Amelia Allen

How does water quality affect mass and length of soft-shelled clam?

Started Mar. 5, 2022

Abstract or project description

This research project seeks to reveal how different pH environments affect the physical features of Atlantic Ribbed Mussels (Geukensia demissa). The Ribbed Mussel shells, emptied of soft tissue, were sampled from Lake Merritt in Oakland, California and were divided amongst four pH water groups (8.4, 8, 7.7, and 6 pH). The shell length and weight were recorded on a weekly basis over the course of three weeks. It was hypothesized that, if pH decreases and the water has a higher acidity, then the weight and length of the Ribbed Mussel shells would decrease. However, after three weeks, the research indicated that there was no strong correlation between decreasing the pH and shell weight and length.