[NatureNS] lots of empty FW Mussel shells- why?

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Date: Fri, 16 May 2014 14:06:55 -0300
From: David McCorquodale <dbmcc09@gmail.com>
To: "naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
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Muskrats are important predators of freshwater mussels in eastern North
America, including NS.  Often they pile shells in middens.

In Blacketts Lake and Pottle Lake in CBRM piles of shells of several
species of freshwater mussels, including the Yellow Lamp Mussel, are
obvious.


DBMcC
Georges River

David McCorquodale
Georges River, NS


On Fri, May 16, 2014 at 1:35 PM, nancy dowd <nancypdowd@gmail.com> wrote:

> Water levels have dropped just enough on L Torment to show about 6" of
> beach in places now but the shore has been completely submerged since last
> October. The number of mussel shells seen in these pictures is unusual:
>
> At the end of the path they are visible as far as you can see out into the
> water:
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/14196083311/
>
> And it is this way the whole way along the shore. Another view 40' along
> the submerged beach:
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/14012727849/
>
> This side of the lake has the prevailing onshore winds and waves and the
> shells are starting to collect in the exposed pockets:
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/14199406975/
>
> Why so many empty mussel shells? Would the winter somehow have been hard
> on them- ice or cold or oxygen levels? Doesn't look like predation to me-
> too many shells. This is the first year I have ever seen anything like this.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Nancy
>
>
>

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<div dir=3D"ltr">Muskrats are important predators of freshwater mussels in =
eastern North America, including NS. =C2=A0Often they pile shells in midden=
s. =C2=A0<div><br></div><div>In Blacketts Lake and Pottle Lake in CBRM pile=
s of shells of several species of freshwater mussels, including the Yellow =
Lamp Mussel, are obvious. =C2=A0</div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div>DBMcC</div><div>Georges River</div></div=
><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br clear=3D"all"><div><div dir=3D"ltr">David M=
cCorquodale<div>Georges River, NS</div></div></div>
<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Fri, May 16, 2014 at 1:35 PM, nancy d=
owd <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:nancypdowd@gmail.com" target=3D=
"_blank">nancypdowd@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D=
"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding=
-left:1ex">
Water levels have dropped just enough on L Torment to show about 6&quot; of=
 beach in places now but the shore has been completely submerged since last=
 October. The number of mussel shells seen in these pictures is unusual:<br=
>

<br>
At the end of the path they are visible as far as you can see out into the =
water:<br>
<a href=3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/14196083311/" target=
=3D"_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/14196083311/</a><br>
<br>
And it is this way the whole way along the shore. Another view 40&#39; alon=
g the submerged beach:<br>
<a href=3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/14012727849/" target=
=3D"_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/14012727849/</a><br>
<br>
This side of the lake has the prevailing onshore winds and waves and the sh=
ells are starting to collect in the exposed pockets:<br>
<a href=3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/14199406975/" target=
=3D"_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/14199406975/</a><br>
<br>
Why so many empty mussel shells? Would the winter somehow have been hard on=
 them- ice or cold or oxygen levels? Doesn&#39;t look like predation to me-=
 too many shells. This is the first year I have ever seen anything like thi=
s.<br>

<br>
Any ideas?<br>
<span class=3D"HOEnZb"><font color=3D"#888888"><br>
Nancy<br>
<br>
<br>
</font></span></blockquote></div><br></div>

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