New report: Climate change impacts on Mytilus edulis
Climate change poses both direct and indirect risks to the welfare of blue mussels. Direct risks are caused by changes in temperature, salinity, and pH, which can cause stress, reduced growth, and increased mortality, especially in larvae. Indirect effects via oxygen depletion, algal blooms, and reduced food availability exacerbate the risks.
In total, the researchers identified 33 risks, of which 17 are prioritized and 4 should be avoided at all costs. They recommend more research on local climate risks, increased monitoring, the ability to adjust depth to avoid risky circumstances, and site selection based on more data to find areas that are resilient to climate change.