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    Oysters

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    violettourmaline6

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Oysters

    Uploaded by

    violettourmaline6
    5 views2 pages

    Original Title

    oysters

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    5 views2 pages

    Oysters

    Uploaded by

    violettourmaline6

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    Sea Science

    Benefits of Oyster
    Reefs:
    A Series by SCDNR Marine Resources Division
    Improve water
    quality
    Oysters

    Shelter fish

    The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is the star of many


    restaurants and backyard roasts along the East Coast. Its
    popularity dates back to the earliest civilizations on these
    Prevent erosion
    lands. Archaeologists have discovered massive mounds of
    discarded shells that date back thousands of years dotting the
    coast from South Carolina to Florida. Four thousand years later,
    oysters continue to be a vital part of South Carolina’s economy,
    culture and ecosystem.
    Oysters are bivalves like clams, mussels and scallops. Bivalves
    have two separate shells connected at a hinge, which are
    opened and closed by muscles. When submerged, oysters Provide food for
    open their shells to allow water, dissolved oxygen and many animals
    microscopic organisms called plankton to flow over their gills.
    Microscopic hair-like structures called cilia grab food and bring
    it to the oyster’s mouth. Oysters filter water constantly while
    submerged and a single adult oyster can filter 50 gallons of
    water a day. In this way, oysters improve water quality in our
    tidal creeks and estuaries.
    Oysters in South Carolina are most commonly found along
    the edges of the salt marsh, growing in intertidal zones where
    water levels change multiple times a day as the tides rise and
    fall. Although oysters have gills and need to be submerged
    underwater to breathe, they can survive for long periods
    during low tide by trapping water inside their shells. Intertidal
    oysters are tolerant to changes in air and water temperatures.
    This specialized adaptation allows oysters to inhabit the
    Find the full Sea Science
    intertidal zone where they are less at risk from predators and
    Series by SCDNR at
    disease. The congregation of thousands of oysters made up of
    bit.ly/seasciences
    several generations of individuals is called an oyster reef.
    The Life Cycle of an Oyster
    Oysters reproduce by releasing eggs and sperm into
    the water in a process called spawning. Larvae are
    formed when sperm meet eggs in the water column.
    Spawning in South Carolina typically begins in April,
    when seawater temperatures begin to increase in the
    spring, and continues until October.
    After about two weeks of swimming and feeding
    in the water column, oyster larvae settle on a hard
    surface and begin growing into small oysters called
    spat. Although larvae can settle on any hard surface,
    they prefer to attach to other oysters. If oyster larvae
    cannot find a suitable hard surface for attachment,
    they will die. SCDNR recycles oyster shells from
    restaurants and backyard roasts to provide surfaces
    for new larvae to attach to and encourage healthy
    oyster growth in our marshes.
    Harvesting of wild oysters is closed during the
    summer months (typically June-September) so that
    oysters can successfully reproduce. During harvest
    season, anyone with a saltwater fishing license can
    harvest oysters greater than three inches in size
    from designated grounds. Oyster harvesting is done
    by hand at low tide when oysters are exposed and
    easily accessible. Harvesters are encouraged to break
    clusters apart while harvesting in order to leave small
    oysters and shells behind to aid in the recovery of the
    reef. Hand tools such as pry bars and screwdrivers are
    often used to break up oyster clusters.
    If you eat oysters at home, please keep the oyster
    shells separate from the trash. Oyster shells can be
    dropped off at locations across the state so that they
    can safely be returned to the marsh. Volunteers are
    welcome to assist the SCDNR South Carolina Oyster
    Recycling and Enhancement (SCORE) Program
    year-round by removing trash from recycled shells,
    bagging oyster shells, or placing shell bags on the
    shore to build new reefs.

    The Oyster Shell Recycling Process

    Collect Quarantine Plant Grow

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