Recovery of Intertidal Mussel Stands Three Years after the Severe 2021 Heatwave in British Columbia, Canada

Abstract

In the early summer of 2021, an intense heatwave killed millions of intertidal mussels in British Columbia, Canada. Using photographs taken three years later (June 2024), this article provides visual evidence of active recovery of intertidal mussel stands in the Vancouver region, revealing the resilience of these intertidal systems. Future monitoring should evaluate their ability for long-term persistence in light of the ongoing climate change, which is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of heatwaves.