Jc. Brazner et Da. Jensen, Zebra mussel [Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas)] colonization of rusty crayfish [Orconectes rusticus (Girard)] in Green Bay, Lake Michigan, AM MIDL NAT, 143(1), 2000, pp. 250-256
In August 1995 six rusty crayfish (Orconectes, rusticus) colonized with zeb
ra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were captured in small-meshed fyke-nets s
et as part of a fish sampling effort at Peter's Marsh and Long-Tail Point W
estland in lower Green Bay. The number of mussels per crayfish ranged from
16 to 431 and the length of the zebra mussels ranged from 1.2 to 12.0 mm wi
th a mean of 3.6 mm. Mussels colonized virtually all areas of the crayfish
bodies but the chelate, telson and uropods and thorax were most heavily col
onized. Although it is possible that zebra mussels may have positive effect
s on crayfish populations through associated effects on water clarity, auto
troph and invertebrate production, we are concerned that energetic costs or
physical constraints caused by attached zebra mussels mal be detrimental t
o crayfish in the Great Lakes.