Mussels, is it Government BS

[dubob]

[quote Therapist]While possible for mussels to be transported by water fowl, the report seems to indicate that it is not likely.[/quote]
[size 4][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Here is another quote taken from the actual Carlton and Johnson report of 1993:[/#800000][/font][/size]

However, the transport by aquatic birds or other aquatic animals (e.g., turtles, muskrats) is the only likely natural mechanism for colonizing upstream areas, maintaining populations in fast-moving lotic systems lacking upstream source populations, or dispersing overland.

[size 4][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Again, it is likely and it is happening; but it is happening at a vastly smaller rate than dispersion from watercraft. But to suggest or flatly state that waterfowl play no part is false.[/#800000][/font][/size]
[quote Therapist]I would also think that most of that kind of infestation would be North and South as the migratory routes of these birds are in those directions, not East and West, which is what is happening now. Some one more informed on migratory routes can clarify this, but we are seeing them go East and West faster than North and South !!!![/quote]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 4]The dispersion from waterfowl does not occur as a result of long flight migration. It occurs as a result of very short flights between adjacent watersheds. If you care to read a little further, here is a link to the Carlton and Johnson analysis from 1993:[/size][/#800000][/font] [url "http://www.sgnis.org/publicat/papers/lade.pdf"][#800080][font "Times New Roman"]POST-ESTABLISHMENT SPREAD IN LARGE-SCALE INVASIONS:[/font][/#800080][/url]
[url "http://www.sgnis.org/publicat/papers/lade.pdf"][#800080][font "Times New Roman"]DISPERSAL MECHANISMS OF THE ZEBRA MUSSEL[/font][/#800080][/url]
[url "http://www.sgnis.org/publicat/papers/lade.pdf"][font "Times New Roman"][#800080]DREISSENA POLYMORPHA’[/#800080][/font][/url]
[size 4][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]There is scientific data available to anybody who cares to research it and read it that waterfowl dispersion does occur and is therefore a factor not to be disregarded. Is it a minor factor in the overall picture? Absolutely yes. But it is a factor and those that do not believe this are not doing their homework.
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