Zebra Mussels are freshwater filter feeders that attach themselves to solid surfaces. With no natural predators, they are extremely dangerous to ecosystems. Zebra Mussels are detrimental to life in lakes, rivers, ponds, and more. In Churchbridge, Saskatchewan, there is a mandatory stop-point to prevent the spread of Zebra Mussels to local bodies of water.
Coming from the Caspian and Black Seas, as the boats filled up their ballast tanks with the water, the zebra mussels stowed away until ballasts were dumped back out into the St. Lawrence Seaway. The most well-known predator of Zebra Mussels are diving ducks, and with the lack of diving duck populations in Canada, the foreign Zebra Mussels rein over habitats.
Zebra Mussels are one of the six prohibited species under the federal Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations. They cannot be imported into Canada. The provincial governments lead surveillance and maintenance on Zebra Mussel spawning; they are proactive as the mussel’s population skyrockets in the warmer months. Working with the Canada Border Service Agency, federal and provincial governments are working to prevent Zebra Mussels from entering Canada through contaminated watercraft.
There are several ways Zebra Mussels can spread through Canadian waters. Zebra Mussels attach to watercraft and spread to uninvaded water bodies when the watercraft docks in different water. Their larvae are microscopic and float in water. The larvae will follow lake and river currents until they settle on a solid surface. This natural dispersal method means they can easily affect waterways connected to an invaded area. Zebra Mussels can survive out of water for up to 18 days in high humidity.
Zebra Mussels affect the composition of other communities within the ecosystem by altering food webs. Zebra Mussels can have significant negative impacts on freshwater habitats by out-competing native species for food. When Zebra Mussels come into new areas, they consume native species’ food sources. They also attach themselves to native mussels, suffocating them. Like other mussels, Zebra Mussels are filter feeders. By sucking in water and filtering in particles, and quickly multiplying, they wipe out the beginning stages of freshwater food chains and starve out complete habitats.
As well as changing food webs, Zebra Mussels disturb spawning areas. By altering important surfaces for fish spawning, the Zebra Mussels lower the survival rate for fish eggs. Thus, they begin to kill off fish populations as well.
Zebra Mussels also create clearer water by filtering through it. When the water translucency goes up, it allows sunlight to penetrate deeper into water bodies. Because of this, there is a faster growth of submerged aquatic vegetation, toxic algae blooms, diseaseful bacteria, and more.
In Canada alone, Zebra Mussels have caused millions of dollars in damage every year. They damage watercraft and clog intake structures in power stations and water treatment plants.
The federal and provincial governments strongly encourage water users to clean, drain, and dry their watercraft and equipment when departing an invaded waterbody. The Churchbridge stop-point has been diligent in making sure to limit and stop the spread of Zebra Mussels. All Canadians are urged to watch for Zebra Mussels on any surface in contact with an encroached waterbody.