Freshwater Mussels as High-Resolution Recorders of Local Climate Data: Learning from an Imperiled Species

Freshwater mussels are native bivalve mollusks and an important indicator species for water quality. Over 65% of the species present in North America are imperiled.
In the West, mussel populations are generally declining, and the western ridged mussel (Gonidea angulata), native to the Pacific Northwest, is under review by the US Fish & Wildlife Service for Endangered Species Act listing.
Just as scientists use dendrochronology to determine the climate conditions of a forest using tree rings, sclerochronology can be used to determine the condition of stream habitats using growth bands stored within mussel shells.