Mussel Physiology

Freshwater mussels are considered ecosystems engineers benefiting the streams and rivers they inhabit through filtration, biodeposition, and nutrient cycling, thereby influencing water quality.  However, many of these species are rapidly declining due to shifting environmental conditions and habitat loss.  Researchers at Leetown Science Center are evaluating how different species of mussels respond both physiologically and behaviorally to a variety of key environmental stressors (e.g. drought, temperature, stream flow).  By measuring endpoints such as upper thermal tolerance, metabolic rate, feeding rate, and borrowing behavior we aim to understand what environmental conditions provide suitable and “optimal” conditions for maintaining healthy freshwater mussel populations, what conditions are harmful to these organisms, and these conditions differ among species.