Virginia Tech fisheries department releases cultivated mussels at Nature Conservancy site
Virginia Tech's Freshwater Mussel Conservation Center and Virginia's Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center in Marion, Va., released several thousand mussels that have been propagated into the Clinch River. view more (2005-06-21)
Cheering News for Depressed Mussels
One of Britain's rarest animals could soon be enjoying a revival in the country's waterways, thanks to researchers at the University of Cambridge. Depressed River Mussel populations have suffered a 30 per cent drop in the last 100 years through pollution and modern dredging techniques, and the species has been made a conservation priority by the... view more... (2001-06-19)
The invasive green mussel may inspire new forms of wet adhesion
The green mussel is known for being a notoriously invasive fouling species, but scientists have just discovered that it also has a very powerful form of adhesion in its foot, according to a recent article in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. view more (2009-08-28)
Discovery of method to combat toxic algal blooms and description of a new group of organisms
In the fall of 1997 a then unknown species of plankton, Parvilucifera infectans, was discovered in the Gullmar Fjord, on the west coast of Sweden. The organism is a parasite that infects and kills several species of toxic algae. Some of these toxic algae can generate extremely potent blooms at great cost to fisheries and the tourism industry... view more... (2002-04-18)
Prehistoric Decline of Freshwater Mussels Tied to Rise in Maize Cultivation
USDA Forest Service (FS) research suggests that a decline in the abundance of freshwater mussels about 1000 years ago may have been caused by the large-scale cultivation of maize by Native Americans. view more (2005-06-08)
Synthetic adhesive mimics sticking powers of gecko and mussel
Geckos are remarkable in their ability to scurry up vertical surfaces and even move along upside down. Their feet stick but only temporarily, coming off of surfaces again and again like a sticky note. But put those feet underwater, and their ability to stick is dramatically reduced. view more (2007-07-19)
New map outlines risk of zebra mussel invasion
The spread of two invasive alien freshwater mussel species - the zebra mussel and the quagga mussel - appears to be controlled in part by calcium levels in streams and lakes and a new risk assessment based on water chemistry suggests the Great Plains and American Southwest could be next in line for invasion. view more (2007-12-04)
The Prestige oil spill caused changes in the cell structure of mussels
The oil spill from the Prestige petroleum oil tanker in 2002 caused serious damage to the ecosystems in the Bay of Biscay. A PhD thesis at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) has studied the consequences of this spill for the mussels inhabiting this northern coast of the Iberian peninsula. view more (2009-03-25)
Brainy genes, not brawn, key to success on mussel beach
It's hard being a mussel: you have to worry about hungry starfish and even hungrier humans, not to mention an environment that can change your body temperature 50 degrees Fahrenheit in just a few hours. view more (2008-10-10)
Prozac exposure found to disrupt mussel reproduction
Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and North Carolina State University (NCSW) have demonstrated that a commonly prescribed antidepressant can interfere with the reproductive cycle of freshwater mussels-at least in a controlled setting. view more (2006-09-18)
Zebra mussels hang on while quagga mussels take over
The zebra mussels that have wreaked ecological havoc on the Great Lakes are harder to find these days - not because they are dying off, but because they are being replaced by a cousin, the quagga mussel. But zebra mussels still dominate in fast-moving streams and rivers. view more (2009-06-12)
Sticky mussels inspire biomedical engineer yet again
Mussels are delicious when cooked in a white wine broth, but they also have two other well-known qualities before they're put in a pot: they stick to virtually all inorganic and organic surfaces, and they stick with amazing tenacity. view more (2007-10-19)
Mussels evolve quickly to defend against invasive crabs
Scientists at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) have found that invasive crab species may precipitate evolutionary change in blue mussels in as little as 15 years. view more (2006-08-11)
Nature's secrets yield new adhesive material
Scientists report they have merged two of nature's most elegant strategies for wet and dry adhesion to produce a synthetic material that one day could lead to more durable and longer-lasting bandages, patches, and surgical materials. view more (2007-07-19)
Alternative states in the ocean
Ecologists expect natural communities to vary. Occasionally, however, such variation can be severely abrupt and lead to formation of alternative and potentially persistent states. In the July issue of Ecology Letters, Paine and Trimble describe a dramatic assemblage shift on a rocky intertidal shore in Washington State (USA). The change was... view more... (2004-05-13)
Biological invasions increasing due to freshwater impoundments, says CU-Boulder study
The growing number of dams and other impoundments is increasing the number of invasive species and the speed at which they spread, putting natural lakes at risk, says a study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder. view more (2008-09-03)
Round Goby invade Great Lakes
Canadian scientists uncover alarming invasion of round goby into Great Lakes tributaries: impact on endangered fishes likely to be serious. view more (2009-08-12)
NOAA Report Calls Flame Retardants Concern to U.S. Coastal Ecosystems
NOAA scientists, in a first-of-its-kind report issued today, state that Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), chemicals commonly used in commercial goods as flame retardants since the 1970s, are found in all United States coastal waters and the Great Lakes, with elevated levels near urban and industrial centers. view more (2009-04-02)
New American Chemical Society podcast: Tiny sea creature and a new medical adhesive
Scientists questing after a long-sought new medical adhesive describe copying the natural glue secreted by a tiny sea creature called the sandcastle worm in the latest episode in the American Chemical Society's (ACS) award-winning podcast series, "Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions." view more (2009-10-28)
Microscope to aid shell-fishing industry
Groundbreaking research by University of Plymouth experts into the detection of harmful species of algae has helped develop a unique microscope, which could dramatically decrease cases of poisoning from contaminated shellfish. The HAB (harmful algae blooms)-Buoy is an innovative project, funded by the European Union, involving Dr Phil Culverhouse,... view more... (2003-05-29)
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