Today we went to Scioto Grove Metro Park to assist with a freshwater mussel survey on a stretch of the Scioto River south of downtown Columbus and the wastewater treatment plant. Freshwater mussels can found in most of the major rivers systems in Ohio and they an important organism in aquatic habitats because they are filter feeders and are an indicator of clean water. Read more about freshwater mussels of Ohio here. Andrew and I and a colleague of Andrew's from the Nature Conservancy along with the Assistant Curator of the Freshwater Mussel collection at OSU and a doctoral candidate also at Ohio State comprised the group. The objective was to find as many species as possible, the fresher the better with live specimens being the most desirable. We found about 11 species of mussels in an hour. These specimens indicate what species have been in the river in the past and we don't know if they remain because we did not find live specimens. It was a nice day to be outside. I was dismayed by the concentration of litter along the banks of the creek. It amazes me that people don't seem to care where they throw their trash.
Antique Coke bottle remains
Sorting mussels
A fragment of china
Consulting the mussel bible
Me, Andrew, Kaitlin and Tony (not pictured: Dan)
