Oyster shell element composition as a proxy for environmental studies

Abstract

The use of mollusks' shell as a proxy for long-term trend prediction in the variability of coastal zones has been used as an attempt to understand the consequences that environmental changes may cause to the functioning of coastal ecosystems. This study exploited the elemental concentration, elemental ratios and mineralogy of oyster shells of the genus Crassostrea to infer spatial variations in the environment of the animal's growth. Modern oyster shell samples of the Crassostrea brasiliana and Crassostrea mangle species were analyzed by neutron activation analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Data normalization by the enrichment factor relative to lanthanum (La), considered as a conservative element in seawater, and statistical multivariate analyses indicate that the elemental composition and trace element ratios differ when comparing oyster shells from different regions. The results showed that the performed analyses may be useful for the characterization of the environment in which oysters grow.