What is an aquatic invasive species?
Aquatic invasive species are any plant or animal species—such as quagga and zebra mussels—introduced to a body of water that, once established, spreads quickly from their point of introduction. Through competition for resources, predation, parasitism, or causing physical or chemical changes to the invaded habitat, invasive species can hugely impact the diversity or abundance of native species. Quagga/zebra mussels spread quickly Quagga and zebra mussels are two closely related mussel species that were introduced to the Great Lakes in the 1980s. Since that time, the mussels have spread to many eastern waterways, rivers, and lakes. Quagga mussels were found in Arizona’s Lake Mead in early 2007 and subsequently spread throughout the lake’s lower basin. Quagga and zebra mussels are currently located in a number of lakes and waterways in California. Environmental/economic impact The quagga/zebra upsets the food chain by consuming phytoplankton that other species need to survive. They are fi
