Patapsco Mussel Survey
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources conducted a qualitative survey of freshwater mussels in the Patapsco River near to Ellicot City. This survey, associated with the planned removal of old dams on the river, found live and dead specimens of the state listed Triangle Floater. This video explains the project, the protocols used, and some characteristics of the Triangle Floater and freshwater mussels in general.
Pocketbook Mussel Displaying Lure
Freshwater mussels typically require a fish host to transform their larvae, called glochidia, into juvenile mussels. This female plain pocketbook uses a minnow like “lure” to trick fish into striking its gills, which releases the mussel’s larvae. The glochidia attach to the gills of the fish where they receive nutrients and eventually release from the fish as juvenile mussels.
Video Training Session with our Biologists
Join Sara Weglein, our volunteer coordinator, and our other biologists as they walk you through the Stream Waders protocol for benthic sampling. We go through each method, step by step, to make it easier to survey your Maryland Streams. Enjoy!
Maryland Streams: an Undiscovered Realm
Biologists at DNR created this video to illustrate how important freshwater rivers and streams are to Maryland. It showcases serveral apsects of our freshwater resources. This clip is just the introduction to the full film, available on youtube via our MDDNRMBSS channel.