Facility Tour
Please click on any image to view larger:
The Freshwater Mussel Conservation and Research Facility
Photo by Kristi Harraman, OSU. April 2009
View of the back of the facility, from the reservoir
Photo by Kristi Harraman, OSU. April 2009.
AHAB Room: Benchtop AHAB:
Photo by Kristi Harraman, OSU
This system is primarily used for rearing darter fry. Fry are divided into individual tanks by age and/or size.
AHAB Room: Fish Host ID AHABs:
These racks are home to the fish being used for Mussel Host Identification work. Each individual tank holds a fish, which can then be a host for different mussel species glochidia. Whether or not a transformed juvenile mussel drops off the fish can indicate if a certain fish species can be a suitable host.
For more information about this process, please see the mussel research website.
Back Porch: Tanks A & B:
* 11/2009 - These tanks and system are under construction! Please visit our Newsletter page for updated images! 
Photo by Kristi Harraman, OSU
The two systems consist of two tanks each. Each system has separate pumps, water flow controls, temperature settings and light settings. Fish are separated into tanks by species and breeding conditions are created.
Back Porch: AHAB
This unit is called an AHAB (Aquatic Habitat).
Rainbow Darter fry in AHAB:
Photo by Kristi Harraman, OSU
Back Porch: Walmart Rack
These racks with tanks were donated to us by Walmart.They are being used to house fish for propagation.
Main Room: Holding Tank:
Photo by Kristi Harraman, OSU
This holding tank is used for holding extra fish specimens. Some of the species include rainbow, greenside, banded, fantail, and longhead darters.
Main Mussel Room:Photo by Tom Watters, OSU
This series of tanks is used to house various species of freshwater mussels.
Main mussel room 2008. The large white vats hold algae for the mussels.
Snail tank. This tank is currently being used to grow snails. The light above spins like a ceiling fan (only slower) to simulate cloud cover and natural lighting.
Some of the current mussel residents in their tank.
Misc. Mussel Facility Pictures:
Success! Mussels bred, born, transformed, and raised at the mussel facility!
Ohio mussel species display in main office.
Education center with microscopes. We occassionally host groups from local schools to do educational labs. Lab topics range from mussels to zooplankton to freshwater water chemistry.
We also have educational kits that can be loaned out to area schools through the zoo.
Our facility occupies a converted lodge once owned by the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company. Their old bar still remains (along with a few other nostalgic touches).
Photo by Kristi Harraman, OSU.
Flowering tree at the facility, April 2009.
Photo by Kristi Harraman, OSU