Zebra mussels, known for doing great economic and ecological harm, are a menace throughout North America. Getting rid of them—along with other invasives like carp, Eurasian watermilfoil, and curly-leaf pondweed—is one of the top priorities of the U of M’s Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC), which is funded in part by gifts from donors.

Michael McCartney, research assistant professor at MAISRC, is studying zebra mussels’ spread in Minnesota. Using genetic technology, he’s learning whether “super-spreader” lakes like Mille Lacs and Minnetonka are the origins of new lake infestations or whether other sources, such as the Mississippi River, are infesting inland lakes. By discovering more about this invasive species, scientists hope to better control its spread.

Your gifts help rid Minnesota water of zebra mussels and other invasive species.