: By filtering vast amounts of water, bivalves like mussels and oysters act as natural water purifiers in ecosystems.
: They breathe through plate-like gills (ctenidia) located in the mantle cavity. : By filtering vast amounts of water, bivalves
: The nervous system is simplified, consisting of three pairs of ganglia. Ecological and Economic Importance Unio (painter's mussel)
: Most bivalves are filter feeders. They draw water into their mantle cavity through a siphon, where specialized gills trap organic particles. Internal Systems : By filtering vast amounts of water, bivalves
: Students typically study the Anodonta (swan mussel), Unio (painter's mussel), and marine species like the edible mussel and giant clam.