Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: In 1986, a heavy infestation of Mytella strigata clogged the intakes of the Blount Island electrical generating plant. The mussels disappeared in the winter of 1987, and did not reappear in the St. Johns estuary until 2006 (Lee 2008). In 2006 and 2007, they were found in small numbers, but in 2008, they again clogged the Blount Island Power plant (Lee 2008). After 2006, they were found along the coast north to South Carolina, and appear to be established from Central Florida to the central Georgia coast (Lee 2008; Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2008)
Geographic Extent
near Avendaw, Charleston County/SC/Long Creek (Lee Taylor, SC DNR, , to Pam Fuller, USGS, 33.051034? N, 79.496827? W); Ashley Marina, D dock, Charleston/SC/Charleston Harbor (9/15/15, David Bollinger, to Pam Fuller, USGS, 32.782028? N, 79.957556? W); Ashley Marina, F dock; Charleston/SC/Charleston Harbor, attached to hull of sailboat Palmetto Moon (Carl Beckman, to Pam Fuller, USGS, 32.782222? N,79.958333? W)); at Hunting Island State Park [near Beaufort] on outer groins/SC/Atlantic Ocean (10/16/2009, USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2009); Just S of Bennetts Point, Colleton County/SC/Ashepoo River, just below the mouth of Mosquito Creek (2008, USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2006, found on an abandoned crab pot float line); Thunderbolt/GA/Savannah River (2008, Spinuzzi et al. 2012); Chatham County Ramp, Tybee Island/GA/Savannah River (2008, Spinuzzi et al. 2012); GA/Medway River at the Sunbury public boat ramp (2006, USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2006); Blythe Island Regional Park, Brunswick/GA/Brunswick River (2009, Spinuzzi et al. 2012); Jekyll Island, Thalmann/GA/Jekyll Sound (2008, Spinuzzi et al. 2012); Harriet's Bluff, Woodbine/GA/Satilla River (2007, Spinuzzi et al. 2012); Crooked River State Park, St. Marys/GA/St. Marys River (12/2007, Gillis et al. 2009; Spinuzzi et al. 2012); St. Marys/GA/St. Marys River (2008, Gillis et al. 2009; Spinuzzi et al. 2012); Blount Island (Jacksonville)/FL/St. Johns River (failed); Sister's Creek Marina, Jacksonville/FL/St. Johns River Estuary (2007, Gilg et al. 2010); Lion's Club Marina, Jacksonville/FL/St. Johns River Estuary (2007, Stenyakina et al. 2010); Alimacani Park to Reddie Point Preserve, Jacskonville Area/FL/St. Johns River estuary (Holt and Garner 2018. 33-13 PSU mean salinity, , to 30°25'16.05"N, 81°25'15.49"W30°23'24.96"N, 81°37'09.16"W); University of Florida's Whitney Laboratory at Marineland in northern Flagler County/FL/Matanzas Inlet (2006, Lee 2008); North causeway dock, New Smyrna Beach/FL/Intracoastal Waterway (2006, Spinuzzi et al. 2012)
Vectors
Level | Vector |
---|---|
Probable | Ballast Water |
Alternate | Hull Fouling |
Regional Impacts
Economic Impact | Industry | |
In 1986, a heavy infestation of Mytella strigata clogged the intakes of the Blount Island electrical generating plant, in Jacksonville, Florida. The mussels disappeared in the winter of 1987, and did not reappear in the St. Johns estuary until 2006 (Lee 2008). In 2006 and 2007, they were found in small numbers, but in 2008, they again clogged the Blount Island Power plant (Lee 2008). | ||