When I think of mussels (the shellfish, not the gym-rat kind), I think of the ocean. Seagulls wheeling overhead, the gross but nostalgic smell of seaweed, maybe of wine and butter on a Friday summer ...

Unassuming freshwater mussels are emerging as environmental heroes. These humble mollusks serve as the “livers of our rivers,” filtering 10-20 gallons of water daily while removing harmful algae, ...