Photo courtesy of pennsylvania sea grant monitoring for invasive mussels zebra mussels and quagga mussels can compete with native mussels for food and space, disrupting aquatic food chains, and clogging utility pipes and industrial water intakes. Zebra mussels can cause tremendous environmental and economic damage hurting aquatic life, damaging your boat, hindering water recreation and even threatening your water supply. Nobanis marine invasive species in nordic waters fact. The rapid spread has been aided by both human interaction and their unique ecology timar and phaneuf 2009. The zebra mussel is a small shellfish named for the striped pattern of its shell. Dreissena polymorpha, photo by jonne kotta, source.
Oregon department of fish and wildlife frequently asked questions destructive quagga and zebra mussels threaten oregon feb. Bureau of reclamation managing water and power in the west. During the summer of 1993, the zebra mussel was discovered in lake champlain, vermont. The zebra mussel, dreissena polymorpha, is a freshwater bivalve mollusk that was originally native to southeast russia, but which has been introduced into many parts of europe and the us. In denmark, zebra mussels were first recorded in 1843 within a channel that was located in copenhagen. Although similar in appearance to the quagga mussel, the two species can be easily distinguished. The zebra mussel dreissena polymorpha is a small bivalve originally native to the caspian sea region. View all teaching resources use the filter to limit your results. However, the zebra mussel has been accidentally introduced to numerous other areas and has become an invasive species in many countries worldwide.
It is shaped and striped something like the zebra mussel, but it is more rounded and less angular and is usually paler near the hinge. Zebra mussel prevention policy the missouri department of conservation will work to prevent the spread of zebra mussels from infested waters to uninfested waters. Zm fact sheet iowa department of natural resources. Zebra and quagga mussels have a dark and white zebra like. There were a lot of websites about my species but they all had the same thing. Byssal threads or ropes are on the hinge edge of its shell.
Students read about the negative effects and some positive results and then answer several questions about the passage. Pdf impacts of zebra mussels on aquatic communities and. The zebra mussel gets its name from the black or dark brown and white striped markings that. Almost all states to the east of colorado have a zebra or quagga mussel infestation. Find zebra mussels lesson plans and teaching resources. The species was originally native to the lakes of southern russia and ukraine. In this zebra mussels worksheet, 7th graders read an article about zebra mussel populations in united states lakes and rivers. 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. Quagga and zebra dreissenid mussels pose a serious threat to californias waters and fisheries.
Numbers have been reported in excess of 75,000 per square foot. During the summer of 2009, the zebra mussel was identified in a pond in the berkshire region of massachusetts. Zebra mussels were likely first introduced into lake st. The zebra mussel dreissena polymorpha, a small, clamlike mollusk that grows to about 25 cm as an adult, was introduced into the waters of the great lakes, probably carried in the bilge of a russian freighter. Unlike native mussels, they can attach themselves to hard surfaces in the. They are typically found attached to objects, surfaces, or each other by threads underneath the shells. Zebra mussel the zebra mussel gets its name from the dark and light stripes on its shell that resembles those on a zebra. Utahs efforts to stop invasive mussels status report for 2011 during the 2008 legislative session, utah lawmakers learned about a significant threat to the states water supplies, irrigation systems, hydroelectric plants, recreation areas and aquatic wildlife. The results of the clam, snail and shell enumeration can be found in the appendix fig. They proliferate quickly and adhere in great numbers to virtually any surface. The zebra mussel, a black and white striped clamlike animal is spreading from the great lakes region and could invade new brunswick. Clair in 1988 by the release of ballast water from a transoceanic vessel mackie et al. Zebra mussels are in the dreissenidae family, the false mussel and zebra mussel family.
Zebra mussels were confirmed to be present in pueblo reservoir in. The involved agencies include the departments of fish and game dfg, water resources, food and agriculture, boating and waterways, parks and recreation. To determine why these changes were occurring, the research team hypothesized that increased predation on zebra mussels by crabs and other species may be the reason for this reversal. Zebra and quagga mussels are capable of heavily colonizing hard and soft surfaces. A tiny animal, it measures three centimetres long or smaller. There is a prominent light and dark banding pattern on the shell, which may be either smooth or zigzag in shape. Zebra mussels what are zebra mussels and where do they come from. Since the 1980s, they have invaded the great lakes and the hudson river.
Shell size rarely exceeds 4 cm but 5 cm is possible. For some topics, it was very easy to find information and other parts were very complicated. 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. Aquatic invasive species zebra mussel fact sheet author. 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. Zebra mussel dreissena polymorpha invasive species. The adults are slightly larger than the zebra mussels. The plains zebra equus quagga, formerly equus burchelli is the most common, and has or had about five subspecies distributed across much of southern and eastern africa. Both mussel species can attach to hard surfaces in the water of lakes and rivers, and quagga mussels also attach to soft surfaces. Nobanis marine invasive species in nordic waters fact sheet rapana venosa author of this species fact sheet. Standard protocols for monitoring and sampling zebra mussels. Quaggazebra mussel fact sheet state and federal agencies have initiated a unified response to the quagga mussel invasion in california. Waters pdf uniform minimum protocols and standards for watercraft interception programs pdf.
Zebra mussels are small freshwater mussels that are not native to minnesota. Zebra mussels are now found in 22 states and two canadian provinces see figure 2. Dreissena polymorpha zebra mussels are in the dreissenidae family, the false mussel and zebra mussel family. This mussel is typically found attached to objects, surfaces, or other mussels by threads extending from underneath the shells. Zebra mussel national invasive species information center.
Mussel qu gg mussel zebra mussel occurrences quagga mussel occurrences both species. Zebra mussel more information illinoisindiana sea grant. Adults range from 14 to 112 inches long and have yellow and brown striped shells. Zebra mussels united states army corps of engineers.
Hot on the heels of the famous zebra, quagga mussels were first found in 1989 along lake erie. However, color patterns can vary to the point of having only dark or light colored shells with no stripes. The closest is cedar bluff reservoir which is only 150 miles from our border in kansas. The zebra mussel dreissena polymorpha is a small freshwater mussel. Many native mussel populations that share waters with zebra mussels have decreased to the point of being threatened or endangered. From its native origin, the species has spread to the point where the zebra mussel now affects the waters of most of europe. The program is designed to assess zebra mussel occurrence, distribution, and densities in north texas waters by using four approaches. Until 2016, neither zebra nor quagga mussels had been detected in montana waters. The general rule is to expect a 90 per cent loss of native mussel populations within 10 years of zebra mussel arrival. Both species were believed to have been introduced in the late 1980s by ballast water from transoceanic ships carrying veligers larvae, juveniles or adult mussels. It, or particular subspecies of it, have also been known as the common zebra, the dauw, burchells zebra actually the extinct. Croix nsr additional data was collected as zebra mussel densities were determined.
Zebra mussels are small shellfish marked by alternating light and dark bands. Zebra mussels and a related species, quagga mussels, are highly invasive mollusks native to the caspian sea region of europe and asia. The zebra mussel can reproduce in less than a year, and a single female can release 1. Since then, zebra mussels have spread rapidly throughout the great lakes and. The ecological impacts of zebra mussels can be severe. Zebra mussel iowa aquatic invasive species dreissena polymorpha fact sheet zebra mussel fact sheet description. The invasive mussel collaborative announced today that it has released a new strategy to reduce invasive mussels and their negative impacts. Zebra mussels worksheet for 7th grade lesson planet. Nobanis invasive alien species fact sheet dreissena polymorpha. Because lake winnipeg is so unique, the impacts of zebra mussel on the ecosystem, including the fisheries, will require careful monitoring. Invasion of mussels from outofstate waters continues to be a threat, and will likely increase. Zebra mussels cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
In 1998, the mussel was found in east twin lake, connecticut. In the mid1980s a new species found its way to north america. Org zebra mussels secrete durable elastic strands called byssal fibers, which can glue the mussel to hard objects. Zebra and quagga mussels are freshwater bivalves native to the black sea region of eurasia. Quagga mussels are a more typical clam shape and have thinner shells. The zebra mussel gets its name from the dark and light stripes on its shell that resembles those on a zebra. Quaggazebra mussel fact sheet state and federal agencies have initiated a unified response to the quagga zebra mussel invasion in california.
They rapidly became established in the great lakes and the waters draining them. The freshwater mussels several allied families, the largest being the unionidae and saltwater mussels family mytilidae are not closely related, despite the fact that they may look similar. Or, to display all related content view all resources for zebra mussel. Quagga mussels and zebra mussels are small, freshwater mollusks.
This aquatic hitchhiker, along with other exotic animals and plants, can cause signi. 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. Zebra mussels have also led to dramatic losses to native mussel populations. Natively the zebra mussel inhabits parts of western russia near the caspian sea and the ural river. Discovered after the zebra mussel, the quagga mussel gets. 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.
Copper and zebra mussels minnesota department of natural resources 101011 the minnesota department of natural resources dnr is planning on chemically treating a small area of rose lake in otter tail county in the hopes of eradicating a small number of zebra mussels that were recently introduced to the lake. Zebra mussel shells are triangular or triagonal with a sharply pointed shell hinge end. The mussel has expanded to infest many lake and river systems of north america since then. Quagga mussel shell is normally striped, as is that of the zebra mussel. A close relative to the zebra mussel is the quagga mussel dreissena bugensis, which is also native to eurasia. An unwelcome north american invader cr oneill, db macneill. Zebra mussel, a species of tiny mussels genus dreissena that are prominent freshwater pests. They answer 8 short answer questions about it after reading the provided information.
Zebra mussel infestations also threaten native mussel populations by attaching to the shells of these species and smothering them. Zebra mussels are small, thumbnailsize, dshaped mussels, with a zebra like pattern of stripes, that are native to the caspian sea region of asia. 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 different stages of the zebra mussels life cycle can be viewed on the adaptation page. It is currently causing problems in the great lakes and is starting to be seen in missouri. 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 cost the u. This does not inclued costs associated with environmental damages or increased operating expenses to hatcheries and water diversions. Zebra mussels are a small, destructive invasive species that can spread across texas by hitching a ride on boats and trailers. Where quagga and zebra mussels coexist, quagga mussels appear to outcompete zebra mussels, and quagga mussels can colonize to depths greater than those achieved by zebra mussels and are more tolerant of colder water temperatures. Zebra mussels look like small, fingernailsized clams. Zebra mussels grow up to two inches long, but most are less than one inch. 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.
Mussel they sometimes also live in intertidal areas along coastlines worldwide. Zebra mussels reached north america in the mid1980s in the ballast water of a ship. Attention boaters zebra mussels and eurasian water milfoil are aquatic nuisance species that may be accidentally spread by watercraft users. Afterwards, it spread into the local lakes, and to lake fure 1915, lakes esrum 192223, and also within the river susaa system situated on the island of zealand 1939. The zebra mussels reproductive system is unique to freshwater mussels. The zebra mussels is native to the black, caspian, and azov seas. Zebra mussels can smother native mussels and crayfish by accumulating on the shells. A highly prolific invasive species, it has caused widespread property damage, has displaced endemic bivalve species, and is generally considered a pest. 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. The quagga mussel was introduced via ship ballast water to the great lakes in the 1980s, and has similar impacts as the zebra. 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.
Color patterns could vary, having only dark or colored shells or no stripes. Zebra mussels were introduced into the great lakes, likely from ballast water from oceangoing vessels, in the mid 1980s. This zebra mussels worksheet is suitable for 7th grade. It is similar in appearance and biology to the zebra mussel, but can live in deeper and colder waters. Once established in lakes, ponds and other freshwater environments, these nonnative species can.
The involved agencies include the departments of fish and game dfg, water resources, food and agriculture, boating. In addition, use of the protocols for monitoring in 1991. These included asian clams corbicula fluminea, any species of snails and dead mussels or their shells. It probably entered the watershed on boats, trailers, anchors, scuba gear, or in engines, live wells, bilge areas, bait buckets and coolers. Zebra mussels potentially pose a multibillion dollar threat to industrial and public water supplies. Zebra and quagga mussels ontarios invading species. Zebra mussels are a small, destructive invasive freshwater mussel that can be transported from waterway to waterway by boats and trailers. 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. Females produce 100,000 to one million eggs per year which. The dshaped shells have alternating light and dark bands, and the inside of the shell is white. A zebra mussel starts its life as newly hatched larvae called veligers. Teacher lesson plans, worksheets and resources sign up for the lesson planet. Quagga mussels were discovered in lake mead, lake mojave, and lake havasu on the colorado river in january 2007.
Zebra mussels are small freshwater mussels that are not native to. 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. Zebra mussels are d shaped and have a thicker shell. Of the hundreds of invasive species that plague our world, students tend to research three main invasives that are found in ohio. 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. The voracious mussels disrupt food webs by wiping out phytoplankton, and their massive clustering on waterintake valves and. Questions and answers about pilot projects to control. Invasive mollusk impacts, graphing and interpreting zebra mussel data.
Quagga and zebra mussels california department of fish and. Zebra mussels have an extremely high reproductive rate of 30,0001,000,000. If you spot a suspected zebra mussel, freeze it in a plastic bag or preserve it in a small bottle of rubbing. Zebra mussels are a type of mollusk, which also include a wide variety of organisms such as squids, octopuses, snails, oysters, scallops, and clams. Like other mussels, dreissenids have a freefloating planktonic veliger life stage. In this ecology worksheet, students study a fact sheet on invasive mussels. First spotted in maryland during november 2008 upstream from the conowingo dam, dnr. Researching the zebra mussel was, well, interesting. 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. Zebra mussel national invasive species information center usda. They came to north american waters in international shipping ballast water and were discovered in lake st. Zebra mussels in north america, the invasion and its implications.
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