Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: Lorain/OH/Lake Erie (USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2012)
Geographic Extent
Lorain/OH/Lake Erie (USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2012)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Probable | Ballast Water |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Herbivory | |
| In the western basin of Lake Erie, dreissenid mussels (predominantly D. bugensis) were estimated to graze 4-10% of edible non-diatom phytoplankton and 7-8% of diatoms per day, about comparable to that of zooplankton (6-11% and 7-8%). However, mussel grazing was largely confined to the benthic boundary layer, and was offset by their nitrogen and phosphorus excretion (Zhang et al. 2011). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Parasitism | |
| Dreissena bugensis was found to be an important host for trematode parasites, including the cosmopolitan Echinoparyphium recurvatum which can cause fatal infections in waterfowl (Karatayev et al. 2012). | ||