Unprecedented restoration of a native oyster metapopulation

TitleUnprecedented restoration of a native oyster metapopulation
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsSchulte, DM, Lipcius, RN
JournalScience
Volume325
Issue5944
Pagination1124-1128
Type of Article08/2009
Abstract

Native oyster species were once vital ecosystem engineers, but their populations have collapsed worldwide because of overfishing and habitat destruction. In 2004, we initiated a vast (35-hectare) field experiment by constructing native oyster reefs of three types (high-relief, low-relief, and unrestored) in nine protected sanctuaries throughout the Great Wicomico River in Virginia, United States. Upon sampling in 2007 and 2009, we found a thriving metapopulation comprising 185 million oysters of various age classes. Oyster density was fourfold greater on high-relief than on low-relief reefs, explaining the failure of past attempts. Juvenile recruitment and reef accretion correlated with oyster density, facilitating reef development and population persistence. This reestablished metapopulation is the largest of any native oyster worldwide and validates ecological restoration of native oyster species.

URLhttps://science.sciencemag.org/content/325/5944/1124.full?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
DOI10.1126/science.1176516