Asian Clams, Corbicula fluminea, blooms of bright green algae

[Never Puke]

In the last few years Asian clams have spread to many streams and lakes in north NJ. I was at a lake yesterday where they have invaded the lake ove the past 4 years and the bright green algae bloom taking over the lake that is normaly clear at this time of year. Las week I was in a stream that feeds into the Rockaway river, Stoney Brook in boonton TWP and there were millions of the clams just under the surface of the sand and gravel. I guess we can thank Hurricane Irene for spreading them last fall to many more places faster.

Right after reaching maturity these clams produce eggs, followed by sperm. Even later, they produce eggs and sperm simultaneously. They can self-fertilize, and release up to 2,000 juveniles per day, and more than 100,000 in a lifetime. Juveniles are only 1 mm long when discharged, and take one to four years to reach maturity. At this time they are about one centimeter long. Adults can reach a length of about 5 cm

Waste from the clams, in turn, has helped trigger blooms of bright green algae".[
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Co...a_fluminea.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbicula_fluminea