This study was begun in 1966 as the first of a two phase investigation to determine dredging effects on fauna of Pool 19 of the Mississippi River. Monthly, from June to December, 1967, four 7.62 cm core-samples were taken at seven stations. The molluscan fauna included 13 species of gastropods, 7 species of sphaeriids, and 20 species of unionids. Sphaerium transversum made up over 80 per cent of the total organisms 2 at all stations, with a mean of about 40,000/m and a maximum 2 of over 100,000/m. Of the insects, Hexaqenia spp., because of its size, may be most important as fish and duck food. Leeches, Glossiphonia complanata. Helobdel1 a stagnai is and Erpobdel1 a punctata were abundant. Standing crops of benthos ranged up to 11,000 kg/ha in summer, a high biomass compared 2 to other areas. Total organisms/m were maximum in fall. The life history of S^. transversum was emphasized due to its abundance, importance to ducks, and lack of life history data. In the laboratory, 2-transversum grew from birth to maturity in 33 days or less, increasing in weight about 125 fold. Some clams of similar age failed to grow initially and became calyculate (capped) when growth occurred. In the river, calyculism was associated with season of birth. The clams became proportionately lower and wider as length increased. In areas with firm substrates and swift currents, clams were slightly more fusiform than in areas with soft