After establishing in the Great Lakes, what became a major secondary corridor for zebra mussel expansion?
Answer
The Mississippi River basin
Once the zebra mussels gained a secure foothold within the interconnected waters of the Great Lakes basin, their subsequent movement and spread inland were largely governed by natural water pathways. The Mississippi River basin was identified as a primary secondary corridor for this ongoing expansion. The flow of water through this massive river network naturally distributed the microscopic veligers downstream, enabling the infestation to propagate along the entire length of that drainage system.
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