What are we trying to learn?

The West and Rhode Riverkeeper currently works with volunteers to restore Maryland's oyster reefs. Initially, young oysters need a safe place to grow, therefore, participants hang baskets of baby oysters off of their docks. Once the oysters are large enough, they are taken to an oyster sanctuary in the South River. However, the Riverkeeper has never collected data about the ways that we might be able to help more of the oysters survive or grow larger.

SERC's Participatory Science Program is collaborating with the Riverkeeper and South River High School student, Jack Drohat, to try and figure out the best ways to grow the oysters. From the experiment that we started fall 2018, we hope to identify the optimal amount of oyster shells per oyster basket. In January 2019, we will get results and use these to develop best practices for the Riverkeeper and their volunteers, so their time and resources are used most effectively.

Why study oysters?

Oysters are a vital part of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Oysters act as natural water filters simply by eating and respiring. A healthy adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons a day! Primarily, oysters help improve water quality. They remove excess algae, nutrients, and silt from the water. This increases the clearness of the water, which helps underwater plants grow. Filter feeders like oysters also lower the risk of algal blooms. When large amounts algae grow at once, they create areas without enough oxygen. When oxygen is too low in the water, fish and other marine creatures can die. Oysters can help prevent these events.

Oyster reefs also create habitats for other species. Their hard shells provide surfaces for barnacles and mussels to attach. The space around the shells provides shelter and spawning areas for young and smaller species of fish. Ecological benefits also turn into economic benefits. More species and larger populations make the whole bay more productive. Unfortunately, Eastern oysters are under threat from disease, over-harvesting, and excess sediment.