Invasive Mussels Threaten Great Lakes Whitefish With Local Extinction Within 5 Years

Invasive zebra and quagga mussels have significantly altered the Great Lakes ecosystem over recent years. Although the mussels improved water clarity, they did so by consuming the microscopic organisms that juvenile lake whitefish rely on for survival. This disruption to the food chain has led to a sharp decline in whitefish populations across the region. Scientists now warn that the species could disappear from certain parts of the Great Lakes within as little as five years.