The Effect of Environmental Calcium Concentrations on Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) Shell Composition

Authors

Marty Roers, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

1993

Disciplines

Biology

Advisor

Marianna Wood

Abstract

The calcium content of zebra mussel shells from eight different natural and experimental waters was analyzed. Large control Lake Superior shells have less calcium compared to large shells from the other Great Lakes. The shells' calcium content was dependent upon the environmental calcium level and the length of the growth period spent at each condition. An inverse relationship exists between the size and calcium content of zebra mussel shells. The calcium compounds (CaCO₃ or CaCl₂) in experimentally hardened water had no effect on shell composition.

Copyright Statement

Available by permission of the author. Reproduction or retransmission of this material in any form is prohibited without expressed written permission of the author.

Recommended Citation

Roers, Marty, "The Effect of Environmental Calcium Concentrations on Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) Shell Composition" (1993). Honors Theses, 1963-2015. 459.
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/honors_theses/459