Nora,
 
Can't help you on mussels, but there are two names that immediately come
to mind for help with abalone. The first is Buzz Owen...a long-time
collector from Gualala, California. He eats, drinks, and
breathes Haliotis and he has some valuable insights concerning the
family. Unfortunately, I don't think he has e-mail.
The second is Daniel Geiger at USC. E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Dan is rapidily becoming (if he is not already) a world authority on
Haliotis. His knowledge and understanding of the family are far more
extensive than anyone else currently working on the subject and listening
to one of his lectures is truly an education in itself...even for a
pecten student like myself.
 
Kim Hutsell
San Diego