ecologic standpoint an individual zebra mussel can filter one to two liters of water each day 14. Pdf nobanis invasive alien species fact sheet dreissena. It reached north america in the mid1980s in the ballast water of a ship. Boats that are moored or docked for more than one day are more likely to be fouled by zebra mussels than boats launched and retrieved in a single day. A zebra mussel starts its life as newly hatched larvae called veligers. Quagga and zebra mussels quagga and zebra mussels arrived in the united states from europe in the 1980s and spread to many eastern waterways, rivers, and lakes. They are typically two inches or less roughly the size of a pistachio nut in size and have a life span of four to eight years. Usgs zebra mussel monitoring program for north texas.