Where Did Quagga Mussels Come From?

Discovered in 1897, the quagga mussel is native to the Dnieper River in the Ukraine. Outside its native habitat, it was first seen in Lake Erie in 1989 and is now also found in Nevada, California and Arizona.

Migration

• Quagga mussels migrated from the Dnieper River via the European canal system. The species arrived in North America in ballast water emptied from transoceanic ships carrying the mussels. Quagga mussels rapidly adapt to new environments and the speed of their spread across America is thought to be due to river movement plus fishing activity. The Great Lakes region has the greatest quantity of quagga mussels.

Environmental Impact

• Quagga mussels remove sizable amounts of phytoplankton in the water. This leaves less available for zooplankton to feed on and thus alters the food chain. Reduction in the levels of phytoplankton and zooplankton in water can cause fish to die off.

Environmental Protection

• The quagga mussel is an invasive species endangering other marine life. In areas where the mussel is found, government departments, such as the California Department of Fish and Game, and conservation groups have put in place action plans to reduce the environmental impact of the quagga mussel.