A measure of water clarity, turbidity is the measure of suspended particles within a liquid. As a river is subjected to urban development, and rainy weather sediment is introduced to the water system increasing the turbidity levels in the river. This can also occur as the river bank erodes causing the bank’s deposits to be washed into the mussels habitat. Particles found in river water can include algae, clay, plankton, and silt; all of these do not allow light to filter through the water.This can lead to a reduction in the photosynthesis of plants found beneath the water’s surface, hotter water temperature due to light absorption by the suspended particles, and a reduction of the dissolved oxygen. Not only affecting the physical features of the river, high turbidity can also cause health issues for the fauna that live in, and near the river. As the gills of aquatic animals filter water they are also simultaneously expelling bigger particles that could clog the gills if the concentration of particles gets too high. When turbidity is at a high level it can also cause the eggs and larvae of aquatic animals to become smothered and die.