Sneha Mukherjee

How does ocean acidification, eutrophication, dams, invasive species, pollution, and nutrification impact freshwater and marine mussel populations? What does that mean for aquaculture and conservation in the future?

Started June 1, 2023

Abstract or project description

In today’s world, there are many stressors that alter freshwater and marine mussels’ environments, ultimately threatening mussel populations’ survival. Chemical changes can be induced by several processes, namely ocean and freshwater acidification, eutrophication, and pollution. Ocean and freshwater acidification refer to the long-term lowering of pH in bodies of water due to increased dissolved carbon dioxide. Similarly, an excess of nutrients in aquatic environments leads to algae blooms and excessive plant growth, resulting in stunted growth of other organisms and hypoxic (dead) zones, otherwise known as eutrophication. Simultaneously, mussels are additionally heavily impacted by pollution, or increases in concentration of nutrients from fertiliser runoff, industrial chemicals, and plastic. Mussel populations are also challenged physically through the presence of dams and invasive species which both cause habitat fragmentation and resource depletion. This review will highlight the current knowledge and challenges of environmental stressors on marine and freshwater mussel populations as well as provide guidance for conservation and aquaculture strategies moving forward.