Post-Establishment Spread in Large-scale Invasions: Dispersal Mechanisms of the Zebra Mussel Dreissena Polymorpha

Although numerous reports have documented the"patterns of spread" of nonindigenous species, wehave virtually no detailed studies regarding the mechanismsof spread for any large-scale invasion. The zebramussel offers a unique opportunity to dissect outthe importance of different mechanisms because theinvasion is proceeding at a rapid, but tractable, pace.The pattern of spread has been relatively well documenteddue to the zebra mussel's conspicuous natureand economic importance. Moreover, this invasion islimited to aquatic environments, which have discreteboundaries and well-defined connections. This attributepermits clear distinctions between gradual "diffusive"spread (e.g., within a lake), "advective" spread (e.g.,within a watershed), and "saltatory" jumps in distribution(e.g., between watersheds). In this paper we reviewthe likely mechanisms by which the zebra mussel(Dreissena spp.) is spreading through North America.

Publisher - Ecological Society of America

Subjects - Non-indigenous Aquatic Species (NAS); Mollusk, Zebra Mussel, Dreissena polymorpha

Collection: Section 4: Aquatic Life (2012)

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Citation: Johnson LE, Carlton JT. 1996. Post-Establishment Spread in Large-scale Invasions: Dispersal Mechanisms of the Zebra Mussel Dreissena Polymorpha. Ecology; 77(6):1686-1690 http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2265774