Invasive Species We Study: Invasive Mussels Active
Invasive zebra and quagga mussels (collectively called dreissenid mussels) have significant ecological and economic effects. Dreissenids negatively affect industrial and municipal infrastructure, recreational water users, and they severely alter aquatic ecosystems by consuming algae and plankton. USGS has been conducting research on rapid response and control of dreissenid mussels in the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River basins for several years, including evaluating the application of targeted molluscicides, assessing the effects of molluscicides on non-target species, and developing genetic tools for dreissenid mussel detection.
Invasive Mussel Research
Assessment of Open Water Zequanox Applications for Controlling Dreissenid Mussels within an Inland Lake
Development of Chemical Tools to Control Invasive Carp and Dreissenid Mussels
River Productivity
Use of electrified fields to control dreissenid mussels
Exposure-Related Effects of Zequanox on Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) Survival and Condition
Temperature-dependent toxicity of molluscicides to zebra mussels
Evaluation of lethal and sublethal responses of dreissenid and unionid mussels to elevated carbon dioxide
The Lethality of Hot Water and Ozone on Aquatic Invasive Species
Recent data (2020-2022) related to USGS invasive mussel research are listed below. A complete listing of USGS invasive mussel data is available from the button below.
Recent publications (2020-2022) related to USGS invasive mussel research are listed below. A complete listing of USGS invasive mussel publications is available from the button below.
Temperature‐related responses of an invasive mussel and 2 unionid mussels to elevated carbon dioxide
Long-term trends of Lake Michigan benthos with emphasis on the southern basin
A round-robin evaluation of the repeatability and reproducibility of environmental DNA assays for dreissenid mussels
- Overview
Invasive zebra and quagga mussels (collectively called dreissenid mussels) have significant ecological and economic effects. Dreissenids negatively affect industrial and municipal infrastructure, recreational water users, and they severely alter aquatic ecosystems by consuming algae and plankton. USGS has been conducting research on rapid response and control of dreissenid mussels in the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River basins for several years, including evaluating the application of targeted molluscicides, assessing the effects of molluscicides on non-target species, and developing genetic tools for dreissenid mussel detection.
Invasive Mussel ResearchFilter Total Items: 20Assessment of Open Water Zequanox Applications for Controlling Dreissenid Mussels within an Inland Lake
Invasion of dreissenid mussels (zebra and quagga mussels, Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis bugensis , respectively) into the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins has resulted in estimated economic impacts as high as $1 billion annually for maintenance and repair of biofouled water conveyance systems and other infrastructures (Pimentel et al. 2005).Development of Chemical Tools to Control Invasive Carp and Dreissenid Mussels
Over 180 and 140 aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been introduced into the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River basins, respectively, with threats of new invasions always on the horizon. Sea lamprey, zebra mussels, and invasive carps are just a few examples of AIS whose abilities to alter aquatic habitats and disrupt food cycles threaten many outdoor recreation opportunities and ecosystems...River Productivity
Biological production represents the total amount of living material (biomass) that was produced during a defined period of time. This production is important because some of it is used for food and some is valued for recreation, it is a direct measure of total ecosystem processes, and it sustains biological diversity. Production is a measure of energy flow, and is therefore a natural currency for...Use of electrified fields to control dreissenid mussels
Zebra and quagga mussels were first introduced into the Great Lakes in the 1980’s and they have since expanded to over 750 inland lakes in addition to the 5 Great Lakes (http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/Nonindigenous_Species/Zebra_mussel_distribution/zebra_mussel_distribution.html, accessed 8/5/2015). A 2009 study conducted by the Idaho Aquatic Nuisance Species Taskforce estimated the annual economic...Exposure-Related Effects of Zequanox on Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) Survival and Condition
A dead-cell, spray-dried powder formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens, strain CL145A was recently approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for control of dreissenid mussels (zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha and quagga mussel, Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) in open-water environments. The EPA approved product, Zequanox® (registration number 84059-15) is manufactured by Marrone...Temperature-dependent toxicity of molluscicides to zebra mussels
Zebra mussels (Dreissenia polymorpha) are native to the Black, Caspian, and Aral Seas of eastern Europe (Gollasch and Leppäkoski 1999) and they were likely introduced into Lake Erie as veliger larvae in the summer or fall of 1985 (Hebert et al. 1989). Their high reproductive capacity and planktonic larval stage enable zebra mussels to rapidly disperse (Birnbaum 2011). Less than 10 years after...Evaluation of lethal and sublethal responses of dreissenid and unionid mussels to elevated carbon dioxide
Control technology for dreissenid mussels currently relies heavily on chemical molluscicides that can be both costly and ecologically harmful. There is a need to develop more environmentally neutral control tools to manage dreissenid mussels. Carbon dioxide has shown toxicity to several species of invasive bivalves, including zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and the Asian clam (Corbicula...The Lethality of Hot Water and Ozone on Aquatic Invasive Species
With the increasing prevalence of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in the Chicago Area Waterways System (CAWS), the implementation of new control techniques to inhibit the dispersal of AIS is strongly desired. For a technique to be a truly viable option, the process would inhibit the movement of AIS between the Mississippi River Basin and the Great Lakes. A physical barrier separating these regions... - Data
Recent data (2020-2022) related to USGS invasive mussel research are listed below. A complete listing of USGS invasive mussel data is available from the button below.
- Publications
Recent publications (2020-2022) related to USGS invasive mussel research are listed below. A complete listing of USGS invasive mussel publications is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 15Temperature‐related responses of an invasive mussel and 2 unionid mussels to elevated carbon dioxide
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have exacerbated the decline of native freshwater mussels (Order Unionida) in North America since their arrival in the 1980s. Options for controlling invasive mussels, particularly in unionid mussel habitats, are limited. Previously, carbon dioxide (CO2) showed selective toxicity for zebra mussels, relative to unionids, when applied in cool water (12 °C). We fiAuthorsDiane L. Waller, Michelle R. Bartsch, Eric G. Lord, Richard A. EricksonLong-term trends of Lake Michigan benthos with emphasis on the southern basin
Lake Michigan benthic macrofauna have been studied for almost a century, allowing for a unique analysis of long-term changes in community structure. We examined changes in abundances of three major taxonomic groups of benthic macroinvertebrates (Diporeia, Oligochaeta, and Sphaeriidae) in southern Lake Michigan from 1931-2015, and identified the most likely causes for these changes. Abundances of aAuthorsKnut Mehler, Lyubov E. Burlakova, Alexander Y. Karatayev, Ashley K. Elgin, Thomas F. Nalepa, Charles P. Madenjian, Elizabeth K. HincheyA round-robin evaluation of the repeatability and reproducibility of environmental DNA assays for dreissenid mussels
Resource managers may be hesitant to make decisions based on environmental (e)DNA results alone since eDNA is an indirect method of species detection. One way to reduce the uncertainty of eDNA is to identify laboratory‐based protocols that ensure repeatable and reproducible results. We conducted a double‐blind round‐robin analysis of probe‐based assays for DNA of dreissenid (Dreissena spp.) musselAuthorsAdam J. Sepulveda, Patrick R. Hutchins, Craig Jackson, Carl Ostberg, Matthew Laramie, Jon Amberg, Timothy Counihan, Andrew B. Hoegh, David Pilliod