New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Remarkable squirting mussels captured on film

Date:
March 11, 2023
Source:
University of Cambridge
Summary:
Researchers have observed a highly unusual behavior in the endangered freshwater mussel, Unio crassus. The jets disturb the river surface and attract fish. Mussel larvae in the jets can then attach to the gills of the fish and complete their metamorphosis into adults.
Share:
FULL STORY

Cambridge researchers have observed a highly unusual behaviour in the endangered freshwater mussel, Unio crassus.

In spring, female mussels were seen moving to the water's edge and anchoring into the riverbed, with their back ends raised above the waterline.

Then they squirted out regular water jets, which landed in the water up to a metre away. Squirting cycles lasted 3-6 hours.

This behaviour has never been seen in any other mussel species.

The jets disturb the river surface and attract fish. Mussel larvae in the jets can then attach to the gills of the fish and complete their metamorphosis into adults.

"Who'd have thought that a mussel, that doesn't even have a head or a brain, knows to move to the river margin and squirt jets of water back into the river during springtime? It's amazing!" said Professor David Aldridge in the University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology, lead author of the report published today in the journal Ecology.

Unlike other mussel species, Unio crassus has a limited range of suitable host fishes -- including minnows and chub. These species were attracted to the falling water jets.

The researchers think the mussels squirt water jets to increase the chances of their larvae attaching to the right host fishes. By being squirted into the air and not the water, the larvae are propelled greater distances from the parent mussel.

The study was carried out during spring in the Biała Tarnowska River, Poland. Six squirts were collected from each mussel for analysis -- which confirmed that they contained viable mussel larvae.

Before now, there was only anecdotal evidence of this behaviour. Some scientists thought the water jets might be a way for the mussels to expel faeces.

This behaviour could explain why Unio crassus is an endangered species. Climbing out of the water to squirt makes it vulnerable to floods, destruction of river margins, and predators like mink. And its need for specific host fishes links its survival to theirs.

Understanding how this species completes its life cycle is important for its conservation under changing environmental conditions.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Cambridge. The original text of this story is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. David C. Aldridge, Joshua I. Brian, Adam Ćmiel, Anna Lipińska, Manuel Lopes‐Lima, Ronaldo Sousa, Amilcar Teixeira, Katarzyna Zając, Tadeusz Zając. Fishing for hosts: Larval spurting by the endangered thick‐shelled river mussel, Unio crassus. Ecology, 2023; DOI: 10.1002/ECY.4026

Cite This Page:

University of Cambridge. "Remarkable squirting mussels captured on film." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 March 2023. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230310123502.htm>.
University of Cambridge. (2023, March 11). Remarkable squirting mussels captured on film. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 27, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230310123502.htm
University of Cambridge. "Remarkable squirting mussels captured on film." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230310123502.htm (accessed March 27, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES