Meeting Abstract
The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) is an invasive freshwater mussel infesting many waterways of the eastern, central, and southern United States. Recently, they arrived in north Texas and are currently spreading southward into multiple water basins in Texas. Key to their continued invasion into Texas waters is their reproductive ability through broadcast spawning and direct larval development in the water column. Downstream transport of veliger larvae and anthropogenic transport of adult mussels are the two main mechanisms of spread. As indicated by zebra mussel spread into Texas, zebra mussels have demonstrated the ability to survive and reproduce in environmental conditions beyond predicted values for this cold-water species. The focus of this study was looking at various environmental factors which might affect mussel survival, growth, and reproduction. Factors addressed include temperature and calcium concentration as well as the effects of copper as a potential mechanism of control. Impacts on mussel growth, survival, and reproductive success including fertilization and larval survival were studied. Zebra mussels showed high levels of survival under varying calcium concentrations, were susceptible to high water temperatures, and were negatively impacted by exposure to copper.
