MUSSELS IN THE NEWS
Mussels are back in the river

The recent success of the "flupsy" or floating upweller system, created a stir recently in media across the Midwest.


The Kansas City Star, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Columbia Daily Tribune all featured significant articles. (The coverage in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was on the front page, above the fold.) Several television stations in the Kansas city area picked up the story as well. Check out the link below to experience some of mussels "fifteen "of fame.


"Bulking up Mussels"
Columbia Daily Tribune



MUSSELS AND TOXICOLOGY

The October 2007 issue of the Journal Environmental Toxicolgy and Chemistry has a specila section on the pollutant sensitivity of freshwater mussels.


Check out this news release on this important study.



FISH SNAPPERS REVEALED

If you're impressed by the stunning evolutionary adaptations mussels exhibit, recently recorded behavior by the genuis Epioblasma will take your breath away.



Now that amazing behavior has been recorded on video. Check out these images captured by Bill Roston and Chris Barnhart on this link to the Unio Gallery.


Epioblasma page - Unio Gallery

Freshwater Mussels are important

North America once had 300 species of native mussels. It was the most diverse mussel fauna on earth. Unfortunately, 38 of these species are presumed to be extinct, and another 77 species are considered critically impaired. These fascinating creatures are the most gravely imperiled group of animals in the country. What are the implications of the mussel's decline on our nation's rivers and streams? How can we help?

Gallery main image
Click on picture for photo gallery.

This website is dedicated to:

• informing the public about incredible life history of freshwater mussels
• exploring the issues that have lead to the mussel's decline
• empowering citizens to care about this important part of our natural heritage


Amazing Adaptations

mussel's smile
There's more to mussels than meets the eye. Take a look at what's going on under the surface!






Mussel story from Missouri Department of Conservation