A Habitat Suitability Index Model for the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica), a Tool for Restoration of the Caloosahatchee Estuary, Florida

Barnes, Tomma; Volety, Aswani K.; Chartier, Kevin; Mazzotti, Frank J.; Pearlstine, Leonard G.

doi:10.2983/0730-8000(2007)26[949:ahsimf]2.0.co;2

Cited by 79 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…While many variables that determine habitat suitability overlap between species and systems, variables that are significant drivers in a given system may not be as critical as other variables. For instance, of the four oyster HSI models developed for specific systems [i.e., Caloosahatchee Estuary, Florida by Barnes et al (2007), Hudson River, New York by Starke et al (2011), MissionAransas Estuary, Texas by Pollack et al (2012), Mississippi River, Louisiana by Soniat et al (2013)], only a single variable was used by all four (i.e., average salinity), yet they used a total of seven other variables that were not in common ( Table 2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the summer in western shore tributaries of Chesapeake Bay, such as the GWR, DO remains high down to about 4 m , after which it declines sharply to 0 mg l −1 around 5 m. This general trend is due to seasonal benthic anoxia and hypoxia events induced by decomposition of plankton and subsequent stratification of the water column (Kemp et al, 2005). Salinity was included as the eastern oyster cannot tolerate extremely low or high salinities for long periods, and prefers upper mesohaline to polyhaline salinities (Battista, 1999;Barnes et al, 2007;Carnegie and Burreson, 2011).…”

Section: Hsi Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vertical relief was identified as a key feature mediating oyster density on restored reefs, with high-relief reefs (HRR: 25-45 cm) harboring nearly an order of magnitude greater density of oysters m −2 than low-relief reefs (LRR: 8-12 cm). Today, the GWR harbors a high density, Barnes et al (2007), 2-Battista (1999), 3-Brown and Hartwick (1988), 4-Cake (1983), 5-Cho et al (2012), 6-Pollack et al (2012), 7-Soniat and Brody (1988), 8-Soniat et al (2013), 9-Starke et al (2011), 10-Swannack et al (2014 restored oyster population (Schulte et al, 2009), and therefore serves as an excellent model system for assessing the validity of an oyster HSI. Here, we describe the development of a simple, reliable HSI for the eastern oyster and present the results from a direct field validation of the model.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantitative Validation of a Habitat Suitability Index for Oyster Restoration

Theuerkauf

Lipcius

2016

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Habitat suitability index (HSI) models provide spatially explicit information on the capacity of a given habitat to support a species of interest, and their prevalence has increased dramatically in recent years. Despite caution that the reliability of HSIs must be validated using independent, quantitative data, most HSIs intended to inform terrestrial and marine species management remain unvalidated. Furthermore, of the eight HSI models developed for eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) restoration and fishery production, none has been validated. Consequently, we developed, calibrated, and validated an HSI for the eastern oyster to identify optimal habitat for restoration in a tributary of Chesapeake Bay, the Great Wicomico River (GWR). The GWR harbors a high density, restored oyster population, and therefore serves as an excellent model system for assessing the validity of the HSI. The HSI was derived from GIS layers of bottom type, salinity, and water depth (surrogate for dissolved oxygen), and was tested using live adult oyster density data from a survey of high vertical relief reefs (HRR) and low vertical relief reefs (LRR) in the sanctuary network. Live adult oyster density was a statistically-significant sigmoid function of the HSI, which validates the HSI as a robust predictor of suitable oyster reef habitat for rehabilitation or restoration. In addition, HRR had on average 103-116 more adults m −2 than LRR at a given level of the HSI. For HRR, HSI ≥ 0.3 exceeded the accepted restoration target of 50 live adult oysters m −2 . For LRR, the HSI was generally able to predict live adult oyster densities that meet or exceed the target at HSI ≥ 0.3. The HSI indicated that there remain large areas of suitable habitat for restoration in the GWR. This study provides a robust framework for HSI model development and validation, which can be refined and applied to other systems and previously developed HSIs to improve the efficacy of native oyster restoration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hsi Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantitative Validation of a Habitat Suitability Index for Oyster Restoration

Theuerkauf

Lipcius

2016

Front. Mar. Sci.

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“…Substantial changes to estuarine ecosystems over time may preclude the usefulness of historical records for present-day site selection (Jackson et al, 2001). More recently, HSI models have been developed to inform the oyster restoration site selection process (Soniat and Brody, 1988;Mann and Evans, 2004;Barnes et al, 2007;Starke et al, 2011;Beseres Pollack et al, 2012;Linhoss et al, 2016; Theuerkauf and Lipcius, 2016). These models have included many factors relevant to oyster biology and subsidence of artificial reefs, such as salinity and sediment type.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating Larval Dispersal, Permitting, and Logistical Factors Within a Validated Habitat Suitability Index for Oyster Restoration

et al. 2018

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Habitat suitability index (HSI) models are increasingly used to guide ecological restoration. Successful restoration is a byproduct of several factors, including physical and biological processes, as well as permitting and logistical considerations. Rarely are factors from all of these categories included in HSI models, despite their combined relevance to common restoration goals such as population persistence. We developed a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based HSI for restoring persistent high-relief subtidal oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reefs protected from harvest (i.e., sanctuaries) in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, USA. Expert stakeholder input identified 17 factors to include in the HSI. Factors primarily represented physical (e.g., salinity) and biological (e.g., larval dispersal) processes relevant to oyster restoration, but also included several relevant permitting (e.g., presence of seagrasses) and logistical (e.g., distance to restoration material stockpile sites) considerations. We validated the model with multiple years of oyster density data from existing sanctuaries, and compared HSI output with distributions of oyster reefs from the late 1800's. Of the 17 factors included in the model, stakeholders identified four factors-salinity, larval export from existing oyster sanctuaries, larval import to existing sanctuaries, and dissolved oxygen-most critical to oyster sanctuary site selection. The HSI model provided a quantitative scale over which a vast water body (∼6,000 km 2 ) was narrowed down by 95% to a much smaller suite of optimal (top 1% HSI) and suitable (top 5% HSI) locations for oyster restoration. Optimal and suitable restoration locations were clustered in northeast and southwest Pamlico Sound. Oyster density in existing sanctuaries, normalized for time since reef restoration, was a positive exponential function of HSI, providing validation for the model. Only a small portion (10-20%) of historical reef locations overlapped with current, model-predicted optimal and suitable restoration habitat. We contend that stronger linkages between larval connectivity, landscape ecology, stakeholder engagement and spatial planning within HSI models can provide a more holistic, unified approach to restoration.

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“…With the extension of levees along the lower Mississippi River, salinity increased and oyster populations shifted inland (Gunter 1952, Mackin & Hopkins 1961, Coleman & Gagliano 1964; proposed diversions portend a seaward shift in optimal oyster habitat. Oyster habitat suitability index (HSI) models are designed to evaluate the suitability of a habitat to support oysters (Cake 1983, Brown & Hartwick 1988, Soniat & Brody 1988, Barnes et al 2007). Cake (1983) developed the initial eastern oyster HSI model for environmental impact assessment and habitat management.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%