Does anyone out there know if there have been any studies done on the possible transport of zenbra mussels inadvertantly by waterfowl. With the increase of “infected” lakes combined with our location on the Mississippi flyway, it seems waterfowl could play a role in this. It’s possible mussel larvae getting trapped in feathers of fowl only do be dropped at their next stop. Just wondering if any factual studies are floating around on the topic? 
ocean, good luck on finding any information on this. If there is any it would be in some of the Journals of Fisheries or North American Fisheries Society journals. Both require subscriptions (your State DNR likely has a library that you can use). Almost all of the research disputes distribution by waterfowl. Here is a link to what I mean
link
Thanks Buzz,
But,in skimming over that did they consider the Zebra Mussels attaching to plants, which I believe they had not been documented as doing until last year on Mille Lacs & Minnetonka?
This is also the information I am looking for, see my post Zebra Mussel photos on Plants – link
Carroll
How about on a turtles shell 
Thats crazy… in Michigan warnings about Zeeb larvae on vegetation getting on your boat trailer came out several years ago on posters at the Lake Michigan launches… 
BK. It is obvious you have never seen the actions of a turtle that are similar to that of primates cleaning of parasites from a partners body. You would be surprised how those thingy things at the end of the feet can pick.
You are correct Sir, and I hope I never need that image. 
http://www.significantudders.com/quagga/Johnsonpaper.pdf
Here’s one from a while back (96), however the study lacks multiple testing variables. Essentially they have ducks wade in water with veligers, then walk over to another pool. Not exactly easy to relate that to the real world scenarios.
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Zebra mussels were transported
under all situations, but at very low numbers,
usually <0.5 mussel per duck per trip. The enhanced
zebra mussel densities, the extremely short distances
involved, and the fact that the ducks walked rather than
flew to the target pools suggest that these rates of transfer
overestimate the ability of waterfowl to transport zebra
mussels overland
So there goes the though that bird transferring zeb’s is undocumented. They only had a few ducks.
Just a few zebs and a couple hundred thousand duck/geese/loons/ect.
Great find! 
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Zebra mussels were transported
under all situations, but at very low numbers,
usually <0.5 mussel per duck per trip. The enhanced
zebra mussel densities, the extremely short distances
involved, and the fact that the ducks walked rather than
flew to the target pools suggest that these rates of transfer
overestimate the ability of waterfowl to transport zebra
mussels overland
So there goes the though that bird transferring zeb’s is undocumented. They only had a few ducks.
Just a few zebs and a couple hundred thousand duck/geese/loons/ect.
Great find!
True, but it also points out that their findings overestimate the ability for waterfowl to transport them in significant numbers. It would still be great to see a more extensive study than a short walk from one pool to another. I would think flight, and the water wicking ability their feathers have would show a significant decrease. I’ll keep digging…
There are multiple studies out there about veliger mortality, which are much easier to find than the waterfowl dynamic. Veligers are quite fragile, and temp swings, drying, turbulence, etc. experienced during a flight could potentially be enough to kill em. Just a thought.
Although I don’t have any facts to disagree with you…I have to ask the question…
How many does it take?
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Although I don’t have any facts to disagree with you…I have to ask the question…
How many does it take?
At a minimum it would take two since there are male/female zeebs. Then they’d need to be lucky enough to grow to adulthood close enough so the eggs/sperm meet up in the water column. It’s certainly a risk, but I think it’s an example that can be over-used given how rare it may actually occur. Just my thoughts
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Zebra mussels were transported
under all situations, but at very low numbers,
usually <0.5 mussel per duck per trip. The enhanced
zebra mussel densities, the extremely short distances
involved, and the fact that the ducks walked rather than
flew to the target pools suggest that these rates of transfer
overestimate the ability of waterfowl to transport zebra
mussels overland
So there goes the though that bird transferring zeb’s is undocumented. They only had a few ducks.
Just a few zebs and a couple hundred thousand duck/geese/loons/ect.
Great find!
True, but it also points out that their findings overestimate the ability for waterfowl to transport them in significant numbers. It would still be great to see a more extensive study than a short walk from one pool to another. I would think flight, and the water wicking ability their feathers have would show a significant decrease. I’ll keep digging…
There are multiple studies out there about veliger mortality, which are much easier to find than the waterfowl dynamic. Veligers are quite fragile, and temp swings, drying, turbulence, etc. experienced during a flight could potentially be enough to kill em. Just a thought.
I’ve killed tons of ducks and geese that were crawling with scuds below their “waterline”. I don’t understand how the DNR can believe this is an unlikely means of transportation. In fact, it’s foolish to think waterfowl don’t spread Zebra Mussel larva.
It would be an interesting research project. I don’t doubt that ducks can move things, my main question is if the veligers would survive the trip, not if they would stick to the birds themselves; they are very fragile organisms after all. I can find plenty of mortality studies that cover a variety of conditions, just none that might be “flight” conditions.
I don’t think scuds would be a great comparison since they can move/hold on their own. A zeeb larvae on the other hand is at the mercy of currents, and cant willingly cling to anything until it settles somewhere.
I understand the difference between scuds and ZM veligers.
But, if they’ll stick to a boat…the will stick to the hundreds of thousands water birds in this state.
As far as living long enough…I don’t think many birds in summer fly for 48 hours non stop. How many geese and seagulls in the Metro alone hop from pond to lake to lake to pond??
I wasn’t trying to say you didn’t know the difference, just that it’s not a great comparison.
Sure they hop from lake to lake, but where does the 48 hour rule come from that you mentioned? Veligers can die long before 48 hours… a little bit of turbulence can kill em.
My whole point is that I think it is a lot more difficult/rare for a bird to do it when compared to a person. Happy friday 
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My whole point is that I think it is a lot more difficult/rare for a bird to do it when compared to a person.
And it’s hard(er) to get a bird to pay for a 
ticket.
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