OYSTERS

INFO

• Genus- Crassostrea
• Species- C. Virginica
• Like other oysters, C. Virginica is a bivalve mollusk that filter feeds plankton and detritus
• Habitat- Crassostrea live mainly in the intertidal zone
• Oysters reproduce sexually, and release sperm when they are 1yr old and eggs at 2 yrs old

Are they a keystone species?
Yes, these oysters are a keystone species in the Chesapeake bay. They have the unique ability to build extensive reef habitats that include a diverse community of fish, waterfowl, crabs, mussels and many other species.

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OYSTER STATUS

• Biomass: the total weight of a species in an area measured by surveys
• 6% biomass in Piankatank river/Mobjack bay
• 54% biomass in the James
• 38% biomass in Tangier/Pocomoke Sounds

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Oyster Survivability
Because oyster abundance is at an all time low in the Chesapeake Bay, people are starting to realize that there needs to be drastic changes. A Chesapeake Bay Oyster Management Plan was adopted in 1989 and revised in 1994. Oyster restoration efforts were added in the Chesapeake Bay Aquatic Reef Habitat Plan in 1994. The Oyster Management Plan was created to combine these two plans. Because of this, oyster survivability should hopefully increase.

MARYLAND SEA GRANT VIDEO

• http://youtu.be/Njnooh8dFtI

OYSTER REPORT: B

• Overall population severely diminished
• Are a keystone species the bay couldnt survive without
• There are many different projects to restore oyster beds

Citations
"Oysters." Maryland Sea Grant. 2013. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
"Oysters - Fish Facts - Chesapeakebay.noaa.gov." Oysters - Fish Facts - Chesapeakebay.noaa.gov. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
"REGULATION: PERTAINING TO RESTRICTIONS ON SHELLFISH." REGULATION: PERTAINING TO RESTRICTIONS ON SHELLFISH. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
"Chesapeake Bay Field Office | Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service." Chesapeake Bay Field Office | Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.