Burrowing saves Lake Erie clams

Abstract

Freshwater unionid clams in North America have been virtually eliminated from waters that are colonized by zebra mussels. Near total mortality has been reported in western Lake Erie^1,2,3,4, but we have now discovered a large population of native clams in a Lake Erie wetland that shows little sign of infestation. Field observations and laboratory experiments show that warm summer water temperatures and soft, silt-clay sediments trigger burrowing by clams. This discourages infestation and physically removes any attached zebra mussels.