This paper presents a methodology to evaluate the stability of cockles in shallow estuaries for different hydrodynamic conditions. Two methodologies are proposed in order to determine the suitability of the different regions of the estuary for cockles. Considering the complexity of all the processes which determine the movement of cockles, the methodology proposed here is intended to be a first approach to the problem taking into account only hydrodynamic variables, although the inclusion of biological variables is being studied at the present time. The aim of this work is to stablish an objective criteria for comparing the stability of cockles in different parts of an estuary under different hydrodynamic conditions. In order to perform this analysis we have developed a cockle habitat model model which considers the hydraulic characteristics of cockles and the flow patterns in the estuary. 德國(guó)LaVision PIV/PLIF粒子成像測(cè)速場(chǎng)儀