The spread of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas)) in Belarus starts in the early XIX century. By the end of 1999, 114 (20%) of 553 studied Belarusian lakes are occupied by Dreissena. The prediction on zebra mussel spread in Belarus based on calcium concentration, total mineralization and pH of lake water was developed and checked in 1997-1999. Dreissena were found in 25 lakes which were determined as suitable for them by prediction, and not found in 2 lakes identified as unsuitable for existence. [Burlakova LE (1990) The spread of Dreissena in Belarus. In: Proceedings of the International Conference Results and future of Aquatic Ecology Research , 25-26 November 1999, Minsk, p 30-34. Belarusian State University Press, Minsk (in Russian with English summary)]

The invasion of the freshwaters of Belarus by the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas), began at least 200 years ago by the opening of shipping canals linking the Black Sea and Baltic Sea drainage basins. However, zebra mussels have invaded only 93 (16.8%) of 553 studied lakes; at least 20 of these lakes were invaded within in the past 30 years. Zebra mussels were found disproportionately in lakes that were mesotrophic, larger, and had some commercial fishing. Although larger lakes have more intensive fisheries with larger catches, the intensity of the fishery and average catch did not affect the probability of zebra mussel invasion. Zebra mussels were not found in dystrophic lakes (10% of the lakes studied), probably due to their low pH and calcium content. Zebra mussels became locally extinct in one lake due to anthropogenic eutrophication and pollution. Many ecologically suitable lakes have yet to be invaded, which suggests that natural vectors of overland dispersal, e.g., waterfowl, have been ineffective in Belarus. Thus, future spread of this species will continue to depend on human activities such as commercial fishing. [Karatayev AY, Burlakova LE, Padilla DK and Johnson LE (2003) Patterns of spread of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas)): the continuing invasion of Belarusian lakes. Biological Invasions 5(3): 213-221]

The main goal of this study was to assess the hydrobiological parameters of Lake Lepelskoe (Belarus) under conditions of considerable increase of water level. The samples of plankton (zoo-, phyto-) and macrozoobenthos were collected in 1971, and then in 1981-1984. Obtained data did not reveal any significant changes in structure and abundance of studied communities after increase of water level. Invasive Ponto-Caspian mollusc Lithoglyphus [naticoides] is mentioned as common representative of benthos. [Mitrakhovich PA, Karatayev AY, Vezhnovets GG and Samoilenko VM (1987) Plankton and benthos of Lake Lepelskoe. Vestnik BGU. Ser. 2. Chim. Biol. Geogr. 3: 36-41 (in Russian)]

The aim of this study was to reveal the taxonomic diversity of algae that colonize the shells of zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, in mesotrophic Lake Naroch (Belarus). In total, 155 algal species have been identified in collected samples, with Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta and Cyanophyta being the most common divisions. The species richness of phytoperiphyton from Dreissena shells appeared to be much higher than that of phytoplankton (30 species found). Taxonomic diversity of the phytoperiphyton was found to significantly decline with depth, which we explain by decreasing sun irradiance. In contrast to depth, the length of Dreissena shells did not demonstrate any relationships with the composition of algal communities. [Makarevich TA, Mastitsky SE, Savich IV (2008) Phytoperiphyton on the shells of Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas) in Lake Naroch, Aquatic Invasions, In Press]

This paper reviews the international literature on the natural enemies of Dreissena spp. and discusses the biology and ecology of organisms known to be involved in their predation (176 species), parasitism (34 species), and competitive exclusion (10 species). Research on natural enemies, both in Europe and North America, has focused on predators, particularly birds (36 species) and fish (15 and 38 species eating veligers and attached mussels, respectively). Other field-documented predation includes consumption of pelagic larvae by copepods and coelenterates, and consumption of attached mussels by leeches, crabs, crayfish, and rodents. Cannibalism of veligers by adult zebra mussels has also been reported. Ciliates and trematodes are the most commonly reported obligate parasites, with occasional records of suspected bacterial or ascetosporan infection. Mites, nematodes, leeches, chironomids, and oligochaetes have been observed to be associated symbiotically within the mantle cavity, but with few to no adverse effects. Organisms capable of competitively displacing zebra mussels from hard substrates include sponges, amphipods, algae, bryozoans, hydrozoan coelenterates, and other bivalve species (including interspecific competition among Dreissena spp.). Although the vast majority of the organisms that are natural enemies in Europe are not present in North America, ecologically similar species do exist on this continent, and zebra mussels represent a novel and abundant organism for these native predators, parasites, and ecological competitors - the new natural enemies of Dreissena. However, the idea that these organisms could eliminate zebra mussel populations, even in limited areas of North America, is far more hopeful than realistic. As in Europe, there will likely be isolated reports of major impacts by natural enemies, and on the whole we will likely see a cumulative effect of a suite of enemies having a constant, but limited, role in suppressing zebra mussel populations. [Molloy DP, Karatayev AY, Burlakova LE, Kurandina DP and Laruelle L (1997) Natural enemies of zebra mussels: predators, parasites and ecological competitors. Reviews in Fisheries Sciences 5(1): 27-97]