Zebra Mussels

Although they may not seem like the most pertinent issue concerning the Hudson River, Zebra mussels are harmful to the river. They are native to the Black, Caspian, and Azov seas. From their initial appearance in America in 1988 in the Great Lakes, they spread to 28 states, and of course, the Hudson River. They arrived at the Great Lakes attached to a cargo ship traveling from the Black Sea. The larval forms of the mussels continued to attach to boats and travel across the country. I think they are a major problem, because like many other invasive species, they are not typically thought of as an environmental problem. However, they have major effects such as reducing the number of native mussels by anchoring on to them, preventing them from functioning. They also dwell in the pipes of power plants, public water supply plants, and industrial facilities, constricting the flow of water in and out. By attaching themselves to structures made of steel and concrete, they cause the structure to erode. Within the ecosystem, they significantly reduce phytoplankton, (by 85% in the Hudson), increasing transparency in the water. Although the water appears cleaner, it is not a beneficial thing because the food for other organisms has been reduced. Zebra mussels are not the first issue typically thought of when thinking about issues surrounding the Hudson River, however, they have already had a major impact, and continue to increase, killing more algae, invading more pipes, and taking the lives of native species.