What do zebra mussels look like?

• Zebra mussels are a small two-hinged mollusk, usually less than an inch long with a D-shaped shell.
  The shells are yellowish brown with alternating dark and light stripes.

Why are zebra mussels a problem?

• Zebra mussels are a problem because they filter water, up to a liter a day, to consume phytoplankton.
  Although their feeding habits may increase water clarity, clear water does not mean clean water.
  Zebra mussel pseudofeces often leads to algal blooms that are harmful to people, and animals.
• Young larval fish and native mussels compete with zebra mussels for the same food source

How do zebra mussels spread?

• Veligers (zebra mussel larvae) float freely in the water column for 1-5 weeks and can be spread through water transport.
  As they begin to sink, they search for a hard surface on which they can live and grow