Zebra mussels are a pervasive, nonnative species that was introduced to America in the 1980’s. Zebra mussels are mollusks that have a striped pattern that is apparent on their shells, and which their names are derived from. Their typical size is akin to the size of a fingernail, but can reach a size of up to 2 inches. The shape of these creatures take on the form of the letter “D”. Due to the recent introduction of zebra mussels to the Americas, and the biology of the mussels themselves, zebra mussels have wrought havoc on the equilibrium of ecological processes, particularly in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. There are many environmental efforts to reduce the spread of this invasive species. Zebra mussels originate from the aquatic regions
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The main approach to combat the spread of zebra mussels is chemically based, with the hopes of introducing a chemical in their respective aquatic habitats. Scientists like Dr. P Molloy, researcher at Cambridge’s Field Research Laboratory, have made headway in discovering and studying various bacterial species that target zebra mussel population. Also, some research has been put into the effect of serotonin on zebra mussels, but research is in its …show more content…
However, as advances in science are established, there could be chemicals or biological control agents which could limit zebra mussel population in areas where these mussels have a high-density of organisms. If we take out the largest populations of zebra mussels, it follows that the rate of spread should diminish, even if it’s only a little. The infestation of zebra mussels is something we can only hope to combat. The zebra mussel is an organism with an unbelievably short and rapid reproductive cycle and is itself resilient and parasitic. The ecosystems that are plagued by this mussel are seeing a pivotal shift of organisms in a food web. While nature and human carelessness caused all problems related to zebra mussels in North America, human ingenuity via the use of science and social action can start to reverse the
The main approach to combat the spread of zebra mussels is chemically based, with the hopes of introducing a chemical in their respective aquatic habitats. Scientists like Dr. P Molloy, researcher at Cambridge’s Field Research Laboratory, have made headway in discovering and studying various bacterial species that target zebra mussel population. Also, some research has been put into the effect of serotonin on zebra mussels, but research is in its …show more content…
However, as advances in science are established, there could be chemicals or biological control agents which could limit zebra mussel population in areas where these mussels have a high-density of organisms. If we take out the largest populations of zebra mussels, it follows that the rate of spread should diminish, even if it’s only a little. The infestation of zebra mussels is something we can only hope to combat. The zebra mussel is an organism with an unbelievably short and rapid reproductive cycle and is itself resilient and parasitic. The ecosystems that are plagued by this mussel are seeing a pivotal shift of organisms in a food web. While nature and human carelessness caused all problems related to zebra mussels in North America, human ingenuity via the use of science and social action can start to reverse the