Okanangans Most Unwanted
Eurasian Water Milfoil and Quagga Mussel
Invasive Spiecies
Eurasain Water Milfoil
Physiology
Myriophllum spicatum
Flowers: Yellow four leaf flowers that emerge 5-10 cm above the water.
Stems: Reddish brown, long , thin, branching stem, typically 1-4 meters long, but can grow up to 10 meters.
Leaves: Bright green, feathery, about 3 cm long. There is usually12+ segments on each side.
Quagga Mussel
History and Negative Effects.
Eurasian milfoil was first seen in the Okanagan in the 1940's. By 1944 it was fully established. Eurasian Water Milfoil is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It was first introduced to the United states as a decoration for aquariums, it is assumed that the contents of the aquarium were dumped into a near by pond, traveling through rivers and other water ways to B.C.
Eurasian water Milfoil naturally spreads through under ground runners , but accidental cuttings can start new plants when transported else where. This combination makes it easy to thrive. With such a growing number of plants, they the suffocate other organisms, by using all the under water air, native or not.
Physiology
Dreissena bugensis
Shape: three sided, rounded top, flat bottom.
Color and shell: black and white zig-zags, and\or stripes.
History and Negitive Effects
A female quagga mussel will realese at least
100 000 will make it to adulthood. At there youngest stage they are the size of a grain if sand, and can be easily transported accidentally elsewhere.
Some Negative affects are:
-toxic algae
-razor sharp shells
-clogging pipes
-clogging water filtering systems
-lack of air for other organisms
-lack of habitat
Action
To stop Quagga Mussels from further destroying our native ecosystem action has been taken, to stop them from invading. Such as Campaigns like "Don't Move a Mussel" , and if you bring them into Canada, dead or alive there is a 100 000$ fine. To help stop the spread of this invasive mussel you must, clean off all mussels from your boats when traveling, including as much sand as possible, for the Quagga Mussel can be as small as grain of sand.