TPO26 (integrated)

According to both the professor and to the text, Zebra mussel a freshwater shellfish is a native Eastern Europe, which significantly spread to parts of North America due to Human transportation system. The professor asserts that they are not a serious threat to the freshwater fish in North America, and there are ways to control their population. However the text believes that their invasion is unstoppable.

First, the professor contends that in order to stop Zebra mussel spreading through the water that the ships carry to balance their cargo, there should be a new regulations that force the ships to empty this water into the oceans, in order for the salty water to be able to kill any Zebra mussel fishes that was carried with the ships. This could be a very significant step to control Zebra mussel spreading. However, the text believes that the way the Zebra mussel spread pattern in the past predict that they will colonize all of North America.

Second, the professor refutes the point that the Zebra mussel does not have a predator. He added that there were a new adaptations happened to the equator birds to change their diet to start feeding on the Zebra mussel instead. Thus it is not likely for Zebra mussel to control the new habitat. On the other hand, the text assures that because of lack of predator to Zebra mussel and it fast ability to adapt to variety of condition, this fish will dominate the new habitats.

Finally, the professor attests to the fact that there will be reduction in fish population because of zebra mussel competing with other fish who feed on plankton. He goes further to explain that because zebra mussel produce a neutron while feeding, therefor, there will be an increase in the bottom fish population. However the text asserts that the decline in overall fish population will happen because all fish will fight for food sources.