The Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha Pallas) Invades Ireland: Human Mediated Vectors and the Potential for Rapid Intranational Dispersal

Abstract:In this account we demonstrate that different vessel classes and different types of boat movement are important in determining the role of pleasure craft as a vector for transmission of zebra mussels. Vessels with zebra mussels on their hulls have been found in areas where zebra mussels are not known to be established. The main concern is the overland transport of boats to lakes at more elevated levels within infested catchments and to other river systems. Large boats that are heavily fouled pose the highest risk. However, these are moved infrequently compared with angling boats, which are moved from fly hatch to fly hatch. Up to three size classes of zebra mussels with densities greater than 1000m⁻² have been recovered from the hulls of several different classes of vessel. Such numbers are probably sufficient to form new populations, following spawning in areas where zebra mussels did not previously exist. This may have happened in several lakes in Ireland from 1996-8. Vessels most likely to acquire large numbers of zebra mussels are those that remain idle for long periods of time. This would appear to be the case for barges, canal boats, private cruisers and lake boats. An assessment of the vectors that disperse zebra mussels allows efforts to slow down intranational spread to be focussed.

• Publication year

  2022

• Venue

  Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy

• Publication date

  2022-01-01

• Fields of study

  Biology, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.3318/BIOE.2003.103.1.23
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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