Monkeyface, Pink heelsplitter, Shiney pigtoes are all names of fresh water mussels. Those names are kinda funny, but they are the worlds natural water cleansers. One mussel can filter as much as one gallon of water an hour. One large community of mussels can act like a mini-water treatment plant. They filter bacteria, algae and other little bits of stuff out of the water. A study showed that a half a mile segment of a river in New Hampshire contained enough mussels to cleanse 11.2 million gallons of water a day. That is enough water to supply 112,000 people. The US has the largest number of known species of freshwater population in the world at 292 compared to 10 in all of Europe (Don't drink the water). The problem is 69% of the US species are endangered or extinct. Hey, maybe we can live without these little purifiers in our waters but we can not live without those funny names!!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Who are you calling a Monkeyface?
Monkeyface, Pink heelsplitter, Shiney pigtoes are all names of fresh water mussels. Those names are kinda funny, but they are the worlds natural water cleansers. One mussel can filter as much as one gallon of water an hour. One large community of mussels can act like a mini-water treatment plant. They filter bacteria, algae and other little bits of stuff out of the water. A study showed that a half a mile segment of a river in New Hampshire contained enough mussels to cleanse 11.2 million gallons of water a day. That is enough water to supply 112,000 people. The US has the largest number of known species of freshwater population in the world at 292 compared to 10 in all of Europe (Don't drink the water). The problem is 69% of the US species are endangered or extinct. Hey, maybe we can live without these little purifiers in our waters but we can not live without those funny names!!
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