Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the substantial effect that invasive species such as the dreissenid mussel, popularly known as quagga and zebra mussel have on the ecosystem of freshwater water Lake called Great Lakes with the potential impacts and how it can alter their ecosystem.
Introduction
Quagga and zebra mussels started thriving Great Lakes of North America in the mid-1980s being introduced into the lake by ballast ship. They are a minute bivalve and indigenous to the Caspian Sea section. After a short while, the population exploded invading the water bodies including its drainage systems and other surrounding water bodies. They thrive under cool and fresh water environment, with exception to saline and warm water bodies, which offers a harsh environmental condition providing a strong environmental resistance to their survival. These invasive species devour nutrients especially from the underground, which are essential for the survival of indigenous species. They not only devour underground nutrients in the water but they also cause havoc to anything surrounding the water bodies by clogging power plants, water machinery, and water pipe which is impacts negatively to the economy.
Zebra and quagga mussels produce up to 1 million offspring per annum with a 2 percent survival rate. After five years, their biomass tripled exceeding the biomass of other consumers such as the bacteria, zoobenthos, and zooplankton in the Great Lakes and its surrounding water regions. They eradicate the native clams after colonizing the area with a 2 to 7 feet range and multiplying by the density of upto100, 000 individuals per square meter. They can filter water within 2 to 4 day, unlike the native mussels that take 2 to 3 months. They feed on bacteria, phytoplankton, organic detritus, and zooplanktons decreasing them in number. This also causes a rapid decrease in a number of fish such as foraging fish, which depends on phytoplankton and zooplanktons as well as Lake trout altering the food web in the lake.
Hypotheses
Method
Data collected for the purpose of this study are from NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental research Laboratory brochures and other reputable online source on research conducted on the effect quagga and zebra mussels is having on fresh water lake.
Discussion and analysis
Reference
Wassenaar, L. I., & Rao, Y. R. (2012). Lake Winnipeg: The forgotten great lake. Journal of Great Lakes Research,38, 1-5. doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2012.04.004
