STUDYING AND MONITORING OYSTER AND EELGRASS GROWTH IN RESTORED HISTORIC OYSTER BEDS
INTRODUCTION
Oyster reefs are a critical component of marine ecosystems and provide a range of ecosystem services, including filtering water, stabilizing sediments, and providing habitat for other organisms. Unfortunately, oyster populations have declined significantly due to overfishing, disease, and habitat loss. This has led to a decline in the overall health of marine ecosystems. To address this issue, oyster reef restoration has become an important strategy for restoring the habitat and improving the health of marine ecosystems. This proposal outlines a research project aimed at monitoring the growth of oysters and eelgrass in restored historic oyster beds.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of this study is to assess the growth of oysters and eelgrass in restored historic oyster beds.
Specific objectives are:
To assess the survival and growth of oysters in restored oyster beds.
To monitor the colonization of eelgrass in restored oyster beds.
To determine the impact of eelgrass on growth of oysters.
METHODS
The study will be conducted over a span of four data collection periods spanning a year. The study will be conducted in two phases: the establishment phase and the monitoring phase. The establishment phase will involve the initial planting of oysters and eelgrass in the selected locations. The monitoring phase will involve the collection of data.
ESTABLISHMENT
PHASE
Site Selection: Select a suitable site for the restoration of oyster beds with the help of marine biologists and environmentalists. The GIF ha selected 4 sites along the Connecticut River estuary.
Pre-restoration Baseline: Collect baseline data on environmental conditions, sediment characteristics, and existing oyster and eel grass populations present in the site.
Oyster Bed Construction: Oyster shell and other hard substrate will be placed on the seabed in the selected locations.
Oy​ster Seeding: Seed the oyster beds with native diploid spat oysters from a hatchery.
Eelgrass Seeding: Seed the restored oyster bed with eelgrass.
MONITORING
PHASE
Oyster Growth Monitoring: Measure the shell length, shell width, and dry meat mass of 10 individual oysters at eacH data collection period. Count the number of surviving oysters in a 1m square section of the bed.
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Eelgrass Growth Monitoring: Measure the length and width of individual eelgrass plants at each data collection period. Count the number of surviving eelgrass plants in a 1m square area.
Water Quality Monitoring: Monitor environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH at each data collection period.
Faunal Surveys: Conduct surveys to document the presence and abundance of other organisms in the restored oyster bed, especially organisms the predate on oysters such as shell borers.
DATA ANALYSIS
Data collected will be analyzed using statistical software packages provided by GIOC. Growth rates
of oysters and eelgrass will be calculated, and the effects of environmental factors on growth will be
determined through regression analysis. Data on faunal surveys and sediment sampling will be
analyzed using appropriate statistical tests.
EXPECTED
OUTCOMES
This study is expected to provide insights into the growth and survival of oysters and eelgrass in
restored oyster beds. The study will provide a better understanding of the impact of environmental
factors on oyster and eelgrass growth in restored oyster beds. The findings of this study will be useful in guiding the management and restoration of oyster reefs.
CONCLUSION
The proposed research project aims to provide insights into the growth and survival of oysters and
eelgrass in restored historic oyster beds. The study will provide a better understanding of the impact of environmental factors on a variety of local species of marine life.