Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Chinese pond mussel infestation of the Danube in Rousse

Photo: BGNES

The huge mussels, reaching 22 to 26 cms. in size which appeared along the bank of the Danube in Rousse about a fortnight ago, have been proved to be an invasive mussel species from China, Radio Varna reports.

Biodiversity and ecosystems experts from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences say they are Chinese pond mussels. They were first spotted in the Danube in 2005 but since then, the population of the species has exploded.

The Chinese pond mussels are not a direct threat to the other animal species but they do attack their direct Bulgarian rivals – two species of pond mussels – by reducing their feed resources. The invasion was first noticed in the first half of August when the temperature of the water rose. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

38,000 hectares of Bulgarian land have been scorched by wildfires since the beginning of 2024

Bulgaria is the EU member state most affected by forest fires since the beginning of 2024, the Representation of the European Commission in Sofia said on Facebook.  According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), over 38 000..

published on 8/7/24 1:33 PM

Caretaker prime minister reports on the work of the government

There is a high probability that this would be the last regular meeting of the Council of Ministers, caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev said at the beginning of the meeting. He wished to report on the activities of the..

published on 8/7/24 12:44 PM
Mariya Gabriel

Mariya Gabriel could replace Mircea Geoană as NATO Deputy Secretary General

Former Bulgarian European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel could become the new NATO Deputy Secretary General. The information about the candidacy has been confirmed by Sofia and Brussels, BGNES reported.  According to Bulgarian media,..

updated on 8/7/24 11:41 AM