Oyster reefs

Oyster-Predator Dynamics and Climate Change

Gabrielle Love, Shirley Baker, and Edward V. Camp

How Oyster Reefs Can Affect Finfish Recruitment

Gabrielle Love, Anna Braswell, Angela B. Collins, and Edward Camp

Recruitment is a very important life stage for fish which has direct impacts on size of the whole fish population. During this phase, the mortality juvenile fish experience is affected by their density because of competition for the available resources. How much fish density affects mortality in recruitment is itself affected by many factors, but one of the most important is the structural habitat available to juvenile fish. Structurally complex habitats like oyster reefs are thought to have a particularly strong influence on the recruitment process of certain species. Here we describe the ways that habitat can alter recruitment success. We focus on how oyster reefs affect recruitment of fish in Florida and the particular issues related to management of this important habitat.

Oyster Habitat Restoration and Shoreline Protection

Charles Wallace, Edward Camp, and Ashley Smyth

As the climate continues to change, coastal areas and the people that live there face increasing risks from erosion and wave damage. This is made worse by declines in natural oyster reefs, which would provide some natural protection. However, oysters can be restored for the specific purposes of protecting shorelines. The practicality and cost effectiveness of using oysters in this way is described in this publication, which is intended to be used by coastal property owners, as well as local governments that must make decisions about protecting shorelines in the face of a changing climate.

What is oyster shell recycling?

Ana Zangroniz, Marian Azeem-Angel, Katie Heiden, Heather Donnelly, and Ashley R. Smyth

This new 7-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences is intended to serve Natural Resources or Florida Sea Grant Extension agents, as well as local partners considering establishing a local oyster shell recycling program or local restaurants interested in learning more about oyster shell recycling, and shares lessons learned from starting a program in Miami-Dade County. Written by Ana Zangroniz, Marian Azeem-Angel, Katie Heiden, Heather Donnelly, and Ashley R. Smyth.