Knowra Zebra mussel Zebra mussel The zebra mussel is a small freshwater bivalve native to the Black and Caspian Sea region. Its rapid spread beyond that range has made it a major invasive species in Europe and North America.
Veliger : A planktonic larval stage of many mollusks, including zebra mussels. Zebra mussel veligers drift in water before settling and attaching to hard surfaces.
Invasive species : A non-native organism whose establishment and spread cause ecological, economic, or other harm. Zebra mussels exemplify how an introduced species can spread widely and cause lasting damage.
Ponto-Caspian region : The area around the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and adjoining basins of southeastern Europe and western Asia. This region is the zebra mussel's native range and a source of many aquatic invaders.
Aquatic invasive species prevention : Measures that reduce the introduction and spread of non-native organisms in aquatic environments. Prevention targets the boat and equipment movements that carry zebra mussels to new waters.
Byssus : A bundle of strong protein threads that lets some bivalves attach to surfaces. Zebra mussels use byssal threads to cling to boats, pipes, rocks, and native shellfish.
Trophic cascade : A chain of effects across a food web caused by changes in organisms at one trophic level. By filtering plankton, zebra mussels can redirect energy and alter food-web relationships.
Great Lakes : A group of five large freshwater lakes along the United States–Canada border. The zebra mussel was first detected in North America in the Great Lakes in 1988.
Clean, Drain, Dry : A prevention practice of cleaning, draining, and drying boats and equipment after water use. These steps reduce the chance that zebra mussels or their larvae hitchhike between lakes.
Biofouling : The unwanted accumulation of organisms on submerged surfaces or equipment. Dense zebra mussel colonies foul water intakes, vessels, and infrastructure.
Water clarity : A measure of how far light can travel through water before suspended material scatters or absorbs it. Heavy filtration can make invaded waters clearer, changing light and habitat conditions.
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