NEWS

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Mussels Rely on Salmon to Tell Tales

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Scientists are looking at the growth increments on Pacific Northwest river mussels, to help tell the water quailty story of local creeks and rivers.

Photo: A.Penner.

“Tree rings are one of the leading indicators for global change and climate history,” Researcher Bryan Black said. “We are hoping that clams and mussels and long-lived fish will give us comparable records for aquatic systems.”

The first step for scientists is to ensure that the growth increments on shells directly relates to the temperature data in streams. After that, they can use the shells to determine the water temperature for areas and time periods where that information wasn’t collected.

What does all this have to do with salmon? Taking a historical look at Oregon’s streams might help to shed light on the symbiosis of the freshwater mussel population and salmon. Researchers believe that mussels could not survive long without salmon, which nourish mussel larvae. It is thought that the mussels are suffering because fewer salmon and possibly even lamprey are bringing the mich needed marine nutrients, especially calcium, back to the creek.

Anglers and conservationists alike have always known that salmon are a keystone and indicator species. Hopefully mussels can now help tell the story of multiple ecosystem reliance on salmon.

Read the full story published on the AP Newswire, December 31, 2006.