This paper presents a graphical model for high-resolution qualitative reconstructions of environmental conditions (temperature, food availability, and fresh-water influx) from bivalve mollusk shells. The growth rate–temperature model (GRT model) is based on the observation that temperature is the most important control of shell growth as shown by shells of Phacosoma japonicum (Reeve). A highly significant correlation ( p <0.0001) exists between daily shell growth rate of this species and water temperature. Nonparametric bivariate density fields (NBDF) describe the area in which 95% of the growth rate–temperature data are plotted (observed temperatures or temperatures reconstructed from oxygen isotope ratios of the shell). Growth rate–temperature values deviating from the NBDF indicate significant variations in food availability and/or fresh-water influx (salinity changes). The model is applicable to Recent and fossil bivalve mollusk shells. Its strength lies in the combination of sclerochronological (growth rate analysis) and stable isotope analyses. The integration of other environmental proxies (trace and minor elements and elemental ratios) archived in bivalve shells could further improve the GRT model and allow for high-resolution quantitative environmental reconstructions.