Molluscan shells are increasingly threatened by a complex array of environmental stressors—climate-related drivers, changes in seawater chemistry, contaminants, and biotic cues. This review provides a mechanistic synthesis of how these stressors disrupt the biomineralization process across life stages. We develop a conditional hierarchical response framework from the reviewed evidence. The framework links ionoregulatory and acid-base disturbances with molecular, microstructural, and shell-level responses, while allowing for compensatory, nonlinear, species-specific, and life-stage-specific outcomes. This molecular disruption manifests as defects in calcium carbonate (CaCO3) crystalline microstructure, which may in turn compromise shell macro-scale physical properties (strength, hardness, growth). We synthesize combined and context-dependent effects of co-occurring stressors and distinguish formally tested interactions from qualitative comparisons of combined treatments. Future research must leverage integrated multi-omics, advanced in vivo imaging, and multi-stressor experimental designs to unravel candidate molecular and physiological thresholds and predict adaptive potential. This framework may help identify testable mechanisms, evidence gaps, and context-dependent vulnerabilities relevant to conservation.
Highlights
- A conditional framework links molecular, microstructural, and shell-level responses.
- Early stages often show high sensitivity, although direct ontogenetic comparisons remain limited.
- Energy limitation is a recurrent, but often indirectly inferred, physiological constraint.
Guo W., Li H., Li D., Sun P. & Zhao R., 2026. Environmental regulation and disruption of shell biomineralization in bivalves and gastropods: a mechanistic review. Frontiers in Marine Science 13: 1909510. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2026.1909510. Article.
0 Responses to “Environmental regulation and disruption of shell biomineralization in bivalves and gastropods: a mechanistic review”