Aquatic Invertebrate Exotic Species a potential threat to many public land waters

New Zealand mud snail web site

The New Zealand mud snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, is an exotic aquatic snail that is rapidly spreading throughout the western United States. Like many exotic species, they can out compete native fauna and they have the potential to become the dominant member of the community. In sections of the Madison River in Yellowstone National Park, populations have been observed to reach densities greater than 100,000/m2 and they comprise over 95% of the invertebrate biomass in some river sections. At these high population densities they can eliminate many native invertebrates and they have the potential to effect fish populations, which may not utilize them as a food source. The many isolated and valuable springs that occur across BLM lands are ideal candidates for invasion. These springs also contain many endemic invertebrates that would be threatened by this invasive species.

Gastropoda Nuisance Species

Chinese mystery snail Viviparidae Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata	Description: large, operculum, globose Habitats: lentic warm spring ponds Locations: warm springs
Chinese apple snail Ampullariidae Pomacea bridgesi	Description: large, operculum, globose, striped Habitats: Locations: lentic, slow lotic, warm springs
Red-rimmed melanoides Thiaridae Melanoides tuberculata	Description: large,operculum, globose Habitats: lentic, warm spring ponds Locations: warm springs

Bivalvia Nuisance Species
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/mollusks/

Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea	Description: shells are thick, oval, and heart-shaped on their hinge edge; concentric striae feel rough; may be yellow, green, or brown; length to 50 mm Habitats: lentic and lotic, mixed mud and sand Locations:
Zebra mussel Dreissenidae Dreissena polymorpha	Description: distinct triangular shape; generally striped; byssal attachment threads; shell length to 50 mm Habitats: lentic and lotic Locations: widespread east of the 100th meridian http://nas.er.usgs.gov/zebra.mussel/

Other Nuisance Species
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/nas/nas.htm

Zooplankton, Daphniidae Daphniidae Daphnia lumholtzi

Description: large spined cap Habitats: lakes, reservoirs Locations: Willard Bay , Utah

Invasive nuisance species can have significant ecological and economic impacts. If you find organisms that match the above descriptions or other organisms that are unfamiliar to you, collect them if possible and tell a local government or university biologist about your findings.