Differential recruitment of introduced Pacific oysters and native mussels at the North Sea coast: coexistence possible?

Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg 1793) have been introduced into the Wadden Sea (North Sea), where they settle on native mussel beds (Mytilus edulis L.), which represent the only extensive insular hard substrata in this soft-sediment environment. As abundances of C. gigas rose, some mussel beds became increasingly overgrown with oysters, whereas others did not. Field experiments revealed that recruitment of C. gigas was higher in the lower intertidal than in the upper subtidal zone, that it was higher on conspecifics than on mussels, and that it was not affected by barnacle epigrowth except when settling on mussels. Mussel recruitment is known from inter- and subtidal zones. It occurred equally on oyster and mussel shells but showed a clear preference for barnacle epigrowth over clean shells. Assuming that settlement and recruitment are key processes for species abundances on the North Sea coast, it is predicted that the positive feedback in oyster settlement will lead to rapid reef formation of this invader at the expense of mussel beds. Mussels, however, may escape competitive exclusion by settling between or on the larger oysters especially when barnacles are abundant. Experimental patches with mussels were more often covered by fucoid algae (Fucus vesiculosus forma mytili Nienburg) than patches with oysters, and oyster recruitment was poor underneath such algal canopies. Thus, fucoids may provide the native mussels with a refuge from the invading oysters and the two bivalves may coexist, provided food is not limiting.     

Modelling the influence of environmental factors on the physiological status of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in an estuarine embayment; The Baie des Veys (France)

It is well known that temporal changes in bivalve body mass are strongly correlated with temporal variations in water temperature and food supply. In order to study the influence of the year-to-year variability of environmental factors on oyster growth, we coupled a biogeochemical sub-model, which simulates trophic resources of oysters (i.e. phytoplankton biomass via chlorophyll a), and an ecophysiological sub-model, which simulates growth and reproduction (i.e. gametogenesis and spawning), using mechanistic bases. The biogeochemical sub-model successfully simulated phytoplankton dynamics using river nutrient inputs and meteorological factors as forcing functions. Adequate simulation of oyster growth dynamics requires a relevant food quantifier compatible with outputs of the biogeochemical sub-model (i.e. chlorophyll a concentration). We decided to use the phytoplankton carbon concentration as quantifier for food, as it is a better estimator of the energy really available to oysters. The transformation of chlorophyll a concentration into carbon concentration using a variable chlorophyll a to carbon ratio enabled us to improve the simulation of oyster growth especially during the starvation period (i.e. autumn and winter). Once validated, the coupled model was a suitable tool to study the influence of the year-to-year variability of phytoplankton dynamics and water temperature on the gonado-somatic growth of the Pacific oyster. Four years with highly contrasted meteorological conditions (river inputs, water temperature and light) 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, were simulated. The years were split into two groups, wet years (2000 and 2001) and dry years (2002 and 2003). Significant variability of the response of oysters to environmental conditions was highlighted between the four scenarios. In the wet years, an increase in loadings of river nutrients and suspended particulate matter led to a shift in the initiation and the magnitude of the phytoplanktonic spring bloom, and consequently to a shift in oyster growth patterns. In contrast, in the dry years, an increase in water temperature—especially during summer—resulted in early spawning. Thus, the gonado-somatic growth pattern of oysters was shown to be sensitive to variations in river loadings and water temperature. In this context, the physiological status of oysters is discussed using a relevant indicator of energy needs.     

Spatial variability in growth and reproduction of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793) along the west European coast

The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas was introduced in Europe for commercial purposes in the mid 1960s. It was initially thought that low winter temperatures would restrain this species' reproduction and settlement; however, its present distribution in areas where no introduction has taken place suggests that natural invasion and expansion has occurred. Along the European coast, wild populations of Pacific oysters are already found from northern Germany to southern Portugal. Whether C. gigas will continue to further expand through northern waters will depend on its physiological performance. In this study, the performance of wild oyster populations has been studied in terms of growth and reproduction at three stations: La Rochelle (France; 46°N), Yerseke (Oosterschelde estuary, The Netherlands, 51°N), and Texel (Wadden Sea estuary, The Netherlands, 53°N). The French population had the lowest somatic-shell mass ratio and an increase in maximum shell length, somatic and gonadal mass was observed from France to the Netherlands. In addition, mean oocyte diameter decreased significantly from south to north. The combination of increasing gonadal mass and decreasing oocyte volume suggests an increasing reproductive output in terms of egg numbers from France to The Netherlands. Differences in temperature between locations will at least be partly responsible for the observed patterns; however, other environmental factors (such as food availability, predation pressure, sediment type and/or seston concentration) cannot be excluded. Since smaller eggs (oocytes) are thought to have a longer development time, the environmental conditions along the Dutch coast may result in increased larval dispersal and possibly in further population expansion.     

Introduced Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas in South Africa: demographic change,genetic diversity and body condition

Successful aquaculture species are often chosen for their fast growth rates and fecundity, which are also characteristics of invasive species. The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, which constitutes 80% of global oyster trade, has been confirmed as invasive in 17 of the 66 countries where it is cultured. The single study of its status in South Africa reported populations in six South Coast estuaries in 2001, dropping to three sites in 2003. We resurveyed these estuaries, visited others in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces, and sampled oyster tissue for molecular analyses of population structure. Pacific oysters have disappeared from Knysna and, following our collections, possibly also from the GouKou Estuary. Between 2003 and 2012, the Breede Estuary population decreased by 87%, from an estimated 184 206 to 23 760 individuals. Within this estuary, oysters 12 km upriver had denser shells and higher body condition indices than did those within 1.4 km of the river mouth, presumably reflecting higher availability of suspended organic matter. However, low salinity over most of the species’ range in the estuary probably inhibits recruitment. New populations of Pacific oysters in the Swartkops and Kaaimans estuaries urgently require monitoring and eradication. Haplotype (h) and nucleotide (π) diversities across all oyster populations sampled (h = 0.2300 [SD 0.0595], π = 0.0006 [SD 0.0007]) were lower than those of co-occurring indigenous Cape rock oysters Striostrea margaritacea from the GouKou and Breede estuaries (h = 0.9076 [SD 0.0386], π = 0.00589 [SD 0.00347]). Pacific oysters either have been introduced to South African estuaries infrequently, or have experienced genetic bottlenecks following river floods or human exploitation, or both. Populations growing outside culture infrastructure are restricted to estuaries in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces, with no evidence of occurrence in fully marine shelf environments. Given the species’ considerable socio-economic importance, estuarine and coastal surveillance coupled with aquaculture zoning are required to integrate biodiversity and food security considerations.     

Food sources of the pearl oyster in coastal ecosystems of Japan: Evidence from diet and stable isotope analysis

We estimated the composition of two food sources for the cultured pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii using stable isotopes and stomach content analysis in the coastal areas of the Uwa Sea, Japan. The δ¹³C values of oysters (−17.5 to −16.8‰) were intermediate between that of particulate organic matter (POM, −20.2 to −19.1‰) and attached microalgae on pearl cages (−13.0‰). An isotope mixing model suggested that oysters were consuming 78% POM (mainly phytoplankton) and 22% attached microalgae. The attached microalgal composition of the stomach content showed a strong resemblance to the composition of that estimated through the isotope mixing model, suggesting preferential utilization of specific components is unlikely in this species. These results indicate that P. fucata martensii feed on a mixture of phytoplankton and attached microalgae, and that the attached microalgae on pearl cages can serve as an important additional food source.     

江苏小庙洪牡蛎礁的地貌-沉积特征

利用卫星影象和野外实地勘察资料对江苏小庙洪牡蛎礁的地貌-沉积特征进行分析。结果表明，该牡蛎礁发育在强潮淤泥质潮坪上，造礁牡蛎主要是近江牡蛎和长牡蛎，表层的鲜活牡蛎为褶牡蛎。牡蛎礁区海水属盐度较高(27—30)的半成水，含沙量较大，为0．2—0．3g／L。活体牡蛎堆积体顶面高于周围潮间下带滩面1．0—1．5m。潮流较强，多在0．5—2．0m／s。海岸剖面可分为4个带，即礁后潮间带、潮沟、礁体生长带及礁前斜坡带。由于处于海岸侵蚀段，礁后潮坪缺失潮上带和大部分的潮间上带。礁后潮坪主要以粗粉砂为主，礁后潮沟冲淤变化较大，故礁体生长带时而为一沙洲，时而又与岸滩相连。礁体生长带分布在潮间下带，可看到独立的斑状礁体、带状礁体和大面积环状礁体群。环状礁的微地貌可以划分为礁塘(泻湖)、塘口和塘沟、塘口三角洲、礁墙和礁平台等。     

Culture environment and hatchery of origin influence growth,condition and feeding organ morphology in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in South Africa

South Africa lacks a commercial oyster hatchery. To inform the sourcing of seed for future hatchery establishments, we compared half-sib Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas cohorts from hatcheries in Namibia and Chile. We measured oyster growth, mortality, condition and feeding organ morphology in Algoa Bay (AB, Eastern Cape) and Saldanha Bay (SB, Western Cape), South Africa, from July 2011 to June 2012. Within SB, 14.3% of mean daily sea temperatures exceeded this species’ thermal optimum of 19 °C, compared to 50.5% in AB. Food abundance (mean daily chlorophyll a concentration) in SB (7.8 mg m^–3) was double that in AB (3.9 mg m^–3) where, presumably to increase particle clearance rates in a relatively phytoplankton-poor environment, oysters had larger gill:palp surface area ratios. Plankton fatty acid profiles (indicators of food quality) differed between locations. In AB, instantaneous growth rates differed between cohorts, and trends varied seasonally. Within both locations, condition index was usually higher in Chilean oysters, whereas shell density was higher in Namibian oysters. In AB only, Chilean seed suffered substantially higher summer mortalities than Namibian seed, suggesting that the latter are more suited to temperatures in AB. AB should also be assessed for culture of the indigenous oyster species that occur there.     

Comparison and history of Polydora websteri and P. haswelli (Polychaeta: Spionidae) as mud-blister worms in New Zealand shellfish

Shells of commercially valued bivalves in New Zealand, Crassostrea gigas, Perna canaliculus and Pecten novaezelandiae, are damaged by blister-causing Polydora polychaete species known to be close in morphology to the widely recorded oyster pest Polydora websteri Hartman. Recent New Zealand occurrences are here confirmed to relate to two species, P. websteri, and a second similar species, Polydora haswelli Blake & Kudenov, a new record for New Zealand, previously known only from Australia; the two species are described and compared. The worms have limited distributions, with P. websteri confirmed only for Pacific oysters (C. gigas) in northern New Zealand, although prior reports indicate it may also occur on scallops and have reached the northern South Island. Polydora haswelli has been found only in northern New Zealand, occurring on subtidal mussels and scallops and native oysters (Perna canaliculus, Pecten novaezelandiae, Ostrea chilensis), as well as co-existing with intertidal P. websteri on Pacific oysters. The worms are not present in Foveaux Strait O. chilensis beds, a major source of past oyster exports to Australia. The history of mud-blister worm outbreaks in Australasia is examined. While trans-Tasman exports of live oysters from New Zealand were commonplace during the nineteenth century, there is no evidence that mud-blister worms were present in New Zealand then. The earliest reports only date from the early 1970s and only from northern New Zealand, whereas a century earlier in the 1870s at least one of these pest worms had become widespread along eastern Australian coasts.     

Response of a benthic suspension feeder (Crassostrea virginica Gmelin) to three centuries of anthropogenic eutrophication in Chesapeake Bay

Biogenic reefs built by oysters and other suspension feeders are vital components of estuarine ecosystems. By consuming phytoplankton, suspension feeders act to suppress accumulation of organic matter in the water column. Nutrient loading increases the rate of primary production, thereby causing eutrophication. As suspension feeders consume more organic matter from increasing abundance of phytoplankton, their rate of growth should also increase if they are food limited. We show here that the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin), from St. Mary's and Patuxent rivers, Chesapeake Bay, grew faster during anthropogenic eutrophication relative to C. virginica before eutrophication. Growth of shell height, shell thickness and adductor muscle increased after eutrophication began in the late 18th century. After 1860, growth decreased, perhaps reflecting the negative effects of hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, disease and fishing on oyster growth. These results are consistent with the view that an increasing supply of phytoplankton resulting from eutrophication enhanced growth of C. virginica between 1760 and 1860, before oyster reefs were degraded by destructive fishing practices between 1870 and 1930. Alternative factors, such as changes in water temperature, salinity, and fishing are less likely to be responsible for this pattern. These results have implications for restoration of oyster reefs in order to mitigate the effects of eutrophication in estuaries, as well as the paleoecological relationship between suspension feeders and paleoproductivity.     

多肽菌素在长牡蛎人工育苗生产中的应用

多肽菌素作为一类具有抗菌活性的生物短肽,是一种可以替代抗生素的生物肽。为了推广多肽菌素在水产养殖中的应用,本研究以长牡蛎(Crassostreagigas)人工育苗为基础,以添加2×10_(–6) mol/L青霉素钠为对照组,以添加5个不同浓度(2×10_(–6)、4×10_(–6)、6×10_(–6)、8×10_(–6)、10×10_(–6) mol/L)多肽菌素为实验组,研究多肽菌素在长牡蛎人工育苗生产中的应用。结果显示:(1)在长牡蛎种贝培育方面,培育前8天各组差异不显著(P 0.05),培育后期添加6×10_(–6) mol/L多肽菌素组存活率均最高,对照组最低,且培育至32天时该实验组均显著高于其他组(P0.05)。(2)在长牡蛎幼虫培育方面,幼虫壳高日增长量在添加6×10_(–6) mol/L多肽菌素组中最大,为11.57μm/d,而对照组仅为9.61μm/d;幼虫存活率方面对照组始终最低,而添加6×10_(–6) mol/L与8×10_(–6) mol/L多肽菌素组均保持较高存活率,显著高于对照组(P 0.05)。(3)在长牡蛎幼虫附着变态方面,添加6×10_(–6) mol/L多肽菌素组附着率最高、附着时间最短,且均与对照组差异显著(P0.05)。(4)在长牡蛎稚贝培育方面,稚贝壳长日增长量实验组均高于对照组,且随添加浓度的上升,日增长量也随之增加;稚贝存活率在添加6×10_(–6) mol/L多肽菌素组达到最高,与对照组差异显著(P0.05)。结果表明,使用多肽菌素与使用青霉素钠相比,多肽菌素显著提高了整个牡蛎培育过程中的存活率、生长速度、及附着变态率,这也为多肽菌素在贝类育苗生产中的推广提供了基础依据。     

福建沿海巨蛎属(Crassostrea)牡蛎的种类及其分布

福建省位于我国东南沿海, 海岸线曲折, 港湾众多, 有多条河流入海, 适宜牡蛎栖息繁衍, 是我国牡蛎资源最丰富的地区之一。迄今关于福建沿海牡蛎种类组成及分布情况的研究报道尚少, 鉴于近20余年福建主要海湾经历了高强度的牡蛎养殖, 有必要了解福建沿海牡蛎自然群体的物种组成和数量占比等自然种质资源状况。基于现场调查取样, 结合采用多重种特异性PCR、ITS2杂交种鉴定和CO I测序共同鉴定福建沿海巨蛎属(Crassostrea)牡蛎种类及其分布情况。研究结果表明, 从福建沿海由北至南牡蛎野生种苗海区的19个采样点共960个样品中发现3种巨蛎属牡蛎, 分别是福建牡蛎(Crassostrea angulata)、熊本牡蛎(C. sikamea)和香港牡蛎(C. hongkongensis), 并未发现以往报道的近江牡蛎(C. ariakensis)。其中福建牡蛎(607个)占63.23%、熊本牡蛎(343个)占35.73%、香港牡蛎(10个)占1.04%。除个别采样点外, 福建牡蛎和熊本牡蛎在各采样海区均有分布。香港牡蛎仅在泉州湾河口湿地自然保护区(新发现群体)有少量分布。研究结果揭示的福建沿海地区巨蛎属的物种种类及其分布为后续开展牡蛎遗传多样性分析和遗传分化等种群遗传研究提供了关键基础资料, 为牡蛎种质资源的保护和利用打下重要基础。     

Contribution of benthic and epiphytic diatoms to clam and oyster production in the Akkeshi-ko estuary

The species composition and dynamics of phytoplankton in the water column and its contribution to clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, and oyster, Crassostrea gigas, production were studied in the Akkeshi-ko estuary, eastern part of Hokkaido, Japan. A total 128 taxa of diatoms were identified, with 103 and 102 species occurring on the surface sediments and in the water column, respectively. Amphora sp., Bacillaria paradoxa var paxilifer, Cocconeis scutellum, Navicula sp., Nitzschia sigma, Paralia sulcata, Rhoicosphenia curvata, Synedra ulna and Thalassiosira sp. were most common and dominant in all stations in both water column and surface sediment. Benthic diatoms were most dominant in both water column and surface sediment. The species composition of epiphytes was, in part, similar to diatom assemblage of the water column and also to that of the surface sediment. The benthic and pelagic ratio in the diatom assemblage of the water column was very high. Benthic diatoms were able to resuspend into water column by turbulence stimulated by wind. Chlorophyll a concentration in the water column increased as wind speed increased. Seventy and 67% of the gut contents oysters consisted of benthic diatoms in 2003 and 2004 and also 78 and 87% of clams in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The availability of benthic and epiphytic diatom assemblages contributes significantly to food resources for clam and oyster mariculture due to resuspension by disturbance in the Akkeshi-ko estuary.     

不同长牡蛎群体对海水酸化的生理响应差异分析

海水酸化暴露可对海洋生物产生多层面的影响。本研究以潮间带野生与潮下带养殖长牡蛎(不同生境背景)的不同组织(鳃、外套膜及消化腺)为研究对象,分析在室内调控p CO2模拟海水酸化暴露条件下,其基础代谢活动、能量代谢以及氧化应激相关指标的变化情况。结果显示:海水酸化暴露后,两种长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)的基础代谢过程均受到了一定抑制作用且受影响程度差异明显。潮间带野生与潮下带养殖长牡蛎的关键生理过程(能量代谢及氧化应激)对海水酸化暴露存在不同的响应变化,表明两种长牡蛎应对海水酸化的调节机制可能存在差异。依据PLS-DA分析结果显示,在所有生理指标中,对样本的差异贡献较高(VIP值1)的指标为:SDH、AST、ATPase、ATP含量、糖原含量、CAT、GST及SOD,表明海水酸化暴露后,在两种长牡蛎的3种组织中上述指标的响应变化程度更大。综合评价分析多个生理指标的整体变化揭示:在海水酸化暴露条件下,潮间带野生长牡蛎比潮下带养殖长牡蛎对海水酸化的生理响应更为剧烈;相比于鳃及消化腺组织,长牡蛎外套膜组织可能受影响更大。     

Scales of recruitment variability in warming waters: Comparing native and introduced oysters in Hood Canal,Washington, USA

The effect of climate change on natural oyster recruitment has the potential to disrupt many of the ecosystem services oysters provide. Due to the temperature‐sensitivity of reproduction, oyster recruitment may shift as water temperatures rise. A biological imprint of climate change was revealed in a multi‐decadal time series of recruitment of non‐native Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) in the main stem of Hood Canal, Washington, USA, extracted from historic fishery documents. Water in July and August warmed significantly from 1945 to 1995 (0.028 ± 0.004°C per year [±SE]) and accounted for an increase in Pacific oyster recruitment (7% per year, 0.028 ± 0.006 spat per year on log scale [±SE]); recruitment also strongly tracked inter‐annual variability in summer water temperature. Methods used to collect historical data were repeated in 2013–2015 when recruitment of both Pacific oysters and native Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) were recorded in main stem and lower Hood Canal. Both historic and modern data show large variation within and between years for temperature as well as recruitment. The modern data add information regarding spatial variation, in that recruitment patterns in the two regions of Hood Canal were decoupled. As temperatures continue to increase, non‐native Pacific oysters are likely to be favored over Olympia oysters, which recruit earlier at lower temperatures and presently contribute less than half of total oyster recruits. Future recruitment, however, may be limited by environmental factors other than temperature, a point indicated particularly in Hood Canal where many subtidal species already respond strongly to gradients in dissolved oxygen.     

长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)黑色壳表面微生物多样性的研究

为探究自然海区与室内养殖环境对软体动物壳色及壳表面细菌群落多样性的影响，以黑色壳长牡蛎（Crassostrea gigas）为研究对象，在自然海区与室内环境分别暂养30 d后，对长牡蛎的壳色及壳表面细菌群落的多样性和差异细菌功能进行分析。结果表明，室内养殖的黑壳长牡蛎出现较为明显的壳褪色现象，其黑色素含量显著下降，远低于自然海区养殖的黑壳长牡蛎。16S rRNA基因测序结果显示，变形杆菌门（Proteobacteria）、拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）、蓝细菌（Cyanobacteria）为长牡蛎壳表面的主要优势菌，其中变形杆菌的丰度超过50%。在门水平上，放线菌（Actinobacteria）、俭菌超门（Parcubateria）和Bacterial rice cluster 1（BRC1）在室内、外养殖长牡蛎之间存在较为显著的差异（P<0.05），而具有降解作用的放线菌和俭菌超门细菌在室内养殖的黑壳长牡蛎壳表面丰度较高。在属水平上，两组之间存在显著差异的细菌共计67种。该研究揭示了不同生境条件下，黑壳长牡蛎壳表面的微生物群落物种组成及差异，为解析长牡蛎壳色的形成机制提供了新的分析视角。     

Genetic characterisation of oyster populations along the north-eastern coast of Tunisia

The taxonomy of oysters has been traditionally based on characteristics of the shell. More recently, the analysis of protein and DNA polymorphism has provided a means to overcome difficulties in distinguishing the different species of oysters based solely on shell morphology. In order to identify oysters of the Tunisian north-east coast, we sequenced a 16S rRNA mitochondrial fragment from 68 oysters sampled from the Bizert Lagoon and the Gulf of Hammamet in northern Tunisia. Comparison of oyster 16S rRNA sequences available in GenBank showed the presence of both Ostreola stentina and Crassostrea gigas in our samples, which could not be detected on the basis of shell morphology only. These data confirmed that C. gigas, a non-native species, is now naturalised in the Bizert Lagoon. Furthermore, significant levels of genetic divergence among the 16S rRNA haplotypes from O. stentina populations have been observed. Specifically, the haplotypes found in the Bizert Lagoon are closer to those previously detected from Morocco and Portugal, whereas those in the Gulf of Hammamet are closer to the haplotypes from the south of Tunisia, with a divergence ranging from 2.1% to 2.7% between the northern and eastern Tunisian haplotypes. The possible impact of the Siculo-Tunisian Strait on the phylogeography of O. stentina is discussed.     

基于RNA-seq数据分析长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)天然免疫的可变剪接事件

大部分无脊椎动物缺乏基于经典抗体和记忆细胞的适应性免疫, 因而天然免疫在无脊椎动物免疫防御中发挥不可或缺的作用。可变剪接正是产生天然免疫多样性和特异性的重要途径。牡蛎(Crassostrea)是全球范围内的大宗养殖贝类和我国产量最高的海水养殖贝类, 理解其天然免疫系统的多样性和特异性对牡蛎病害防治和养殖业健康可持续发展至关重要。通过对不同病原诱导以及诱导后不同时间的转录组进行生物信息分析, 系统地研究了长牡蛎天然免疫应激反应的可变剪接事件。发现在弧菌诱导下可变剪接事件的总数显著增加, 表明弧菌的感染会诱导长牡蛎可变剪接事件的产生。对病原诱导后可变剪接体的组成类型及表达量显著变化的基因的功能富集分析, 表明免疫系统相关功能被显著富集, 病原感染不同阶段以及不同病原感染后可变剪接体的组成类型和表达量均不一致, 表明长牡蛎免疫系统可通过可变剪接产生免疫响应的特异性和多样性。研究结果为长牡蛎等无脊椎动物天然免疫多样性和特异性提供了典型实例, 也为长牡蛎病害防御提供了理论支撑。     

Commercially-cultured oysters (Crassostrea gigas) exert top-down control on intertidal pelagic resources in Willapa Bay,Washington, USA

The capacity of filter feeders to reduce seston and phytoplankton concentrations in the water column has important implications for restoration and management of coastal ecosystems. We directly measured changes in chlorophyll a concentration on commercially stocked intertidal oyster beds (Crassostrea gigas) in Willapa Bay, Washington, USA by recording water properties near small drifters as they tracked parcels of water across tide flats. Chlorophyll declined 9.6% per half hour in water passing on-bottom adult oysters and 41% for longline adult oysters, whereas chlorophyll concentrations increased as water flowed across tide flats without adult oysters. Field filtration rates, which were fit to exponential declines in chlorophyll and accounted for oyster density and water depth, averaged 0.35 L g^− 1 h^− 1 (shucked dry weight) for on-bottom aquaculture and 0.73 L g^− 1 h^− 1 for longline culture, compared to values of 2.5–12 L g^− 1 h^− 1 reported from laboratory studies of C. gigas. Field filtration rates may be lower than laboratory rates due to unfavorable field conditions (e.g., low initial chlorophyll concentrations) or masked by resuspension of benthic microalgae. In addition to distinctions among on-bottom, longline, and no-oyster habitats, Akaike's Information Criterion analysis showed temperature, initial chlorophyll concentration, and depth related to chlorophyll decline. This research corroborates mathematical models suggesting that benthic suspension feeders are exerting top-down control of pelagic production in this estuary, with strong patterns in chlorophyll emerging across extensive tideflats populated by C. gigas despite low field filtration rates.     

Effects of epibionts on Sabellaria alveolata (L.) biogenic reefs and their associated fauna in the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel

Biogenic structures built by ecosystem engineers such as corals, bivalves, polychaetes, and sea grasses provide habitat for benthic vertebrates and invertebrates. The polychaete Sabellaria alveolata is an important foundation species whose reef structure adds topographic complexity and high levels of biodiversity to the otherwise low-relief, low diversity, soft-bottom environments in the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel, France, where the largest such reef formations in Europe are found. In this bay, reefs are being increasingly colonised by oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from local aquaculture operations and by green algae (Ulva sp.) due to the increasing inputs of nitrates from terrestrial origin. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible impacts of epibiotic oysters and green algae on the S. alveolata population and reef community structure in the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel, France. Univariate and multivariate comparisons of macrofauna were conducted for five reef types: controls (no epibionts), low oyster density, high oyster density, green algae, and oyster and green algae. Results showed that all the three reef types with oysters had significantly higher species richness and diversity values than control and algae-only reef types. Pairwise ANOSIM and SIMPER comparisons of controls versus the four reef types with epibionts revealed that all three of the reef types with oysters were significantly different from controls, but there was no significant difference between controls and algae-only reef types. A striking feature of the reef comparisons is that no single species in this species-rich system contributed more than 8.86% to the dissimilarity between the reef types. Thus, k-dominance curves for species abundances were not effective in revealing differences among the reef types. Our results demonstrate that recent anthropogenic inputs of oysters affect the reef species assemblage more strongly than algal epibionts. In addition, epibionts, especially green algae, alter S. alveolata population structure, causing a reduction in new recruits that over the long run may cause significant damage to the reef structure itself. These results are a first step towards understanding anthropogenic threats to S. alveolata reefs and may be useful in the development of strategies for their protection and management.     

Facilitative effects of introduced Pacific oysters on native macroalgae are limited by a secondary invader,the seaweed Sargassum muticum

Introduced habitat-providing organisms such as epibenthic bivalves may facilitate the invasion and expansion of further non-native species which may modify the effects of the primary invader on the native system. In the sedimentary intertidal Wadden Sea (south-eastern North Sea) introduced Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) have overgrown native blue mussel beds (Mytilus edulis). These oyster beds are now providing the major attachment substratum for macroalgae. Recently, oysters have expanded their distribution into the shallow subtidal zone of the Wadden Sea, and there support a rich associated species community including the Japanese seaweed Sargassum muticum, which has been presumably introduced together with the oysters. With a block designed field experiment, we explored the effects of S. muticum on the associated community of soft-bottom C. gigas beds in the shallow subtidal. Replicated oyster plots of 1 m² were arranged with a density of 0, 7, 15 or 45 S. muticum m^? 2, respectively. We found no effects of different S. muticum densities on associated epi- and endobenthic community compositions associated to the oyster plots. However, the overall coverage of sessile organisms settling on the oyster shells was significantly reduced at high S. muticum densities. The occurrence of abundant native macro-algal species such as Polysiphonia nigrescens, Antithamnion plumula and Elachista fucicola decreased with increasing S. muticum densities. Sessile invertebrates, by contrast, were only marginally affected and we found no effects of S. muticum canopy on diversity and abundance of endofauna organisms. We conclude that increasing densities of S. muticum on C. gigas beds in the shallow subtidal zone of the Wadden Sea limit the occurrence of native macroalgae which otherwise would benefit from the additional hard substratum provided by the oysters. Thus, a secondary invader may abolish the effects of the primary invader for native species by occupying the new formed niche.