Can Mussels be Scrubbed?

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From January, 1997 (Update #29)

Relocating native unionid mussels to uninfested waters without also inadvertently moving zebra mussels may be difficult, according to Matt Patterson, a graduate student at Virginia Polytechnic University. Patterson is studying the impacts of zebra mussels on native unionids in the Ohio River as part of an ongoing effort to save populations of freshwater mussels from extirpation by zebra mussels. To rescue unionids from a heavily infested portion of the Ohio River near Paducah, Ky., Patterson first needed to make sure the unionids were free of zebra mussels. For this initial attempt at relocation he chose the relatively common ebony shell mussel (Fusconaia ebena). With the help of many volunteers, Patterson scrubbed the unionids until all visible zebra mussels were removed, then placed them in 300-gallon quarantine tanks at the Middle Island National Wildlife Refuge in St. Mary's, W.Va. The mussels were destined for placement in pond refugia at a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service facility in Leetown, W.Va. Thirty days later, the unionids were inspected by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Patty Morrison and West Virginia Department of Natural Resources biologist Janet Clayton, who found live zebra mussels were once again attached. So, the native mussels were then rescrubbed, inspected and placed back into clean tanks. After another 30 days, 3 mm zebra mussels were again found attached to the ebony shell mussels. These unionids will continue to be scrubbed and quarantined for 30-day periods until they are zebra mussel free. Morrison theorized that tiny zebra mussels were hiding in damaged portions of the shell and then emerged when they outgrew these crevices. Patterson also wondered if veligers could be hiding in the pallial cavity of these mussels. "Another concern," Patterson added, "is if we hope to relocate mussels in large numbers, 60 to 90 days in quarantine could drastically reduce the chances of successful relocation. I would also like to send out a warning to make certain that no zebras are hiding before transporting native mussels to uninfested areas. They may be much harder to see than one might expect. This is a potential relocation disaster." Patterson would like anyone who knows of research being done on ways to remove zebras from native mussels to contact him at the Virginia Tech University, Department of Biology, Derring Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, phone (540) 231-5508, email pattrson@vt.edu.

ID: 199701-1.

The Zebra Mussel Update was a 4- to 8-page quarterly national newsletter published by the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute from May 1990 through May 1997. The ZMU documented the spread of the zebra mussel -- an exotic nuisance mussel -- through North America's freshwater environments, especially the Great Lakes, and on efforts to control it.