Conservation and restoration of a keystone species: Understanding the settlement preferences of the European oyster (Ostrea edulis)

Rodríguez-Pérez, Ana; James, Mark; Donnan, David; Henry, Theodore B.; Møller, Lene Friis; Sanderson, William

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.11.032

Cited by 52 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The high density of oysters >60 mm at Cunningburn and their associated conspecific chemical cues may have also had an influence on settlement behavior (Rodriguez‐Perez et al ). An overview of the three hypotheses related to O. edulis and adult density‐related chemical cues can help explain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wild gregarious settlements of Ostrea edulis in a semi‐enclosed sea lough: a case study for unassisted restoration

Smyth

Horne

Ronayne

et al. 2020

Restoration Ecology

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Ostrea edulis was once prolific throughout Europe and considered as the continent's native oyster. However, O. edulis currently exists in small fragmented assemblages where natural unaided recovery is rarely encountered. This research identified the small semi-enclosed sea Lough of Strangford on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland as one of the few locations within Europe where the native oyster displayed gregarious natural rejuvenation. On close examination, four influential parameters appeared to assist in concentrated settlement; raised topographical cultch formations, shell coverage, the number of fecund in situ adults, and site protection. If these components were to be combined and managed as part of reintroduction and restoration initiatives, high-density settlements and self-sustaining populations may be possible. The research also identified that unregulated harvesting of intertidal O. edulis assemblages has the potential to seriously hinder natural recoveries. Indeed, the findings suggest that a review of policy in regards to intertidal hand gathering is necessary. However, naturally occurring high-density settlements recorded during this research should be inspirational to all involved in the restoration of the native oyster. Implications for Practice• Examination of naturally occurring native oyster expansion and the parameters which permit augmentation can provide an insight into which components could be implemented to aid successful assisted restoration.• A suite of abiotic and biotic conditions can accommodate mass gregarious Ostrea edulis settlements; hydrodynamics which allow water retention, adequate coverage of suitable substrate, intertidal topography which provides pool structures, in situ resident adults and policing of settlement sites.• Unregulated harvesting remains a constant threat to restoration and protection of the species needs to be implemented if a self-sustaining status is to be achieved.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wild gregarious settlements of Ostrea edulis in a semi‐enclosed sea lough: a case study for unassisted restoration

Smyth

Horne

Ronayne

et al. 2020

Restoration Ecology

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“…Monitoring of growth, health, survival, reproduction and recruitment is ongoing (Sanderson, in prep.). Supporting research projects have been established to examine the contribution oysters make to blue carbon storage as well as the behaviour and therefore likely destinations of oyster larvae from the restoration sites (Rodriguez-Perez et al, 2019). Furthermore, substrate (shell material) was deployed to the seabed to increase recruitment by creating a series of "reefs" and "beds".…”

Section: Current European Pilot Restoration Initiativesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1. Produce sufficient oysters for restoration of oyster reefs Support existing hatcheries (Vercaemer et al, 2004;Colsoul et al, 2019) Support spatting ponds (Culloty et al, 2004;Ashton and Brown, 2009;Syvret and Woolmer, 2015;Colsoul et al, 2019) Support spat collector techniques (Kamermans et al, 2004;Bataller et al, 2006;Lok and Acarli, 2006;Burke et al, 2008;van den Brink, 2012;Rodriguez-Perez et al, 2019;Colsoul et al, 2019) Establish broodstock sanctuaries (Brumbaugh et al, 2006;Colsoul et al, 2019) 2. Identify and create suitable sites for restoration of oyster reefs / Site selection Reintroduction sites (Clewell et al, 2000;Laing, 2005;Laing et al, 2005;Ashton and Brown, 2009;Shelmerdine and Leslie, 2009;Woolmer et al, 2011;Keenelyside et al, 2012;Gravestock et al, 2014;Fariñas-Franco et al, 2018;) Reinforcement sites (Kennedy and Roberts, 1999;Laing, 2005;Laing et al, 2005;Roberts et al, 2005;Kennedy and Roberts, 2006;Woolmer et al, 2011;Gravestock et al, 2014;Helmer et al, 2019) Conservation sites (University Marine Biological Station Millport, 2007) 3.…”

Section: Recommendationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Native Oyster Restoration Alliance (NORA) and the Berlin Oyster Recommendation: bringing back a key ecosystem engineer by developing and supporting best practice in Europe

Pogoda¹,

Brown²,

Hancock³

et al. 2019

Aquat. Living Resour.

106

129

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Efforts to restore the native oyster Ostrea edulis and its associated habitats are gaining momentum across Europe. Several projects are currently running or being planned. To maximize the success of these, it is crucial to draw on existing knowledge and experience in order to design, plan and implement restoration activities in a sustainable and constructive approach. For the development of best practice recommendations and to promote multidimensional knowledge and technology exchange, the Native Oyster Restoration Alliance (NORA) was formed by partners from science, technology, nature conservation, consultancies, commercial producers and policy-makers. The NORA network will enhance scientific and practical progress in flat oyster restoration, such as in project planning and permitting, seed oyster production, disease management and monitoring. It also focuses on joint funding opportunities and the potential development of national and international regulatory frameworks. The main motivation behind NORA is to facilitate the restoration of native oyster habitat within its historic biogeographic range in the North Sea and other European seas along with the associated ecosystem services; services such as enhancing biodiversity, including enhanced fish stocks, nutrient cycling and sediment stabilization. NORA members agreed on a set of joint recommendations and strongly advise that any restoration measure should respect and apply these recommendations: The Berlin Oyster Recommendation is presented here. It will help guide the development of the field by developing and applying best practice accordingly. NORA also aims to combine the outreach activities of local projects for improved community support and awareness and to provide educational material to increase knowledge of the key ecological role of this species and increase awareness among regulators, permit providers and stakeholders. A synthesis of O. edulis restoration efforts in Europe is provided and underlines the general significance in the field.

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“…Similarly, we witnessed the newly constructed reef foundation for Windara Reef being spatially monopolized by turf‐forming algae within weeks of reef construction, effectively forming a barrier to oyster settlement (McAfee et al unpublished data). We recognize that “bare space” is colonized rapidly, particularly by biofilms, which can provide settlement cues for recruiting larvae (Rodriguez‐Perez et al ). Therefore, tests of adding substrata to stimulate restoration can benefit from knowledge on the temporal variability of larval supply so the deployment of substrata may be timed close to recruitment events.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cuing oyster recruitment with shell and rock: implications for timing reef restoration

McAfee

Connell

2020

Restoration Ecology

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Reducing uncertainty surrounding the biological responses of degraded habitat is key to providing confidence and efficiency in its restoration. Many coastal habitats are so extensively degraded that organismal responses to restoration interventions are entirely unknown. Among the most degraded coastal ecosystems are oyster reefs, whose restoration typically occurs where oysters are degraded to the point of functional extinction. This loss creates uncertainty on the fundamental processes for reef recovery; the timing of oyster recruitment and their preferred substratum for settlement. Such knowledge can inform restoration strategies to accelerate habitat recovery. Near the site of Australia's largest restoration of native oyster reef, we quantified temporal variability in recruitment of the native flat oyster (Ostrea angasi) and assessed their preference between the settlement substrata deployed for the reef restoration. Combining half a decade of environmental data with oyster recruitment data, we provide a model that identified distinct peaks in oyster recruitment which correlate with food availability and seawater temperature. In addition, oysters preferentially settled on oyster shell relative to other materials used in local restoration. In combination, these results suggest that there are opportunities to augment recruitment through addition of shell substratum synced with recruitment peaks. Our recruitment model likely represents a minor investment with large returns, providing opportunities to capture peak recruitment and greater confidence in utilizing natural recruitment as a restoration resource.

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Conservation and restoration of a keystone species: Understanding the settlement preferences of the European oyster (Ostrea edulis)

Cited by 52 publications

References 34 publications

Wild gregarious settlements of Ostrea edulis in a semi‐enclosed sea lough: a case study for unassisted restoration

Wild gregarious settlements of Ostrea edulis in a semi‐enclosed sea lough: a case study for unassisted restoration

The Native Oyster Restoration Alliance (NORA) and the Berlin Oyster Recommendation: bringing back a key ecosystem engineer by developing and supporting best practice in Europe

Cuing oyster recruitment with shell and rock: implications for timing reef restoration

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