When zebra mussels feed on plankton, they remove incredible amounts of food from the water. They can filter about 1 quart of water each day. They leave the water clear, sometimes too clear. The zebras grow on top of the native mussels and smother them. With plankton removed from the water, more sunshine reaches the bottom.
Plants living here grow rapidly.
They also use zebra mussel droppings as fertilizer. Bottom-feeding fish feast on the waste produced by the zebra mussels. Their numbers increase. Zooplankton and small fish which feed on plankton have less to eat. Their numbers decrease.