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85-495: The Great Lakes, the largest system of fresh water lakes in the world, are shared by the United States and Canada. They make up 95% of the surface freshwater in the contiguous United States and have 10,000 miles of coastline (including connecting channels, mainland and islands)—more than the contiguous United States' Pacific and Atlantic coastlines combined. The lakes are a system of transport and shipping, as well as

170-403: A concerted set of interventions that are targeted at the aforementioned Areas of Concern. Because each waterway has a unique set of characteristics that have contributed to its ecological impairment, a Remedial Action Plan has been developed to identify the causes of impairment which will be used to guide local actions that will restore the individual waterways. The goal of each Remedial Action Plan

255-464: A density of 111.04 inhabitants/sq mi (42.872/km ), compared to 93.844/sq mi (36.233/km ) for the nation as a whole. While conterminous U.S. has the precise meaning of contiguous U.S. (both adjectives meaning "sharing a common boundary"), other terms commonly used to describe the 48 contiguous states have a greater degree of ambiguity. Because Alaska is also a part of North America , the term continental United States also includes that state, so

340-509: A limited role in their control unlike their counterparts in Europe. It is pointed out that crayfish could have a significant impact on the densities of 1-to-5-millimetre ( 1 ⁄ 32 to 3 ⁄ 16  in)-long zebra mussels. An adult crayfish consumes around 105 zebra mussels every day, or about 6,000 mussels in a season. However, predation rates are significantly reduced at lower water temperatures. Additionally, certain fish, such as

425-424: A place of recreation. An area of concern must have at least "one beneficial use impairment which means that it has undergone a change in its chemical, physical, or biological integrity of a water body." These include: The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the United States and Canada more specifically defines Areas of Concern as "geographic areas that fail to meet the general or specific objectives of

510-679: A researcher (also using GARP) predicted invasion as far west as the North Platte River by 2015. As of March 2016, zebra mussels have affected hundreds of lakes in the Midwest including Lake Michigan , and the largest interior lake in Wisconsin, Lake Winnebago . Congressional researchers have estimated that the zebra mussel has cost businesses and communities over $ 5 billion since their initial invasion. Zebra mussels have cost power companies alone over $ 3 billion. On 2 March 2021,

595-841: A shortage of food sources to native species of freshwater mussels and fish in the Great Lakes. However, zebra mussels and other non-native species are credited with the increased population and size of smallmouth bass in Lake Erie and yellow perch in Lake St. Clair. They cleanse the waters of inland lakes, resulting in increased sunlight penetration and growth of native algae at greater depths. This cleansing also increases water visibility and filters out pollutants. Each quagga and zebra mussel filters about 1 litre (1 US quart) of water per day when confined to small tanks. In lakes, their filtering effects are usually spatially restricted (near

680-441: A state, it was properly included within the continental U.S. due to being an incorporated territory . The term mainland United States is sometimes used synonymously with continental United States , but technically refers only to those parts of states connected to the landmass of North America, thereby excluding not only Hawaii and overseas insular areas , but also islands which are part of continental states but separated from

765-412: A striped pattern commonly seen on their shells, though it is not universally present. They are usually about the size of a fingernail, but can grow to a maximum length around 50 mm (2 in). Their shells are D-shaped, and attached to the substrate with strong byssal fibers, which come out of their umbo on the dorsal (hinged) side. Right and left valve of the same specimen: Zebra mussels and

850-706: A wide range of environmental conditions, and adults can even survive out of water for about seven days. Zebra mussels can be used to detect risks to humans from environmental hazards and are considered effective indicators of environmental pollution . Exposure of D. polymorpha gill cells to model contaminants representative of water pollution was found to cause DNA damage measured as the formation of 8-oxodG and DNA strand breaks. Research on natural enemies, both in Europe and North America, has focused on predators, particularly birds (36 species) and fish (15 species eating veligers and 38 eating attached mussels). Annually,

935-551: Is a dynamic piece of legislature that will continue to address ever-changing priorities and values. The United States and Canada and the states that border the Great Lakes have all created several laws, policies, and commissions to try to keep the Great Lakes healthy and un-polluted. In 1909 the Boundary Waters Treaty was put into place to control the water quality in the Boundary Waters that border both

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1020-484: Is a freshwater species and cannot survive in the ocean. The lifespan of a zebra mussel is four to five years. A female zebra mussel begins to reproduce within 6–7 weeks of settling. An adult female zebra mussel can produce 30,000 to 40,000 eggs in each reproductive cycle, and over 1 million each year. Free-swimming microscopic larvae, called veligers , drift in the water for several weeks and then settle onto any hard surface they can find. Zebra mussels also can tolerate

1105-399: Is a major contributor to pollution in the Great Lakes and water bodies across the world. Air pollution emitted in one country can have impacts in other countries. Acid rain , a significant type of atmospheric pollution, is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere. These substances rise very high into

1190-469: Is actual land, composing 83.65 percent of the country's total land area, and is comparable in size to the area of Australia. Officially, 160,820.25 square miles (416,522.5 km ) of the contiguous United States is water area, composing 62.66 percent of the nation's total water area. The contiguous United States, if it were a country, would be fifth on the list of countries and dependencies by area , behind Russia , Canada , China , and Brazil . However,

1275-634: Is also known as the Binational Executive Committee (BEC), which meets at least twice a year to establish priorities and review progress. Under the GLWQA, various action plans have been established to target specific lakes. For example, the 2012 amendment resulted in the creation of GLWQA Nutrients Annex Subcommittee that will help target the algal bloom in Lake Erie. Overall, the General Lakes Water Agreement

1360-665: Is being considered for merging .›   Zebra mussels cling to boat motors. Boat-owners should follow a few steps prior to putting their boats into a new lake and after removing their boats from infected lakes to stop the spreading of the species. Boat owners should make sure to inspect their boat, trailer, and other recreational equipment that have been in contact with water, remove all mud, plants, or animals, drain all bilge water, live wells, bait buckets, and all other water from their boats, engines and equipment, wash all parts of their boats, paddles, and other equipment that have been in contact with water, and dry their boats and trailers in

1445-530: Is expected to reduce zebra mussel populations over time while increasing the overall environmental impact. The mussels have displaced native species of molluscs in Lake Constance , reaching densities of up to 10,000 mussels per square metre (930/sq ft). The mussels present a food source to waterfowl and have caused bird numbers to double over the last 30 years. By the end of winter, birds decimate zebra mussel populations and reduce them by 95–99% up to

1530-508: Is more difficult to know the extent of the spread at a larger scale, Wesley Daniel, a fisheries biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, says that about 30% of the inventory pulled from shelves were found to contain the zebra mussels. After working with the USGS, PetSmart and Petco voluntarily recalled their moss balls due to the potential harm zebra mussels could cause to indigenous ecosystems. As of November 2021, nearly eight months after

1615-437: Is pollution that falls from the sky and comes to rest back on earth in the water table and in the lakes, rivers and oceans. Sources of this type of air pollution are smoke stacks at power plants and factories, as well as cars, trucks, other motor vehicles and stationary engines that burn fossil fuels . Atmospheric pollution usually falls hundreds of miles away from its source and therefore is difficult to track and locate, but it

1700-432: Is pollution that occurs when runoff from streets, lawns, farms, and other areas carries toxins, chemicals, and eroded soil into nearby lakes, rivers, and oceans causing pollution and buildup of sediment. Nonpoint source pollution is said to be the most problematic and hardest to reverse of the types of pollution because it is so hard to regulate and pinpoint where it originates. Many experts agree that nonpoint source pollution

1785-406: Is the biggest concern facing the Great Lakes. With the increase of urbanization, a toll has been taken on the lakes in these areas. Lakes that once had stable ecosystems with the appropriate amount of plant life are now full of massive amounts of plants and algae that have been fed by excess fertilizer from lawns and farms, killing off many species of fish and other water life. Atmospheric pollution

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1870-469: Is the disappearance of small roach from pelagic assemblages, probably due to alterations in the trophic links of the littoral and sublittoral zones, as well as the expected increase in food competition among pelagic fish species. Because zebra mussels damage water intakes and other infrastructure, methods such as adding oxidants, flocculants , heat, dewatering, mechanical removal, and pipe coatings are becoming increasingly common. ‹The template How-to

1955-446: Is to bring about the delisting of the waterway from the list of Areas of Concern Since its original passage in 1972, the GLWQA has been amended multiple times to include preventative action towards current anthropogenic stressors. In particular, the latest amendment to the agreement was in 2012 where preventative measures were added to address issues that have arisen since the last amendment in 1987. Furthermore, this amendment resulted in

2040-496: The District of Columbia is within the contiguous United States. Zebra mussels The zebra mussel ( Dreissena polymorpha ) is a small freshwater mussel , an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Dreissenidae . The species originates from the lakes of southern Russia and Ukraine, but has been accidentally introduced to numerous other areas and has become an invasive species in many countries worldwide. Since

2125-591: The Great Lakes , they have covered the undersides of docks, boats, and anchors. They have also spread into streams and rivers throughout the U.S. In some areas, they completely cover the substrate , sometimes covering other freshwater mussels. They can grow so densely that they block pipelines, clogging water intakes of municipal water supplies and hydroelectric companies. Zebra mussels do not attach to cupronickel alloys, which can be used to coat intake and discharge grates, navigational buoys, boats, and motors where

2210-917: The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation confirmed that zebra mussels had been found in Laurel Lake in the Berkshires . That same year, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced that live zebra mussels had been found in Pelican Lake . This was the first confirmed sighting in the Red River Basin , which extends across the international border into the province of Manitoba . In 2013, their presence in Manitoba's Lake Winnipeg

2295-1057: The Netherlands at Rotterdam . Canals that artificially link many European waterways facilitated their early dispersal. It is nonindigenous in the Czech Republic in the Elbe River in Bohemia since 1893; in southern Moravia , it is probably native. Around 1920 the mussels reached Lake Mälaren in Sweden . The first appearance of the organism in northern Italy was in Lake Garda in 1973; in central Italy, they appeared in Tuscany in 2003. Zebra mussels are present in British waterways. Many water companies are reporting having problems with their water-treatment plants with

2380-654: The Northern Mariana Islands , Puerto Rico , and the U.S. Virgin Islands . The colloquial term " Lower   48 " is also used, especially in relation to Alaska. The related but distinct term continental United States includes Alaska, which is also on North America, but separated from the 48 states by British Columbia in Canada, but excludes Hawaii and all the insular areas in the Caribbean and

2465-582: The Northwest Angle in Minnesota are three such places. Alburgh, Vermont , is not directly connected by land, but is accessible by road via bridges from within Vermont and from New York. By contrast, Hyder, Alaska , is physically part of contiguous Alaska and its easternmost town, but the only practical access is by road through Canada or by seaplane. The 48 contiguous states are: In addition,

2550-531: The Pacific . The greatest distance (on a great-circle route) entirely within the contiguous U.S. is 2,802 miles (4,509 km), coast-to-coast between Florida and the State of Washington ; the greatest north–south line is 1,650 miles (2,660 km). The contiguous United States occupies an area of 3,119,884.69 square miles (8,080,464.3 km ). Of this area, 2,959,064.44 square miles (7,663,941.7 km )

2635-516: The Red River between Wahpeton, North Dakota , and Breckenridge, Minnesota . As recently as 2008 , California similarly reported invasions. In 2011, an invasion of zebra mussels shut down a water pipeline in the Dallas area. This resulted in reduced water supplies during a drought year , worsening water restrictions across the Dallas area. A common inference made by scientists predicts that

Great Lakes Areas of Concern - Misplaced Pages Continue

2720-646: The River Shannon and its adjacent waters. In the summers of 2023 and 2024, zebra mussels were one contributing factor to a major bloom of toxic cyanobacteria in Lough Neagh , the largest body of freshwater in the United Kingdom. In 2021 the similar quagga mussel was identified in the Shannon, which is capable of tolerating a wider range of environmental conditions. The spread of quagga mussels

2805-582: The Smallmouth bass , is a predator in the zebra mussels' adopted North American Great Lakes habitat, but in European lakes, fish do not seem to limit the densities of zebra mussels. There have been some high winter mortalities , for example in the winter of 1994–1995 in the invasive population of Lake Simcoe . Evans et al. , 2011 attributes this to predation by the crayfish Orconectes propinquus . Nonetheless this has not been sufficient to eradicate

2890-628: The South Pacific Ocean in Polynesia , south of the equator — it is 2,200 miles (3,500 km) southwest of Hawaii . In American Samoa, the contiguous United States is called the "mainland United States" or "the states"; those not from American Samoa are called palagi (outsiders). Apart from off-shore U.S. islands , a few continental portions of the contiguous United States are accessible by road only by traveling through Canada. Point Roberts, Washington ; Elm Point, Minnesota ; and

2975-614: The US Geological Survey was notified that zebra mussels had been discovered in marimo moss balls , a common aquarium plant, sold in pet stores across North America. By 8 March, the invasive species were detected in moss balls in 30 different states at multiple retail locations in the United States. These discoveries were prompted by the initial find at a Petco in Seattle . Infested-moss balls have also been found from online retailers and smaller, independent stores. Though it

3060-529: The conterminous United States ) consists of the 48 adjoining U.S. states and the District of Columbia of the United States in central North America . The term excludes the only two non- contiguous states, which are Alaska and Hawaii (they are also the last two states to be admitted to the Union ), and all other offshore insular areas , such as the U.S. territories of American Samoa , Guam ,

3145-553: The 1972 Clean Water Act in the US and similar laws in Canada, cities and towns, industries, farms and other facilities discharged wastewater into lakes, rivers and other waterways, due to the belief that dilution in the receiving water body would mitigate any potential harm. More recent studies have shown that the dilution theory was often incorrect. After many years of constant dumping, many waterways became contaminated with chemicals, mining waste and human waste. Nonpoint source pollution

3230-496: The 1980s, the species has invaded the Great Lakes , Hudson River , Lake Travis , Finger Lakes , Lake Bonaparte , and Lake Simcoe . The adverse effects of dreissenid mussels on freshwater systems have led to their ranking as one of the world's most invasive aquatic species. The species was first described in 1769 by German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas in the Ural , Volga , and Dnieper Rivers. Zebra mussels get their name from

3315-674: The 49th state of the United States on January 3, 1959. Alaska is the northwest extremity of the North American continent, separated from the U.S. West Coast by the Canadian province of British Columbia . The term Lower 48 has, for many years, been a common Alaskan equivalent for "contiguous United States"; today, many Alaskans use the term "Outside" for those states, though some may use "Outside" to refer to any location not within Alaska. The territory of Hawaii , consisting of

3400-590: The District of Columbia who were born in, or can trace their family ancestry to, Puerto Rico. The U.S. Virgin Islands is a U.S. territory located directly to the east of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea. The term "stateside" is used to refer to the mainland, in relation to the U.S. Virgin Islands (see Stateside Virgin Islands Americans ). American Samoa is a U.S. territory located in

3485-654: The Interior by the American military organizations of the time—the future states of Alaska and Hawaii , then each only organized incorporated territories of the Union, were respectively covered by the Eleventh Air Force and Seventh Air Force during the war. Residents of Alaska, Hawaii and off-shore U.S. territories have unique labels for the contiguous United States because of their own locations relative to them. The vast territory of Alaska became

Great Lakes Areas of Concern - Misplaced Pages Continue

3570-703: The U.S. and Canada. They created the International Joint Commission to deal with the duties of the new treaty. With the realization of the sea lamprey explosion in the Great Lakes, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission was created to control the situation. In 1994 the Ecosystem Charter for the Great Lakes- St. Lawrence Basin was suggested as a good faith agreement. This was an agreement to use

3655-501: The agreement where such failure has caused or is likely to cause impairment of beneficial use of the area's ability to support aquatic life." The U.S.-Canada Water Quality Agreement holds the committee and regulations that decide whether an area should be considered an area of concern. The goal of the agreement is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem through

3740-534: The air, mix with and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to create acid rain pollution. The effects of acid rain are mostly seen in aquatic ecosystems. As the rain flows through the soil, the acidic water can drain away aluminum from the soil and them flow into streams and lakes. As more acid is released into the environment, more aluminum is also released. There are some plants and animals that are able to tolerate acid rain and moderate amounts of aluminum, but others are not as tolerant and will start to die off as

3825-455: The closely related and ecologically similar quagga mussels are filter-feeding organisms; they remove particles from the water column . Zebra mussels process up to 1 litre (0.26 US gal; 34 US fl oz) of water per day, per mussel. Some particles are consumed as food, and feces are deposited on the lake floor. Nonfood particles are combined with mucus and other matter and deposited on lake floors as pseudofeces . Since

3910-532: The concentration of dissolved oxygen was observed in the Seneca River in central New York in the summer of 1993. This decrease was caused by extremely high concentrations of zebra mussels in the watershed . Additionally, the Seneca River had significantly less chlorophyll in the water, which is used as a measure of phytoplankton biomass, because of the presence of zebra mussels. The cost of fighting

3995-417: The concern that they could contaminate local waterways is high, especially in regions and states where they have not yet infested. Aquarium dumping and disposing of unwanted pets is common, according to Eric Fischer with Indiana's Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It is illegal to own, sell, or distribute zebra mussels in the U.S. If spotted, either in an aquarium or out in nature, it is advised to contact

4080-404: The continental United States, and as the 48 contiguous states. The District of Columbia is not always specifically mentioned as being part of CONUS . OCONUS is derived from CONUS with O for outside added, thus referring to Outside of Continental United States. The term lower 48 is also used to refer to the conterminous United States. The National Geographic style guide recommends

4165-592: The decrease in Diporeia numbers is extreme at 94% killed over the past ten years. Its neighbor, Lake Huron is down 57% in its Diporeia population in just the past three years. There are many examples of this problem in each of the Great Lakes, as well. The Great Lakes have been damaged by more than 180 invasive and non-native species. Some of these species include the zebra mussel, quagga mussel, round goby, sea lamprey, and alewife. Invasive plants include purple loosestrife and Eurasian watermilfoil. As well as throwing off

4250-455: The ecosystem as a method of management for the Great Lakes. The Air Quality Agreement was put into place to help protect the health of not only the ecosystems of the Great Lakes but the citizens who live around them as well. It limits the amount of toxic chemicals that are given off. Another policy that was put into place in response to the toxic chemicals in the area of the Great Lakes occurred in 1997. The Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy

4335-495: The ecosystems in the area. New animals or insects coming into or leaving an ecosystem can be just as damaging as pollution. A major food source for most fish in Lake Michigan had been Diporeia shrimp that have been drastically decreased by an infestation of zebra mussels . The Diporeia shrimp have declined from over 10,000 per square meter to virtually zero on the lake bottom because of these zebra mussels. In Lake Michigan

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4420-503: The entire Hawaiian Islands archipelago except for Midway Atoll , became the 50th state of the United States on August 21, 1959. It is the southernmost U.S. state, and the latest one to join the Union. Not part of any continent, Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean , about 2,200 miles (3,541 km) from North America and almost halfway between North America and Asia . In Hawaii and overseas American territories , for instance,

4505-517: The entire United States from 1989 through 2004. In a study conducted by the US Department of State in 2009, the total cost of the zebra mussel invasion is estimated at 3.1 billion over the next 10 years. Concerns are also high following the contamination of zebra mussels in at home aquariums. If zebra mussels had reached open water in Seattle, Washington, where the first case was confirmed,

4590-436: The habitats of native species and the food web of the ecosystem, invasive species also threaten human health and have a major negative impact on the Great Lakes economy by damaging fisheries, agricultural industries, and tourism. Point-source pollution occurs when pollutants enter a waterway directly. This could be from such causes as municipal sewage or industrial wastewater discharged into waterways. Prior to enactment of

4675-415: The invasive species would have cost the state $ 100 million each year in maintenance for power and water systems. As with most bivalves, zebra mussels are filter feeders . When in the water, they open their shells to admit detritus . Their shells are very sharp and are known for cutting people's feet, resulting in the need to wear water shoes wherever they are prevalent. Since their colonization of

4760-504: The invitation of additional organizations to participate in policy formation and remediation. Primarily run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Great Lakes Committee Members have added indigenous representatives and local public government organizations. Thus, any form of remedial action takes into account the local communities’ perspectives. This governing body

4845-523: The lake bottom) because of nonhomogeneous water column mixing. In Lake Pleshcheyevo in Russia, zebra mussels have greatly changed the fish community. All fish species remained in the lake, but catches changed significantly. Gillnets set in the littoral and sublittoral zones during the feeding period consist mainly of large roach and perch while vendace were prevalent in the pelagic zone . The abundance of benthophagous fishes increased slightly due to

4930-648: The lakes by the ballast water of ocean-going ships that were traversing the St. Lawrence Seaway . Another possible, but unproven, mode of introduction is on anchors and chains. Since adult zebra mussels can survive out of water for several days or weeks if the temperature is low and humidity is high, chain lockers provide temporary refuge for clusters of adult mussels that could easily be released when transoceanic ships drop anchor in freshwater ports. They have become an invasive species in North America, and as such, they are

5015-471: The local DNR in the region resided. Recent research shows that zebra mussels could not establish reproducing populations in Kentucky Lake, indicating that the physico-chemical characteristics of this lake deter the species. A better understanding of the lake's characteristics and identification of the key parameters that deter zebra mussels may pave the way for protecting other aquatic ecosystems from

5100-596: The mainland, such as the Aleutian Islands ( Alaska ), San Juan Islands ( Washington ), the Channel Islands ( California ), the Keys ( Florida ), the barrier islands ( Gulf and East Coast states), and Long Island (New York). CONUS , a technical term used by the U.S. Department of Defense , General Services Administration , NOAA/National Weather Service , and others, has been defined both as

5185-550: The maximum depth reachable by birds of c. 10 metres (33 ft). The estimated quantity of consumed zebra mussels is 750 metric tons per square kilometre (2,100 short ton/sq mi). Zebra mussel populations recover annually, indicating that waterfowl may control infested bodies of water but not reverse the infestation status entirely. They were first detected in Canada in the Great Lakes in 1988, in Lake St. Clair . They are thought to have been inadvertently introduced into

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5270-585: The microscopic, free-swimming larvae directly into the facilities. Zebra mussels also cling to pipes under the water and clog them. Grossinger reported it in Hungary in 1794. Kerney and Morton described the rapid colonization of Britain by the zebra mussel, first in Cambridgeshire in the 1820s, London in 1824, and in the Union Canal near Edinburgh in 1834. In 1827, zebra mussels were seen in

5355-525: The moss balls by either boiling them for at least one minute, freezing for at least 24 hours, or placing them in diluted chlorine bleach. Another way to rid of the zebra mussels can be to submerge the moss balls in undiluted white vinegar for a minimum of 20 minutes. After following one of these methods, the USGS urges owners to bag these moss balls before disposing of them in the trash to prevent spread to local water ways and ecosystems. Even if moss balls infected with zebra mussels are contained in an aquarium,

5440-481: The most stable objects in silty substrates, and zebra mussels attach to and often kill these mussels. They build colonies on native unionid clams, reducing their ability to move, feed, and breed, eventually leading to their deaths. This has led to the near extinction of the unionid clams in Lake St. Clair and the western basin of Lake Erie. This pattern is being repeated in Ireland , where zebra mussels have eliminated

5525-611: The mussels attaching themselves to pipeworks. Anglian Water has estimated that it costs £500,000 per year to remove the mussels from their treatment plants. Zebra mussels arguably have also had an effect on fishing, for example at Salford Quays , where their introduction has changed the environment for the fish. Zebra mussels were first reported in Ireland in 1997, but probably arrived in 1994 or earlier. First identified near Lough Derg , they may have been introduced to Ireland through several vectors but have since spread through much of

5610-565: The pH decreases. One of the biggest contributors to acid rain is the burning of coal and other fossil fuels. Lake Superior Lake Erie Lake Michigan Lake Huron Lake Ontario Connecting channels As of August 2021, nine former areas of concern have been fully restored and delisted. These include: Additionally, eight areas of concern in the United States and two in Canada have completed restoration efforts and are awaiting final delisting. Contiguous United States The contiguous United States (officially

5695-583: The pests at power plants and other water-consuming facilities is substantial, but the magnitude of the damages is a matter of some controversy. According to the Center for Invasive Species Research at the University of California, Riverside, the cost of management of zebra mussels in the Great Lakes alone exceeds $ 500 million per year. A more conservative study estimated total economic costs of $ 267 million for electric-generation and water-treatment facilities in

5780-402: The presence of the zebra mussel which made up a significant part of the diet followed by an increase (p<0.05) in the growth rates of roach and silver bream. The growth rates of the bream, which prefers soft zoobenthos, decreased. In addition, the formation of a stable biocenosis of zebra mussels in the lake probably caused changes in the spatial structure of the fish community. What is notable

5865-622: The problem. On June 4, 2014, Canadian conservation authorities announced that a test using liquid fertilizer to kill invasive zebra mussels was successful. This test was conducted in a lakefront harbor in the western province of Manitoba . However, outbreaks continue in Lake Winnipeg . Similar tests were run in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan, using zequanox , a biopesticide. Niclosamide proves effective in killing invasive zebra mussels in cool waters. The native distribution of

5950-739: The recall, marimo moss balls have not returned to shelves. From their first appearance in North American waters in 1988, zebra mussels have spread to a large number of waterways, including Lake Simcoe in the Great Lakes region, the Mississippi , Hudson , St. Lawrence , Ohio , Cumberland , Missouri , Tennessee , Huron , Colorado , and Arkansas rivers, and, by mid-2023, 31 lakes and seven river basins in Texas . However, zebra mussels could not establish reproducing populations in Kentucky Lake (Tennessee River). This may be due to relatively low dissolved calcium levels in this water body. In 2009,

6035-586: The species is in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea in Eurasia . Zebra mussels have become an invasive species in North America , Great Britain , Ireland , Italy , Spain , and Sweden . They disrupt the ecosystems by monotypic colonization , and damage harbors and waterways, ships and boats, and water-treatment and power plants. Water-treatment plants are most affected because the water intakes bring

6120-443: The species tends to congregate. Zebra mussels are believed to be the source of deadly avian botulism poisoning that has killed tens of thousands of birds in the Great Lakes since the late 1990s. They are edible, but since they are so efficient at filtering water, they tend to accumulate pollutants and toxins, so most experts recommend against consuming zebra mussels. Zebra mussels affect all classes of algal species, resulting in

6205-494: The sun for five days before launching into another body of water. This is important because adult zebra mussels are able to close their shells and may survive out of water for several days. When washing their boats, boat owners should be sure to wash with warm, soapy water as well. If marimo moss balls were purchased around the time of the first discovery and recall in March 2021, aquatic hobbyists have been urged to decontaminate

6290-680: The target of federal policy to control them, for instance in the National Invasive Species Act (1996) . Using models based on the genetic algorithm for rule-set production (GARP), a group of researchers predicted that the Southeastern United States is moderately to highly likely to be inhabited by zebra mussels and the Midwest unlikely to experience a zebra mussel invasion of water bodies. This model, though, has since been proven incorrect. In 2006,

6375-683: The term is qualified with the explicit inclusion of Alaska to resolve any ambiguity. On May 14, 1959, the United States Board on Geographic Names issued the following definitions based partially on the reference in the Alaska Omnibus Bill, which defined the continental United States as "the 49 States on the North American Continent and the District of Columbia..." The Board reaffirmed these definitions on May 13, 1999. However, even before Alaska became

6460-585: The terms the Mainland or U.S. Mainland are often used to refer to the 49 states in North America. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeast Caribbean Sea , approximately 1,000 miles (1,609 km) southeast of Miami , Florida . Puerto Ricans born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens and are free to move to the mainland United States. The term Stateside Puerto Rican refers to residents of any U.S. state or

6545-411: The total area of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, ranks third or fourth. Brazil is 431,000 square kilometers (166,000 sq mi) larger than the contiguous United States, but smaller than the entire United States including Alaska, Hawaii and overseas territories. The 2020 U.S. census population of the area was 328,571,074, comprising 99.13 percent of the nation's total population, and

6630-572: The two freshwater mussels from several waterways, including some lakes along the River Shannon in 1997. In 2012, the National University of Ireland, Galway , said "the discovery of zebra mussels ( Dreissena polymorpha ) in Lough Derg and the lower Shannon region in 1997 has led to considerable concern about the potential ecological and economic damage that this highly invasive aquatic nuisance species can cause." The zebra mussel

6715-587: The use of contiguous or conterminous United States instead of lower 48 when the 48 states are meant, unless used in the context of Alaska. Almost all of Hawaii is south of the southernmost point of the conterminous United States in Florida. During World War II , the first four numbered Air Forces of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) were said to be assigned to the Zone of

6800-422: The water. This biomass becomes available to bottom-feeding species and to the fish that feed on them. The catch of yellow perch increased five-fold after the invasion of zebra mussels into Lake St. Clair . Zebra mussels attach to most substrates , including sand, silt , and harder substrates, but usually juveniles prefer harder, rockier substrates on which to attach. Other mussel species frequently represent

6885-530: The wintering waterbirds at Lake Constance decrease zebra mussel biomass in shallow areas by >90%. Biomass reduction in deeper areas varies considerably based on substratum ; Werner et al. observed no reduction at the lowest observed depth of 11 metres (36 ft) except for a site at Hagnau . The vast majority of the organism's natural enemies are not present in North America. Ecologically similar species do exist, but these species are unlikely to be able to eliminate those mussels already established and have

6970-522: The zebra mussel has become established in Lake Erie , water clarity has increased from 6 in (15 cm) to up to 3 ft (0.91 m) in some areas. This increased water clarity allows sunlight to penetrate deeper, enabling growth of submerged macrophytes . These plants, when decaying, wash up on shorelines, fouling beaches and causing water-quality problems. Lake floor food supplies are enriched by zebra mussels as they filter pollution out of

7055-618: The zebra mussel will continue spreading passively, by ship and by pleasure craft, to more rivers in North America. Trailered boat traffic is the most likely vector for invasion into Western North America . This spread is preventable if boaters thoroughly clean and dry their boats and associated equipment before transporting them to new bodies of water. Since no North American predator or combination of predators has been shown to significantly reduce zebra mussel numbers, such spread would most likely result in permanent establishment of zebra mussels in many North American waterways . A major decrease in

7140-594: Was confirmed, and aggressive efforts to eradicate them in 2014 have not succeeded. New contamination was found outside treated areas of Lake Winnipeg in 2015, and they have also been found in the Red River near the lake in Selkirk Park in 2015. Large numbers were seen at Grand Beach in 2017. In July 2010, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department confirmed the presence of zebra mussel veliger in

7225-434: Was developed to control the persistent toxic substances that bioaccumulate such as DDT, PCBs, mercury and dioxins. These toxins stay in ecosystems for long after they are exposed and they can cause serious damage to the plant and animal life." One of the major problems is the number of non-native species that are taking over the lakes. Approximately every eight months a new species enters the Great Lakes, severely disrupting

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