Research published this week from scientists from British Antarctic Survey show temperature, salinity and food supply are the main drivers of variability in the shape of mussel shells.
Phys.org reports the scientists studied mussel populations over a wide geographic range, along the Arctic, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea coastlines, to assess the potential environmental impacts on shell shape.
Scientists leading the study said identifying the connection between environmental conditions and shell shape provides information on how mussel populations could change in rapidly-changing environments.
