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

Full Reference List for Dreissena polymorpha

  • Nemesis (current)
  • Marine Invasions Lab
  • Partner Portals
    Nemesis California Panama Galapagos Cocos Island NP JTMD
    Archived Projects
    Chesapeake
  • Browse Species
    Taxonomic Groups All Species
  • Browse Regions
    States
    Alaska
    Bioregions & Bays
  • News
  • login

Direct questions and comments to nemesis@si.edu.

©