MONITORING

Numerous federal, state, tribal and academic institutions are actively monitoring for zebra and quagga mussels (i.e., invasive mussels) and other nonnative species in a variety of ways. The information and maps contained within this site are intended to provide an up to date synopsis of who is monitoring for what species, where, how and when. This information can help managers and researchers to determine if the current level of monitoring is sufficient, or whether efforts should be redirected to better fulfill various needs. 

 

 

Quagga and Zebra Mussel Monitoring in the Pacific Northwest States and Canadian Provinces:

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2017 - 2023 Monitoring Data

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Columbia River Basin Monitoring Forum

Dreissenid Mussel Monitoring Forum Workshop, Portland Oregon (June 5-6, 2018)

Sampling Considerations for Columbia River Basin Storage Reservoirs (2019)

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Quagga/Zebra Mussel Sampling Methods Used by Western Organizations

Dreissenid Mussel Sampling and Monitoring Protocol (Western Regional Panel, September 2020)

Procedures for conducting underwater searches for invasive mussels (Dreissena sp.) (US Dept Interior, US Geological Survey 2010)

 

Dreissenid Mussel Laboratories
 

Laboratory Standards for Dreissena Veliger Analysis (Western Regional Panel, September 2020)

2024 Update: Spreadsheet of laboratories in the United States and Canada that process dreissenid samples

NEW: Searchable table of Laboratories in the US and Canada that process dreissenid samples

A Comprehensive Report on the Workshops "Dreissena Early Detection Best Practices" and "Dreissena Early Detection Laboratory Standards"

 

Quagga/Zebra Mussel Field and Laboratory Protocols

 

Amistad National Recreation Area

• Standard Operating Procedure for Decontamination and Disinfection

• Standard Operating Procedure for Dreissenid Veliger Sampling with Plankton Tows for qPCR
   

Arizona

• Quagga Mussel Sampling Procedures and Sample Collection Methods for PCR (Arizona Game and Fish Department)

• Quagga Mussel Sampling Methods (Arizona Game and Fish Department)
   

British Columbia

• British Columbia Dreissenid Mussel Lake Monitoring Field Protocol (2018)
   

Bureau of Reclamation

• Field SOP: Field Sampling Methods for Invasive Mussel Early Detection (BOR 2022)

• Lab SOP: Preparation and Analysis of Water Samples for Dreissenid Mussel Veliger Detection: Microscopy (BOR 2020)

• Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) for the Early Detection of Invasive Mussel eDNA  (BOR 2022)

 

California

• Quagga/Zebra Mussel Surface Survey Protocol

• Quagga/Zebra Mussel Artificial Substrate Protocol

• Quagga/Zebra Mussel Plankton Tow Protocol
   

Colorado

• Aquatic Nuisance Species Sampling and Monitoring Protocol (Colorado Department of Natural Resources - Colorado Parks and Wildlife) (2016)
   

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

• Environmental Laboratories 2016 Quality Manual (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area) (2016)

• Adult Mussel Standard Operating Procedures (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area) (2016)

• Microscopy Standard Operating Procedures Current Issues (Glean Canyon NRA Environmental Laboratories) (2016)

• Plankton Site Sampling Selection Standard Operating Procedures (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area) (2016)

• Molecular Section Current Standard Operating Procedure Index (Glen Canyon Environmental Laboratory) (2016)

• Prevention of DNA Cross-Contamination Standard Operating Procedures (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area) (2016)
   

Oregon

• Sample Collection Protocols for Dreissenid Mussel Monitoring: Planktonic Larvae, Juveniles, and Adults (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) (2010)
   

Washington [NEW UPDATE - 2024}

• Zebra and quagga mussel monitoring sampling methods videos: WDFW AIS YouTube playlist with all videos 

  • Dissolved Calcium Sampling | Zebra and quagga mussel monitoring sampling methods

  • Water Quality Sampling with Hydrolab | Zebra and quagga mussel monitoring sampling methods

  • Water Quality Sampling with Secchi Disk | Zebra and quagga mussel monitoring sampling methods

  • Benthic Sampling with Ponar Grab Sampler | Zebra and quagga mussel monitoring sampling methods

  • Plankton Tow Sampling | Zebra and quagga mussel monitoring sampling methods

  • eDNA Sampling | Zebra and quagga mussel monitoring sampling methods

  • Artificial Substrates | Zebra and quagga mussel monitoring sampling methods

  • Visual Shoreline Check | Zebra and quagga mussel monitoring sampling methods
     

Wyoming

• Aquatic Invasive Species Sampling and Monitoring Manual (Wyoming Game and Fish Department) (2015)

 

eDNA

• Critical considerations for communicating environmental DNA science (Stein et al. 2023)

• Adoption of environmental DNA in public agency practice.  (Lee et al. 2023)

• The Second National Workshop on Marine eDNA: A workshop to accelerate the incorporation of eDNA science into environmental management applications (Stepien et al. 2022)

• Policy action needed to unlock eDNA potential (Lodge 2022)

• Evaluating the Sensitivity and Reproducibility of Environmental DNA Field Sampling Workflows for Detection of Dreissenid Mussels (Sepulveda et al. 2022)

• Combining sampling gear to optimally inventory species highlights the efficiency of eDNA metabarcoding (Lambert et al. 2022)

• Adding invasive species biosurveillance to the U.S. Geological Survey stream gage network (Sepulveda et al. 2019)

• eDNA Science Advisory Panel: A discussion on eDNA technology use in invasive species management (Montana Invasive Species Council 2018)

• Key findings

• Critical considerations for the application of environmental DNA methods to detect aquatic species (Goldberg et al. 2016)

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Research Associated with Zebra/Quagga Mussel Sampling

• Intact vs. homogenized subsampling: testing impacts of pre-extraction processing of multi-species samples on invasive species detection  (Pagenkopp Lohan et al. 2019)

• Distribution and Density of Zebra Mussels in Four Kansas Reservoirs (Smith et al. 2016)

• Critical considerations for the application of environmental DNA methods to detect aquatic species (Goldberg et al. 2016)

• Comparison of Zebra Mussel Veliger Laboratory Enumeration and Sampling Techniques (Holoubek et al. 2014)

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