Received the following response from KDFWR. (Sounds like it's not a big deal..still, I am concerned about the low oxygen level in the lake.Originally Posted by Boone
While out on the lake this week, I saw thousands of small, dime sized bits of "white meat" floating on the surface. No shell, just meat. This was new to me. Collected a few and they looked like mussels to me. Stopped by the dam and showed them to a KDFWF employee, who confirmed they were mussels. When asked why they would die off, she said most likely, "lack of oxygen". Interesting......?
As I know nothing about the life cycle of mussels, and not wanted to go off half cocked, thought I would submitt it to the board members for comments. Is this an annual event or unique to this point in time as a result of lake conditions? As Paul Harvey would say "Here's the rest of the story".)
EMAIL FROM KDFWR:
This mussel is most likely the Asian clam (see link) and not a freshwater mussel, and this could be confirmed by a photo ID or by the KDFWR staff id.
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/musselm...page174_5.html
They often have dieoffs from low oxygen and sometimes viruses this time of year.
The link above will explain the difference in the freshwater mussel (which needs a fish host) and the asian clam (which reproduces asexually).
Hope this helps.
monte
Monte A. McGregor, Ph.D.
Aquatic Scientist/Malacologist
Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resources
Center for Mollusk Conservation
3761 Georgetown Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
502.573.0330 ext. 221
502.573.0335 fax
502.221.1379 mobile
email: [email protected]
Reply With Quote