The blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) on Svalbard, a hidden native or successful invader? (RIS ID 6279)

The primary aim of this study is to extend our knowledge about the recently discovered Mytilus edulis population on Svalbard. This tempo-boreal bivalve is a well-known climate indicator thriving during times of elevated sea surface temperatures. However, the origin of the Svalbard blue mussel is currently unknown and could either be result of an invasion after absence or a relict species that lived undiscovered through decades of modern biological surveys. To answer this important question and to help understanding the blue mussels population structure we are going to map their distribution along the west coast of the Spitsbergen.