Aquatic Invasive Animals: Background
Of the 175+ aquatic invasive species and non-indigenous aquatic species with resident populations in the Great Lakes, about 41% of them are animals, ranging from the very damaging sea lamprey to zooplankton such as the fishhook waterflea and such sought after introduced game fish as the mighty Chinook salmon, and a handful of insects.
One of the most notorious aquatic invasive animals since the 1980s has been zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (D. bugensis). They were introduced into the Great Lakes in the mid- to late-1980s from
freshwater ballast discharged from freighters originating in the Black
and Caspian Sea region of eastern Europe and western Asia. They were
first sighted in Lake St. Clair in 1988.
The mussels filter huge volumes of water in order to feed on plankton,
(microscopic plant and animal life) which forms the base of the aquatic
food chain and bacteria. This removal of plankton from the lakes has
created a dramatic increase in water clarity. Although the clearer lake
water is seen as an aesthetic benefit to some, the loss of nutrients it
represents significantly reduces the available food for fish and other
organisms.
Zebra and quagga mussels biofouler such solid underwater substrate as
rocks, piers, intake pipes, and boat hulls by attaching with using tough
elastic strands called byssal threads. In addition to the ecological
damage caused by zebra and quagga mussels, hundreds of millions of
dollars have been spent to clean up fouled pipes and keep the mussels
from fouling drinking water treatment, industrial and power plant
intakes. The mussels have spread beyond the Great Lakes into 22 states
and 2 Canadian Provinces (pdf).
Fact Sheets
Asian Carp - Threats to the Lower Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River? (pdf)
MacNeill, D.B., Domske, H.M. 2011. New York Sea Grant Fact Sheet. New
York Sea Grant Extension Program, Oswego and Buffalo, NY. 4pp.
A
possible invasion into the Great Lakes of several of the seven species
of carp found in North America, but not in the Great Lakes – the silver
and bighead carp (known collectively as Asian carp) – has raised
concerns.
- Related Article: New Fact Sheet on Asian Carp (New York Coastlines, Winter 2012) More>
Guidelines for Reducing the Spread of "Fishhook Waterfleas" (Cercopagis pengoi) (pdf)
D MacNeill, M Snyder, K Schultz and J Makarewicz. 2004. 4 pp.
The "fishhook waterflea" (Cercopagis pengoi), a predatory zooplanktor which preys on smaller zooplankton, has invaded Lake Ontario and six of New York's Finger Lakes. This species of invasive animal can easily be spread on fishing gear and fisheries sampling equipment. This 4 page fact sheet gives an overview of the species' biology and life cycle, its invasiveness, and recommendations on methods to prevent it wider spread throughout North American water bodies.
Zebra Mussels and Fire Control Equipment CR O'Neill. 2002. 4 pp. (pdf)
Zebra mussels can foul any type of water intake pipe, from the largest
city drinking water treatment plant or nuclear power station to a fire
company's dry hydrant on a river or lake or even their pumping trucks'
draught hoses. This 4 page factsheet presents what fire control
professionals need to know about keep the water flowing when it is most
needed - while fighting a fire.
Don't Pick Up Hitchhikers! Stop the Zebra Mussel CR O'Neill. 2002. 2 pp. (pdf)
This 2 page brochure gives boaters, anglers, and other recreators and
interested individuals tips on preventing the spread of zebra and quagga
mussels when transporting boats, personal water recreation vessels, and
fishing gear from waterbody to waterbody.
The Zebra Mussel: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions C O'Neill and D MacNeill. 1996. 2 pp. (pdf)
This 2 page factsheet is a distillation of the longer North American
Invader factsheet, set in a simple question & answer format.
Control of Zebra Mussels in Residential Water Systems CR O'Neill. 1996. 11 pp. (pdf)
While most people think of zebra mussels fouling drinking water
treatment plant and power plant intake pipes, they can cause just as
significant problems when drawn into residential water pipes which use
freshwater lakes and rivers as water sources. This 11 page factsheet
explains various methods of preventing the task of removing mussels from
the pipes inside your walls.
Identification of Juvenile Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and Mytilopsis leucophaeata D MacNeill. 1992. 4 pp. (pdf)
This 8 page factsheet addresses in a general way the Great Lakes
invasive species issue and then presents information on several
important Great Lakes AIS, including: zebra mussels, spiny and fishhook
waterfleas, sea lamprey, alewife, common carp, round gobies, purple
loosestrife, water chestnut and Eurasian watermilfoil.
The Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha): An Unwelcome North American Invader CR O'Neill, DB MacNeill. 1991. 13 pp. (pdf)
This factsheet discusses the origin of the zebra mussel in North
America, the mussel's biology, predation on the mussel by native
species, biological and infrastructure impacts of the mussels, and
management and control alternatives. A list of references is also
provided. Although the factsheet is now 15 years old, the information
contained is still accurate; the factsheet also contains a range map
accurate to August 2006.
Bibliographies
Hemimysis anomala (Bloody Red Mysid) Bibliography (pdf)
D Oleson. 2007. 5 pp.
The non-native vertebrate Bloody Red Mysid shrimp (Hemimysis anomala) has been found in the Great Lakes. A bibliography of scientific papers on this species has been prepared by the National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse.
