Freshwater Mussel Conservation in Missouri
Freshwater mussels across the world, including Missouri, are increasingly threatened by habitat loss and degradation. Our agency actively collaborates with federal, state and non-governmental partners to study and protect these essential species.
Native freshwater mussels provide many ecosystem services, like filtering sediment and toxins from water. Bryan Simmons (USbet365下载ios) and Josh Hundley (USbet365下载ios) explain how scientists often use mussels as bioindicators鈥 to learn about the health of an ecosystem.
Freshwater mussels, clams, oysters and snails are all related鈥 they鈥檙e all mollusks, meaning they have a soft body protected by a shell! Scientists can learn a lot about a mussels shell including determining the species, sex and age. Leslie Lueckenhoff (USbet365下载ios) and Bryan Simmons (USbet365下载ios) show us how to age a mussel by counting the lines(similar to counting tree rings!) their shells.
There are more than 70 species of freshwater mussels in Missouri, some of which can live decades or even centuries! However, many species aren鈥檛 reproducing. Andy Roberts (USbet365下载ios) and Josh Hundley (USbet365下载ios) explain how limited host fish movements can reduce the ability for mussels to reproduce. Other threats affecting mussel reproduction include habitat modification and pollution.
Mussels need a stable environment, a natural flow of good quality water and a host for their larvae. Bryan Simmons (USbet365下载ios) and Josh Hundley (USbet365下载ios) share their passion for freshwater mussel conservation and the importance of partnerships to protect and conserve mussels in Missouri.
Freshwater mussels can be long-lived and can live in large groups called mussel beds. Biologists monitor these mussel beds by snorkeling and scuba diving to determine the age of the mussels and how many species are present.. Leslie Lueckenhoff (USbet365下载ios) and Andry Roberts (USbet365下载ios) explain what information they look for and why it鈥檚 important to study freshwater mussels.
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- Gabriela Wolf-Gonzalez
- Leslie Lueckenhoff
- Bryan Simmons
- Josh Hundley
- Andy Roberts
- Brett Billings
- Ryan Hagerty
- Melissa Clark
- Melissa Gonzalez
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Eric Limanen
- Eric Lemons
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