Sarah Richer: Mussel Magic, Nature's Tiny Water Purifiers

Please join Nature Guelph on Feb 13, 2025 at 7:30 pm for a presentation by Sarah Richer about Fresh Water mussels. Everyone is welcome!
Who among us poops out cleaner water than they take in? If they had hands, freshwater mussels would raise them proudly! Our freshwater mussels may not move very much in their lives, but they are a crucial part of aquatic ecosystems – not only as food for other animals, but each can also filter several dozen litres of water a day! Over 39% of Ontario’s freshwater mussel species are species at risk due to habitat loss, pollution, competition from invasive species, and loss of their host-fish species. Sarah will discuss what species you might find, which features are useful for identifying them, the creative way they reproduce, and where to report your sightings.
Sarah Richer joined the Royal Botanical Gardens team in January 2016 as the Species at Risk Biologist in the Natural Lands department. Prior to landing at RBG, the variable nature of the environmental industry allowed her the privilege of working in conservation, stewardship, research, and natural heritage education for many organizations, including but not limited to Parks Canada, Ontario Parks, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Wye Marsh, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. She has also clocked many volunteer months with wildlife rehabilitators, captive breeding projects, bird banding stations, and wildlife research. She primarily focuses on both common and species at risk birds, reptiles, amphibians, and plants, with some insects thrown in for good measure.
Photo: Tim Menard / USFWS. USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
COVID PROTOCOLS
Masks recommended but not required. Please do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID.
ABOUT NATURE GUELPH
Nature Guelph is an active community of nature lovers connecting people with nature and inspiring them to celebrate and protect it. We host monthly Speaker Series presentations, offer interest-specific programs for wildflower and bird lovers, lead outdoor events that celebrate our natural spaces, and offer educational and inspiring youth programs. We also partner with other local, like-minded organizations on a number of local conservation, citizen science and advocacy initiatives.
THIS EVENT IS FREE BUT DONATIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.
Donations can be made in person, on our website, through Canada Helps, or by mailing a cheque to: Nature Guelph, P.O. Box 1401, Guelph, Ontario N1H 6N8
Suggested donation of $5 for non-members. Charitable receipts available for donations over $10. If you enjoy our events and programs, consider buying an annual membership. http://www.natureguelph.ca/membership/