In fact, microplastics may represent a relatively small contributor to the total … The eutrophication problem in Lake Winnipeg is primarily related to cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae. Zebra mussels are able to consume a lot of algae in a ridiculously short amount of time and this is having a direct impact on the food chain. zebra mussels eat the same thing as larva fish so there isn't going to be as many fish because they won't have any fish ;p Asked in Zebras They rapidly became established in the Great Lakes and the waters draining them. These contaminants can be passed up the food chain so that any fish or waterfowl consuming zebra mussels will also accumulate these organic pollutants. It can be hard to think of zebra mussels in glowing positive terms but it is time that we took a closer look at some of the positive and negative effects of zebra mussels. The Zebra Mussel, as the Quagga Mussel, was introduced to the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America via ballast water. Likewise, human consumption of these same fish and waterfowl could result in further risk of exposure. They can have health impacts on fish, wildlife and humans. Prevention, therefore, is the best way to keep a water body clean of zebra mussels. What Is Biodiversity: Picture an ecosystem with many different types of animals and plants. Surprisingly, zebra mussels seem to have no effect on the amount of blue-green algae in lakes with high levels of phosphorus, a nutrient that builds up in lakes and other bodies of water as a result of erosion, farm run-off and human waste. Since the 1980s, they have invaded the Great Lakes and the Hudson River. How do zebra mussels affect recreational users? Adult zebra mussels can live several days out of water. Positive Effects of Zebra Mussels. Zebra mussels … The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) is a small freshwater mussel.The species was originally native to the lakes of southern Russia and Ukraine. Zebra mussels preferentially feed on other types of algae – in part, because some species of blue-green … The mussels first entered the United States in 1988 after stowing away in the ballast water of European ship that passed through Lake … As filter-feeders, they take in water and filter out algae as food, excreting their waste as sediment. Zebra Mussel Fact Sheet . Invasive species are a leading cause . The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) is a small bivalve originally native to the Caspian Sea region. The economic impacts of zebra mussels have not been examined in detail since the mid-1990s. Eating zebra mussels is a health risk due to the fact that they are filter feeders. On a related note, one species that definitely can but really should not eat zebra mussels is us, Homo sapiens. Once a population of zebra mussels has become established in a water body, there is very little to be done to remove them. The river connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and provides Lockport with more than enough clean water to satisfy demand. Tiny zebra mussels cause big problems when they damage boats and pipes and decrease populations of other aquatic creatures.