The recent discovery of zebra mussels in White Bear Lake emphasizes the need to be vigilant regarding the accidental introduction of another invasive species into Birch Lake. As you may know, Birch Lake is already on the DNR’s infested waters list because of the presence of Eurasian milfoil. Fortunately, the Eurasian milfoil infestation appears to be limited due to unfavorable sediment chemistry
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| Zebra Mussels |
It is difficult to predict what the
impact of a zebra mussel infestation would be on Birch Lake. Zebra mussels are bi-valve filter
feeders. They range in size from .25
inches to 1.5 inches. The life span of the
zebra mussel is estimated to be 4 – 5 years.
It is estimated that a female zebra mussel can produce 500,000 + eggs
per year during her second year. Zebra
mussels are considered invasive species due to their ability to replace native
species very rapidly and to change the ecology of a lake or stream
dramatically. They have the ability to
filter large volumes of water removing planktonic algae and detritus, which, in
turn, disrupts the aquatic food web.
This food web disruption can have a negative impact on the lake’s game
fish population by eliminating a food source critical to juvenile fish
survival. Other impacts include
outcompeting native mollusk species and accelerated rooted aquatic plant growth
due to clearer water. The shells of dead
zebra mussels are a nuisance as well as a safety hazard.
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