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New research has revealed that quagga mussels have taken charge of circling phosphorus stored in North America s great lakes, thereby decreasing the level of phosphorus.
Unquestionably North America s lake is the largest connected water system in the world. In more than 30 years, the entirety of their biology has changed following the installation of intrusive populations of zebra and quagga mussels. This has resulted in a huge reduction in the multitude of native plants and animals.
(Photo : Josh Serenso )
The Invasion
The cycling of the lake s stores of phosphorus, one of the few components fundamental to nearly all life, has been taken over by the quagga mussels according to a new study. Many European lakes might be headed for similar reduction, now that the mussels are spreading there the authors warned.
Quagga mussels have taken over four of the North American Great Lakes to such an extent that in many places they have completely taken over every available underwater surface so there is little room for anything else. Image Credit: Swenson College of Science and Engineering
North America’s Great Lakes are by far the largest connected freshwater system in the world. In a little over 30 years their biology has been utterly changed with the establishment of invasive populations of zebra and quagga mussels, with an immense decline in the abundance of native plants and animals. A new study shows the quagga mussels have taken over the cycling of the lake’s stores of phosphorus, one of the few elements essential to almost all life. The authors warn many European lakes could be headed for similar declines now the mussels are spreading there, and offer some ideas of how to control the invader.
January 26, 2021
The health of aquatic ecosystems depends on the supply of key nutrients, especially phosphorus. Too much phosphorus results in unwanted eutrophication, and much effort is spent on preventing phosphorus pollution of water bodies. In the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem, the North American Great Lakes, this control may have recently been lost to an invasive species.
According to a new study published in the journal PNAS, quagga mussels, which have spread across four of the five Great Lakes, have accumulated large amounts of phosphorus in their biomass, to the degree that their activities now regulate the supply of phosphorus to the ecosystem.
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Invasive mussels now control a key nutrient in American Great Lakes
The health of aquatic ecosystems depends on the supply of key nutrients, especially phosphorus. Too much phosphorus results in unwanted eutrophication, and much effort is spent on preventing phosphorus pollution of water bodies. In the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem, the North American Great Lakes, this control may have recently been lost to an invasive species.
According to a new study published in the journal PNAS, quagga mussels, which have spread across four of the five Great Lakes, have accumulated large amounts of phosphorus in their biomass, to the degree that their activities now regulate the supply of phosphorus to the ecosystem.