Like all mussels, zebra mussels are filter feeders that feed by removing algae and plankton from the water. Their ability to consume large quantities affects the food chain and ecology of infested water bodies.

One zebra mussel can filter one liter of water per day. This rapid rate can quickly affect the clarity of the body of water. Because sunlight can penetrate farther, aquatic vegetation grows thicker and at deeper depths in the clearer water.

Zebra mussels compete with native mussel species for space and food. Some native species have become threatened with extinction as a result of this invader.

These mussels reproduce rapidly to reach vast numbers. Their accumulated shells can make it dangerous to walk along the beach barefoot.

Because they attach to anything solid, zebra mussels will coat underwater surfaces, including ship hulls and intake pipes. Over $1 million are spent each year to remove zebra mussels from water intake pipes.