Zebra Mussel: Impacts and Spread

Abstract

Zebra mussels colonise new regions at different rates. Their rate of spread from isolated water bodies is slow but if introduced to upstream navigable regions their colonisation can be rapid and encompass a wide area. Zebra mussels continue to colonise European regions. Its recent appearance in Ireland since 1993/4 has incurred rapid colonisation through the inland navigation routes and it is poised to expand to other isolated regions. The management of controllingfurther spread has been successful to-date but its subsequent expansion is expected in time with human activities. It is likely that the species may also spread to other regions in Europe and North America with the potential to colonise large rivers and lakes in other temperate regions of the world.