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Transcript: Mussel On
(music plays)
Against a white screen, the TVOKids and FifthGround Entertainment logos appear.
(giggling)
A caption reads "Original."
(theme music plays)
An animated blue sign that reads "FishHeads" falls into the sea.
Leo is an animated blue and orange catfish.
Leo says WE ARE THE FISHHEADS
EXPLORER CLUB,
SAYAT, CHRISTIAN,
AND ME, LEO.
Sayat and Christian are about 12 years old. Sayat has curly black hair and wears a blue sweater and a green lifejacket. Christian has short brown hair and wears glasses, an orange jacket and a blue T-shirt.
Leo continues TOGETHER, WE'RE GETTING WET
AND MUCKY
WORKING WITH EXPERTS AND
HELPING OUR AQUATIC FRIENDS.
EACH DAY WE'RE ON A NEW MISSION
EXPLORING WHAT'S GOING ON
ALONG THE SHORELINES
AND UNDER THE WAVES.
SPLISH, SPLASH, GRAB YOUR BOOTS
AND YOU CAN BE A FISHHEAD TOO.
Fast clips in split screens show Sayat and Christian sailing, exploring river eco-systems and learning about their creatures.
(water burbles)
The title of the show reads "FishHeads, Explorer Club."
Leo swims near two tablets at the bottom of a lake.
Holding a duster, Leo says I'M JUST CLEANING UP A BIT
BECAUSE TODAY IS GOING TO BE
A VERY MUCKY DAY INDEED
FOR THE FISHHEADS TEAM!
A street sign reads "Thames River."
She continues WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS
ARE AT THE TOP OF OUR
FISHFINDER LIST TODAY.
WHOA! THAT'S A NAME
YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY
THREE TIMES FAST!
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSEL,
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSEL,
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSEL. HA HA!
THERE, I DID IT!
YOU'LL FIND THESE MUSSELS
BURIED IN THE RIVER BEDS.
ALTHOUGH, THEY'RE NOT A FISH,
THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT
TO ME AND MY FISHY FRIENDS
BECAUSE THEY KEEP
THE WATER CLEAN.
WHEN THEY'RE AROUND,
I DON'T NEED TO SWEEP UP. HA!
THANK YOU,
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSEL!
BUT THEY NEED SOME HELP TOO
AS THEY ARE A SPECIES AT RISK.
SAYAT AND CHRISTIAN ARE MEETING
UP WITH TODD AND HIS TEAM
FROM THE DEPARTMENT
OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS
TO CHECK IN ON OUR WATER
CLEANING PALS.
MUSSEL ON, FISHHEADS!
Sayat and Christian stand next to Todd and his team by a lake.
A caption reads "Todd Morris. Fisheries and Oceans Canada." Todd is in his mid-forties, clean-shaven and bald. He wears a cap, a dark blue T-shirt and an overall.
Todd says WELCOME, GUYS.
YOU READY TO GET MUCKY
AND DIRTY.
AND TO SEE HOW THE WAVY-RAYED
LAMPMUSSELS ARE DOING TODAY?
Sayat says THE MUCKIER THE BETTER.
Christian says THIS IS ONE OF MY TOP TEN
DREAMS COME TRUE.
Todd says GREAT. FIRST,
WE NEED TO USE THIS.
Christian says WHOA, A VIEWFINDER!
Sayat says THESE HELP US SEE UNDERWATER,
LIKE WE'RE FISH.
Todd says THAT'S RIGHT!
AND NOW MEG AND KELLY
HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED
THE AREAS WHERE THE MUSSELS ARE
AND WE CAN DO SOME DIGGING.
With wavy hair tied-up, Kelly says SAYAT YOU'RE GONNA BE
WITH ME.
In her late twenties, Meg says AND CHRISTIAN,
YOU'RE WITH ME.
Christian says AWESOME.
Todd says GREAT.
I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU GUYS
ARE ALREADY GEARED UP
YOU'VE GOT YOUR PFDS ON.
Sayat says THAT'S THE FISHHEAD MOTTO -
SAFE IS FUN, FUN IS SAFE!
Todd says GREAT. LET'S GO.
Sayat says WAIT, I JUST REALIZED,
WE'RE GOING TO BE WALKING ON
THE RIVERBED
AND THE MUSSELS LIVE UNDER
THE RIVER BED!
IF I STEP ON THEM,
WILL THEY FEEL IT?
Todd says ACTUALLY THEIR SHELLS
ARE PRETTY HARD,
AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE BURROWED
BELOW THE SURFACE.
AS LONG AS WE'RE CAREFUL
THEY'LL BE OKAY.
Sayat says PHEW! BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT
TO GET INTO THE WATER.
Christian says ME TOO!
Todd says ALL RIGHT! LET'S GO!
(music plays)
The caption changes to "Kelly Monichols-Drourke. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (illegible) biologist."
Kelly says OKAY, SAYAT, I'M GONNA LAY
THE QUADRANT DOWN
AND THIS IS THE AREA
WE'RE GONNA SURVEY, OKAY?
Sayat says WE KNOW THAT THE MUSSELS ARE
IMPORTANT TO THE RIVER WATERS,
BUT HOW DO THEY HELP CLEAN IT?
A clip plays.
Standing next to a green board, Christian says DID YOU KNOW MUSSELS
ARE SUPER IMPORTANT
TO HELP KEEPING
THE WATER CLEAN?
THEY HAVE THESE TINY VALVES
OR SIPHONS
THAT BRING WATER
INTO THEIR BODIES.
THEN THEY SORT THROUGH THE FOOD
WHICH COULD BE ALGAE
OR BACTERIA
AND SEND IT TO THEIR MOUTHS.
BUT OTHER STUFF LIKE SAND
AND DIRT
GET SENT TO A DIFFERENT PLACE.
ALL THE STUFF THAT CAN MAKE IT
HARD FOR A FISH
TO SEE OR BREATHE.
THE DIRT IS LEFT ON
THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER
AND MR. MUSSEL SPITS OUT
CLEAN AND CLEAR WATER
FOR ALL THE OTHER FISH!
WHEN THERE ARE MUSSELS AROUND
THE WATER
COULD BE A LOT CLEANER
AND BETTER FOR THE FISH.
A MUSSEL CAN TAKE IN AS MUCH
AS 40 LITRES OF WATER
A DAY.
THAT'S AS MUCH AS DRINKING
40 BIG WATER BOTTLES.
OUR LITTLE MUSSEL FRIENDS
DO RIVER CHORES.
IF ONLY THEY COULD HELP ME
WITH MY ROOM.
AND, NOW YOU KNOW!
The clip ends.
The caption changes to "Meg Sheldon. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Aquatic Science Technician."
Meg says OUR VIEWFINDERS ARE GREAT
FOR FINDING GUYS, EH?
ACTUALLY GALS - WE'RE PROBABLY
GONNA FIND A LOT MORE FEMALES
THAN MALES IN THIS RIVER.
Christian says HOW DO I KNOW
WHAT TO LOOK FOR?
Meg says SO IF YOU LOOK THROUGH
YOUR VIEWFINDER
AND SEE THAT BRIGHT RED BIT
AMONG THE ROCKS THERE?
Christian says YEAH.
Meg says THAT IS ACTUALLY A FEMALE
WAVY-RAYED LURE.
Christian says WOW, THAT'S SO COOL.
Meg says YEAH. AND NOT ALL OF THEM
LOOK LIKE THAT.
SOME OF OUR MUSSELS
HAVE DIFFERS LURES.
SO SOME FEMALES
WILL HAVE BLACK LURES,
AND SOME ACTUALLY HAVE LURES
THAT LOOK LIKE LITTLE FISH.
The team looks for the mussels in the riverbed.
Todd says OKAY, TEAM,
BRING IN THE MUSSELS.
SO YOU PROBABLY GUESSED
THAT WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS
GET THEIR NAME
FROM THESE WAVY LINES
ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE SHELLS.
Sayat says SO YOU CAN TELL THEM APART
FROM THIS WAVE?
Todd says THAT'S RIGHT, YOU CAN.
AND NOT ONLY DOES THE SHELL
PROTECT THE ANIMAL INSIDE,
BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES HABITAT
FOR AQUATIC INSECTS
LIKE CADDISFLIES
AND ALSO FOR THINGS
LIKE CRAYFISH.
Christian says THOSE ARE FISH FOOD.
WHICH MAKE THEM EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT.
Sayat says THESE MUSSELS ARE WAY MORE
EASIER TO HANDLE
THAN OTHER FISH!
DO THEY MOVE AT ALL?
Todd says THEY DO MOVE A LITTLE BIT.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A FOOT
BUT NOT LIKE A FOOT
THAT YOU AND I HAVE,
IT'S MORE LIKE A TONGUE.
IT'S JUST A MUSCLE THAT
STICKS OUT THE BACK END.
AND THE FOOT COMES OUT
AND THEY PULL THE SHELL ALONG,
AND THE FOOT GOES OUT
AND THEY PULL THE SHELL ALONG.
AND THAT'S HOW THEY MOVE.
Sayat says SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WORK!
Todd says IT IS A LOT OF WORK.
AND SO MANY OF THESE ANIMALS
DON'T MOVE MORE
THAN ONE SQUARE METER
IN THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.
ABOUT THAT MUCH SPACE.
NOW THAT WE'VE FOUND
THE WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS,
WE NEED TO START FINDING
THE FEMALES.
Sayat says HOW CAN YOU TELL
WHICH IS WHICH?
Todd says WELL, THE FEMALES THEY GET
BIGGER ON THE ONE END
BECAUSE THE SHELL HAS TO GROW
IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM
FOR THE GLOCHIDIA,
WHICH SHE IS HOLING
INSIDE HER GILLS.
Christian says THAT'S A COOL WORD.
THAT ONE LOOKS BIGGER!
The caption changes to "Glochidia: larvae or a type of baby in the fish world."
Todd says YEP, THAT'S BECAUSE THAT ONE
IS A FEMALE.
AND THE FEMALES THEY DON'T HOLD
THE GLOCHIDIA FOR VERY LONG.
THEY PASS IT OFF
TO SMALL-MOUTH BASS,
AND THEN IT STAYS ON
THE SMALL-MOUTH BASS
FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS
WHILE IT DEVELOPS.
Christian says BUT IF THEY DON'T
TRAVEL THAT FAR,
HOW DO THEY CATCH
THE SMALL-MOUTH BASS
AND MAKE THEM TO CARRY
THEIR EGGS?
Leo says OKAY. LET'S TALK ABOUT
THE LADIES, SHALL WE?
ALL MY LADIES,
THROW YOUR SHELLS UP!
OUR FEMALE WAVY-RAYED
LAMPMUSSELS
DO SOMETHING VERY COOL.
THEY STICK THEIR BODIES
OUT OF THEIR SHELLS
AND TAKE THE SHAPE
OF A FISHING LURE.
ANYTHING THAT CATCHES
THE EYE OF A PASSING FISH.
IT'S CALLED A LURE.
YOU KNOW, LIKE ONE OF THOSE
SHINY THINGS YOU PUT ON
YOUR FISHING LINE TO TRICK US
FISH INTO BITING IT. HM?
OOOH. I REALLY DO LIKE
SHINY THINGS!
WHEN THE BASS COMES AROUND
LOOKING FOR ITS SNACK,
THESE TALENTED MOMMAS
CAN TURN THEMSELVES
INTO THE SHAPE OF A SMALL FISH
THAT A SMALL-MOUTH BASS
MIGHT FIND TASTY.
A clip shows the behavior explained.
Leo continues ONCE THE FISH SEES
THE MUSSEL'S LURE,
IT OPENS ITS MOUTH TO BITE
AND THE MUSSEL WILL SPIT
IT'S LARVAE
INTO THE BASS'S GILLS.
THEN, THE FEMALE MUSSEL
WILL SNAP SHUT
MAKING SURE SHE ISN'T BITTEN
BY THE FISH.
AND THE SMALL-MOUTH BASS
SWIMS AWAY HUNGRY
AND A LITTLE ANNOYED,
BUT CARRYING A NEW GENERATION
OF WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS.
CLEVER, HUH?
Christian says WOW! THAT'S QUITE SNEAKY!
DO YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE ANY
SMALL-MOUTH BASS AROUND HERE
CARRYING ANY LARVAE?
Meg says THERE DEFINITELY COULD BE.
DO YOU WANNA GO CHECK
AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND?
Christian says YOU BETCHA!
Todd says ALL RIGHT.
SAYAT AND I'LL STAY HERE,
WE'LL PROCESS THESE ANIMALS.
YOU GUYS LOOK FOR BASS.
Sayat says SWEET.
Meg says ALL RIGHT.
Todd says SHOULD WE CHECK AND SEE
IF THIS FEMALE
IS CARRYING ANY BABIES?
Sayat says HOW DO WE CHECK?
Leo says SAFELY CHECK!
(blows whistle)
THIS IS DOUBLY IMPORTANT
FOR YOU AND OUR MUSSEL FRIENDS!
EVERYONE KNOWS YOU SHOULDN'T
USE A KNIFE
WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION,
BUT WHAT TODD IS DOING,
IS SOMETHING ONLY
AN EXPERT SHOULD DO.
PRYING OPEN A MUSSEL'S SHELL
WITH A KNIFE
COULD CUT YOUR HAND,
BUT IF YOU OPEN UP
THE SHELL TOO FAR
YOU COULD SERIOUSLY HURT
THE MUSSEL AS WELL.
AND NO FISHHEAD WANTS EITHER
OF THOSE THINGS TO HAPPEN!
MH-MHH.
Sayat says LOOK, THERE IS A BUNCH OF EGGS
JUST WAITING FOR A SMALL-MOUTH
BASS!
WON'T THAT BE A LOT OF EGGS
JUST FOR ONE FISH TO CARRY?
Todd says IF WOULD BE A LOT OF EGGS
FOR ONE FISH,
BUT THIS FEMALE WILL PUT HER
EGGS ON MANY DIFFERENT FISH.
AND THAT JUST INCREASES
THE CHANCES
THAT SOME OF THE WILL SURVIVE.
Sayat says WILL ANY OL' FISH DO?
Todd says NO. IN FACT WAVY-RAYED
LAMPMUSSELS
WILL ONLY USE SMALL-MOUTH BASS.
AND MANY OF OUT MUSSEL SPECIES
ONLY USE
A FEW DIFFERENT FISH SPECIES.
Sayat says SOUNDS LIKE A COOL MYSTERY!
Todd says IT IS.
LET'S GET THESE ANIMALS
PROCESSED.
Sayat says I'LL TAKE THE SMALLEST ONE
FIRST.
Todd says THAT IS A WAVY-RAYED
LAMPMUSSELS.
Sayat says 60 MILLIMETRES.
Holding a notebook, Todd says 60 MILLIMETRES.
I'LL WRITE THAT ONE DOWN.
Sayat says THIS ONE IS ANOTHER SMALL ONE.
Todd says IT IS. THAT'S ANOTHER FEMALE
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS.
Sayat measures it and says 70 MILLIMETRES.
A HUGE ONE!
Todd says THAT'S A REAL BIG ONE,
ISN'T IT?
THAT'S A MALE POCKET BOOK.
Sayat says WHOA! IT'S A 150 MILLIMETRES.
Todd says THAT'S ALMOST A RECORD.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES
I'VE EVER SEEN.
Leo says THE FISHHEADS NOT ONLY FOUND
THE WAVY-RAYED,
BUT ALSO SOME OF THEIR COUSINS.
THE BIG COUSINS. WHOA!
Sayat says THIS IS 100 AND HALF.
Todd says 100.5 MILLIMETRE.
(splashing)
Meg says ALL RIGHT.
THE SEINE NET IS A GREAT
AND SAFE WAY TO CATCH FISH
WITHOUT HURTING THEM.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE FOUND.
Christian says BINGO!
THAT'S A SMALL-MOUTH BASS.
HOW LONG DO THE EGGS STAY
INSIDE THE GILLS?
Meg says THE GLOCHIDIA OR THE LARVA
WILL BE ON THE GILLS
FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS.
AND THEY'LL DEVELOP
AND THEN THEY DROP OFF
AND BURY INTO THE BOTTOM
OF THE RIVER.
Christian says AND THEN THEY'LL GROW
INTO FULL GROWN MUSSELS.
Karen says YES, IT'S AN AMAZING PROCESS.
AND THE ANIMALS
THAT WE SAW TODAY
ARE PROBABLY 8 TO 10 YEARS OLD
SO IT TOOK THEM THAT LONG
TO GROW THAT BIG.
Christian says COOL.
Later, Sayat says HEY, CHRISTIAN.
WE COLLECTED SO MANY MUSSELS.
Christian says AWESOME.
WE COLLECTED A SMALL-MOUTH BASS
WITH LARVAE ON IT.
Todd says IT'S GREAT THAT WE FOUND
SO MANY ANIMALS TODAY.
SO MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES
AND IN PARTICULAR SO MANY
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS.
IT'S A SIGN THAT THIS RIVER
IS GETTING HEALTHIER.
AND IT'S GOOD FOR ALL OF
THE FISH AND OTHER ANIMALS
THAT LIVE IN THE RIVER.
Christian says THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THIS
RIVER IS ALSO REALLY CLEAN.
Sayat says BY THESE MUDDY MUSSELS!
Todd says THAT'S RIGHT.
LET'S PUT THEM BACK SO THEY
CAN FINISH DOING THEIR JOB.
Christian says GOODBYE MUCKY MUSSEL FRIENDS!
THANKS FOR DOING
YOUR RIVER CHORES!
Leo says CONGRATULATIONS FISHHEADS
ON A MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
AND FOR ALSO NOT TRACKING
ANY MUCK IN HERE.
BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT TO DO
TO KEEP THE RIVERS HEALTHY.
(foghorn)
ATTENTION FELLOW FISHHEADS!
A GREAT WAY TO HELP THE WAVY
RAYED LAMPMUSSEL POPULATION
IS TO CONSIDER PUTTING THAT
SMALL-MOUTH BASS YOU CATCH
BACK INTO THE WATER.
THEY JUST MIGHT BE CARRYING
SOME YOUNG
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS
IN THEIR GILLS.
THE MORE MUSSELS IN THE WATER,
HELPS TO KEEP THE RIVERS
HEALTHY AND CLEAN
FOR CLAM LOVING FISH
LIKE MYSELF.
Holding a duster, she gasps and says OOPS, MISSED A SPOT.
The team high-five and say FISHHEADS!
(theme music plays)
The end credits roll.
Copyright 2019, All Rights Reserved.
Against a white screen, the TVOKids and FifthGround Entertainment logos appear.
(giggling)
A caption reads "Original."
(theme music plays)
An animated blue sign that reads "FishHeads" falls into the sea.
Leo is an animated blue and orange catfish.
Leo says WE ARE THE FISHHEADS
EXPLORER CLUB,
SAYAT, CHRISTIAN,
AND ME, LEO.
Sayat and Christian are about 12 years old. Sayat has curly black hair and wears a blue sweater and a green lifejacket. Christian has short brown hair and wears glasses, an orange jacket and a blue T-shirt.
Leo continues TOGETHER, WE'RE GETTING WET
AND MUCKY
WORKING WITH EXPERTS AND
HELPING OUR AQUATIC FRIENDS.
EACH DAY WE'RE ON A NEW MISSION
EXPLORING WHAT'S GOING ON
ALONG THE SHORELINES
AND UNDER THE WAVES.
SPLISH, SPLASH, GRAB YOUR BOOTS
AND YOU CAN BE A FISHHEAD TOO.
Fast clips in split screens show Sayat and Christian sailing, exploring river eco-systems and learning about their creatures.
(water burbles)
The title of the show reads "FishHeads, Explorer Club."
Leo swims near two tablets at the bottom of a lake.
Holding a duster, Leo says I'M JUST CLEANING UP A BIT
BECAUSE TODAY IS GOING TO BE
A VERY MUCKY DAY INDEED
FOR THE FISHHEADS TEAM!
A street sign reads "Thames River."
She continues WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS
ARE AT THE TOP OF OUR
FISHFINDER LIST TODAY.
WHOA! THAT'S A NAME
YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY
THREE TIMES FAST!
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSEL,
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSEL,
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSEL. HA HA!
THERE, I DID IT!
YOU'LL FIND THESE MUSSELS
BURIED IN THE RIVER BEDS.
ALTHOUGH, THEY'RE NOT A FISH,
THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT
TO ME AND MY FISHY FRIENDS
BECAUSE THEY KEEP
THE WATER CLEAN.
WHEN THEY'RE AROUND,
I DON'T NEED TO SWEEP UP. HA!
THANK YOU,
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSEL!
BUT THEY NEED SOME HELP TOO
AS THEY ARE A SPECIES AT RISK.
SAYAT AND CHRISTIAN ARE MEETING
UP WITH TODD AND HIS TEAM
FROM THE DEPARTMENT
OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS
TO CHECK IN ON OUR WATER
CLEANING PALS.
MUSSEL ON, FISHHEADS!
Sayat and Christian stand next to Todd and his team by a lake.
A caption reads "Todd Morris. Fisheries and Oceans Canada." Todd is in his mid-forties, clean-shaven and bald. He wears a cap, a dark blue T-shirt and an overall.
Todd says WELCOME, GUYS.
YOU READY TO GET MUCKY
AND DIRTY.
AND TO SEE HOW THE WAVY-RAYED
LAMPMUSSELS ARE DOING TODAY?
Sayat says THE MUCKIER THE BETTER.
Christian says THIS IS ONE OF MY TOP TEN
DREAMS COME TRUE.
Todd says GREAT. FIRST,
WE NEED TO USE THIS.
Christian says WHOA, A VIEWFINDER!
Sayat says THESE HELP US SEE UNDERWATER,
LIKE WE'RE FISH.
Todd says THAT'S RIGHT!
AND NOW MEG AND KELLY
HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED
THE AREAS WHERE THE MUSSELS ARE
AND WE CAN DO SOME DIGGING.
With wavy hair tied-up, Kelly says SAYAT YOU'RE GONNA BE
WITH ME.
In her late twenties, Meg says AND CHRISTIAN,
YOU'RE WITH ME.
Christian says AWESOME.
Todd says GREAT.
I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU GUYS
ARE ALREADY GEARED UP
YOU'VE GOT YOUR PFDS ON.
Sayat says THAT'S THE FISHHEAD MOTTO -
SAFE IS FUN, FUN IS SAFE!
Todd says GREAT. LET'S GO.
Sayat says WAIT, I JUST REALIZED,
WE'RE GOING TO BE WALKING ON
THE RIVERBED
AND THE MUSSELS LIVE UNDER
THE RIVER BED!
IF I STEP ON THEM,
WILL THEY FEEL IT?
Todd says ACTUALLY THEIR SHELLS
ARE PRETTY HARD,
AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE BURROWED
BELOW THE SURFACE.
AS LONG AS WE'RE CAREFUL
THEY'LL BE OKAY.
Sayat says PHEW! BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT
TO GET INTO THE WATER.
Christian says ME TOO!
Todd says ALL RIGHT! LET'S GO!
(music plays)
The caption changes to "Kelly Monichols-Drourke. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (illegible) biologist."
Kelly says OKAY, SAYAT, I'M GONNA LAY
THE QUADRANT DOWN
AND THIS IS THE AREA
WE'RE GONNA SURVEY, OKAY?
Sayat says WE KNOW THAT THE MUSSELS ARE
IMPORTANT TO THE RIVER WATERS,
BUT HOW DO THEY HELP CLEAN IT?
A clip plays.
Standing next to a green board, Christian says DID YOU KNOW MUSSELS
ARE SUPER IMPORTANT
TO HELP KEEPING
THE WATER CLEAN?
THEY HAVE THESE TINY VALVES
OR SIPHONS
THAT BRING WATER
INTO THEIR BODIES.
THEN THEY SORT THROUGH THE FOOD
WHICH COULD BE ALGAE
OR BACTERIA
AND SEND IT TO THEIR MOUTHS.
BUT OTHER STUFF LIKE SAND
AND DIRT
GET SENT TO A DIFFERENT PLACE.
ALL THE STUFF THAT CAN MAKE IT
HARD FOR A FISH
TO SEE OR BREATHE.
THE DIRT IS LEFT ON
THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER
AND MR. MUSSEL SPITS OUT
CLEAN AND CLEAR WATER
FOR ALL THE OTHER FISH!
WHEN THERE ARE MUSSELS AROUND
THE WATER
COULD BE A LOT CLEANER
AND BETTER FOR THE FISH.
A MUSSEL CAN TAKE IN AS MUCH
AS 40 LITRES OF WATER
A DAY.
THAT'S AS MUCH AS DRINKING
40 BIG WATER BOTTLES.
OUR LITTLE MUSSEL FRIENDS
DO RIVER CHORES.
IF ONLY THEY COULD HELP ME
WITH MY ROOM.
AND, NOW YOU KNOW!
The clip ends.
The caption changes to "Meg Sheldon. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Aquatic Science Technician."
Meg says OUR VIEWFINDERS ARE GREAT
FOR FINDING GUYS, EH?
ACTUALLY GALS - WE'RE PROBABLY
GONNA FIND A LOT MORE FEMALES
THAN MALES IN THIS RIVER.
Christian says HOW DO I KNOW
WHAT TO LOOK FOR?
Meg says SO IF YOU LOOK THROUGH
YOUR VIEWFINDER
AND SEE THAT BRIGHT RED BIT
AMONG THE ROCKS THERE?
Christian says YEAH.
Meg says THAT IS ACTUALLY A FEMALE
WAVY-RAYED LURE.
Christian says WOW, THAT'S SO COOL.
Meg says YEAH. AND NOT ALL OF THEM
LOOK LIKE THAT.
SOME OF OUR MUSSELS
HAVE DIFFERS LURES.
SO SOME FEMALES
WILL HAVE BLACK LURES,
AND SOME ACTUALLY HAVE LURES
THAT LOOK LIKE LITTLE FISH.
The team looks for the mussels in the riverbed.
Todd says OKAY, TEAM,
BRING IN THE MUSSELS.
SO YOU PROBABLY GUESSED
THAT WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS
GET THEIR NAME
FROM THESE WAVY LINES
ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE SHELLS.
Sayat says SO YOU CAN TELL THEM APART
FROM THIS WAVE?
Todd says THAT'S RIGHT, YOU CAN.
AND NOT ONLY DOES THE SHELL
PROTECT THE ANIMAL INSIDE,
BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES HABITAT
FOR AQUATIC INSECTS
LIKE CADDISFLIES
AND ALSO FOR THINGS
LIKE CRAYFISH.
Christian says THOSE ARE FISH FOOD.
WHICH MAKE THEM EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT.
Sayat says THESE MUSSELS ARE WAY MORE
EASIER TO HANDLE
THAN OTHER FISH!
DO THEY MOVE AT ALL?
Todd says THEY DO MOVE A LITTLE BIT.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A FOOT
BUT NOT LIKE A FOOT
THAT YOU AND I HAVE,
IT'S MORE LIKE A TONGUE.
IT'S JUST A MUSCLE THAT
STICKS OUT THE BACK END.
AND THE FOOT COMES OUT
AND THEY PULL THE SHELL ALONG,
AND THE FOOT GOES OUT
AND THEY PULL THE SHELL ALONG.
AND THAT'S HOW THEY MOVE.
Sayat says SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WORK!
Todd says IT IS A LOT OF WORK.
AND SO MANY OF THESE ANIMALS
DON'T MOVE MORE
THAN ONE SQUARE METER
IN THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.
ABOUT THAT MUCH SPACE.
NOW THAT WE'VE FOUND
THE WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS,
WE NEED TO START FINDING
THE FEMALES.
Sayat says HOW CAN YOU TELL
WHICH IS WHICH?
Todd says WELL, THE FEMALES THEY GET
BIGGER ON THE ONE END
BECAUSE THE SHELL HAS TO GROW
IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM
FOR THE GLOCHIDIA,
WHICH SHE IS HOLING
INSIDE HER GILLS.
Christian says THAT'S A COOL WORD.
THAT ONE LOOKS BIGGER!
The caption changes to "Glochidia: larvae or a type of baby in the fish world."
Todd says YEP, THAT'S BECAUSE THAT ONE
IS A FEMALE.
AND THE FEMALES THEY DON'T HOLD
THE GLOCHIDIA FOR VERY LONG.
THEY PASS IT OFF
TO SMALL-MOUTH BASS,
AND THEN IT STAYS ON
THE SMALL-MOUTH BASS
FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS
WHILE IT DEVELOPS.
Christian says BUT IF THEY DON'T
TRAVEL THAT FAR,
HOW DO THEY CATCH
THE SMALL-MOUTH BASS
AND MAKE THEM TO CARRY
THEIR EGGS?
Leo says OKAY. LET'S TALK ABOUT
THE LADIES, SHALL WE?
ALL MY LADIES,
THROW YOUR SHELLS UP!
OUR FEMALE WAVY-RAYED
LAMPMUSSELS
DO SOMETHING VERY COOL.
THEY STICK THEIR BODIES
OUT OF THEIR SHELLS
AND TAKE THE SHAPE
OF A FISHING LURE.
ANYTHING THAT CATCHES
THE EYE OF A PASSING FISH.
IT'S CALLED A LURE.
YOU KNOW, LIKE ONE OF THOSE
SHINY THINGS YOU PUT ON
YOUR FISHING LINE TO TRICK US
FISH INTO BITING IT. HM?
OOOH. I REALLY DO LIKE
SHINY THINGS!
WHEN THE BASS COMES AROUND
LOOKING FOR ITS SNACK,
THESE TALENTED MOMMAS
CAN TURN THEMSELVES
INTO THE SHAPE OF A SMALL FISH
THAT A SMALL-MOUTH BASS
MIGHT FIND TASTY.
A clip shows the behavior explained.
Leo continues ONCE THE FISH SEES
THE MUSSEL'S LURE,
IT OPENS ITS MOUTH TO BITE
AND THE MUSSEL WILL SPIT
IT'S LARVAE
INTO THE BASS'S GILLS.
THEN, THE FEMALE MUSSEL
WILL SNAP SHUT
MAKING SURE SHE ISN'T BITTEN
BY THE FISH.
AND THE SMALL-MOUTH BASS
SWIMS AWAY HUNGRY
AND A LITTLE ANNOYED,
BUT CARRYING A NEW GENERATION
OF WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS.
CLEVER, HUH?
Christian says WOW! THAT'S QUITE SNEAKY!
DO YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE ANY
SMALL-MOUTH BASS AROUND HERE
CARRYING ANY LARVAE?
Meg says THERE DEFINITELY COULD BE.
DO YOU WANNA GO CHECK
AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND?
Christian says YOU BETCHA!
Todd says ALL RIGHT.
SAYAT AND I'LL STAY HERE,
WE'LL PROCESS THESE ANIMALS.
YOU GUYS LOOK FOR BASS.
Sayat says SWEET.
Meg says ALL RIGHT.
Todd says SHOULD WE CHECK AND SEE
IF THIS FEMALE
IS CARRYING ANY BABIES?
Sayat says HOW DO WE CHECK?
Leo says SAFELY CHECK!
(blows whistle)
THIS IS DOUBLY IMPORTANT
FOR YOU AND OUR MUSSEL FRIENDS!
EVERYONE KNOWS YOU SHOULDN'T
USE A KNIFE
WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION,
BUT WHAT TODD IS DOING,
IS SOMETHING ONLY
AN EXPERT SHOULD DO.
PRYING OPEN A MUSSEL'S SHELL
WITH A KNIFE
COULD CUT YOUR HAND,
BUT IF YOU OPEN UP
THE SHELL TOO FAR
YOU COULD SERIOUSLY HURT
THE MUSSEL AS WELL.
AND NO FISHHEAD WANTS EITHER
OF THOSE THINGS TO HAPPEN!
MH-MHH.
Sayat says LOOK, THERE IS A BUNCH OF EGGS
JUST WAITING FOR A SMALL-MOUTH
BASS!
WON'T THAT BE A LOT OF EGGS
JUST FOR ONE FISH TO CARRY?
Todd says IF WOULD BE A LOT OF EGGS
FOR ONE FISH,
BUT THIS FEMALE WILL PUT HER
EGGS ON MANY DIFFERENT FISH.
AND THAT JUST INCREASES
THE CHANCES
THAT SOME OF THE WILL SURVIVE.
Sayat says WILL ANY OL' FISH DO?
Todd says NO. IN FACT WAVY-RAYED
LAMPMUSSELS
WILL ONLY USE SMALL-MOUTH BASS.
AND MANY OF OUT MUSSEL SPECIES
ONLY USE
A FEW DIFFERENT FISH SPECIES.
Sayat says SOUNDS LIKE A COOL MYSTERY!
Todd says IT IS.
LET'S GET THESE ANIMALS
PROCESSED.
Sayat says I'LL TAKE THE SMALLEST ONE
FIRST.
Todd says THAT IS A WAVY-RAYED
LAMPMUSSELS.
Sayat says 60 MILLIMETRES.
Holding a notebook, Todd says 60 MILLIMETRES.
I'LL WRITE THAT ONE DOWN.
Sayat says THIS ONE IS ANOTHER SMALL ONE.
Todd says IT IS. THAT'S ANOTHER FEMALE
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS.
Sayat measures it and says 70 MILLIMETRES.
A HUGE ONE!
Todd says THAT'S A REAL BIG ONE,
ISN'T IT?
THAT'S A MALE POCKET BOOK.
Sayat says WHOA! IT'S A 150 MILLIMETRES.
Todd says THAT'S ALMOST A RECORD.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES
I'VE EVER SEEN.
Leo says THE FISHHEADS NOT ONLY FOUND
THE WAVY-RAYED,
BUT ALSO SOME OF THEIR COUSINS.
THE BIG COUSINS. WHOA!
Sayat says THIS IS 100 AND HALF.
Todd says 100.5 MILLIMETRE.
(splashing)
Meg says ALL RIGHT.
THE SEINE NET IS A GREAT
AND SAFE WAY TO CATCH FISH
WITHOUT HURTING THEM.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE FOUND.
Christian says BINGO!
THAT'S A SMALL-MOUTH BASS.
HOW LONG DO THE EGGS STAY
INSIDE THE GILLS?
Meg says THE GLOCHIDIA OR THE LARVA
WILL BE ON THE GILLS
FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS.
AND THEY'LL DEVELOP
AND THEN THEY DROP OFF
AND BURY INTO THE BOTTOM
OF THE RIVER.
Christian says AND THEN THEY'LL GROW
INTO FULL GROWN MUSSELS.
Karen says YES, IT'S AN AMAZING PROCESS.
AND THE ANIMALS
THAT WE SAW TODAY
ARE PROBABLY 8 TO 10 YEARS OLD
SO IT TOOK THEM THAT LONG
TO GROW THAT BIG.
Christian says COOL.
Later, Sayat says HEY, CHRISTIAN.
WE COLLECTED SO MANY MUSSELS.
Christian says AWESOME.
WE COLLECTED A SMALL-MOUTH BASS
WITH LARVAE ON IT.
Todd says IT'S GREAT THAT WE FOUND
SO MANY ANIMALS TODAY.
SO MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES
AND IN PARTICULAR SO MANY
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS.
IT'S A SIGN THAT THIS RIVER
IS GETTING HEALTHIER.
AND IT'S GOOD FOR ALL OF
THE FISH AND OTHER ANIMALS
THAT LIVE IN THE RIVER.
Christian says THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THIS
RIVER IS ALSO REALLY CLEAN.
Sayat says BY THESE MUDDY MUSSELS!
Todd says THAT'S RIGHT.
LET'S PUT THEM BACK SO THEY
CAN FINISH DOING THEIR JOB.
Christian says GOODBYE MUCKY MUSSEL FRIENDS!
THANKS FOR DOING
YOUR RIVER CHORES!
Leo says CONGRATULATIONS FISHHEADS
ON A MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
AND FOR ALSO NOT TRACKING
ANY MUCK IN HERE.
BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT TO DO
TO KEEP THE RIVERS HEALTHY.
(foghorn)
ATTENTION FELLOW FISHHEADS!
A GREAT WAY TO HELP THE WAVY
RAYED LAMPMUSSEL POPULATION
IS TO CONSIDER PUTTING THAT
SMALL-MOUTH BASS YOU CATCH
BACK INTO THE WATER.
THEY JUST MIGHT BE CARRYING
SOME YOUNG
WAVY-RAYED LAMPMUSSELS
IN THEIR GILLS.
THE MORE MUSSELS IN THE WATER,
HELPS TO KEEP THE RIVERS
HEALTHY AND CLEAN
FOR CLAM LOVING FISH
LIKE MYSELF.
Holding a duster, she gasps and says OOPS, MISSED A SPOT.
The team high-five and say FISHHEADS!
(theme music plays)
The end credits roll.
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