Lucia Frias-Wackman

Conservation Related Experience:
This summer I had the opportunity to work alongside the Minnesota Zoo in researching freshwater mussels. Freshwater mussels are among the most endangered animal groups in North America. This section of the zoo is working on farming freshwater mussels and eventually reintroducing them back into their natural habitats–flowing water ranging anywhere from small streams to large rivers.

Connection to Conservation Biology:
Being as endangered as they are, the mussels need immediate attention. The efforts that the zoo are putting forth gave me hope again–people do care and people are taking the necessary measures to preserve a species. Working alongside the zoo was a fantastic experience. The farming of the mussels has been a great success thus far–they are growing and they are beautiful! Freshwater mussels used to be so bountiful that you couldn’t see the bottoms of rivers–they would be lined with mussels. Nowadays, you are lucky if you can even find a couple. Farming and reintroducing these mussels back into their original (natural) habitats and eventually replenishing the falling mussel species is what the Minnesota Zoo and I worked for this summer–it was inspiring.