Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: Kaliningrad-Klaipeda/Russia/Lithuania/Curonian Lagoon (before 1850, Daunys et al. 2006)
Geographic Extent
Kaliningrad-Klaipeda/Russia-Lithuania/Curonian Lagoon (before 1850, Daunys et al. 2006); Poland/Vistula Lagoon (1917, Ezhova et al. 2005; Stanczykowska et al. 2010; Poland/Vistula Lagoon (Jablonska-Barna et al. 2013,)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Alternate | Hull Fouling |
| Alternate | Canal |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Competition | |
| In the Curonian Lagoon, Zebra Mussels contributed up to 95% of total benthic community biomass and fouled native unionid mussels (Zaiko et al. 2009). Dreissena polymorpha was also a biomass dominant in fresher portions of the Vistula Lagoon, Poland (Ezhova et al. 2005). It was considered to have strong community impacts in the Curonian and Vistula Lagoons (Zaiko et al. 2011). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Habitat Change | |
| In the Curonian Lagoon, Zebra Mussel shell deposits and living beds had higher benthic invertebrate biomass and species richness than bare sediment. The effect of living mussels was greater than that of dead shells (Zaiko et al. 2009). Zebra mussels were considered to have strong habitat impacts (Zaiko et al. 2011). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Trophic Cascade | |
| Zebra Mussels were considered to have moderate ecosystem impacts in the Curonian Lagoon. Data were not available for an assessment in the Vistula Lagoon (Zaiko et al. 2011). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Herbivory | |
| In the Curonian Lagoon, Lithuania, Dreissena polymorpha is estimated to filter 10-30% of the total suspended particulate material per day, but the overall impact is considered small, because of the short residence time of the lagoon. However, within the mussel bed, the deposition of organic matter is significant, resulting in local enrichment of the benthic community (Daunys et al. 2006). | ||