Zebra Mussels Zebra Mussels . They are native to the Caspian Sea region of Asia, and were introduced into North America in the mid 1980's via transoceanic ships that discharged ballast water into Lake St. Claire, near Detroit. Tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions, zebra mussels have extended their range to parts of all the Great Lakes and the much of the Mississippi River, and are begining to infest inland lakes as well. These tiny mussels were first discovered in North America in Lake Erie in 1988, most likely introduced through the discharge of ballast water from a European vessel. In seven years, the mussel has spread to all of the Great Lakes, and is begining to move inland as well.
Biologists predict the worst of the invasion has yet to come.
A single zebra mussel female can produce in excess of 30,000 eggs, and the generations mature rapidly, making it difficult to control them. A body of water may have no detectable zebra mussels one year, and have its bottom covered with them the next. Colonies can have from 70,000 zebra mussels per square yard, such as in portions of Lake Erie, to the incredible 700,000 mussels per square yard that have been found in some utility water intake pipes. Zebra mussels feed by extracting microscopic plant life from the water, robbing native organisms of much needed food sources. A single adult mussel can filter a full liter of water per day, every day of their life.