Bivalves play a key role in coastal ecosystems and provide society with many ecosystem services. Anthropogenic activities produce a multitude of interacting stressors which can cause unexpected responses in the physiology, behaviour, condition, development, reproduction and survival of bivalves. Responses can be (1) additive: the response is the sum of the effect of individual stressors, (2) synergistic: the combined effect is greater than the sum of individual stressors or, (3) antagonistic: the combined effect is smaller than the sum of individual stressors. There has been a proliferation of research on the effects of multiple stressors on marine bivalves but an evaluation of the literature in the context of management and restoration has not been undertaken. This review and meta-analysis aimed to determine bivalves’ responses to stressor interactions and identify research trends and gaps. The meta-analysis highlights a prevalence of antagonistic and additive responses to stressors and an overall antagonistic effect. The observed antagonistic responses may be associated with how multiple stressor studies are being conducted. The literature demonstrates a bias towards individual-level laboratory experiments that focus on responses of adult bivalves to climate-change related ‘global’ stressors. Suggestions for future research include an emphasis on (1) ‘local’ stressors, (2) earlier life stages, and (3) field-based studies incorporating stressor gradients and spatiotemporal variability. These investigations will complement the existing knowledge base and ultimately provide a more complete picture of the impacts of multiple stressors on bivalves– information that is vital for management decision-making and restoration of bivalve populations.
Rynkowski L., Ellis J. I., Needham H. R. & Pilditch C. A., 2025 . A systematic review and meta-analysis of the cumulative effects of multiple stressors on marine bivalves. Marine Biology 172: 96. doi: 10.1007/s00227-025-04671-y. Article.
