7790

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7790
• Author: Tyus, H. M., W. P. Dwyer and S. Whitmore.
• Title: Feasibility of Preventing Further Invasion of the Zebra Mussel into the Western United States.
• USFW Year: 1993.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

the internal parts of motors or trailers.
Transfer of a few adults or larvae can, in
time, result in the establishment of a
new population of zebra mussels if
environmental conditions are suitable.
The transfer of water could result in
the spread of zebra mussels due to the
pelagic egg and afree-living larval
stage of this species (Noce: North
American unionids have neither).
Therefore, any water taken from a
contaminated river or lake during the
zebra mussel breeding season (which
may last from June to October; Garton
and Haag 1993) could potentially
contain the organism. Equipment used
to move water from a contaminated
drainage to another uncontaminated
drainage could be called a vector in this
context.
Vectors for spreading zebra mussel
veligers, include the use of tank trucks
and equipment by bait dealers, State
and Federal fish distributors, the
aquaculture industry, and the aquarium
trade. Zebra mussels can also be spread
in irrigation water, introduced with
hatchery bait or aquarium fish, or
attached to, or on, various items such as
plastic bags, boxes, and packing that
are used by fisherman, the aquarium
trade, and by the aquaculture industry.