Study of environmental biomonitoring of the Jiaozhou Bay

The content of 34 elements was determined in tissue samples of several marine bivalve species collected from various sites in the Jiaozhou Bay. The scope of the study was to determine the most suitable bivalve species to be used for environmental biomonitoring and to evaluate the environmental status of the bay. Clams exhibited higher elemental contents than oysters and they are the major marine bivalve species in the Jiaozhou Bay; therefore, we consider clams to be more suitable than oysters as bioindicators for evaluating the environmental status of the area. Increased elemental levels in clam tissues indicate polluted sites. Also, increased elemental levels in mussels point to possible pollution from tourism development at one selected site.