A dense carpet of zebra mussels covering rocks, boats and pretty much everything else has become normal in the Great Lakes. The mussels seem like they won’t take no for an answer, but now they might have to.
Zebra mussels are an invasive species in the Great Lakes that often cause problems by clogging pipes. Photo: StarbuckGuy (flickr)
BioBullets, a product invented by two University of Cambridge professors, is undergoing testing in London, England for its ability to kill zebra mussels without harming humans or other creatures. The “bullets” are tiny pellets made of salt-based toxins covered with fat, and kill any zebra mussels that ingest them.
David Aldridge, one of the product’s inventors and co-founders of BioBullets Ltd., insists that the bullets are an effective, environmentally-friendly way of battling mussels that clog pipes and limit the amount of water that can be pumped in or out of lakes. Pellets are flushed through the pipes to clear out the zebra mussels lodged inside.
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Haven’t zebra mussels been improving water quality because of their filtration effect? Subjectively, Lake O smells cleaner than it’s ever been.
Our Native Perch will eat zebra and quagga mussels, and gobies. Perch retain the least amount of PCB than any other fish in the great lakes.
The Canadian commercial Perch fisherman are selling them out of Erie all over the place with no complaints. Increasing and restoring the Native Perch population can only reduce the invasive species impacts.
Salmon are No. 2 or 3 worst at retaining PCB, this has been known since the 70’s well before zebras were noticed. Perch will also eat baby Asian carp, there is no logical reason not to restore thier population to it’s former, (before we got here) Glory!
Chris, whether you realize it or not, zebra mussels are eaten by a number of species, most notably by thousands of diving ducks during migration. Unfortunately, since zebra mussels are so prolific, their populations still haven’t gotten under control. Zebra mussels are a terrible problem–which we never should have allowed to enter the Great Lakes–but we still need to be mindful that eradication efforts can have negative consequences. There are many sources of information about zebra mussels. Below is one snippet from http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/biology/a_zm.html.
“Many native fish, birds, and other animals eat young and adult zebra mussels. Migratory ducks have changed their flight patterns in response to zebra mussel colonies. Lake sturgeon feed heavily on zebra mussels, as do yellow perch, freshwater drum, catfish, and sunfish.”
Wonder if this will work on quagga mussels?
If it works, great, the accumulation of zillions of zebra shells along beaches is a pain in the foot. The Trillions of $ that they have cost our economy is worse yet, all because the powers that be have refused to sanitize “saltys” when they come into the Great Lakes. And still refuse.
Boom, shell shot!
Very little wildlife does eat zebra mussels, which is why they are so successful.
What about the many species of wildlife that eat zebra mussels? If zebra mussels eat a toxic substance, that will clearly go up the food chain. Has that aspect been “tested”?