Coastal habitats provide many important ecosystem services. The substantial role of shellfish in delivering ecosystem services is increasingly recognised, usually with a focus on cultured species. By contrast, this study deals with Europe's main wild-harvested bivalve species and assesses the ecosystem services of the common cockle Cerastoderma edule. Data and information are synthesised from five countries along the Atlantic European coast with a long history of cockle fisheries. The cockle helps to create habitat and support biodiversity, and plays a key role in the supporting services on which many of the other services depend. Data on provisioning, regulating and cultural services are also collated and quantified. Preliminary economic valuation of some of these services in a European context is provided where possible, and key knowledge gaps identified. It is concluded that the cockle has the potential to become (i) an important focus of conservation and improved sustainable management practices in coastal areas and communities, and (ii) a suitable model species to study the integration of cultural ecosystem services within the broader paradigm and application of ‘ecosystem services’ as a way of conceptualising the environment.

沿海生境提供了许多重要的生态系统服务。人们越来越认识到贝类在提供生态系统服务中的重要作用，通常将重点放在养殖物种上。相比之下，本研究研究了欧洲主要野生双壳双壳类物种，并评估了常见鸟蛤角皮病的生态系统服务。。数据和信息来自大西洋欧洲沿岸五个国家，具有悠久的鸟蛤渔业历史。鸟蛤有助于创造栖息地并支持生物多样性，并在许多其他服务所依赖的支持服务中发挥关键作用。还对有关供应，监管和文化服务的数据进行了整理和量化。在可能的情况下，将在欧洲范围内对其中一些服务进行初步的经济评估，并找出关键的知识差距。结论是，鸟蛤有可能成为（i）在沿海地区和社区保护和改善可持续管理做法的重要重点，