How do zebra mussels disrupt Great Lakes ecosystems and water systems?

Zebra mussels are highly invasive freshwater mollusks that have caused significant ecological and economic disruption since their introduction to the Great Lakes around 1986.12

Ecological Impact

Zebra mussels disrupt aquatic food chains by voraciously consuming phytoplankton, which serves as a foundational food source for many fish species. This intense competition for resources has devastating consequences for native biodiversity, as it drives many native mussel species toward extinction and threatens the populations of various fish.12

Impact on Water Systems

Beyond their ecological footprint, these mussels pose a severe threat to infrastructure. They proliferate rapidly and use byssus threads to adhere in massive clusters to almost any solid surface. This behavior leads to:12
* Clogging: They frequently block water-intake valves and pipes, which can disrupt municipal and industrial water supplies.123
* Structural Damage: Their colonization of bridge abutments and other submerged structures causes significant commercial and maintenance damage.12