Zebra Mussel Prop
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This is a model of a zebra mussel that can be re-scaled to fit its real-life size (<4cm) or blown up for demonstrations.
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Model information
- Source
- Printables
- Category
- Other 3D Objects for Learning
- License
- Creative Commons — Public Domain
Biology
Zebra mussels are an exotic invasive species present in many watercourses across North America. They are originally from Eastern Europe and are suspected to have been transported into the Great Lakes via ship ballast. A single female is thought to lay more than a million eggs in a season.
Spread
These pesky creatures have spread across much of North America, primarily in their microscopic larval (veliger) stage by hitching a ride on motorized and unmotorized watercrafts (including kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, etc.) as well as through fishing gear and other aquatic equipment.
The best method to reduce their spread is to wash watercraft and equipment in hot water (ideally above 60° C) using high pressure. It is important to clean the inside of boat motors, ballasts and any other areas where water can pool. Boat washing stations are not common in many areas. In such cases, it is recommended to Clean the watercraft and equipment to the best of your abilities, Drain any reservoirs and let the watercraft/equipment Dry for 7 to 10 days before bringing them into a different watercourse. It is good practice not to use equipment in multiple watercourses within a short period of time to avoid spreading invasive species.
Use Case
This model was created for an educational event. They were printed in various sizes and stuck onto a boat to show how hard they can be to see, even in their adult stages. This isn't usually how they are transported, but it was a fun activity that helped participants learn to identify them visually.
Printing
The models in the image are printed at a variety of sizes. Zebra mussels are smaller than 4cm and are most often seen around 1.5 - 2.0 cm in length. I used a brown sharpie marker to create the typical zebra-striped pattern of the mussels.
The models pictured above were printed in FDM, the layer lines actually work very well to simulate the growth rings on real mussels. I sliced the model in half using Prusa Slicer to create two flat surfaces, which were later glued together using cyanoacrylate glue.