Investigating Temperature Influences on Shell Growth and Microstructural Variations in Bay Scallops: Insights from Multiscale Microscopy

This study examined how moderate increases in water temperature influence the shell growth, structure, and mechanics of juvenile bay scallops (Argopecten irradians). Scallops were reared at 23°C and 26°C for nine weeks, and growth, accretion rate, and shell microstructure were evaluated using micro-CT, fluorescence microscopy, and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). Results revealed accelerated shell growth and greater calcite misorientation at 26°C, without significant differences in normalized shell thickness or mechanical strength. These findings suggest that bay scallops maintain shell robustness under moderate thermal stress, reflecting potential resilience to climate-induced ocean warming.