Freshwater Mussels Program Quiz

What is a freshwater mussel?

• A type of amphibian

• A type of crustacean

• A type of mollusk

• A type of fish

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Describe the three main parts of a mussel's body.

• Claws, beak, feathers

• Tentacles, fins, scales

• Shell, foot, siphons

• Shell, legs, wings

Where are mussels generally located?

• In trees

• In the mountains

• In the air

• In the bottoms of rivers and streams

Mussels are filter feeders. Describe what this means.

• They filter air and eat insects

• They eat other mussels

• They filter water and eat algae and plankton

• They filter sand and eat small fish

How many species of freshwater mussels are there in the Anacostia River?

• 10

• 12

• 8

• 5

List each species of mussel found in the Anacostia River. (common names)

• Eastern elliptio, Eastern floater, Eastern lampmussel, Tidewater mucket

• Atlantic spike, Eastern pondmussel, Paper pondshell, Alewife floater

• Atlantic spike, Eastern pondmussel, Paper pondshell, Alewife floater, Eastern elliptio, Eastern floater

• Atlantic spike, Eastern pondmussel, Paper pondshell, Alewife floater, Eastern elliptio, Eastern floater, Eastern lampmussel, Tidewater mucket

What percent of the world's mussel population is in trouble? What are the main causes of this?

• 90%, overharvesting, destruction of mussel habitat, decreasing water quality, introduction of exotic invasive bivalve species, changes to river hydrology

• 25%, overharvesting, destruction of mussel habitat, decreasing water quality, introduction of exotic invasive bivalve species, changes to river hydrology

• 75%, overharvesting, destruction of mussel habitat, decreasing water quality, introduction of exotic invasive bivalve species, changes to river hydrology

• 50%, overharvesting, destruction of mussel habitat, decreasing water quality, introduction of exotic invasive bivalve species, changes to river hydrology

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What are the two species of mussels that the Anacostia Watershed Society is focusing on?

• Eastern lampmussel, Tidewater mucket

• Eastern elliptio, Eastern floater

• Eastern pondmussel, Alewife floater

• Atlantic spike, Eastern pondmussel

List and briefly describe the main benefits of having a healthy mussels population in the Anacostia River.

• Improving water quality, providing shelter for animals, providing food for wildlife

• Improving air quality, providing food for wildlife, providing shelter for animals

• Improving water quality, providing shelter for plants, providing food for wildlife

• Improving water quality, providing a home for plants and wildlife, providing food for wildlife

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

What is the lifespan of a typical freshwater mussel?

• 1-5 years

• 10-20 years

• 30-40 years

• 50-100 years