At the University of Oklahoma’s Aquatic Research Facility in
Norman, zoologist Caryn Vaughn shows off freshwater mussels that
she’s recently collected from rivers in the southeastern part of
the state. One river alone may have as many as 30 species of
mussels. “They have very colorful names. This is the pistol
grip, because you can hold it in your hand like a pistol,” says
Vaughn. There are also mussels commonly known as the
rabbitsfoot, bankclimber, pigtoe, pimpleback, and fatmucket.
Vaugn is in a good location to do her research. Oklahoma is home
to 55 mussel species all together, out of the approximately 300
mussel species found across North America. These invertebrates
play a crucial role in river ecosystems. “I’ve had colleagues
call them ‘fuzzy rocks’ because algae grow on them, but they’re
really important filter feeders. They’re very important
ecologically and they’re actually very interesting as well,” she
says. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF),
Vaughn studies mussels’ role in