Editor's Note

From March 7, 1994 (update #20)

Zebra mussels are taking a winter break from invading new waters. Happily, their sabbatical gives scientists, engineers and water users time to get together and discuss their latest findings at the 4th International Zebra Mussel Conference in Madison, Wis. The conference will be held March 7-10.

Of the 175 papers slated for presentation, almost half deal with zebra mussel control. The rest discuss the biology and ecological impact of the mussels.

Significantly, most presentations discuss zebra mussel biology or control at Great Lakes study sites. Other presentations look at zebra mussels in inland river systems contiguous with Great Lakes waters. Only three deal with zebra mussels at inland locations that required overland dispersal.

This geographical distribution of zebra mussel study sites reflects the beginning of a shift of concern from the Great Lakes to commercially navigable inland river systems. Perhaps most surprising is the lack of discussion about zebra mussels in inland waters not directly connected to the Great Lakes and major inland river systems. This may well reflect the relatively slow "overland" spread of these invaders.

ID: 19940307-1.

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.