How does a shell help a blue mussel?

Blue mussels feed by filtering detritus and plankton from the water. Cilia inside the blue mussel create a current pulling in water and plankton. ... If a blue mussel is left exposed to air when the tide goes out, it survives by passing air over its moist gills to breathe.

1. What do mussels use their shells for?
2. What is a blue mussel shell?
3. What is a mussel shell?
4. How do blue mussels protect themselves?
5. How do mussels help?
6. How do mussels get their shells?
7. Why are blue mussels important?
8. Are blue mussels fresh water?
9. Is blue mussel edible?
10. What's inside a mussel shell?
11. How strong is mussel shell?
12. Are mussel shells good for soil?
13. Do mussels shed their shells?
14. Do mussels feel pain?
15. How does clam breathe?

What do mussels use their shells for?

Mussel shells carry out a variety of functions, including support for soft tissues, protection from predators and protection against desiccation. The shell has three layers.

What is a blue mussel shell?

The outer surface of the shell is covered by the periostracum which as eroded, exposes the colored prismatic calcitic layer. Blue Mussels are semi-sessile, having the ability to detach and reattach to a surface allowing the mollusk to reposition itself relative to the water position.

What is a mussel shell?

The shells of mussels have three different layers. The outer layer (called the periostracum) is made of organic material that may be yellow, green, brown, or black. The middle layer (prismatic layer) is made of elongate crystals of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃).

How do blue mussels protect themselves?

Blue mussels also use their byssus thread to defend themselves by tying down attacking sea snails, such as the netted dog whelk (Hinia reticulata).

How do mussels help?

Ecological value: mussels are natural filters, feeding on algae, plankton, and silts, they help purify the aquatic system. Mussels are also an important food source for many species of wildlife including otters, raccoon, muskrat, herons, egrets, and some fish.

How do mussels get their shells?

Mantle tissue that is located under and in contact with the shell secretes proteins and mineral to form the shell. Think of laying down steel (protein) and pouring concrete (mineral) over it. Thus, seashells grow from the bottom up, or by adding material at the margins.

Why are blue mussels important?

Mussels play a key role in aquatic environments and are considered to be "ecosystem engineers" because they modify aquatic habitat, making it more suitable for themselves and other organisms. ... The mussel's shells provide an important substrate for algae and insect larvae to attach to.

Are blue mussels fresh water?

On the left is the freshwater eastern floater mussel and on the right is the marine blue mussel. ... One obvious difference between freshwater and marine mussels is that freshwater mussels live in freshwater streams, rivers, ponds and lakes while marine mussels live in salt water oceans and bays.

Is blue mussel edible?

Blue mussels play an important role in Rhode Island estuaries as filter feeders, removing bacteria, heavy metals, and toxins from the water column. Unlike the ribbed mussel, blue mussels are edible and are regularly harvested in Rhode Island.

What's inside a mussel shell?

It is the plankton (and other microscopic creatures) eaten by the muscle that are still in its digestive tract when caught and cooked – ie. ... The little suckers do taste pretty good and the “waste” still inside them does come from microscopic species and plankton, which have also not been digested yet.

How strong is mussel shell?

They can stretch out to 160% of their initial length and still be five times the strength of a human Achilles tendon (Brentner, Laura, 2002).

Are mussel shells good for soil?

The shells enriched his soil and helped him grow healthy, productive plants. ... Calcium is another essential element for plant health, and it raises the pH of the soil in areas that are too acidic. The shells of mollusks such as oysters, mussels and clams are also rich in calcium.

Do mussels shed their shells?

Since their exoskeleton is not shed, molluscan shells must enlarge to accommodate body growth. This pattern of growth results in three distinct shell layers: an outer proteinaceous periosteum (uncalcified), a prismatic layer (calcified) and an inner pearly layer of nacre (calcified).

Do mussels feel pain?

The belief that oysters and mussels can feel pain and discomfort is as rooted in science as the nostrum that you shouldn't eat the former in months with an “r” in their names. Biology suggests that both bivalves are the functional equivalent of plants, without the capacity for pain.

How does clam breathe?

Clams are under the water during high tide and are uncovered on the tide flats during low tide. To protect themselves clams burrow down in the mud and sand using their foot. ... When the tide comes in, they stick their siphons out and inhale fresh seawater to get oxygen so they can breathe.