Final answer:
Zebra mussels, invasive species often spread through ballast water from ships, cause ecological and economic damage by disrupting ecosystems and clogging infrastructure. Efforts are ongoing to manage their spread, including guidelines for ships and public awareness for watercraft users.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zebra mussels are indeed invasive species that have been introduced into ecosystems where they are not native, causing significant ecological and economic damage. This species, native to the lakes of southern Russia and Ukraine, was unintentionally introduced to other parts of the world, including the Great Lakes in North America. The introduction often occurs via ballast water that ships take in at one port and release in another, transporting the mussels and other aquatic organisms across waters.
The consequences of zebra mussel infestation are varied. They adhere to surfaces, clogging water pipes and affecting the operation of power plants and water filtration systems, which leads to substantial economic costs. Ecologically, they disrupt local ecosystems by outcompeting native mussel species for food and habitat, changing water clarity and chemistry, and altering the food web, sometimes leading to the decline or extinction of native species.
To mitigate the problem and prevent further spread, various strategies have been put in place, including voluntary guidelines for ships to manage ballast water and public awareness campaigns to keep recreational watercraft from transferring these mussels to new habitats. While these measures have helped, the control and prevention of zebra mussel spread remain ongoing challenges.