Development and distribution of the non-indigenous Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in the Dutch Wadden Sea

Fey, Frouke; Dankers, N.M.J.A.; Steenbergen, J.; Goudswaard, Kees

doi:10.1007/s10499-009-9268-0

Cited by 42 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In soft‐sediment environments, both require living or dead shells as substrate for attachment, where they turn out to be strong ecosystem engineers (Diederich , Fey et al. , Markert et al. , Troost , Commito et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invading oysters and native mussels: from hostile takeover to compatible bedfellows

et al. 2017

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Citation: Reise, K., C. Buschbaum, H. B€ uttger, and K. M. Wegner. 2017. Invading oysters and native mussels: from hostile takeover to compatible bedfellows. Ecosphere 8(9):e01949. 10. 1002/ecs2.1949 Abstract. Unintended species introductions may offer valuable insights into the functioning of species assemblages. A spectacular invasion of introduced Pacific oysters Magallana (formerly Crassostrea) gigas in the northern Wadden Sea (eastern North Sea, NE Atlantic) has relegated resident mussels Mytilus edulis on their beds to subtenant status. At the beginning of feral oyster establishment, mussel beds offered suitable sites with ample substrate to settle upon. After larval attachment to mussels, the fast-growing M. gigas overtopped and smothered their basibionts. With increasing Pacific oyster abundance and size, oyster larvae preferentially settled upon oysters, and the ecological impact of the invaders on the residents changed from competitive displacement to accommodation of mussels underneath a canopy of oysters. Oysters took the best feeding positions while mussels received shelter from predation and detrimental epibionts. The resident's mono-dominance has turned into co-dominance with an alien, persisting in novel, multi-layered mixed reefs of oysters with mussels, which we term "oyssel reefs." The first 26 yr of the Pacific oyster's conquest of mussel beds in the northern Wadden Sea may question the overcome notions of natural balance, superiority of pristine over novel species combinations, and of introduced alien species threatening biodiversity and ecosystem stability in general.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invading oysters and native mussels: from hostile takeover to compatible bedfellows

et al. 2017

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“…These findings may lead to reconsideration of the broad ecological status of C. gigas within Europe. At present C. gigas is classified as invasive species in several regions, for example in the Wadden Sea where it has established extensive reefs with different effects (Diederich, 2006;Eschweiler and Christensen, 2011;Fey et al, 2009;Global Invasive Species Database, 2015;Lang and Buschbaum, 2010;Nehls and Büttger, 2007). Historically, however, these regions would have supported widespread populations of O. edulis (Reise et al, 1989;Riesen and Reise, 1982 edulis may have formed massive reefs in historic periods (Todorova et al, 2009) there are no contemporary records of it forming reefs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benthic assemblages associated with native and non-native oysters are similar

Zwerschke

Emmerson

Roberts

et al. 2016

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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Invasive species can impact native species and alter assemblage structure, which affects associated ecosystem functioning. The pervasive Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, has been shown to affect the diversity and composition of many host ecosystems. We tested for effects of the presence of the invasive C. gigas on native assemblages by comparing them directly to assemblages associated with the declining native European oyster, Ostrea edulis. The presence of both oyster species was manipulated in intertidal and subtidal habitats and reefs were constructed at horizontal and vertical orientation to the substratum. After 12 months, species diversity and benthic assemblage structure between assemblages with C. gigas and O. edulis were similar, but differed between habitats and orientation, suggesting that both oyster species were functionally similar in terms of biodiversity facilitation. These findings support evidence, that non-native species could play an important role in maintaining biodiversity in systems with declining populations of native species.

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“…There was very little evidence of birds feeding directly on M. gigas , even by oystercatchers. Studies in the Wadden Sea have indicated that the only birds to feed directly on M. gigas are herring gulls and oystercatchers (Fey et al, ; Markert et al, ; Markert, Esser, Frank, Wehrmann, & Exo, ), although predation on M. gigas by birds is generally low (Troost, ). Oystercatchers were observed prising open smaller M. gigas on the oyster reef at Brightlingsea, which is possibly the first reported observation of its kind on wild M. gigas in the UK.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The importance of nonnative Pacific oyster reefs as supplementary feeding areas for coastal birds on estuary mudflats

Herbert

Davies

Bowgen

et al. 2018

Aquatic Conservation

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A combined empirical and modelling approach was used to investigate the value of a Pacific oyster reef to feeding shorebirds and to observe and predict the impact of reef clearance on bird populations in the Colne Estuary, a protected area in south‐east England. Macro‐invertebrate biomass and numbers of feeding birds were measured on a Pacific oyster reef, an adjacent uncolonized mudflat, and an area of mudflat that had been cleared of oysters 6 months previously. These data were used to parameterize an individual‐based model (MORPH) to predict the impact of clearance of the reef on winter bird survival. Feeding success and intake rates of Eurasian oystercatcher, Eurasian curlew, and Eurasian common redshank were also recorded during the course of a winter. The macro‐invertebrate diversity and biomass within both the oyster reef and the cleared area were significantly greater than the adjacent uncolonized mudflat. The density and biomass of large invertebrate prey in the mudflat were low, yet the Pacific oyster reef had much higher densities and biomass of large prey, especially annelids and shore crabs. The winter assemblage of feeding birds differed significantly between each of the areas. The mean total number of feeding birds was significantly greater on the uncolonized mudflat; however, mean peak counts, feeding success rate and prey intake rate of Eurasian oystercatcher were greater on the reef. Significantly greater intake rates and feeding success rates were also observed on the reef for Eurasian curlew, a species of conservation concern. Field data and model predictions show that Pacific oyster reefs can provide valuable supplementary feeding areas for some shorebirds, yet other species avoided the reef. However, as estuaries vary in available feeding resources, it is important that the value of reefs and their management is determined regionally.

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Development and distribution of the non-indigenous Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in the Dutch Wadden Sea

Cited by 42 publications

References 13 publications

Invading oysters and native mussels: from hostile takeover to compatible bedfellows

Invading oysters and native mussels: from hostile takeover to compatible bedfellows

Benthic assemblages associated with native and non-native oysters are similar

The importance of nonnative Pacific oyster reefs as supplementary feeding areas for coastal birds on estuary mudflats

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