Whenever the conversation comes to our three local rivers brown color the conversation often blames pollution. It may be due to the loss of native mussels from over collecting in the early 20th century and their inablity to recover their previous numbers.
Save the Mussels! Ft Wayne lowered the river levels by nearly 3' for utility work and now the mussels need our help. We...
Posted by Northeast Indiana Water Trails on Thursday, September 10, 2020Thursday, September 10, 2020 post by Northeast Indiana Water Trails on Facebook:
`Save the Mussels! Ft Wayne lowered the river levels by nearly 3' for utility work and now the mussels need our help. We encourage you to get on the water and help these important creatures back into the water. Paddle or walk the banks today anywhere upstream of the Hosey Dam on the three rivers downtown and do a little good while enjoying these awesome waterways! (Picture credit to Dan Wire taken at Stevie's Island)`
Never underestimate the power of freshwater mussels. 💪🏼 Did you know we have a Mussel Mortality Response Team? In...
Posted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Sunday, November 3, 2024Sunday, November 3, 2024 post by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Facebook:
Never underestimate the power of freshwater mussels.
Did you know we have a Mussel Mortality Response Team? In partnership with other organizations, this team investigates pathogenic causes of mussel mortality events. Unlike fish die-offs, mussel mass mortality events can be harder to find because the shells are often found under the surface of the water. Scientists are trying to better understand the scope of these events.
Freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered species in the world and the ecosystems they are found in cannot afford to lose such an important organism. Check out the comments to learn more about a critter that some call "the livers of our rivers" because of their ability to filter water.
Photo of two tanks showing the impact of freshwater mussels' pumping power. The one on the left had no mussels and the one on the right had fifteen mussels. In just 90 minutes, the mussels cleared the tank of suspended particles. Photo courtesy of D. Kreeger, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
At the bottom of rivers and streams, a rare animal helps keep the water clean. Freshwater mussels have an incredible...
Posted by National Conservation Training Center on Thursday, December 28, 2023Thursday, December 28, 2023 post by National Conservation Training Center on Facebook:
At the bottom of rivers and streams, a rare animal helps keep the water clean. Freshwater mussels have an incredible filtration capacity. On this picture you can see how after only 30 minutes, the tank with freshwater mussels contains crystal clear water while the second tank without mussels is still very cloudy and turbid.
December 28th marks the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. Learn how freshwater mussel conservation efforts and partnerships are creating ripples of hope in conservation, science, technology, and communications!
Read the full story at Ripples of Hope At the bottom of rivers and streams, a rare animal helps keep the water clean. at U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Did you know that freshwater mussels literally breathe our rivers clean? Learn more about the wonder of freshwater mussels:
Posted by American Rivers on Thursday, December 28, 2023Thursday, December 28, 2023 post by American Rivers on Facebook:
Did you know that freshwater mussels literally breathe our rivers clean? Learn more about the wonder of freshwater mussels: Mommy Mussels and the Breathing Rocks Freshwater mussels breathe our rivers clean. A new investigation aims to uncover the truth about why mussels are mysteriously dying off — and how to protect these important river creatures.
Mussel Attacks BassCome closer.... a little closer....BOOM! 💥 Did you know freshwater mussels shoot their fertilized eggs (glochidia) at passing fish? The glochidia hitch a ride on the host fish's gills for several weeks before dropping to the stream bed to start their new life. Our native freshwater mussels are the foundation of healthy rivers and streams. They clean waterways, stabilize aquatic ecosystems, and have the coolest life cycle around. Video shows a largemouth bass grabbing a plain pocketbook mussel lure. The mussel then shoots a cloudy substance at the fish's face. Video by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS
Posted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Thursday, February 8, 2024Thursday, February 8, 2024 video post by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Facebook:
Come closer.... a little closer....BOOM!
Did you know freshwater mussels shoot their fertilized eggs (glochidia) at passing fish? The glochidia hitch a ride on the host fish's gills for several weeks before dropping to the stream bed to start their new life.
Our native freshwater mussels are the foundation of healthy rivers and streams. They clean waterways, stabilize aquatic ecosystems, and have the coolest life cycle around.
Video shows a largemouth bass grabbing a plain pocketbook mussel lure. The mussel then shoots a cloudy substance at the fish's face. Video by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS
Mussels play a mighty role in Minnesota’s prairies 💪 Mussels benefit wildlife in prairie rivers, streams, and lakes in...
Posted by Minnesota Nongame Wildlife Program on Sunday, July 7, 2024Sunday, July 7, 2024 post by Minnesota Nongame Wildlife Program on Facebook:
Mussels play a mighty role in Minnesota’s prairies
Mussels benefit wildlife in prairie rivers, streams, and lakes in a few ways:
Mussels clean water: they can filter up to 8 gallons of water every day.
They play an important role in the aquatic food web as a prey item for fish, raccoons, and river otters.
Mussel shells provide shelter for small fish and other invertebrates.
Learn more about mussels: Mussels of Minnesota #WorldPrairieMonth
Photo by USFWS
