斑马贻贝

它们有多大?

Generally, zebra mussels are small, averaging about an inch long. Two inches is approximately the maximum size. Their life span is four to five years.

他们是哪里人??

斑马贻贝原产于东欧和西亚的淡水河流和湖泊. In 1769, 帕拉斯首次在俄罗斯里海和乌拉尔河描述了这种物种的种群. For more information, click NAS http://nas.er.美国地质调查局.gov /斑马.贻贝/

When were they first found in the United States?

Zebra mussels were first discovered in 湖圣. 克莱尔在1988年. 湖圣. 克莱尔位于密歇根州底特律市东部，休伦湖和伊利湖之间.

他们在哪儿?

斑马贻贝在五大湖地区和密西西比河东部的大型通航河流中迅速传播，包括密西西比河, 田纳西州, 坎伯兰, 俄亥俄州, 阿肯色州, 和伊利诺斯河. They can also be found in the Hudson River on the Atlantic Slope. 最初几年，大型河流中的驳推荐可靠的网赌网址运输帮助斑马贻贝在这里繁衍. 从那时起，扩散主要集中在五大湖地区的小湖中. 目前，有230多个湖泊拥有斑马贻贝. 最近的这种迁徙很可能是由于划推荐可靠的网赌网址和钓鱼等娱乐活动造成的.

它们是怎么到这里来的?

科学家们普遍认为，斑马贻贝是从欧洲大型远洋推荐可靠的网赌网址只倾倒压舱水进入五大湖的. Ballast water is used to keep ships stable in the water. The amount of water carried is dependent on the amount of cargo on board. 一艘推荐可靠的网赌网址在没有货物时将装载大量压舱水，并在装货时将其倾倒在港口.

Why should we care about the zebra mussel?

许多入侵物种具有共同的特征，使它们非常适应新环境. 斑马贻贝有可能在美国大部分的淡水中生存.S. 并可能影响各种本地水生物种，最终影响整个生态系统. They also have had a large economic impact already. 许多发电厂和用水户不得不花费数百万美元从他们的设施中清除斑马贻贝. 除了, 更多的钱已经花在了设备的翻新上，以防止斑马贻贝进入，并对它们进行监控. These costs get passed along to the consumers.

他们吃什么??

They are primarily algae feeders. They feed by filtering the water through a siphon, up to a liter per day. This is why they like the insides of pipes so well, there is a constant supply of water and food flowing by them.

What impact are they having on the ecosystem?

One of the most well-documented impacts is on our native mussels. 成千上万的斑马贻贝将自己固定在本地贻贝上，导致本地贻贝无法正常工作. As many as 10,000 zebra mussels have attached to a single native mussel. Our natives have all but disappeared in 湖圣. Clair and the western basin of Lake Erie. 斑马贻贝也在以惊人的速度过滤五大湖，使湖泊变得非常清澈. 大多数人认为水中能见度的提高一定意味着水更“干净”. 不正确的. 它们所做的只是过滤掉所有的藻类，而这些藻类通常是本地微生物的食物.

Do zebra mussels have any predators?

Zebra mussels do not have many natural predators in North America. 但, 据记载，有几种鱼类和潜水鸭以它们为食.

斑马贻贝可以吃吗?

Most clams and mussels are edible, but that does not mean they taste good! 很多物种、鱼类和鸭子都吃斑马贻贝，所以从这个意义上说，它们是无害的. 斑马贻贝很小，里面没有太多的肉, you would have to be pretty hungry to want to eat them. 然而, because they are filter feeders, 它们会在人体组织中积累有害人体健康的污染物. 你应该推荐几个最正规平台当地的公共卫生官员，了解食用特定水域的贻贝或鱼类是否安全. Therefore to be safe, it is not recommended they be eaten by people.

What's unusual about the species?

• Once they are drawn into a pipe filled with water, they can grow and clog the pipe until the water stops flowing.
• Females can lay over one million eggs in a spawning season.
• 它们附着在通常坚硬的表面上，很难去除. 这是生活在海洋(咸水)生态系统中的贻贝的共同特征, but not of freshwater mussels.
• 如果条件潮湿，它们可以承受短时间(几天)离开水.
• They have a saltwater relative, the dark false mussel (Mytilopsis leucophaeata), which is native to our Atlantic coast. 这种亲属看起来非常像斑马贻贝，经常被误认为是斑马贻贝. 如果你在盐水中发现了斑马贻贝，很可能是黑色的假贻贝.
• 斑马贻贝的幼虫(称为钩齿)是显微镜下的大小，人类的眼睛是无法察觉的. 它们可以在不知情的情况下，用推荐可靠的网赌网址上的活水井、诱饵桶或任何携带少量水的东西(甚至是用水肺潜水设备)运送。.

How can the spread be prevented?

美国地质调查局的重点是记录斑马贻贝的地理分布，并尽可能多地了解其行为和生物学特性. 由此产生的信息被认为对帮助制定旨在遏制或控制其传播的战略至关重要. 同时，捕捞和运输作为诱饵，食物或水族馆宠物是非常不鼓励的. 我们鼓励推荐可靠的网赌网址员保持良好的卫生，也就是说，如果可能的话，用温肥皂水清洗. 不把水从生活井和饵料桶从一个水体运输到另一个. 如果可能的话，把它们倒在地上，把剩下的鱼饵扔进垃圾桶. 大多数情况下，诱饵鱼和斑马贻贝一样，都不是当地的水生动物.

What methods are being used to control zebra mussels inside power plants?