ASIAN GREEN MUSSELS

1
ASIAN GREEN MUSSELS
By Rebecca Snyder
2
Perna Viridis
Phylum Mollusca
Class Bivalvia
Family Mytilidae
Also Asian Green Mussel, Indo-Pacific Green
Mussel
3
Asian Green Mussels as an Invasive Species

• Discovered in Trinidad and Venezuela in 1990
• Discovered in February 1998 in Kingston Harbour
  on the south coast of Jamaica during the
  collection of mangrove roots
• Found in Tampa Bay Florida in 1999 in the water
  uptake structures of TECO Gannon Station Power
  Plant in the Hillsborough Bay portion of Tampa
  Bay
• Surveys show the mussel has extended as far as
  Johns Pass in St. Petersburg and as far south as
  Boca Grande, Florida
• Most likely traveled by means of ballast water
  released by ships

4
Figure 1. Shaded circles represent Perna viridis
population along coastlines.
5
Asian Green Mussels

• Are filter feeders
• Use gills for both gaseous exchange and feeding
• Food particles are trapped and then channeled
  into the digestive system
• Asian green mussels thrive in areas such as
  estuaries and bays, which contain a high
  concentration of organic matter

6
(No Transcript)
7
What are the Consequences?

• The introduction of any species into an ecosystem
  can result in displacement of native species
• Such new species will tend to compete with native
  species primarily for space and food, and may
  lead to the reduction in numbers or even total
  displacement of the native species

8
In Addition

• Known to be an important bio-fouling organism
• Tend to clog pipelines used to transport seawater
  into industrial plants to cool turbines, such as
  those of companies that produce electricity
• These pipelines have to be constantly cleared,
  resulting in very expensive maintenance costs
• Colonization by Green Mussels has also been shown
  to foster a microhabitat for other fouling
  organisms such as barnacles

9
Since Theyve Been Here
Collections from this selected population
demonstrated rapid growth as the mean length of
mussels increased nearly 92 from 49.0 mm to 94.1
mm in July 2000.
10

• Green Mussels are the most recent non-indigenous
  mollusk to enter Florida, probably as larvae in
  ship ballast water.
• Data and observations demonstrate that they are
  able to grow, over-winter, and successfully
  reproduce in Tampa Bay.
• To date, green mussels are colonizing mostly
  manmade habitats such as bridges, docks, channel
  markers, and buoys.
• This species is thriving where winter water
  temperatures have reach as low as 12C. Water
  temperatures in their native range are usually
  26-32C.

11
Green Mussels are expected to continue to spread
south along the Gulf Coast of Florida, possibly
to include the Florida Keys.  Based on
temperature tolerances, it is not expected to
survive well north of Florida in the Atlantic
Ocean.
12
The main concern is for the effects Perna
viridis, or Asian Green Mussels may have on the
diversity of native communities in Florida,
especially if they begin to inhabit mangroves. In
addition, impacts are expected to continue to
include the fouling of unprotected boats and
in-water structures such as bridges, seawalls,
docks, aids to navigation, and interference with
cooling water intakes in electric power
generating stations.
Picture Mussels On a Bridge Piling In Tampa Bay
13
Warning!!!MusselsCan
HaveSeriousConsequences!!!
14
Works Cited

• Establishment of the green mussel, Perna viridis
  (Linnaeus 1758), (Mollusca Mytilidae) on the
  west coast of Florida lthttp//cars.er.usgs.gov/pos
  ters/Nonindigenous/Green_Mussels/green_mussels.htm
  lgt
• Distribution of the Invasive Indo-Pacific Green
  Mussel, Perna Viridis, in Kingston Harbour,
  Jamaica
• -Bulletin of Marine Science 73 no2 433-41 S 2003