Native Mussels
Photo from: http://mnzoo.org/blog/building-mussels-at-the-zoo-an-exercise-in-freshwater-conservation/
Mussels living in Minnesota lakes and rivers filter oxygen and particles from the water, cleansing the water in the process and absorbing what they consume into their bodies and shells. Because of this mussels, often living nearly their whole life in a small area of an entire body of water, are sensitive to changes. This causes mussels to often be used as indicators of the health of our lakes and streams.
The declining health of our lakes and rivers from runoff such as silt and chemicals as well as physical changes from damming, channelization, and dredging, have wreaked havoc on native mussels populations in North America. As a result, according to conservation groups such as the American Fisheries Society and The Nature Conservancy, mussels are one of North America's most endangered groups of animals. Of the 297 known species and subspecies of freshwater mussels in North America, 213 are listed as either endangered, threatened, or of special concern. In Minnesota, 28 of the 50 native mussels are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern, 3 species have been completely removed from Minnesota waters, and at least 3 more species are in imminent danger of extinction in Minnesota.
Photo from:: minnesotafreshwatermussels.weebly.com/uploads/1/9/2/6/19268447/3954920.jpg
Photo from:: https://www.austindailyherald.com/2019/11/minnesotas-native-mussels-still-in-peril-but-signs-of-hope/
Invasive Mussels
Zebra mussels are small mussels with a striped, D-shaped shell. The shells are yellow and brownish colored stripes. Adults are typically fingernail-sized. Zebra mussels attach to hard surfaces underwater.
A single zebra mussel can filter one quart of water per day while feeding primarily on algae. They live underwater, attached to natural and manmade items alike such as rocks, wood, plants, native mussels, pipes, docks, boat lifts, swim rafts, watercraft, and other debris. A female can produce 100,000 to 500,000 eggs in only a year. Fertilized eggs develop into microscopic, free-living larvae, called "veligers," that form shells. After two to three weeks, the veligers settle and attach to a firm surface using tiny fibers called byssal threads, sadly they can even attach and block fish gills. Beds of zebra mussels can have tens of thousands of the species within a single square yard.
The zebra mussel is a native to Eastern Europe and Western Russia. The species was introduced by accident into the United States’ Great Lakes through the discharges of contaminated cargo ship ballast water.
Zebra mussels filter so much water that native mussels that are slower to filter get an inefficient amount of nutrients to survive.
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Photo from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_mussel
Photo from: https://www.fairmontsentinel.com/news/local-news/2019/07/06/minnesota-upping-its-efforts-against-invasives/
Photo from: https://www.fox9.com/news/zebra-mussels-found-on-docks-in-medicine-lake-minnesota-dnr-confirms
What Can You do?
Zebra mussels spread primarily through the movement of water-related equipment. Mussels attach to boats, docks, swim rafts and boat lifts. They can also attach to aquatic plants. Adult mussels can survive out of water, less than five days in dry conditions, but up to 21 days in very wet conditions.
Do your part!
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Clean watercraft of all aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
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Drain all water by removing drain plugs and keeping them out during transport.
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Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
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Dry docks, lifts, swim rafts and other equipment for at least 21 days before placing equipment into another water body.
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Follow these steps to show your mussels and help save native Minnesota species!!!
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Works Cited
Mussels of Minnesota. (2019, June 28). Retrieved from https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mussels/index.html
Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). (2019, June 23). Retrieved from https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/zebramussel/index.html
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