Quagga Mussel

The Quagga mussel is an efficinet water filterer, meaning that they can remove substantial amounts of phytoplankton from the water. By removing the phytoplankton, the Quagga mussel in turn decreases the food source for zooplankton, in turn altering the food web.. As waste decomposes, oxygen is used up, and the pH of the water becomes very acidic and toxic byproducts are produced. In addition, the Quagga mussel accumulates organic pollutants within their tissues to levels higher than 300,000 times greater than concentrations in the water environment. which can be passed up the food chain, therefore increasing all of the wildlife to the exposure of the organic pollutants of other native freshwater mussels. The Quagga mussel 's ability to quickly colonize hard surfaces causes serious economic problems.

These organisms can clog water intake structures, like pipes and screens, therefore reducing pumping the capabilities for power and water treatment plants which costs the industries, companies, and local communities. Recreation-based industries and activities have also been impacted; docks, breakwalls, buoys, boats and beaches have all been heavily colonized. It causes many of the same problems as the equally invasive zebra mussel of Russia. In January 2007, the Quagga mussel was discovered at a marina in the Nevada portion of Lake Mead, and two other lakes on the Colorado River, Lake Mohave and Lake Havasu. In 2008 the threat of the Quagga mussel being introduced at Lake Casitas and Westlake Lake in California from persoanl boats resulted in the lakes banning the use of all outside boats.

As of March 2008, other lakes such as Castaic and Lake Cachuma are considering bans of a similar nature. Due to of all the environmental and economic devastation that the Quagga mussel has caused, it has caught the attention of Marrone BioInnovations to develop a control prouduct that will be eco-friendly, yet to control and dimish, if not erradicate the population of the Quagga mussel . Several new products are currently in the development process at Marrone BioInnovations for organic and conventional uses, as well as for other uses. One is a biopesticide currently that is undergoing field trials called Zequanox that controls the invasive Quagga mussel in fresh waterways. All Marrone BioInnovations' biopesticides are the product of this company's constant perseverance to discover and develop effective and environmentally responsible solutions to a variety of pest problems in multiple markets worldwide.