How Golden Mussels are conquering the Golden State

Map of golden mussel observations through time. Data sources: CDFW and iNaturalist Since its initial appearance in California in October 2024, the golden mussel, Limnoperna fortunei, has accomplished Big Things. These little mussels, native to the Pearl River Delta in China, have taken off from their initial foothold in Stockton to spread all the way south to San Diego, and have been spreading northward as well in recent months. It has been an extreme couple years for CA invasion science! A map of their appearances and spread through South America. Source As I described in my previous blog, golden mussels have spread from China to Japan, Argentina, and Brazil before appearing here. Previous researchers noted that California represented a great environment for them to settle, with conditions pretty similar to the Rio De La Plata Estuary in Argentina and Uruguay, where they first invaded South America in 1991, spreading up through the rivers attached to ships until they reached Brazil.…