The distribution and spread of quagga mussels in perialpine lakes north of the Alps

New evidence on the quagga mussel spread south to the Alps from an eDNA approach

“…). Due to proximity and trade-tourism, the spread of this invasive dreissenid to other subalpine lakes is expected.Consistent with what happened in perialpine lakes north of the Alps(Haltiner et al 2022) and in the Great Lakes of North America), the population of quagga mussel in lakes Maggiore and Lugano will probably grow and replace the zebra mussel during the next years, with potentially signi cant consequences for the ecosystem and the services provided. For example, dreissenid mussels have been associated with increases in harmful cyanobacteria blooms due to selective ltering(Vanderploeg et al 2013), which may have important water quality implications.…”

“…boats, watersports equipment, and shing gear). In Lake Constance, quagga mussels spread east to west across the littoral zone and replaced zebra mussels within one year (Haltiner et al 2022).…”

“…Moreover, the quagga mussel can colonize hard and soft substrates in deep waters, down to 200 m (Nalepa et al 2014), causing economically-impactful biofouling of water pipes and other infrastructure (Connelly et al 2007). After the rst observation in the Rhine River, the quagga mussel was discovered in Lake Geneva in 2015 and in Lake Constance in 2016 (Haltiner et al 2022). Soon after, this species spread to other Swiss northern perialpine lakes, likely through human mediated passive transport (e.g.…”

Environmental DNA survey indicates arrival of quagga mussel in Ticino River basin

“…In Europe, after the first observation in the Rhine River in 2006, the quagga mussel was discovered in Lake Geneva in 2015 and in Lake Constance in 2016 (Haltiner et al, 2022). Soon after, this species spread to other Swiss northern perialpine lakes (Haltiner et al, 2022). Recently, it has also been reported from Lake Garda in the southern perialpine region (Salmaso et al, 2022).…”

“…Recently, it has also been reported from Lake Garda in the southern perialpine region (Salmaso et al, 2022). Boat transport is considered the most likely vector of inter-lake spread of quagga mussel (Haltiner et al, 2022;Salmaso et al, 2022). Adult mussels easily attach to boat hulls, whereas larvae can be transported in ballast waters (Dalton and Cottrell, 2013).…”