Friday, March 30, 2012

Zebra Mussel DNA Found in North Texas Lakes

Zebra Mussel DNA Found
in North Texas Lakes
A Fort Worth Star Telegram article by Bill Hanna states, ""Officials say...those lakes had some exposure to the mussels, but not enough to allow the creatures to become established. Since the first adult mussel was found in Lake Texoma in 2009, the shorelines of that reservoir have been covered with them. For scientists, the uncertainty is the threshold for establishing a colony. "We've had zebra mussels in the Great Lakes region for years, and there are still many bodies of water that don't have them," Britton said. "Those that are interested in keeping them out are successful.""

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/03/06/3789710/zebra-mussel-dna-confirmed-in.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/03/06/3789710/zebra-mussel-dna-confirmed-in.html#storylink=cpy
So if all boaters clean, drain and dry their boats when traveling from one lake to another, zebra mussels can be prevented from reaching high enough levels to become established. Read the entire article.
This shows just how important it is for every boater to clean, drain and dry their boat when traveling from one lake to another. Learn how to take action to help STOP the spread of Zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha. 
 Zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha
image by Amy Benson, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org
This video from Texas does a good job explaining the best way to prevent moving zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species from one area to another. Wherever you live, using these techniques will help to protect your favorite boating habitats from invasive species.
Flathead catfish, Pylodictis olivaris, native to some areas in the U.S and invasive in others
Image by Lisa Liguori, UGA Marine Extension Service, Bugwood.org