Oyster shells as archives of present and past environmental variability and life history traits

Abstract

Oyster shells, often overlooked in sclerochronology, offer valuable records of environmental and biological conditions across diverse habitats and timeframes. This multidisciplinary review compiles methodological advances and key findings from ecological, archaeological, and palaeoenvironmental research. By synthesising applications such as season-of-capture estimation, larval dispersal tracking, and high-resolution temperature reconstruction, it outlines best practices, identifies knowledge gaps, and proposes standardisation to improve data comparability. The review positions oysters as central archives for integrated life history and environmental reconstructions.