Species Regional Summary
Dreissena polymorpha
_CDA_L103 (Chautauqua-Connaut) ( L103 )

Invasion History Vectors Impacts References

Invasion

Invasion Description

1st Record: offshore between Longpoint and Port Colborne/Ontario/Lake Erie (4-11/1986, Carlton 2008)

Geographic Extent

offshore between Longpoint and Port Colborne/Ontario/Lake Erie (4-11/1986, Carlton 2008); Erie/PA/Lake Erie (1989, USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2012)

Vectors

Level Vector
Probable Ballast Water

Regional Impacts

Economic ImpactIndustry
Fouling of natural gas wellheads by zebra mussels, off Ontario, caused maintenance problems by 1990 (Carlton 2008).
 
Ecological ImpactCompetition
In Presque Isle Bay (PA), fouling of native Unionid mussels by Zebra Mussels is reported to have caused an 89% reduction in their population (Maleski & Masteller, cited by Ricciardi et al.1998).
 
Ecological ImpactHerbivory
Reduction in chlorophyl a and increased light penetration, since the onset of the dreissenid invasions, was also seen in the eastern basin of Lake Erie (North et al. 2012).
 
Ecological ImpactParasite/Predator Vector
Dreissena polymorpha 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).
 

References

Carlton, James T. (2008) The Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha found in North America in 1986 and 1987, Journal of Great Lakes Research 34: 770-773

North, Rebecca L. and 6 authors (2012) Distribution of seston and nutrient concentrations in the eastern basin of Lake Erie pre- and post-dreissenid mussel invasion, Journal of Great Lakes Research 38: 463-476

Ricciardi, Anthony, Neves, Richard J., Rasmussen, Joseph B. (1998) Impending extinctions of North Americam freshwater mussels (Unionoida) following the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) invasion, Journal of Animal Ecology 67: 613-619


  • Nemesis (current)
  • Marine Invasions Lab
  • Partner Portals
    Nemesis California Panama Galapagos Chesapeake JTMD
  • Summaries
    Select Species All Taxa Groups Regions
  • News
  • login

©