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Higgins'
Eye Mussel Restoration
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A biologist
removes glochidia (mussel larvae) from the marsupium (brood pouch) of a female
Higgins' eye.
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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 on their gills are then placed in a larger
tank where mussel larvae will grow for
several weeks. When mature, glochidia
detach from fish gills 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:
December 14, 2009
