Did you know that freshwater mussels can filter between 8 and 15 gallons of water per day? Or that an octopus is a type of mollusk? Join us at Mollusk Research Day to learn more about mollusks: clams, oysters, mussels, cephalopods, snails, slugs, chitons and more. Mollusk experts from the Museum and beyond are excited to offer you their pearls of wisdom about these fantastic creatures.
The NC Museum of Natural Sciences is a research-based museum with Museum staff who conduct novel research and steward our collections. Our Research Highlight Days feature these researchers and their fields of study. These events are held on the first floor of the Nature Research Center.
Activities
What is a Mollusk?
Take a close look at specimens from our Museum’s Mollusk Research Collection and marvel at the impressive diversity of mollusks in North Carolina. Learn how mollusk research happens from the experts themselves—our own staff of molluscan researchers.
Mussels, Snails, and the River’s Hidden Gems
Dive into the fascinating world of freshwater mussels! Watch incredible videos that reveal how these aquatic creatures ‘fish’ for survival in their underwater homes. Get up close with real shells from native species found in nearby streams, and feel the texture of these river gems. Meet professional biologists from NC State University who are working to protect these rare and vital species, and learn how you can help in the fight for their conservation.
The North Carolina Shell Club
Explore shells from North Carolina and from around the world.
Presentations: SECU Daily Planet Theater, Floors 1-3
1 PM, Hidden Treasures, Unsung Heroes, and Master Fishermen: The Story of Our Freshwater Mussels
Chris Eads, Lead Biologist, Yates Mill Aquatic Conservation Center at NC State University
A biologist from NC State University uncovers the surprising lives of our native freshwater mussels and explains some of the things being done to conserve these disappearing gems.
For over 26 years, Chris Eads has dedicated his research to understanding and protecting freshwater mussels, working to conserve these often-overlooked but critical members of our aquatic ecosystems. He says no one sets out in life to study such seemingly simple animals as a career, but like many, once he was lured into that world, he never wanted to leave.
2 PM, A Survey of North Carolina Shells
Daniel Minior, President, NC Shell Club
Come learn the history of North Carolina Shells, hear about some of the natural historians important to this field, and discuss some of the shells we can find on our beaches.