One giant clam contains a month‑by‑month diary of the Great Barrier Reef's climate 200 years ago
Researchers have analyzed the shell of a giant clam from the Great Barrier Reef to reconstruct climate data from 200 years ago. The shell acts as a biological diary, recording seasonal changes through its growth layers and chemical composition.
Why it matters
This method provides valuable historical climate data that helps scientists understand environmental changes prior to the industrial era.
by Bohao Dong, Amy Prendergast, Sean Ulm, The Conversation
edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) from Jiigurru (Lizard Island Group). Credit: Andy Lewis/Coral Sea Foundation When you swim through the azure waters of the Great Barrier Reef, there is one creature on the seafloor that's almost impossible to miss: the giant clam. Its huge, fluted shell frames a soft mantle shimmering with electric blue, green and gold.
As the world's largest living bivalve, Tridacna gigas can reach 1.2 meters (4 feet), weigh more than 200 kilograms (440 pounds) and live for over a century. Throughout its life, a giant clam records each day in its shell, creating an autobiographical diary.
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