Purpose:

The ultimate purpose of this study is to model the effects of global warmings rising
water temperatures on the filtration efficiency of Elliptio complanata (eastern elliptio)
mussels. If this experiment is successful, it could allow for further research to be
conducted in order to discover new ways in which mussel species could filter through
freshwater supplies to maintain and create improved environments with added
benefits for surrounding marine life and humans.

Hypothesis and Rationale:

Hypothesis: If Elliptio complanata (eastern elliptio) mussels are placed in algae filled
water environments of 10, 15, 20 and 25, then the mussels placed in the
25 environment will have the lowest filtration efficiency when compared to the
norm group of 10.
Rationale: Due to the effects of global warming, many physiological and internal
processes, such as the production of byssal threads and the mobility of mussel species,
have shown to function less efficiently in response to the rising water temperatures.
Therefore, the filtration system of a mussel species should also have a decline in
effectiveness when exposed to rising water temperatures because this purification
system is considered to play a vital role in the internal processes of a mussel species.
Furthermore, the filtration systems of freshwater mussels have been noted to be
sensitive to drastic changes in environmental conditions, and the sharp rise of water
temperatures has already altered many marine habitats of countless species.

Variables:
Independent Variables: Varying water temperatures (10, 15, 20 and 25)
Dependent Variable: Filtration efficiency of mussel specimen
Control Group: Elliptio complanata specimen tested within the 10 water
environment
Controlled Variables: Experimental procedure followed every trial, time for
acclimatization period, species of mussel, plastic aquarium environment conditions
(including amount of gravel, amount of water, type of air stone), amount of daily algae
fed per water temperature group
Controlled Variables for Trials: Amount of algae fed, amount of water in beakers,
amount of time given for filtration, type of spectrophotometer cuvettes

Research:

Global Warming
A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earths atmosphere that is
generally attributed increased levels of carbon dioxide and other pollutants
(Gooding, 2005)
Rise of water temperatures have been accompanied by many changes in climate and
weather patterns- intense flooding and rainfall, drought, and increase in water
acidity (Gooding, 2005)
Affected the earths ozone layer and many water systems- alterations of the water
systems have impacted the countless marine animals that now have to adapt to their
new environments (Nordsieck, 2013 )

Elliptio Complanata (eastern elliptio ) Mussels

Commonly observed as a species of freshwater mussels
Bivalve species- a type of mollusk that contains a body inside two shells- part of the
Unionidae family under the phylum Mollusca (Eastern Elliptio, 2010)
Found in freshwater streams, lakes, and rivers all across the United States and
Canada (Mulcrone, 2006)
Most frequently found in streams running from Georgia to the St. Lawrence River in
Canada, as well as streams stemming from Lake Superior and Lake Huron (Mulcrone,
2006)

Filtration Process
Consume algae, plankton, protozoans, bacteria, and other organic particles
(Mulcrone, 2006)
First pump water into the incurrent siphon via the cilia cells located on their gills
(How Mussels Live, 2010)
Food is delivered into their bodies and water is filtered back through the excurrent
siphon (How Mussels Live, 2010)
This filtering process- crucial to the survival of the mussel species and to the
maintenance of the surrounding marine environment

Benefits of Freshwater Mussels

Streams with freshwater mussels prosper because mussels "clean" the water they
live in by removing phytoplankton and the bacteria and fungi- able to create a more
healthy and decontaminated habitat for themselves and other various marine life
(Freshwater Mussels, 1992)
Able to provide other marine organisms with nutrients necessary to survive- provide
for their own shells and body, freshwater mussels also excrete nutrients that are
immediately available to the underwater plant life (Freshwater Mussels, 1992)
Some of the leftover organic material is also deposited to the water bed sediment,
making it available for other invertebrates and fish to consume (Freshwater Mussels,
1992)

Procedure:
Preparing the Individual Temperature Environments
Obtain four shoebox sized plastic containers in which the mussel specimen will be placed (one
shoebox per water temperature).
Layer the aquariums with the same amount of gravel, tap water, and aeration method.
Using two coolers with varying amounts of ice, a shaded area at room temperature, and a
greenhouse with a UV light, stimulate the 10, 15, 20, and 25.
Constantly replace water to prevent fouling and death of the mussels; constantly check the
water temperature of the environments.

Preparing the Mussel Specimen

Divide 12 elliptio complanata mussel specimen into four groups, placing three in each
temperature environment. Label the specimen to keep track.
Make sure to place all mussel specimen an appropriate distance from one another to provide
some mobility space. Also turn on the air pump with the connecting gang valves and air
stones within each of the plastic environments.
Allow the mussel specimen to spend 5 days in their plastic tanks to become accustomed to
the new environment.
Feed each group 15 mL of algae food source daily during the acclimatization period and
during the experimental period if that group not being tested.
If, during any time in the acclimatization period or the testing period, a mussel specimen dies,
reduce the amount of algae food for only that environment by 5 mL.

Taking Data
With a testing period of three weeks, each different water temperature group will be tested
once weekly.
Set a spectrophotometer to recording transmittance readings at a wavelength of 525 nm.
Through the use of a spectrophotometer and cuvettes, an initial transmittance reading of the
three algae-water mixtures was recorded.
After 25 minutes of allowing each specimen from
a specific temperature group to filter through the
algae, a final transmittance reading was recorded
for the percentage of algae-water mixture that
remained for each beaker.

Materials:
Eastern Elliptio Freshwater Mussels (12
specimen)
Spectrophotometer and Cuvettes
Plastic shoebox sized containers (4)
Clear Airline Tubing (3.5 m)
Tetra Air Pump (1)
Accuair Aquarium Gang Valve (2)
Discard-A-Stone Air Stones (4)
Algal Food Source (Freshwater
Nannochloropsis grown in Alga-Gro
Freshwater Medium)
TopFin Premium Aquarium Gravel (11.3 kg)
Styrofoam coolers (2)
Icemaker
Water Thermometer (4)

Greenhouse set to 25 (1)

UV light (1)
Container (for algae culturing)
Natural Spring Water
25 mL beaker (1)
50 mL beaker (1)
I L beaker (3)
Graduated Cylinder (1)
Pipettes
Tap Water
1 roll of tape
Paper Towels
Plastic Bags
Gloves

Conclusion:

Purpose - determine the impact of global warmings rising water temperatures on the filtration
efficiency of freshwater Elliptio complanata mussels
Hypothesis - if Elliptio complanata mussels were to be placed in algae-filled water environments
of 10, 15, 20 and 25, the mussels placed in the 25 environment would have the
lowest filtration efficiency when compared to the norm group of 10
Essentially, the rise of water temperatures should decrease the filtration efficiency of the eastern
elliptio mussels the filtration systems of the freshwater mussels have been previously shown to
be sensitive to drastic changes in environmental conditions
12 mussels were evenly divided within 4 plastic containers with the same amount of water,
amount of gravel, and method of aeration
10 and 15 environments were simulated through the use of two coolers containing different
amounts of ice; A 20 environment was achieved at room temperature, and a 25 environment
was simulated through the use of UV light shining down into the last water environment
All 12 specimen were initially given five days to acclimatize to their assigned water temperature
Through the use of a spectrophotometer and cuvettes, an initial transmittance reading of the
three algae-water mixtures was recorded
After 25 minutes of allowing each specimen from a specific temperature group to filter through
the algae, a final transmittance reading was recorded for the percentage of algae-water mixture
that remained for each beaker
For a three week testing period, the specimen in one temperature environment were tested once
per week: filtration efficiency of each specimen was determined by recording the difference
between the final and initial transmittance percentages.

According to the data: hypothesis was indeed supported because the mussel specimen in the
25 environment had significantly less filtration efficiency than those tested in the 10
environment when tested during all three trials
For all three weeks, there appears to be a gradual negative correlation between the decrease of
filtration efficiency in regards to the increase of water temperatures
Inferred that mussel specimen were more susceptible to filtration failure which ultimately led to
death as the temperatures rose
Global warmings raised water temperatures do indeed negatively affect the filtration of
freshwater mussels because the purification systems are too sensitive to handle extreme hot
temperatures.
Therefore, if water temperatures continue to rise, freshwater mussel filtration systems will begin
to weaken, causing more toxic and bacteria infested water environments. More animals would
begin to die because of the toxification of the water, directly impacting the marine life beneath
the water.

Impact:

This research would contribute to gaining more knowledge about how the increasing effects of global
warming affect the mussel species. Because the filtration characteristics of mussels contribute
overwhelming factors that create more stable environments, mussel species are being observed to
determine ways to help improve freshwater and saltwater marine environments. Due to this research,
rising water temperatures do indeed lead to less filtration efficiency which can lead to the fouling of
surrounding marine life. By understanding how rising water temperatures can affect the filtration
process of mussels negatively, researchers can begin to explore more ways that global warming affects
marine life as well as what other environmental factors influence various mussel specimen. Its become
necessary to observe the effects of global warming on marine environments because of all the negative
impacts it has on the underwater life.