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Could this humble Asian mussel become an aquatic eco-warrior as our world warms?

  • Hong Kong study indicates the Asian green mussel can endure lengthy marine heatwaves, a growing trend in global warming
  • Molluscs are key members of their ecosystems and help to clean pollutants from water

Reading Time:3 minutes
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Molluscs, like the Asian green mussel, help to support other animal and plant species in their ecosystems by cleaning vast amounts of water. They also seem to be capable of withstanding warmer temperatures, according to a new study. Photo: Shutterstock
Holly Chik

Mussels, those clam-like, stationary, palm-sized creatures found in waters around the world, have for centuries been an important source of seafood for humans and a good source of vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids.

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But for marine biologists, the bivalve mollusc is also a kind of unsung aquatic hero.

Aside from providing habitats for organisms that attach to them, mussels filter considerable amounts of water while feeding, and, in the process, clean pollutants from the waters they live in. Without them, water quality would degrade and various other species of plants and animals would be at risk.

Because of their crucial role in marine ecosystems, biologists have been keen to study them, especially as our planet warms.

The Asian green mussel plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems. Photo: Shutterstock
The Asian green mussel plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems. Photo: Shutterstock
Scientists have found that mussels may be able to recover from marine heatwaves by adjusting their heart rates and body functions, improving their chances of survival amid global warming, according to a new study of the sea creature in Hong Kong, which focused on the Asian green mussel.
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