DEC DELIVERS, NYSDEC--------WHAT FRESHWATER MUSSELS ARE UP TO

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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

What Freshwater Mussels are Up To----Ever wonder what New Yorks’ 44 species of native freshwater mussels do during the cold weather? Well, the arrival of autumn has aquatic critters preparing to huddle down as water temperatures drop. In the colder months, freshwater mussels burrow deep into the substrate. Females of some species are gravid (pregnant) with larvae over the winter that they release in the springtime. While some individuals may remain active, their filtering rates are greatly reduced during the colder months.

These invertebrates live in streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes statewide. They are crucial for maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems and clean water, collectively filtering millions of gallons of water every day by breathing and feeding in the substrate. Most freshwater mussel species rely on fish to carry their young and have evolved incredible strategies to attract host fish, such as lures mimicking food. When a fish attempts to grab a lure such as one depicted in the photo, the mussel releases her larvae which then attach to the fish's gills. The larvae typically drop off the fish within a few weeks and cause little to no harm to the fish.

Freshwater mussels are one of the most imperiled groups of organisms in North America. They are highly sensitive to changes in water quality and are threatened by pollution, climate change, invasive species, physical alteration of waterways, and loss of host fish. DEC biologists are currently working to understand the status and distributions of several freshwater mussel species in New York to help make decisions about future conservation efforts.