Predators of the Zebra Mussel
Zebra mussels are distinctively marked little freshwater mussels originally from Eastern Europe. They are an invasive species in other regions of Europe, including the UK, and North America despite having plenty of natural predators. They arrived in the United States in the late 1980s, probably on ships, and have since thrived, competing with native species and damaging water facilities. They may also be passing avian botulism, a fatal disease, onto water birds. However, for some native species zebra mussels have become a major source of food.
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Mammals
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Otters include freshwater mussels in their diet, as do some opportunistic land mammals such as raccoons. Muskrats are an important predator of zebra mussels. Muskrats may in fact eat so many that they help to keep the mussels under control. Zebra mussels are edible for humans, but because they accumulate pollutants it is not advisable to eat them unless you have the all-clear from local public health officials. At less than 2 inches long, they are also rather on the small side.
Fish
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Some native fish, including red-eared sunfish, some catfish species and perch, are known to eat zebra mussels. Other adaptive fish species may occasionally take some. As with the other predator groups, the fish are not able to keep zebra mussel populations in countries where they are an introduced species. In Europe, silver bream, bream and roach are important predators. The fry -- babies -- of the majority of fish consume zooplankton, tiny aquatic organisms which include mussel larvae.
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Invertebrates and Others
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Some large carnivorous invertebrates eat mussels. Examples include crayfish and crabs. Small invertebrates such as copepods, which are tiny crustaceans, may eat the mussel larvae. Aquatic turtles can and do eat freshwater mussels, including zebra mussels. Observations of captive map turtles have shown they readily eat zebra mussels.
Birds
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Diving ducks such as goldeneyes eat mussels. The problem with birds eating zebra mussels is that the ducks may be contracting avian botolism. The mussels are filter feeders and if they take in and concentrate the toxins that cause botulism, the birds that eat them will contract the disease. Avian botulism is a form of food poisoning that kills thousands of birds in the United States every year.
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References
- University of California, Center for Invasive Species Research: Quagga & Zebra Mussels
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Western Quagga Mussels, Background Information
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Endangered and Threatened Mussels Found in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Basin
- University of Wisconsin: Ondatra ziebethicus, Muskrat
- Game and Fish: Planning for Post-Spawn Perch
- U.S. Geological Survey: Frequently Asked Questions about Zebra Mussels
