Although zebra mussels may be able to survive for a short time under saline conditions, they are freshwater organisms. Zebra mussels are able to tolerate higher salinities when they have been acclimated to increasing levels over time (Wilcox and Dietz 1998). The observed acute toxicity of zebra mussel veligers is 4.5 ppt according to Kilgour and Keppel (1993).
Values used for determining salinity risk by the Risk Assessment Calculator are as follows: