Are invading quagga mussels contributing to healthier beaches?
From: greatlakesnow.org
Just as the beach season begins, a new study from Michigan State University says an aquatic invasive species that has taken over Lake Michigan has contributed to improved water quality at beaches on the lake.
The aquatic invader is the quagga mussel and there are an estimated 750-950 trillion of them in Lake Michigan. Because they feed on phytoplankton, a major food source for fish, water clarity has increased dramatically since their arrival, according to the researchers.