zabra mussels pump water through their gills to filter out particles of food (primarily phytoplankton).
an unwelcome newcomer zebra mussels can cling to any hard surface - including native mussels and other shelled animals.
these animal die because they can't feed. zebra mussels can upset food webs in other ways, too.
these filter feeders pump water through their gills and strain out microscopic organisms called plankton .
zebra mussels can quickly clear out huge bodies of water , removing food for the native invertebrates and small fish.
zebra mussels can also affect humans -and cause millions of dollars in damage .
the mssels clog water pipes to businesses and power plants.
they damage boats, docks ,buoys,and other structures.
and their shells wash up huge numbers on beaches.