Zebra Mussels at Rossigh Bay, Lough Erne - geograph.org.uk - 366521

Description:

Summary[edit] Description: English: Zebra Mussels at Rossigh Bay, Lough Erne Zebra Mussels appeared in 1997 on the Shannon and spread quickly over the entire waterways. They are small shellfish shaped like marine mussels. They are striped with varying patterns of dark and pale bands, hence the zebra name. They attach themselves to hard surfaces such as wood, plastic, stones. They live in fresh water and the upper reaches of tidal estuaries, but cannot live in seawater. They usually grow to 15 - 25mm but can attain 50mm. Zebra Mussels feed by filtering the surrounding water and removing plankton from it. They can reproduce within a year when temperatures exceed 12 degrees Celsius, releasing many thousands of the tiny swimming stage which are moved easily by currents. They settle after about three weeks and soon grow into the shape of a miniature adult. Mussels can live 3 to 5 years, and rapidly increase their numbers. Due to the ability to attach to hard surfaces zebra mussels clog pipes, drains and screens as many as 100,000 per square metre. This causes reduced water delivery to boat engines, resulting in engine overheating. Date: 13 March 2007. Source: From geograph.org.uk. Author: Kenneth Allen. Attribution(required by the license)Kenneth Allen / Zebra Mussels at Rossigh Bay, Lough Erne / CC BY-SA 2.0. Kenneth Allen / Zebra Mussels at Rossigh Bay, Lough Erne. Camera location54° 26′ 54″ N, 7° 43′ 26″ W View all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap 54.448200; -7.724000. Object location54° 26′ 54″ N, 7° 43′ 26″ W View all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap 54.448200; -7.724000.