Effects of Structural Design on Oyster Survival in Artificial Reefs
About the Project
As part of DARPA: REEFENSE, this project examines the relationship of oyster and predator responses to design variance in artificial reef structures. Eastern oysters are a valuable ecosystem engineer for the northern Gulf of Mexico responsible for improving water quality, providing habitat and refuge for marine organisms, and protecting our shorelines. Eastern oysters are able to form reefs that serve as this protection and habitat by having new generations attach and build upon existing oysters, which grows the reef outward and upward.
Impacts of poor water quality, overharvest, and predation have destroyed approximately 80% of existing oyster reefs worldwide. Gastropod predators, like oyster drills, are a particular problem for natural and artificial reefs as they are specially adapted to bore through oyster shells.
By combining varying heights, spacing, and slopes in a novel approach, the ability of target predators to consume Easter oysters in addition to which designs seem to encourage oyster settlement and recruitment is quantified to determine which characteristics of artificial reefs are beneficial to future design considerations.
Southern Oyster Drills
They are carnivorous marine snails that can decimate an entire reef and oyster population which can lead to a decline in environment quality.
They are carnivorous marine snails that can decimate an entire reef and oyster population which can lead to a decline in environment quality.
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