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Photo from http://www.great-lakes.net/envt/exotic/zebra.html
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The
fresh water zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, has invaded the waterways
of North America causing major problems in power plants and water treatment
facilities. None of the methods used to control these animals are either
species specific, or safe for other living organisms. One way to avoid these
problems may be to target critical physiological systems in the zebra mussel,
e.g. the nervous system and the cardiovascular system. To accomplish this
it is necessary to know zebra mussel anatomy. However there is currently
very little information on the layout and tissue structure of the zebra
mussel. Zebra mussels migrated from their native Black and Caspian Seas
to Europe via man-made canals. Researchers believe that the mussels were
accidentally transported to North America via ship ballast |
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First discovered in Lake St. Clair in June 1988, the mussels quickly spread
to Lakes Erie and Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Since then, they have
spread to all of the Great Lakes and a growing number of U.S. and Canadian
inland waterways. Most mussels are thumbnail-sized, but they can reach 5
cm long in their 2-year lifespan. They have an elongated D-shaped, somewhat
pointed, thin shell with a zebra-like pattern of stripes. They have threadlike
filaments used to attach themselves to boat hulls, reefs, navigational buoys
and other submerged objects. Zebra mussels can survive out of water in moist,
shaded areas for several days. Mussel larvae can be carried in boat bilge
water live wells, bait buckets and engine cooling systems. Adult mussels
can colonize many hard underwater surfaces, such as water intake pipes,
docks, boat hulls, buoys, and commercial fishing nets. Mussels can spread
via commercial and recreational boat traffic, amphibious airplanes, scuba
equipment, transport containers, fishing gear, and wildlife. The zebra mussel
is capable of attaching itself to most submerged hard surfaces. Once they
are attached, they reproduce very quickly. A mature female zebra mussel
can reproduce 30,000-40,000 eggs per year. Due to their high reproductive
rate and the limited number of natural predators, zebra muscles can significantly
populate a body of water in two or three years. They can cluster together
with hundreds of thousands per square meter. The zebra mussel has the possibility
of severely impacting electric power generation, industrial water intake
facilities, disrupt food webs and Eco systems, sport and commercial fishing
and navigation, recreational boating, beaches and agriculture. There doesn't
seem to be a known predator of the mussels, the mussels need to be scrapped
and removed. |
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How
to help prevent the spread of Zebra Mussels
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Learn about the mussel, how it spreads, how to identify it, and the threat
it poses, and share this information with others.
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Inspect boat, trailer, and other recreational equipment carefully for
mussels and aquatic vegetation. Remove and discard in the trash.
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Drain all water from boat, including bilge, live well and engine cooling
system, and other recreational equipment that might trap water.
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Dry boat and trailer in sun for at least two days or if using boat sooner,
rinse off boat, trailer, anchor, anchor rope and chain, bumpers, engine,
etc... with tap water or at a car wash.
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Leave live aquatic bait behind--either give to someone using the same
waterbody, or discard in the trash.
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http://www.wes.army.mil/el/zebra/piclist.html
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