Impact of salinity shifts induced by precipitation pattern changes on lipid quality in edible marine bivalves: a...

Human-induced salinity changes are known to affect bivalve lipid quality, yet existing information remains poorly organized. In this context, this study investigates how salinity changes influence lipid quality in bivalves. The results revealed that salinity changes significantly alter bivalve lipid quality, with responses varying by bivalve family and climate zone. In mussels, lipid quality was inversely correlated with salinity shifts in tropical regions but positively correlated in subtropical regions, and unpredictable in temperate regions. In clams, a negative correlation between lipid quality and salinity shifts was observed in both subtropical and temperate regions. For scallops in temperate regions, substantial salinity reductions lead to poor lipid quality. In oysters, tropical species exhibit reduced lipid quality even with minor salinity increases. For cockles, no specific trend was observed. This research offers novel insights into the bivalve family- and region-specific effects of salinity changes on bivalve lipid quality, offering evidence-based guidance for more sustainable aquatic resource management and commercial bivalve aquaculture.