Just Accepted
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Spatial resolution of shell microchemistry for tracking dispersing pelagic mussels in a large open embayment in northern New Zealand
Wenjie Wu 
, Carolyn Lundquist, Andrew Jeffs
Abstract
Context. The effectiveness of using shell microchemistry methods for reconstructing the pelagic dispersal of shell-forming marine organisms relies on the existence of sufficient spatial variability and temporal stability in the microchemical composition of coastal waters. Aims and methods. To determine whether this method can reliably infer pelagic dispersal of green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) across a large and well-mixed embayment in New Zealand, 12 chemical elements (7Li, 27Al, 59Co, 60Ni, 63Cu, 66Zn, 88Sr, 138Ba, 139La, 140Ce, 208Pb, and 238U) were assessed from juvenile mussel shells grown in situ from 22 sites for two consecutive periods of ~5 weeks. Key results. There is sufficient spatial variability in measured shell element concentrations to support microchemical atlases that are capable of distinguishing among regions within this large embayment with 73% assignment accuracy. However, the temporal variability in the microchemical signatures is such that they would need to be sampled contemporaneously with animal samples to be effective for distinguishing pelagic dispersal of mussels in the embayment. Conclusions and implications. The shell microchemistry shows sufficient spatio-temporal resolution for reliably inferring pelagic dispersal of this economically and ecologically important mussel species over a large embayment. Sufficient resolution at such large scale may come from unique hydro-geological inputs.
MF24065 Accepted 17 December 2024
© CSIRO 2024
