Water Body Characteristics Impacting Zebra Mussels
When zebra mussels enter a water body, their chances of establishing a viable and successful population are dependent on the characteristics of the new habitat. In particular, a number of physiochemical and biological factors play key roles in this process.
Physiochemical Factors
Often the most critical physiochemical factors in determining successful zebra mussel establishment in a water body are:
Biological Factors
The relative abundance of certain biological factors can significantly impact zebra mussel population size, including:
Water body Characteristics Altered by Zebra Mussels
As zebra mussel population densities increase, they, in turn, alter the physical and biological characteristics of the water body they inhabit. To learn more about these impacts, see the section titled Alteration of the Freshwater Ecosystem, An Overview.