They often live in multi-species communities called mussel beds. These beds can support 30 or more species and are generally more diverse in rivers and streams than in lakes. Mussels spend most of their life in a small area of the lake or stream bed that they inhabit.

Where are glochidia found?

The glochidium (plural glochidia) is a microscopic larval stage of some freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve mollusks in the families Unionidae and Margaritiferidae, the river mussels and European freshwater pearl mussels.

Where are mussels found?

Habitat: Mussels live in the sand and gravel bottoms of streams and rivers. They require good water quality, stable stream channels and flowing water.