Lessons from Urbanized Native Oysters: tips for restoration
Presentation Abstract
The native oyster Ostrea lurida was once very abundant on the west coast of North America, contributing to a long history of indigenous use and a short history of decimation by overfishing during the gold rushes. Since the early 1900s, the species has not managed to recover its historical abundance, and it is of conservation interest in both Canada and the US. However, the Gorge Waterway population of the oysters in the urban core of the Capital Regional District of Southern Vancouver Island, well within the range of exploitation, continues to exist in some of the highest densities recorded amongst extant populations of BC. These include subtidal, shallow-water reefs and intertidal abundances on hard and soft substrates. Five years of study with citizen scientists and NGO researchers has characterized the population, demonstrating strong annual strong recruitment peaks, likely short life spans both intertidally and subtidally, resistance to substantial freshwater exposure, and probably lack of substantial predation. Custom-designed bridge footings were quickly and extensively colonized, but high sediment loads restricted survival of re-located individuals on artificial reefs of Pacific oyster shells. This presentation will present results of annual monitoring of both adults and young recruits, with an assessment of how the population is influenced by the urban environment and its resilience to ongoing stressors. Implications to enhancement of oyster populations in similarly highly turbid estuarine environments is discussed.
Session Title
From Conversation to Conservation Action: Balancing Endangered Species Protection and Growth on BC's South Coast
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Ostrea--Conservation--British Columbia--Capital
Geographic Coverage
Capital (B.C.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Lessons from Urbanized Native Oysters: tips for restoration
2016SSEC
The native oyster Ostrea lurida was once very abundant on the west coast of North America, contributing to a long history of indigenous use and a short history of decimation by overfishing during the gold rushes. Since the early 1900s, the species has not managed to recover its historical abundance, and it is of conservation interest in both Canada and the US. However, the Gorge Waterway population of the oysters in the urban core of the Capital Regional District of Southern Vancouver Island, well within the range of exploitation, continues to exist in some of the highest densities recorded amongst extant populations of BC. These include subtidal, shallow-water reefs and intertidal abundances on hard and soft substrates. Five years of study with citizen scientists and NGO researchers has characterized the population, demonstrating strong annual strong recruitment peaks, likely short life spans both intertidally and subtidally, resistance to substantial freshwater exposure, and probably lack of substantial predation. Custom-designed bridge footings were quickly and extensively colonized, but high sediment loads restricted survival of re-located individuals on artificial reefs of Pacific oyster shells. This presentation will present results of annual monitoring of both adults and young recruits, with an assessment of how the population is influenced by the urban environment and its resilience to ongoing stressors. Implications to enhancement of oyster populations in similarly highly turbid estuarine environments is discussed.
