A Refreshing Success: Rare Mussels Found in River Seine Indicate Positive Pollution Cleanup

In an exciting eco-twist, scientists have discovered traces of rare mussels thought to be near-extinct in the River Seine in Paris. This surprising discovery suggests that the city's efforts toward river cleanup may be bearing fruit. Talk about a reason to shell-ebrate!

An Olympic-sized Achievement:

This ecological discovery was made following the hosting of Olympic swimming events in the River Seine last year - marking the first time in a century that swimming in the river was deemed safe. This certainly gives a new meaning to going for gold, environmentally speaking!

What's in the Water:

Researchers studying the effects of artificial urban lighting on biodiversity took large water samples from eight spots along the river in the city centre. Excitingly, they found DNA traces of not one or two, but 23 different types of mussels, including three classified as near extinct, as well as 36 species of fish. That's around ten times more than were present in the river in the 1960s. Talk about a thriving swim scene!

The Science of Success:

So how did the researchers pick up on the mussel presence? The key lies in the innovative study of environmental DNA (or eDNA for short). This comprises identifying the abundance of species in an area based on the genetic traces left in their wake. This resulted in traces of the thick shelled river mussel, the black river mussel and the depressed river mussel - all classified as almost extinct - being detected in the River Seine. For these delicate under-threat mollusks, the Parisian water seems to be just fine!

Mussels to the Rescue:

The mussels aren't just indicator species, but can actually help improve water quality. Each of these tiny superheroes can filter up to 40 liters of water a day, aiding in the natural purification of the river. Who knew preserving the planet could come in such small, shell-encased packages?

It's still early days and the remarkable comeback of these rare mollusks can't be directly linked to any specific cleanup measures undertaken by the city authorities. However, what this discovery showcases is that with concerted efforts, even once-polluted urban rivers can become a haven for rare, diverse species. So, hats off to Paris for showing the world that it's possible to make a splash in environmental conservation!

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