Marklkofen (dpa/lby) - The heat is likely to have contributed to the mussel death in the Vilstalsee in Lower Bavaria in June. This is the conclusion reached by the Landshut Water Management Office. After finding numerous dead mussels in the reservoir near Marklkofen (Dingolfing-Landau district), the authorities took water, mussel and sediment samples. According to the analysis, the concentrations of pesticides were far below the lethal value for mussels, a spokesman said on Friday. No other foreign substances were found.
Some mussels that were still alive were also examined. These were weakened due to poor nutrition and parasite infestation. The water temperatures of more than 20 degrees in June may have promoted the spread of parasites. A low oxygen concentration was also found at the bottom of the lake. The authority therefore assumes a combination of unfavorable environmental conditions as the cause of the mussel die-off. The mussels were the pond mussel (Anodonta cygnea).
