What is the direct physical consequence observed in a water body due to the hyper-efficient feeding of zebra mussel colonies?
Answer
Increased water clarity
The relentless, high-volume filtering performed by dense populations of zebra mussels results in a dramatic alteration of the water's physical appearance. By continuously removing suspended microscopic particles—namely phytoplankton and detritus—from the water column, they drastically reduce the turbidity. This removal of floating matter leads directly to significantly increased water clarity. While this may superficially appear beneficial for human recreational use, this clarity is a critical indicator of severe ecological disruption because it signifies the removal of the base nutritional energy that typically sustains the pelagic food web.
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