Despite its growth was explosive, partly because the species was preyed upon by very few native predators in its new environment . As a consequence, the zebra mussels did find a plentiful food supply. They eat huge amounts of phytoplankton, whick time free-floating sea organisms that dwell in water. Scientists are concerned when the mussels may compete aggressively with other species that depend in the same food supply. Othes concerned by the invading species are industry, public utilities, and boat owners.
Zebra mussels cluster in huge colonies, being anchored themselves to any hard surface.
These colonies can clog your water intake pipes of electric and water treatment plants. Fishery specialists are currently casting about and baiting their hooks to gun down control methods that will cause the lowest amount of damage to water supplies and other aquatic species. Two of the other alternatives exploring are interrupting the species reproductive cycle and finding a bacterium harmful only to zebra mussels. An increasing number of lakes and rivers B . An increasingly number of lakes and rivers C .