Mollusks are soft-bodied invertebrates, most of which have a hard shell. Slugs, snails, octopuses, squids, clams, oysters, and mussels are all types of mollusks. Mollosks are incredibly fascinating animals and play a very important role in the ecosystems they inhabit. During this lab, we will explore all things mollusk! Participants will be able to observe and touch live mollusks as well as other organisms that interact with mollusks in the environment, such as fishes and crabs that live on oyster reefs. Samantha Askin, graduate student at VIMS, will help us understand the importance of mollusks in the Chesapeake Bay and how human activity impacts these animals.

Discovery Labs are free, family-friendly programs provided each month by the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (CBNERR) at VIMS. Designed with elementary-aged youth and their parents in mind, each lab focuses on a different topic related to the Chesapeake Bay and our local environment and includes exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on activities as well as a short presentation (from 6:30-7:00 PM) by an expert on the topic.

Reservations to this event are required due to limited space.