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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Take a close look at specimens from our Museum\u2019s Mollusk Research Collection and marvel at the impressive diversity of mollusks in North Carolina. Learn how mollusk research happens from the experts themselves\u2014our own staff of molluscan researchers.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Explore shells from North Carolina and from around the world.<\/p>\n
NC State University<\/em> Chris Eads, Lead Biologist, Yates Mill Aquatic Conservation Center at NC State University<\/em> For over 26 years, Chris Eads has dedicated his research\u00a0to understanding and protecting freshwater mussels, working to conserve these often-overlooked but critical members of our aquatic ecosystems. \u00a0He 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.<\/p>\n Daniel Minior, President, NC Shell Club<\/em> 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… Read More ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":64115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"tags":[],"tribe_events_cat":[3,4,6,18],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/106250"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/tribe_events"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/106250\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106250"},{"taxonomy":"tribe_events_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events_cat?post=106250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nFunded by NSF, our project brings together engineers, epidemiologists, artificial intelligence developers, citizen scientists and natural resource experts from NC State together. Our display showcases how freshwater mussels, amazing natural filter feeders, can help us monitor and protect water quality. Mussels respond to changes in their environment, such as pollution, by adjusting their heart rate and the way they open and close their shells. Using tiny sensors and a camera, we can track these behaviors to detect water contamination before it becomes dangerous for humans and animals. Like a canary in a mine but this time mussels wearing fitbits. This project not only highlights mussels’ incredible role in keeping water clean but also raises awareness about their conservation, as many mussel species are endangered. Stop by to learn how science and technology work together to protect our water and these fascinating creatures!<\/span><\/p>\nPresentations: SECU Daily Planet Theater, Floors 1-3<\/b><\/h2>\n
1 PM, Hidden Treasures, Unsung Heroes, and Master Fishermen: The Story of Our Freshwater Mussels<\/h4>\n
\nA 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.<\/p>\n2 PM, A Survey of North Carolina Shells<\/h4>\n
\nCome 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n