By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
A cutting-edge underwater robot was tested under the frozen surface of Lake Massawippi on March 6 in an effort to better understand and combat the spread of invasive zebra mussels. The trial, conducted by conservation group Bleu Massawippi in collaboration with robotics company Robonotic, marked a significant step in the fight against the species, which has been threatening Quebec’s waterways.
Laurence Renaud-Langevin, director of Bleu Massawippi, was on-site overseeing the first real-world test of the technology. “It was the first time we tried the machine in real conditions, outside of the lab,” she said. The initiative served a dual purpose: not only testing the robotic system but also gathering crucial winter data on the state of zebra mussels in the lake.
Zebra mussels are known to disrupt aquatic ecosystems by outcompeting native species and clogging infrastructure. Understanding their behaviour during winter could provide new insights into controlling their spread. “We had a gap for winter data, so we were trying to collect that as well,” Renaud-Langevin explained. By comparing this data with previous studies, researchers hope to confirm whether existing models accurately reflect conditions in Lake Massawippi. “Sometimes there’s a difference between what it should be or should look like and how the zebra mussels actually evolve,” she added.
The uniqueness of Lake Massawippi itself is another factor in the study. “It’s a peculiar lake compared to others,” Renaud-Langevin noted, adding that the mussels were expected to be in a dormant state during the winter. If this is confirmed, it could open the door to targeted eradication strategies. “If they’re actually sleeping, maybe we can use different techniques—like freezing them on the spot,” she said. The winter setting also meant fewer competing species were present, allowing researchers to focus directly on the invasive mussels.
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