The shell of Mytilus as an indicator of zonal variations of water quality within an estuary

Variations in the mineralogy and chemistry of the shells of the filter-feeding organism Mytilus edulis have allowed discrimination of subenvironments of growth within the Tay estuary. Aragonite proportions higher than those predictable for the temperate, tidal, growth conditions are associated with stretches of the estuary affected by organic pollution. Accumulation and concentration of copper (Cu) in the organic periostracum suggest that Mytilus shell may also prove useful as a monitor of metallic element pollution.The relatively fragile nature of the polylayer shell of Mytilus and the layer specific distribution of components require the use of either complete, undamaged specimens or population groups to discriminate significant variations.