Study: Climate change threatens popular seafood

The New York Times ran a front page Sunday story quoting scientists that view this summer’s dangerous weather — from Russia’s brutal heat wave to flooding in Pakistan — as a warning sign of what’s to come from global warming.

Now, the Journal of Biogeography is warning that climate change could affect dinner plates too. The journal is publishing a new study by University of South Carolina researchers who conclude higher air and water temperatures along the East Coast are shrinking the range of blue mussels.

The mussels used to live as far south as Cape Hatteras, N.C., but now are only found as far south as Lewes, Del., according to a summary:

“The findings are significant because they show that recent climate change is affecting the organisms along our coast. 'These mussels are a very important part of the food chain, help clean the water, and are farmed commercially. If temperatures continue to increase, we can expect range changes of species like blue mussels to continue, and the health of our oceans is at risk,' ” said Sierra Jones, a Ph.D. student at the university, in a news release.