By: Gill, Cindy, Millie, and Gabby

Zebra Mussels

º Zebra Mussels are from Eurasia and came into the Great Lakes as "hitchhikers,” were brought here on accident, in 1988.

º Biologists believe the zebra mussels were picked up in a fresh water European port in the ballast water of a ship and were later discharged into the Canadian side of Lake St. Clair. Today the zebra mussels are found in 12 U.S. states and also in Ontario, Canada.

º Then the mussels quickly grew and multiplied.

º They're usually about fingernail size but can grow to a maximum length of nearly 2 inches.

º Zebra Mussels love to cling on to things (ex. the shopping cart).

Zebra Mussels

º Zebra mussels have spread from Lake St. Clare to Louisiana.

º The reason for the spreading of the Zebra mussels is because of people not taking care of their ships.

Zebra Mussels are rapidly spreading

0 The mussels fill all of Lake Erie's western basin water every week and have brought down the population of phytoplankton by 80%.

0 When sunlight heats up the water, vegetation or plants begin to grow, which may include the algal to blossom. This can cause the water to smell bad.

0 The mussels feed on algae and this is good for the water, but harmful to other species because they rely on algae for food.

0 Zebra mussels can travel in large groups and settle on other species, which have caused them to die.

0 Zebra mussels can also grow on each others' shells, and water consumption and outlets become blocked.

0 Power stations now have to close for routine cleaning.

Problem

0 With the help of the federal government, the Northern Territory started to set their sights on the mussel and take care of the problem.

0 Tones of copper sulphate and 2.50 tones of chlorine were released onto the mussels, and boats which left the basin were traced and decontaminated.

Solution