Quantifying larvae to aid restoration efforts of the Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) in Fidalgo Bay, WA
Presentation Abstract
Quantifying Larvae to Aid Restoration Efforts of the Olympia Oyster (Ostrea Lurida) in Fidalgo Bay White SW¹, Becker BJ¹, McCartha MM¹, Hintz MH1,², Behrens, MD3, Allen, B4, Kim SK¹, Mullins DM¹, Matheson-Margullis HR1, Centurion, R1 1- University of Washington Tacoma 2- University of Washington School of Aquatic Fisheries Sciences 3- Pacific Lutheran University 4- Puget Sound Restoration Fund Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida), provide ecosystem benefits through formation of reefs, water filtration, and increased biodiversity. This native species was driven to near extinction due to a combination of pollution, overharvesting, and habitat alteration, and is now being actively restored to the Salish Sea. Successful restoration of natural populations is improved by understanding the early life history of target sessile marine invertebrates, including time of spawning, larval distribution and settlement. Like most marine invertebrates, O. lurida produce thousands of larvae to ensure survival for a small percentage of its offspring. This microscopic larval stage is the only mobile form of development for oysters. In this study, samples were collected during Summer 2013 from eight stations at an active restoration site in Fidalgo Bay, WA, five in the intertidal and three in the subtidal, to capture larval peaks and map distribution. Plankton samples were sorted using microscopy to investigate spatial and temporal distributions of O. lurida larvae. There were peaks in brooding adults, planktonic larvae and settlers that were close together in time, indicating that local larvae could be remaining in the bay or regional populations were synchronized. Results indicate that larvae and settlers were not evenly distributed and were concentrated near suitable habitat with adults present. Larvae tended to be found near the surface of the water in the subtidal stations. Understanding the changes in larval distribution can help inform restoration efforts. These restored populations of Ostrea lurida will attract fish, invertebrates and other marine organisms throughout Fidalgo Bay.
Session Title
Posters: Species & Food Webs
Conference Track
SSE18: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE18-112
Start Date
5-4-2018 11:30 AM
End Date
5-4-2018 1:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Olympia oyster--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Olympia oyster--Larvae--Food; Restoration monitoring (Ecology)--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
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
Quantifying larvae to aid restoration efforts of the Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) in Fidalgo Bay, WA
Quantifying Larvae to Aid Restoration Efforts of the Olympia Oyster (Ostrea Lurida) in Fidalgo Bay White SW¹, Becker BJ¹, McCartha MM¹, Hintz MH1,², Behrens, MD3, Allen, B4, Kim SK¹, Mullins DM¹, Matheson-Margullis HR1, Centurion, R1 1- University of Washington Tacoma 2- University of Washington School of Aquatic Fisheries Sciences 3- Pacific Lutheran University 4- Puget Sound Restoration Fund Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida), provide ecosystem benefits through formation of reefs, water filtration, and increased biodiversity. This native species was driven to near extinction due to a combination of pollution, overharvesting, and habitat alteration, and is now being actively restored to the Salish Sea. Successful restoration of natural populations is improved by understanding the early life history of target sessile marine invertebrates, including time of spawning, larval distribution and settlement. Like most marine invertebrates, O. lurida produce thousands of larvae to ensure survival for a small percentage of its offspring. This microscopic larval stage is the only mobile form of development for oysters. In this study, samples were collected during Summer 2013 from eight stations at an active restoration site in Fidalgo Bay, WA, five in the intertidal and three in the subtidal, to capture larval peaks and map distribution. Plankton samples were sorted using microscopy to investigate spatial and temporal distributions of O. lurida larvae. There were peaks in brooding adults, planktonic larvae and settlers that were close together in time, indicating that local larvae could be remaining in the bay or regional populations were synchronized. Results indicate that larvae and settlers were not evenly distributed and were concentrated near suitable habitat with adults present. Larvae tended to be found near the surface of the water in the subtidal stations. Understanding the changes in larval distribution can help inform restoration efforts. These restored populations of Ostrea lurida will attract fish, invertebrates and other marine organisms throughout Fidalgo Bay.
