Login
Bookmark Us
| Impact |
|
Ecological Impact: When with high abundance, zebra and quagga mussels can dramatically change the ecology of infested water bodies:
1. Their filtering activities result in: reduced concentrations of suspended solids and phytoplankton; alteration of phytoplankton community structure; increases in water transparency and macrophyte growth; zooplankton suppression. 2. Through their fouling activities the mussels can adversely impact benthic invertebrate communities - by interfering with their feeding, growth, movement, respiration, and reproduction. 3. Changes in fish populations can occur through colonisation of spawning grounds and the ability of a species to shift feeding behaviour to prey on zebra and quagga mussels.
Economic Impact: As major biofoulers, zebra and quagga mussels can interfere with vital water supply intakes and navigation structures and thus affect thermoelectic and nuclear power plants, drinking water treatment plants, irrigation facilities and various industries.
|
