Impact of Zebra Mussels as an Invasive Species

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Impact of Zebra Mussels as an Invasive Species

• By Melissa Malmstedt

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Background on Zebra Mussels

• Dreissena polymorpha
• Common name Zebra Mussel
• Originally from Caspian Sea and Ural River
• Also native to the Balkans, Poland, and the
  former Soviet Union

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Occurrences of Zebra mussels in non native areas

• Late 18th century early 19th century spread
  throughout most of Europe
• May have arrived in North America via a European
  ship's ballast water.
• 1988 came from Canadas Lake St. Clair into lake
  Huron and Lake Erie.
• 1990 populations in all of the Great Lakes.
• 1991 found in Hudson and Illinois rivers.
• 1992 found in Mississippi, Arkansas, Ohio, and
  Tennessee rivers.

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Biology of Zebra Mussels

• Fresh water mollusks
• Bivalve
• Colonial
• Filter feeders
• Inhalant and exhalant siphons
• Feed on algae

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Ecology of Zebra Mussels

• Optimal pH is between 7.4 and 8.5
• High oxygen between 8-10 parts per thousand
• Temperatures between 17 and 25 degrees C.
• Impact many species.
• Unionids
• Decreased zooplankton

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Ecology cont.

• Increase water clarity
• Increase in light
• Increase of macrophytes and macrophyte beds that
  serve nurseries for fish
• Prefer to attach to live unionids

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Reproduction

• Females begin to reproduce around 2 years of age
• Broadcast spawning triggered by
• Chemicals produced by algae
• Temperature around 14-16 degrees C
• Can produce 40,000 eggs in a single reproductive
  cycle

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Reproduction cont.

• 3 periods of life
• Larval
• Juvenile
• Adult
• Larvae planktonic during trochophore, straight
  hinged veliger, and umbonal veliger stages.
  Pediveliger stage (settlement takes place) is the
  final larval form.

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Reproduction cont.

• Planligrade stage between larval and juvenile
  periods.
• Juvenile
• Development of fertilized egg to juvenile can
  take anywhere from 8-240 days.
• Change in morphology
• Adult
• Considered an adult when sexual maturity is
  reached.

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Settlement on Zebra mussel (Pediveliger stage)
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Impact of Colonizing Zebra Mussels on Humans

• Clog pipes
• Hydroelectric and nuclear power plants
• Public water supply
• Other industrial facilities

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Clogged pipe
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Control of Zebra Mussels

• Chemical
• Oxidizing
• Chlorination
• Toxic pipes
• Copper, brass, and galvanized metals are toxic to
  zebra mussels.
• Biological
• Bacteria
• Predation
• Ducks
• Fish

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Refrences

• Ackerman, J.D., Sim, B., Nichols, S.J., and
  Claudi, R. (1994). A review of the early life
  history of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)
  Comparisons with marine bivalves. Can. J. Zool.
  721169-1179.
• Genthnera, F., Winsteada, J., Gilleta, J., Van,
  A. Vielb, J., Genoveseb, E., Singerb, S. (1997)
  Effects of a molluscicidal Strain of bacillus
  alveion on digestive tubules of zebra mussels,
  Dreissena polymorpha Journal of Invertabrate
  Pathology. 69 289-291.
• Jack, J.D., Thorp, J.H. (2000). Effects of
  benthic suspension feeder Dreissena polymorpha
  on zooplankton in a large river. Freshwater
  Biology. 44569-579.
• MacIsaac, H.J. (1996). Potential abiotic and
  biotic impacts of zebra mussels on the inland
  waters of North America, Am. Zool. 36 87-299
• Rajagopal, S., Velde, G., Jenner, H. (2002)
  Effects of
• low-level chlorination on zebra mussel,
  Dreissena polymorpha Water Research. 36
  3029-3034.
• Schloesser, D.W., Nakepa, T.F., Mackie,
  G.L.(1996) Zebra mussel infestation of unionid
  bivalves (Unionidae) in North America. Amer.
  Zool. 36300-310.
• Tucker, J.K. (1994)Colonization of unionid
  bivalves by the zebra mussel, Dreissena
  polymorpha,in pool 26 of the Mississippi River.
  J. Freshwater Ecol. 9129-134.
• ----,Zebra Mussel Information System, U.S. Army
  Corps of Engineers