Presentation Abstract
Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) are the only oyster species native to the west coast of North America. Historical overharvest and environmental stressors have reduced the current population to less than 5% of historic numbers throughout Puget Sound. Restoring native oysters is a priority in Puget Sound and coastwide; oysters provide ecosystem services and may provide critical elements of resilience in coastal ecosystems under changing ocean conditions. The Puget Sound Restoration Fund and partners have been restoring Olympia oysters in Puget Sound for two decades. To support restoration planning, we developed a habitat suitability index model to identify optimal locations for Olympia oyster restoration within selected areas in Puget Sound. Habitat suitability index models are a widely used tool for predicting species abundances and distributions, and for targeting restoration activities. Such models have been developed and applied for Eastern oysters and for species of restoration interest in Puget Sound. The habitat suitability index model that we developed combines environmental information important to survival of Olympia oysters including salinity, temperature, and exposure to identify areas most suitable for restoration. We then validate the model by comparing model results with available data from population monitoring. This study presents an example of a collaborative process to support restoration planning and implementation for native shellfish.
Session Title
Track: Shellfish – Posters
Conference Track
Shellfish
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2020 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
2020_abstractID_5224
Start Date
21-4-2020 9:00 AM
End Date
22-4-2020 4:45 PM
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Oysters--Environmental aspects--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Wildlife habitat improvement--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Habitat partitioning (Ecology)--Mathematical models
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Puget Sound (Wash.)--Environmental conditions
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Building a Habitat Suitability Index for Olympia Oyster Restoration
Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) are the only oyster species native to the west coast of North America. Historical overharvest and environmental stressors have reduced the current population to less than 5% of historic numbers throughout Puget Sound. Restoring native oysters is a priority in Puget Sound and coastwide; oysters provide ecosystem services and may provide critical elements of resilience in coastal ecosystems under changing ocean conditions. The Puget Sound Restoration Fund and partners have been restoring Olympia oysters in Puget Sound for two decades. To support restoration planning, we developed a habitat suitability index model to identify optimal locations for Olympia oyster restoration within selected areas in Puget Sound. Habitat suitability index models are a widely used tool for predicting species abundances and distributions, and for targeting restoration activities. Such models have been developed and applied for Eastern oysters and for species of restoration interest in Puget Sound. The habitat suitability index model that we developed combines environmental information important to survival of Olympia oysters including salinity, temperature, and exposure to identify areas most suitable for restoration. We then validate the model by comparing model results with available data from population monitoring. This study presents an example of a collaborative process to support restoration planning and implementation for native shellfish.
