How Mussels and Clams Handle Heat

Climate change is making our oceans hotter. This is bad news for bivalve mollusks like mussels and clams. They are struggling to cope with these new conditions. Scientists wanted to see how these creatures manage their energy when temperatures rise. They looked at two types: the Mediterranean mussel and the grooved carpet shell clam. The researchers exposed them to higher temperatures for 25 days. They checked how the bivalves' genes and enzymes reacted to the heat. At first, the bivalves didn't react much to small temperature increases. But as things got hotter, they started using different ways to make energy. Both species turned to anaerobic processes. This is a way of making energy without oxygen. It's less efficient but helps them survive when things get tough. Mussels and clams handled heat differently. Clams relied more on breaking down fats. Mussels, on the other hand, focused on glycolysis. This is a process that turns sugar into energy. When temperatures peaked, mussels cut back on aerobic metabolism. They increased their anaerobic capacity instead. This study shows that bivalves have some tricks to handle heat. But these tricks might not be enough in the long run. Future research could use advanced methods to learn more. This could help us understand how these creatures will fare as the planet warms up.