Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Rock Hard Mussels

After our high waters receded, weathered dead mussel shells (sometimes called sub-fossils) that have been scoured up by the surging water are strewn about the river and banks. Here are some of the more interesting shells from my walk on Sunday morning.


The little ones are non-native Asian clams.



More Asian clams, there are millions of these in the Olentangy

And finally, ancient sea creatures embedded in some Delaware limestone.

Tom

6 comments:

  1. I just caught up on a bunch of your posts... The one I relate to most is the one where you say you are quiet at this time of year... so much to see in the field - little time to write, or to respond to others...

    I'm loving the dragonfly posts. This is year three in our NYS ode atlas. We're supposed to be looking for Hine's Emeralds. Could you scare a few this direction?

    This post will make me pay more attention to muscles at the lake!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good photos of the mussels and fossils.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tom: Amazing set of shells, that must be a healthy river.

    ReplyDelete
  4. First time here. Love what I see!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Corbicula make the world go around! If only you could get the EAB to drill into those guys! "When Invasive Species Attack...Each Other!"

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jennifer- Thank you for the very nice comment. We don't have any Hine's Emerald's in Ohio any more. Researchers have scoured the state several times, and last year even pumped crayfish burrows across the state without finding any nymphs.

    Tom

    Thanks Mary.

    Guy- Most of these shells are the remnants of when the river was much more healthy, probably 75-100 years ago when this was farm and woods country.

    For the people- Thank you very much. Stop back anytime.

    Thing- I'm thinking you don't have any EAB down your way...yet. That would be an interesting

    ReplyDelete