Disintegration of Zebra Mussels in a Life Force Energy-Supported Ecosystem

Many aquatic ecosystems have been destabilized by the release into the water of excessive agricultural and industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and animal and human waste. Adverse ecological responses commonly include the overgrowth of filamentous algae, and toxic cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae). Ecosystems can potentially adapt to disruptions of the customarily utilized functional pathways by resorting to less energy-efficient pathways (Nature’s allostasis). Adaptability is limited, however, when the required additional energy is unavailable. Ecological disruptions can, however, be potentially overcome by increasing the water’s levels of a proposed life force termed KELEA, an synonym for Kinetic Energy Limiting Electrostatic Attraction. Kiko technology comprises pulverized volcanic material formed into pellets, which are repeatedly heated to near melting point temperatures and slowly cooled over several consecutive days. Kiko pellets were successfully used with biochar and a mineral water conditioner to suppress the growth of cyanobacteria in Spirit Lake, Iowa. With other indications of a more complete restoration of the lake’s ecosystem, many of the lake’s zebra mussels have disintegrated. Prior efforts at eradication of invasive zebra mussels from the upper Midwest regions of the United States have been unsuccessful. Kiko and related life force-enhancing technologies warrant testing in other cyanobacteria and zebra mussel-contaminated waterways.

Keywords:Invasive species; Nature’s allostasis; KELEA; Kiko; cyanobacteria; Blue-green algae; Pollution; Biochar; lowa; Spirit Lake; Great Lakes; Bechamp-Pasteur

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are native to the Caspian Sea and Black Sea south of Russia and Ukraine [1]. They had spread to other parts of Europe in the 19th century as an invasive species. Zebra mussels were first identified in the United States in 1988, presumably being carried in the ballast water of international shipping [1]. Zebra mussels are now prevalent in most of the inland lakes and rivers in the upper Midwest region of the United States. Indeed, in 2023, it was estimated that the Great Lakes alone had 750 trillion zebra mussels, with further continuing spread well beyond the Midwest [2-3]. Zebra mussels cause ecological damage primarily as secondary consequences of i) their consuming large numbers of phytoplankton and certain micro-invertebrates [4], ii) physically obstructing the inlets and outlets of metal pipes [5], and iii) structurally weakening support structures [6]. Unless abated, the estimated annual cost to the US economy due to Zebra mussels will exceed a billion dollars.

There have been multiple approaches to reducing the number of zebra mussels. These include using a commercially available ionic copper-generating compound called EarthTec QZ, comprising copper sulfate pentahydrate [7]. Other chemical algaecides include hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), and niclosamide [8]. Biological control has been attempted using Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CL145A bacteria (Zequanox), which are toxic for Zebra mussels [9-10]. Certain crabs and crayfish can devour zebra mussels [11-12]. Genetic control methods to suppress zebra mussels are also under investigation [13]. The physical removal of attached mussels and placing oxygen-impermeable mats onto the contaminated lakebeds (benthic zone) have been used to keep limited areas of lakes and rivers free of zebra mussels [14]. Spirit Lake in Iowa extends to several adjacent backwater areas called sloughs (pronounced slews). Most of the lake’s sloughs, including the approximately 120 acre Sand Bar Slough, have been unfit for swimming, fishing, and even boating for many years because of their offensive odor and widespread growth of filamentous algae and toxin-producing cyanobacteria, commonly called blue-green algae [15].

A foul-smelling, heavily algae-contaminated narrow tributary connecting the Sand Bar Slough to Spirit Lake was treated by Mr. Steve Gruhn in late July 2023. Steve, who lives close to the Sand Bar Slough, employed a protocol comprising two water-permeable burlap bags, each containing six pellets of specially treated volcanic rock material mixed into approximately 15lb. of biochar (supplied by 42-Biochar, Iowa). The pellets are manufactured by Kiko Technologies, headquartered in Hong Kong, SAR. They are formed by pulverizing a selected source of volcanic rock from Japan. The pulverized material is formed into small pellets, which are repeatedly heated to near melting point temperatures and slowly cooled over several consecutive days. The cylindrical-shaped pellets measure approximately 8mm in height and width (Figure 1).

Figure 1:Cylindrical-shaped pellets obtained from the processing of volcanic rock material and marketed as Kiko Technology. The water-insoluble pellets weigh 0.8gm and measure 8x8mm with a 1mm central hole.

The algae in the tributary and the foul odor were eliminated within three days of adding biochar-containing Kiko pellets [16]. Upon revisiting the area 10 weeks later, there was no easily visible algae throughout most of the slough. More impressive, a beaver had built a dam near the tributary where the biochar and pellets had been placed. Indeed, one of the burlap bags had been dragged onto the beaver’s dam. This observation was remarkable since Steve had not seen such beaver activity within the region for several decades. Additional novel observations at the time were recently constructed muskrat mounds, sounds of bullfrogs, and ducks on the water [16]. Based on this success, Steve proceeded to treat other areas of Spirit Lake and later the adjoining Okoboji Lake. Smaller amounts of biochar (1-5lb.) containing only 5 Kiko pellets have generally been used. Eight ounces of a mineral and amino acidrich water conditioner, abbreviated MWC, have also been added to each treated water region. As reported elsewhere, there have been remarkable improvements in aquatic, land, and flying wildlife around the entire Spirit Lake [16-21]. These improvements have now extended to recently treated areas of Okoboji Lake.

As first noticed in December 2023, substantial amounts of zebra mussel shells were present along some of Spirit Lake’s shoreline near a treated area (Figure 2A). In addition to intact shells, a surprisingly large amount of coarse granulated material was present along with broken shells (Figure 2B). This appearance differed significantly from that of predominantly intact zebra mussel shells that have washed onto the shoreline of Spirit Lake in prior years. Examples of predominantly intact shells are seen in archived photos posted in prior years on the Internet by the Spirit Lake Protective Association (Figure 3). The relative infrequency of intact shells in the December 2003 photographs is consistent with shell disintegration.

Figure 2:A. Washed-up zebra mussel shells and accompanying shell-derived materials on a region of the shoreline of Spirit Lake, Iowa. The photo was taken on 12/23/2023. The landowner noted the substantial amount of washedup material for this time of year; May is when maximum accumulation of zebra mussel shells typically occurs. Another striking feature was the huge amounts of shell-derived material, rather than intact shells, that exceeded quantities occurring in prior years.
B. A further illustration of the relative lack of intact zebra mussel shells in washed-up material from a region of Spirit Lake. The material was photographed on 12/23/2023 at a different onshore location than shown in Figure 2. Again, most of the material comprised broken shells seemingly shattered before or after being washed onshore. The upper left side of the photo shows more intact shells.

Figure 3:Four examples of photographs posted online by the Spirit Lake Protective Society from 2020 to 2022. The photos show accumulations of essentially intact zebra mussel shells, commonly with the warning of the risk of cuts if walking barefoot.

This conclusion was supported during a recent visit by the author to Spirit Lake. Multiple examples of predominantly broken shells submerged near the shoreline were readily seen. Samples were collected by hand, and the larger shell fragments were later photographed (Figure 4A). There were many additional, much smaller shell pieces. Moreover, the larger fragments could be easily crushed into a powdered form. By contrast, Figure 4B shows intact zebra mussel shells collected by Mr. Gruhn from the shoreline of Spirit Lake over a year earlier. These shells are not compressible by hand into powder or easily fragmented. Zebra mussel shells also retained their overall shape even a year after being included in gardening soil.

Figure 4:A. Photo of some of the larger fragments of zebra mussel shell material lifted out of the water by the author from shallow water on the shore of Spirit Lake in June 2024. Relatively few intact, fully sized shells were collected compared to the numerous shells, both large and small, with irregularly shaped perimeters or existing simply as shell fragments. The larger shell fragments could be easily broken, and some shells could be crushed by finger pressure into powder.
B. Photo of intact zebra mussel shells previously collected from Spirit Lake and provided to the author. The shells had been maintained in a glass jar for over a year. None of the shells show signs of fragmentation, nor could they be damaged using finger pressure.

When submerged in water, Kiko pellets increase the water’s level of KELEA, an synonym for Kinetic Energy Limiting Electrostatic Attraction. KELEA is viewed as the life force that preceded and led to the subsequent development of photosynthesis and food metabolism [22-27]. Providing sufficient KELEA is available, an ecosystem can forego using an impaired functional pathway by adapting to a more energy-requiring functional pathway, a process referred to as Nature’s Allostasis [17-21]. Ecosystems go beyond their tipping points and become disordered when there is insufficient KELEA for allostasis. The effectiveness of increasing KELEA levels in reducing the levels of contaminating algae is possibly due to the resurgence of competing beneficial microbes. Biochar and MWC are likely contributing to the proposed preferential growth of the beneficial microbes. The beneficial microbes are thought to create improved conditions for the further stepwise progressive resurgence of the higher life forms typical of the Spirit Lake ecosystem. Fishermen have informally reported higher than usual catching of yellow perch fish and the more frequent appearance of crayfish in Spirit Lake, both predatory to zebra mussels [28-29].

Although no direct measurements exist for the inferred reduction in zebra mussels in Spirit Lake, the KELEA-restored Spirit Lake is now seemingly a less-than-ideal terrain for their survival. Reminiscent of the Bechamp-Pasteur debate [30], zebra mussel invasion may not solely depend on the mussels’ presence but on altered ecological conditions. This is an easily testable hypothesis using various means of increasing KELEA in contaminated waterways.

Mr. James Osugi, Chairman of Kiko Technology Limited, registered in Hong Kong SAR, provided the Kiko pellets. Mr. Steve Gruhn is the Chief Executive Officer of 42-(XVII) Bio Char Inc. He placed the products into the Sand Bar slough and other locations at Big Spirit Lake. Mr. Dave Sybesma of D&K Investments supplied the mineral water conditioner as the third component in the current protocol. MI Hope Inc., a non-profit public charity, supports research on KELEA and its many applications. Information on KELEA is available in the cited references.

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