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The quagga mussel is spreading in Austria’s lakes and is becoming a threat to the local wildlife. Its spread could hardly be stopped.
Vienna – The rapid spread of alien species can affect an entire ecosystem and make invasive species a significant problem. This phenomenon can currently be observed in Austria. The Austrian landscape is not only characterized by mountains, but also by numerous lakes that attract both locals and tourists every year. However, these lakes are currently threatened by an invasive species that the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management is warning about: the quagga mussel.
Quagga mussel: Ministry warns of rapid spread
The mussel, which originally comes from the Black Sea region and can grow up to four centimeters in size, was discovered on the website of the Ministry introduced into the Austrian lakes by transport. This can happen, for example, if the mussel or its larvae stick to a boat that is used in different bodies of water.
The quagga mussel is extremely resilient and can survive temperatures of up to five degrees Celsius as well as nutrient deficiencies. It spreads to depths of 100 meters and can produce offspring almost all year round. This gives it clear advantages over native species when it comes to colonizing areas and spreading invasively. The invasive species causes considerable damage and a study shows that the spread of the mussel can hardly be stopped.
Spread of invasive mussels in waters in Austria: ecosystems in danger
The quagga mussel causes damage to water supply infrastructure by clogging pipes or filters. It also poses a threat to ecosystems because it removes many algae from the water that would otherwise be used by plankton. Plankton in turn serves as food for fish, so the spread of the mussel affects fishing quotas.
Tourism could also suffer from the invasive species. The mussel has sharp edges that could injure bathers’ feet in shallow water. In addition, the quagga mussel damages boats and jetties, which leads to high maintenance costs. The following bodies of water are already infested with the mussel:
- Lake Constance
- Upper Austrian lakes, proven in Attersee, Mondsee and Traunsee
- Carinthian Lakes
- Wolfgangsee and Obertrumer See in Salzburg
- Meanwhile in the old Danube in Vienna
Invasive species is not only a problem in Austria: Fight against the quagga mussel
In order to contain the spread of the quagga mussel, it is important to clean sports equipment and swimwear thoroughly after swimming, ideally with hot water, and then let it dry well. However, the problem does not only affect Austria. Lake Constance, for example, is also located in Germany and Switzerland, where more decisive action is being taken against the invasive species. According to the SWR Methods are currently being tested to combat the quagga mussels.
Other species are also spreading in Germany. Beetles and crayfish are endangering the flora and fauna in Bavaria, and the Asian hornet is also spreading rapidly.
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