Hobbies And Interests
Habitat
Look for zebra mussels in freshwater at depths anywhere between 6 and 24 feet. Young zebra mussels are very small and can swim freely as water currents carry them. Older zebra mussels attach themselves to hard surfaces using an external organ called a byssus. The byssus consists of a number of threads, allowing the mussels to attach to boats, water-intake pipes, crayfish, turtles and other mollusks. By employing this attaching function, zebra mussels have a tendency to destroy structures and ecosystems by clogging pipes and devouring the microscopic food supply.
Size
Zebra mussels are typically fingernail size, but may grow up to a maximum length of nearly 2 inches during their four- to five-year life span. Areas of free flowing water, where the mussels can filter out large quantities of plankton, are optimal for growth.
Reproduction
Reproduction begins at 2 years of age for a female zebra mussel. Each female produces rapidly, with between 30,000 and 1 million eggs per year. Only a small percentage of these eggs will mature. Roughly 2 percent of zebra mussels will make it to adulthood.
Zebra Mussels as Threats
Controlling the spread of zebra mussels has been quite a challenge for researchers. Zebra mussels are filter feeders and may filter up to a quart of water per day. The animals and algae that zebra mussels eat also are food for other fish and native species. A large zebra mussel population can wipe out that food supply and cause a decline in the animals that consume it. Environmental management agencies put emphasis on educating boaters so they do not mistakenly transfer mussel larvae from one body of water to another. In addition to their threat to wildlife, zebra mussels may colonize on water intake pipes, restricting the flow of water to municipal or private facilities.