New Zealand Mudsnail
Monitoring and Detection
The New Zealand mudsnail (NZMS) (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) are very small mollusks (size up to 6mm) that are native to New Zealand and its adjacent islands. They are tolerant of many aquatic conditions, and over the past 150 years have spread to three continents including North America. Locally, P. antipodarum were found in Lake Ontario off Wilson, NY (1991), Rochester, NY (2003) and Lake Erie off Erie, PA (2005). This invader can be transported by anglers in fishing gear, watercraft, and trailers, cargo ship ballast water, and through dredging, the aquatic trade, stocking, and by fish consumption.
In response to these findings, the LGLFRO plans to conduct monitoring and detection benthic surveys for P. antipodarum in near shore waters of Lake Ontario, as well as some of its tributaries. Public outreach efforts will be made to increase awareness and potential reporting of this invader by anglers and boaters during the summer of 2007.
For more information on New Zealand Mudsnail and the development of a National Management and Control plan:
- http://www.anstaskforce.gov/Documents/NZMS_M&C_Draft_8-06.pdf (Draft National Management and Control Plan)
- http://www.anstaskforce.gov (Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force)
- http://www.fs.fed.us/invasivespecies/documents/Aquatic_is_prevention.pdf (Preventing Accidental Introductions of Freshwater Invasive Species)
- http://www.esg.montana.edu/aim/mollusca/nzms/index.html (Montana State University New Zealand Mudsnails in the Western USA)
- http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/ansrp/potamopyrgus_antipodarum.pdf ( US Army Corps of Engineers fact sheet)
- http://www.esg.montana.edu/aim/mollusca/nzms/NZMSReport03.pdf (Controlling the Spread of New Zealand Mudsnails on Wading Gear)
