User:Kacieevans/sandbox

Mechanisms
Freshwater Bivalves can utilize either ovoviviparous or viviparous reproduction strategies. Females tend to have a single reproductive spawning period while males tend to have two spawning periods. Males release their sperm into the water column for females to accept. In contrast to Marine Bivalves, most female freshwater bivalve species hold the fertilized embryos until they develop into larvae when they are released into the water.

Larvae
Once larvae are released into the water column they become semi-parasitic. They need to attach to a host where they grow into juvenile adults. Microbial water composition and sediment composition are important in larval nutrition.

Predation
Invasive species pose a risk to Freshwater Bivalve populations. Specifically two invasive species of crayfish, Procambarus clarkii and Pacifastacus leniusculus, are predators of the freshwater bivalve species Anodonta anatina.

Droughts, floods, and heat waves are a few examples of major climatic events that are happening more frequently because of the global changing climate. This is a huge killer of freshwater bivalve populations.