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Higgins'
Eye Mussel Restoration
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Biologist
removes glochidia (mussel larvae) from a
the marsupium (brood pouch) of a female
Higgins' eye pearlymussel.
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The
glochidia are then put in a holding container
with fish so that they may attach to the fish's
gills. |
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Here
a Biologist checks to see if the fish's
gills have glochidia on them and records
their density.
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Fish
carrying glochidia are then placed in a larger
tank where the mussel larvae will grow for
several weeks. When mature, the glochidia
detach from the fish's gill and settle to
the bottom of the tank. |
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The
young mussels are returned to the upper portions
of the Mississippi River, to it's tributaries
(Wisconsin and Chippewa rivers) that were
once in that mussel species range, or allowed
to mature in the hatchery. |
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Last updated:
July 10, 2008
