Download Climate change exacerbates marine pollution impacts

The Greenshell mussel (GSM) is a commercially, ecologically and culturally significant species to New Zealand. Summer die-offs, spat retention issues and a severe decline in GSM spat settlement have been reported in the Marlborough Sounds. The causes of these effects are unknown but preliminary evidence indicates that pressure from anthropogenic activities could contribute. The aims of this study were to

(1) test the toxicity of water and sediment extracts on early life stages of the GSM to identify potential sources of stressors affecting GSM recruitment, and

(2) investigate the effects of temperature on the toxicity of these stressors to help understand the potential impact of climate change and pollution on GSM.