The spread of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) from the lower Susquehanna River into the upper Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA

Matthew Ashton,Ronald Klauda

doi:10.3391/bir.2015.4.3.07

Abstract

The invasion of North American waters by Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussel) and its subsequent ecological impacts has been well documented. Their spread continues to new states and watersheds despite a wealth of research and outreach campaigns, albeit at a slowed pace. We describe the spread and proliferation of zebra mussel into one of the more recently invaded states, Maryland, USA. Veliger counts and fixed hard surface monitoring suggest that a population is established within the lower Susquehanna River to the head of the Chesapeake Bay. A relatively narrow tidal-freshwater habitat envelope with suitable salinity may serve to restrict zebra mussel dispersal further downstream. Dispersal to other freshwater habitats in Maryland seems likely as the current area of infestation is highly used by commercial and recreational boaters, although regulations are in place that could help slow or prevent spread. Successful invasion will likely be a function of water chemistry, which may be limiting in some parts of the state.

Highlights

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha Pallas, 1771) may be the symbolic invasive species of North America
We describe the relatively recent invasion into Maryland via the Susquehanna River into the Chesapeake Bay
As a result of increasing numbers of veligers upstream, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) began inspecting navigational buoys and anchors located in the lower Susquehanna River and upper Chesapeake Bay (Figure 1) while they are removed each fall (e.g., Yoo et al 2014)

Summary

Introduction

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha Pallas, 1771) may be the symbolic invasive species of North America. Species distribution models predicted that zebra mussels would eventually spread across much of North America including the Chesapeake Bay watershed, but their distribution within it was highly variable (Strayer 1991; Drake and Bossenbroek 2004; Whittier et al 2008). In 1991, the first zebra mussels in the Chesapeake Bay drainage were reported from the upper

Results

Conclusion