Mussels population might also be affected by climate change because ocean waters have been poisoned because of pollution.

A team of scientists in the UK said that the population of mussels might be affected due to climate change. Researchers from the University of Glasgow in Scotland found that the shell of mussels have become brittlein more acidic water. They also said that the oceanic water might also have an effect on the yields of mussels that are available for the fishery industry.

Susan Fitzer, who is a lead researcher, said that mussels growing in the wild might be more prone to attacks by predators and might also be affected by other ocean forces. Experts said that shells of mussels are made of organic material that is created by the mussels via biomineralization and using calcium carbonate.

The team studied common blue mussels in laboratory tanks and changed the temperature and pH levels of the water to simulate four different types of ocean waters. More acidic water is expected in oceans in the coming decades. World's oceans are becoming acidic as they absorb some of the atmospheric carbon dioxide. Experts have said that climate change is affecting the Earth's atmosphere, surface and waters.

Dr Fitzer said, "What we've found in the lab is that increased levels of acidification in their habitats have a negative impact on mussels' ability to create their shells. We worked with colleagues in our School of Engineering to examine the toughness of the shells of the mussels in the more acidic water against those in control conditions. What we found was that the calcite outer shells of the mussels past a certain threshold of acidity was stiffer and harder, making it more brittle and prone to fracture under pressure, and the aragonite inner shell became softer."