Question

Bivalves, like mussels, have evolved to allow them to move from ocean waters to freshwater like rivers and bays.
What is the significance of this evolutionary phenomenon?
• It caused a decrease in the diversity of bivalve freshwater mussels.
• It allowed bivale freshwater mussels to access new food sources and habitats.
• It prevented bivalve freshwater mussels from reproducing effectively.
) It led to the extinction of bivalve freshwater mussel species.

Answer 1

The significance of bivalves, like mussels, evolving to move from ocean waters to freshwater environments is primarily that **it allowed bivalve freshwater mussels to access new food sources and habitats.** This adaptation not only expanded their ecological niches but also contributed to the diversification of their feeding strategies and the subsequent presence in various ecosystems, enhancing their survival and resilience in changing environments.