Browsing by Subject "Oyster"
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Item Advancing Technology for Restoration: An investigation of the Solar Oysters Production System(2023-01-01) Acker-Carter, Darryl Irving; Mendelson, Tamra; Marine-Estuarine Environmental Sciences; Marine-Estuarine Environmental SciencesThe Solar Oyster Production System (SOPS) was developed to expand growing capacity while decreasing the area required to grow oysters and reducing labor demands. SOPS is the first system in the world to grow oysters on continuously rotating ladders, however, little is known about the effect of consistent rotation on oyster growth. The goal of this study was to understand (1) the impact of rotation on growth of the Crassostrea virginica and (2) how the performance of oysters on SOPS compares to performance on traditional gardening methods. Oysters were deployed on rotational and static ladders on SOPS as well as oyster gardening cages provided by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). The findings from this study reveal how consistent rotation affects shell shape and condition, and they provide baseline metrics for the further development of the technology.Item Oyster gardening in the Baltimore Harbor: Quantifying oyster growth & influencing factors(2023-01-01) Diaz, Jessica; Burns, Mercedes; Marine-Estuarine Environmental Sciences; Marine-Estuarine Environmental SciencesIn Baltimore, industrialization has degraded the ecosystem and displaced communities from the waterfront. Organizations like the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership and the Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative aim to address these problems via restoration efforts. While oyster gardening has occurred in the Inner Harbor since 2013, the health and growth of the oysters has never been quantified, nor are any programs established in the Middle Branch. The goal of this study was to understand location-specific factors contributing to growth differences of the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). Oysters were deployed in the Harbor for 7 months and measurements for oyster growth and influencing factors collected. Oyster shell growth varied by site, but was not explained solely by temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. Through phytoplankton metabarcoding, the preferred food sources of oysters were detected at all sites. These findings provide a baseline for quantifying oyster restoration initiatives in the Baltimore Harbor.