Zebra mussels are small (quarter-sized, at most), freshwater mollusks native to the Caspian and Black Seas. When introduced to a system, they can quickly reproduce and infest an area, reaching 700,000 individuals per square meter in a short time period. Adult mussels lay eggs that quickly hatch into free-floating juveniles, called veligers. These veligers, undetectable to the naked eye, eventually settle onto hard or semi-soft surfaces, where they then grow into adults and begin reproducing themselves. During this free-floating stage, the risk of unknowingly transporting this invasive pest is highest, as dozens can exist in even a few drops of water from a contaminated water body. Zebra mussels attach to surfaces: pipes, rocks, plants, other creatures, and almost anything else found on a lake bottom other than silt and mud. From an ecological perspective, research has demonstrated the disastrous effects that they can have on fisheries and native species. Each adult mussel has the potential to filter over a liter of water per day, removing the microscopic organisms that form the base of all aquatic food chains. This may not seem like a lot, but considering the high densities that these animals can attain, it’s quite substantial. Remember, it only takes a few drops of water to sustain viable juvenile mussels, so make sure to dry everything that comes in contact with water.
Information Courtesy of Vermont Invasives
For additional Information go to National Park Service