Invasion of the Clams!!

Sept. 22, 2010 - PRLog -- The beaches of Tahoe were considered clean and pure and were practically spotless without a blemish in sight, but over the past decade now it has been invaded by clams and the water is a washed with an algae discolour especially in the summer. Evidence of the Clams first started with a few isolated dead shells almost a decade ago, but now the population of the Asian clam has grown and is expanding into the Sierra reservoir.

It is said that these Asian clams can produce up to 2,000 juveniles a day, and for a whole lifetime it goes up to 100,000 - especially as they don't need a mate to fertile and can do it themselves.  Although, it has to be said that the juveniles are only 1 mm long and take a few years to reach maturity when they are only a centimetre, while adult Asian Clams can be 5 cm long.  The clams feed on Phytoplankton, which is commonly known as Algae, and you could even say it's just the circle of life, as the Clam's waste helps the Algae to grow. In the past two years the volume of the clams haves shifted 100 fold. These Clams can be found mainly in Asia but you can also find them various other parts of the world such as Europe and other parts of America.

The Clam originally comes from the Asian countries Russia, Thailand, the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan. You can also find them in some Africa. The shells are distinguished by their yellow and green shell which disguises them, making them look like tiny little pebbles so that larger creatures don't try to harm them.

It has to be said though thanks to the Clams, Lake Tahoe's has seem a boom in bright green Algae.  Also researchers found that the climate has changed a bit and actually made the lakes around the area a warmer place: results have shown that the water has risen to twice than the usual air temperature. But it is also said that warmer the temperature gets then the more you're going to see of the Clams, as these are a good temperature for them and the Algae will supply them.

But it shouldn't affect those in their Lake Tahoe vacation rentals as there are more things to do than go to the beach. You could be hitting the slopes at the beautiful mountain resorts or you could go boating and possible try your luck at fishing. How about you take a cruise on the M.S Dixie II Sunset Dinner Cruise where you and the family will be able to have dinner under the beautiful sunset with the mountains in the background?

These Clams have grown to become an annoyance, bordering on a problem, that is looking to spread though America over time - that is if the water doesn't increase in temperature. It's a funny thought, as they were thought to be unable to reproduce in the cold Northern waters. Who knows what will happen in the years to come? Let's just hope the people that live at doesn't become a shelled community...












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