The data evaluated in this
Daun02 paper clearly demonstrate the complementary nature of resident and caged (transplanted) mussels for contaminant trend assessment. The data sets each describe long-term trends in chemical contamination in Boston Harbor even though the basic approaches and sampling frequency differ. Moreover, each approach has strengths that are important for both short- and long-term assessments and monitoring. The caged mussel approach is particularly useful when natural bivalve populations are not available and has the flexibility to evaluate bioaccumulation in hard-to-reach areas, such near outfalls, or in different strata in the water column. Although not detailed in
phycoerythrin paper, the caged approach is also adaptable to transport studies through the ability to locate the cages along suspected or known contaminant transport paths. Such flexibility is essential for small scale or site-specific studies. In contrast, resident mussels have the advantage of integrating exposure and bioaccumulation over broader areas (e.g., tidal range), over seasonal and biological cycles, and integrating exposure. Together these monitoring tools provide powerful means of ensuring environment quality is maintained.
