Zebra Mussels
Invasive species are pretty common this day and age. An Invasive species is a species of animal living in an ecosystem it does not live in naturally (NISC, 2006). Usually, when a new species is introduced into the ecosystem through humans, it does not have any natural predator. This means the species invading the ecosystem can reproduce all it can, taking the ecosystem over. However, animals aren’t the only organism that can invade ecosystems. Plants do it often, and have bad consequences. They choke crops out, and kill homes for animals (ISCBC, 2014). Invasive species are a danger to the ecosystem and we need to take every step we can to prevent them from spreading further and endangering our ecosystems.According to Ontario’s invasive species awareness website, plants (both aquatic and terrestrial), fish, forest pests (E.G. the emerald ash borer), invertebrates, and pathogens are all invasive species found in Ontario. They also state that over 185 invasive species are currently living in the great lakes. …show more content…
The Ontario Invading Species Awareness Program (OISAP) suggests that zebra mussels are in all the great lakes, lake St. Clair and the mississippi river watershed. Zebra mussels are small, around 1-3 centimetres in length. Their shells are triangular or ‘D’ shaped and have black or brown stripes (hence the name). Zebra mussels grow in clusters and are the only freshwater mussel to firmly attach themselves onto something. Native mussels will not attach, but instead bury themselves in sand. Zebra mussel larvae are microscopic and swim freely in lakes and rivers (Manitoba water stewardship). Zebra Mussels were first discovered in 1988 in Lake St. Clair between Ontario and Michigan. Since then, zebra mussels have spread throughout the United States and Canada (Zebra Mussel FAQs,
Invasive species are pretty common this day and age. An Invasive species is a species of animal living in an ecosystem it does not live in naturally (NISC, 2006). Usually, when a new species is introduced into the ecosystem through humans, it does not have any natural predator. This means the species invading the ecosystem can reproduce all it can, taking the ecosystem over. However, animals aren’t the only organism that can invade ecosystems. Plants do it often, and have bad consequences. They choke crops out, and kill homes for animals (ISCBC, 2014). Invasive species are a danger to the ecosystem and we need to take every step we can to prevent them from spreading further and endangering our ecosystems.According to Ontario’s invasive species awareness website, plants (both aquatic and terrestrial), fish, forest pests (E.G. the emerald ash borer), invertebrates, and pathogens are all invasive species found in Ontario. They also state that over 185 invasive species are currently living in the great lakes. …show more content…
The Ontario Invading Species Awareness Program (OISAP) suggests that zebra mussels are in all the great lakes, lake St. Clair and the mississippi river watershed. Zebra mussels are small, around 1-3 centimetres in length. Their shells are triangular or ‘D’ shaped and have black or brown stripes (hence the name). Zebra mussels grow in clusters and are the only freshwater mussel to firmly attach themselves onto something. Native mussels will not attach, but instead bury themselves in sand. Zebra mussel larvae are microscopic and swim freely in lakes and rivers (Manitoba water stewardship). Zebra Mussels were first discovered in 1988 in Lake St. Clair between Ontario and Michigan. Since then, zebra mussels have spread throughout the United States and Canada (Zebra Mussel FAQs,