engleski

Bivalve Glycymeris pilosa as archive of changes in the marineenvironment – A sclerochemical perspective

Investigation of the geochemical composition of bivalve shells can provide information on the changes in the marine environment occurring during the organism's life span. Glycymeris pilosa is a relatively large (>8 cm) and long lived bivalve (>60 years) that is locally abundant in the Adriatic Sea. Its growth lines are clearly visible in shell cross sections. This enables to assign geochemical data obtained from different shell parts precisely to distinct periods of shell growth. In this study we applied LA-ICP-MS in line scan mode to determine the elemental composition in shells of G. pilosa. Sodium, magnesium, strontium, and barium composition in shell material was measured for the period from the 1950s until today. Interannual and seasonal changes were observed. These variations are relatively synchronous between different analyzed individuals, suggesting that they reflect changes in environmental parameters. Obtained data were compared with data of two commercially important and shorter lived bivalve species – Callista chione and Venus verrucosa – collected from the same location in the north Adriatic Sea. In addition, the potential of G. pilosa as 14C-archive in the Mediterranean Sea will be discussed.

bivalve ; sclerochronology ; Glycymeris pilosa ; shell geochemistry

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