AIS Notes

Question 1

What makes a species invasive?

Answer 1

• are not native to the ecosystem
• out compete the native species for resources
• have very few predators
• reproduce quickly

Question 2

How many eggs can 1 female zebra muscle produce per year?

Answer 2

1 million eggs per year

Question 3

How do zebra muscle attach to hard surfaces?

Answer 3

Using byssal threads

(Fibres which come out of their valve area)

Question 4

What are zebra muscle larvae called? How long are they in the larval stage until they attack to a substrate?

Answer 4

Veligers

Are larvae for 2-3 weeks

Question 5

What are some impacts of zebra muscles?

Answer 5

• altered food chain
• decrease in native mussel population
• reduced recreational potential (sharp shells in water and on land)
• clogs water pipes and disrupts water supply
• increase in toxic algae

Question 6

Where in Canada were zebra muscles first discovered. When?

Answer 6

Lake Erie - 1986