how did the zebra mussel problem in the great lakes begin?
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Successful introduction of zebra mussels into the Great Lakes probably occurred in 1985 or 1986, after transoceanic ships discharged contaminated ballast water from foreign ports into lakes St. Clair and Erie. ... Being a temperate, freshwater species, they found the plankton-rich lakes St. Clair and Erie to their liking.
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They threaten native fish by consuming food and smothering other species. As with zebra mussels, they can clog pipes and water intakes, and cause damage to hydroelectric dams and irrigation systems.
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ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS By filter-feeding large amounts of plankton, zebra and quagga mussels remove a major food source for most of the lake life. Their filter- feeding capacity can substantially clear the water column, allowing more light to reach the lake floor, which increases photosynthesis in bottom-dwelling plants.
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In the absence of their natural pathogens, parasites, and predators, the zebra mussel populations in the Great Lakes has grown enormously and are now invading eight major river systems, including the St. ... Most of the freshwater systems in North America are now threatened by invasion of the zebra mussel.
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Both Zebra and quagga mussels are native to the Black Sea in Eurasia and were introduced to Ontario in the late 1980s via ship ballast. They both have the capability to densely colonize hard and soft surfaces of lake bottoms.
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The spread of zebra mussels: Originally from the Balkans, Poland and the former Soviet Union, zebra mussels are firmly established in Europe and have invaded much of the U.S. On April 3, 2009, the first adult zebra mussel in Texas waters was confirmed in Lake Texoma.
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Zebra mussels are an invasive, fingernail-sized mollusk that is native to fresh waters in Eurasia. ... Zebra mussels negatively impact ecosystems in many ways. They filter out algae that native species need for food and they attach to--and incapacitate--native mussels.
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Zebra Mussels are believed to have hitch-hiked from Europe to North America in ballast water from transoceanic ships. ... They disperse downstream on water currents during their free-floating larval stage. They are only able to disperse into upstream areas, like Kelso Reservoir, through human activity.
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The Great Lakes suffer from three main sources of pollution: Heavy industry, manufacturing, and agriculture. This does not account for all of the pollution, but are a majority of the blame. Chemical pollution, Plastic pollution, and Nutrient pollution have been devastating to The Great Lakes.
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The impacts of Zebra Mussels include: Filter water to the point where food sources such as plankton are removed and alter the food web for other species. They can impact fish and other wildlife by increasing algal blooms and large colonies affect fish spawning areas.
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Zebra mussels are suspension feeders, eating phytoplankton, small zooplankton, large bacteria, and organic detritus by filtering the water and straining out the edible material. Phytoplankton and zooplankton form the base of the aquatic food web, so many animals depend on them for survival.
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Zebra mussels have become an invasive species in North America, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. They disrupt the ecosystems by killing off local mussels, and damaging harbors and waterways, ships and boats, as well as water treatment and power plants. ... Dreissena polymorpha are filter-feeding organisms.
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Distribution: Zebra mussels are native to the Caspian Sea region of Asia and are believed to have been introduced into the Great Lakes from ballast water of transatlantic ships. They were first discovered in Lake St. ... Zebra mussels were first documented in Iowa in 1992 from the Mississippi River near Burlington.
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Zebra mussels are highly adaptable and can survive in a variety of water temperatures and conditions. ... Zebra mussels negatively impact habitats by filtering water, which removes plankton from the water. Plankton is the foundation of many food chains, including those of native fish and wildlife.
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Zebra mussels are native to the Caspian and Black Seas (Eurasia); quagga mussels are native to the Dneiper River drainage in Ukraine. Both mussels have invaded freshwater systems of the UK, Western Europe, Canada, and the United States.
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Boats and equipment may be pressure washed to remove veligers and juvenile zebra mussels. Biologists who have studied zebra mussels recommend using high-pressure hot water to remove and kill zebra mussels that are attached to your boat hull (use water >104 degrees F if possible).
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Enormous colonies of zebra mussels can reduce the algal populations of lakes and rivers, thus removing a significant portion of the base of the food chain and resulting in a decline in the fish populations. Thus, these mussels are a threat to the local biodiversity.