for their hard work on the project. We are grateful to Scott Murray and Dr. Mike Wetz for championing recent efforts in Baffin Bay and to the anglers of Baffin Bay for their input and donation of tissue samples.We would like to acknowledge the research of Dr. David McKee, and Dr. Wes Tunnell, whose findings helped to guide this project. Lastly, we thank two anonymous reviewers for providing useful suggestions and comments.
Polyethylene plastic mesh is commonly used for containing oyster shells in small‐scale oyster reef restoration, but environmental and public health concerns have prompted investigations of biodegradable alternatives. Shallow (<0.5 m) and deep (approximately 1 m) oyster reefs (approximately 6 m2) were constructed in the Mission‐Aransas Estuary, Texas, U.S.A., in March 2020 using recycled oyster shells placed into four different replicated mesh bag types: polyethylene (plastic) and three biodegradable alternatives (cellulose, cotton, and jute). Biodegradable alternatives (cellulose, cotton, and jute) all completely degraded within 2 months of deployment, leaving piles of loose shell, while polyethylene bags remained intact. Despite rapid degradation, the biodegradable/loose shell successfully recruited and developed larger oysters (mean of 46 mm) than on the polyethylene‐bagged shell (mean of 40 mm) after 7 months, although at less than half the density. Associated motile fauna density in the bagged shell was 2.4 times higher than in the loose shell after 7 months at both the deep and shallow locations. Faunal community composition and diversity varied more with reef depth than by bag type. The total cost of using polyethylene bags was lower than for biodegradable alternatives (22–45% the cost of cellulose, 35–72% the cost of jute, 49–99% the cost of cotton). However, because our estimate of the environmental cost of polyethylene plastic mesh only included impacts on marine natural capital, the true cost is likely much higher. Despite higher costs, biodegradable alternatives can still be successful for use in small‐scale oyster restoration events without introducing plastics into the marine environment.
Restoration of shellfish reefs has increased exponentially over the past two decades, due in part to increased awareness of widespread oyster habitat loss. Large-scale, acute disturbances such as hurricanes have the potential to influence restoration outcomes, but because storm occurrence is unpredictable with respect to restoration timelines, the responses of restored habitats are not well understood. We quantified the ecological dynamics of a newly constructed Crassostrea virginica oyster reef and nearby reference reef in a Texas estuary immediately after Hurricane Harvey, a major category 4 storm. Biophysical structure (e.g., oyster density, shell height, sediment grain size), and community composition (abundance of reef-associated epifauna, and nearby infauna) were measured for 18 months. A sharp decrease in salinity and temporary deposition of fine sediments within the first 3 months corresponded with increases in oyster and epifaunal recruitment on the restored reef, although densities were generally below those measured on restored reefs without hurricanes. Criteria for oyster reef restoration success were met within 12–18 months post-storm. Infaunal densities decreased but returned to pre-storm densities within 2 months, but bivalves were delayed, returning to pre-storm levels after 9 months. A lack of historical baseline data on the newly restored reef limited our ability to assess the magnitude of reef recovery to pre-disturbance levels or separate the direct effects of the hurricane from the dynamics of early recruitment and growth. Results provide important information about restored and natural oyster reef dynamics after large-scale disturbance and can help inform effective management and conservation measures.
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