True fecal material is expelled via the excurrent siphon. Water quality and temperature are key environmental factors in the establishment and continued growth of zebra mussel colonies. Additionally, water pH is also an essential factor in the recruitment and growth of all life stages of zebra mussels. Although live specimens have been found under more diverse conditions and in waters spanning a wider range of pH, available research data suggests that zebra mussels grow best under slight to relatively moderate alkaline conditions. Sexually mature females release their eggs into the water column, as many as 40,000 eggs per season, where they are externally fertilized by spawning males.
Large females are capable of producing over one million eggs a spawning season.
Potential Threat Zebra mussels are prolific and very quickly achieve high densities in areas that they colonize. This propensity to attach to any nearby substrate has had costly commercial and industrial implications. Within Corps facilities, zebra mussels have infested navigational buoys, locks and dams. Gauge wells, flap gates and even miter gates are susceptible and vulnerable to zebra mussel infestation. Fortunately, there is no known infestation in South Florida to control at this point in time.