Study of environmental biomonitoring of the Jiaozhou Bay

The content of 34 elements was determined in tissue samples of several mari ne bivalve species collected from various sites in the Jiaozhou Bay. The sc ope of the study was to determine the most suitable bivalve species to be u sed for environmental biomonitoring and to evaluate the environmental statu s of the bay. Clams exhibited higher elemental contents than oysters and th ey are the major marine bivalve species in the Jiaozhou Bay; therefore, we consider clams to be more suitable than oysters as bioindicators for evalua ting the environmental status of the area. Increased elemental levels in cl am tissues indicate polluted sites. Also, increased elemental levels in mus sels point to possible pollution from tourism development at one selected s ite.