A small creature faced with a big environmental task

Brook floaters are threatened by climate change, invasive species and pollution

By Bianca Martinez Penn |
A mussel rests among algae-covered rocks, its soft filtering tissues visible in a partly open shell.
Brook floaters burrow into the sediment and anchor themselves to the bottom, typically only moving short distances to find the best sites for feeding and reproducing. (Photo courtesy of hunterefs/iNaturalist CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED, cropped and toned)
Brook floater mussels buried in sediment
Brook floaters are filter feeders, meaning they consume the algae, bacteria and plant/animal debris and leave water cleaner. (Photo Courtesy of Darlene Elward/iNaturalist CC BY-NC)

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