Impact on

1

• Impact on
• Lake Erie Region
• Dave Cass, Carrie Hohmann, Jenaya Jubeck,
• Maggie MacNeil, Caitlin Nay

2
Origination

• originated in the Balkans, Poland, and the former
  Soviet Union
• 1769, populations described in Caspian Sea and
  Ural River

3
Nonindigenous Occurrences

• Zebra mussels were first discovered in North
  America in 1988

4
2002
5
Method of Introduction and Dispersal

• Ballast water
• Navigation by boats and barge traffic through
  waterways
• Overland transport
• Can live for days in cool moist environment

6
Life Span of Zebra Mussels

• Three main stages larval, juvenile, and adult
• Size can be approximately 6 to 45 mm
• Can live to be 2-3 years old in temperate climates

Source www. wes.army.mil/el/zebra/zmis/zmishelp.h
tm
7
Life Cycle of Zebra Mussel
Source http//www.wes.army.mil/el/zebra/zmis/zmis
help.htm
8
Ecological Impacts

• Filter feeding leaves less food for organisms
• Consume large amounts of small organisms
• Threaten native mussel species

9
Biological Impacts

• Attach themselves to hard surfaces by using
  byssal threads
• Attach themselves to native mussels
• Leaves them less food, and brings them parasites
  and diseases
• Populations of native mussels may decline
• Rarer species may be completely eliminated

10
Economic Impacts

• Attach themselves to water intake structures
• Cause reductions in pumping and shutdowns
• Cost US 5 billion

11
Human Health Impacts

• May increase wildlife exposure to organic
  pollutants
• Deposit pollutants in their feces
• These contaminants pass up the food chain to
  humans
• Have no natural predators

12
Recreational Impacts

• Boaters engine overheating, mussels sticking to
  boat hulls
• Swimmers sharp shells left on beaches
• Scuba divers attach to shipwrecks, fish
  species, and underwater landscapes

13
History In Our Region

• 1989 First Sighting In PA
• 1994 Lake Erie Concentration 6000/sq. meter
• 1995 - First Sighting in Allegheny River.
• 2001 First Inland Lake Invasion Edinboro Lake
• August 15, 2001 Sighted In Sandy Lake
• August 17, 2001 Sighted in Canandohta Lake
• 2002 First Sighting in Lake Arthur

14
Specific Concerns

• French Creek Clubshell, Northern Riffleshell
  Mussels
• Glacial Lakes Unique biodiversity
• Pleasant Lake Untouched Glacial Lake
• Smaller lakes more significantly affected

15
Prevention

• Put notices on boat registration
• Distribute kits for people to identify zebra
  mussels
• Hand-harvesting
• Spread knowledge
• Scrub and dry boats and equipment after use
• Be aware of infestations
• Protect bodies of water and fisheries that are
  zebra mussel-free

16
Elimination

• Identify and monitor weak points in fishery
  systems
• Use 1 salt water solution in fish transport
• Drain ponds during harsh weather
• Use natural predators like diving and mallard
  ducks, yellow perch
• Develop safe disinfectants
• Control spread in fisheries
• Protect bodies of water that are zebra mussel-free