Abstract: Comparison in bioaccumulation of trace elements between triangle-sail mussels(Hyriopsis cumingii)reared in aquicultural ponds in Gongan Country(APG)and in the Tongzhuanghe River,a natural waterbody,in the Three-Gorge Reservoir Region(NWTR),Hubei Province,China was conducted.The mussels in the latter were relocated from the former.After one year of husbandry,the mussels were sampled for analysis of K,Mg,Ca,Fe,Zn,Mn,Cu,As,Al,Cr,Ni,Se,Mo,Ag,Cd,Ti and Pb in their soft tissues,using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.Although the 17 elements in these two groups of mussels followed a similar order in concentration,reflecting characteristics of bioaccumulation of the elements by the mussels,those in NWTR were higher than in APG in concentration of 9 elements(Ca,Mg,Cu,Mn,Zn,Cr,As,Cd and Pb),suggesting that living habitats may have an important impact on bioaccumulation in Hyriopsis cumingii.The mussels in the natural waterbody were exposed to a higher mean load of the elements in their soft tissues than those in the ponds,demonstrating the mussels’ significant capacity of sequestrating those pollutant elements and purifying waterbodies.The findings of the study may serve as scientific basis for rearing freshwater mussel to monitor pollutant elements in natural waterbodies and purify the environment therein.