Oyster food supply in Delaware Bay: Estimation from a hydrodynamic model and interaction with the oyster population

Powell, Eric N.; Kreeger, Danielle; Morson, Jason M.; Haidvogel, Dale B.; Wang, Zhiren; Thomas, Rebecca; Gius, Jennifer E.

doi:10.1357/002224012802851904

Cited by 19 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…Presumably, variations in food supply may be consequential. Unfortunately, data on food supply are only available for the late 2000s (Powell et al ., 2012b), a time period when the values of the scaling exponents for the four bed regions adjoined along the salinity gradient were nearly identical throughout the bay. Perhaps by coincidence, Powell et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The allometry of oysters: spatial and temporal variation in the length–biomass relationships forCrassostrea virginica

Powell

Mann²,

Ashton-Alcox

et al. 2015

J. Mar. Biol. Ass.

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We examine the relationship of biomass B and length L in the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica by focusing on the scaling exponent b in the allometric equation B = aLb using four datasets: Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, Galveston Bay and a regionally extensive compilation from the NOAA Mussel Watch Program. The average value of the scaling exponent in Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay is about 2. For Galveston Bay, the value is distinctly higher, near 2.6. Over all Mussel Watch sites, the value is again near 2. Within Delaware Bay, the salinity gradient exerts an important effect. Shells are longer for their meat weight at lower salinities. The range of scaling exponents revealed by Mussel Watch data is exceedingly large (b < 1 to >3). Scaling exponents below 2.5 are unusual in bivalves. Among bivalves, only other oyster taxa have comparably low scaling exponents averaging near 2. We propose that oyster biomass routinely scales nearer the square of the length rather than the cube and that this is a constraint imposed by the exigency of carbonate production for reef maintenance and accretion in the face of high rates of taphonomic degradation. The adaptation as a reef builder requires the formation of carbonate that rapidly breaks down, thus requiring that carbonate produced be maximized. A biomass-to-length scaling exponent of 2 provides a mechanism to maximize shell production relative to biomass, while at the same time providing maximum surface area for the all-important settling of oyster spat to maintain the population.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The allometry of oysters: spatial and temporal variation in the length–biomass relationships forCrassostrea virginica

Powell

Mann²,

Ashton-Alcox

et al. 2015

J. Mar. Biol. Ass.

Self Cite

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“…Several accounts of these species show them becoming more abundant in nearshore environments in early spring (Price 1962, Hopkins 1965, Modlin 1980, Allen & Allen 1981, Sato & Jumars 2008. The distributional shift is just before the characteristic timing of the spring bloom in the shallow coastal regions of Chesapeake Bay (Harding 1994) and Delaware Bay (Powell et al 2012). Therefore, it would be advantageous to migrate into shallow water to exploit abundant resources.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

It takes guts to locate elusive crustacean prey

Lasley-Rasher

Brady²,

Smith³

et al. 2015

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…High densities of suspension feeders, particularly filter-feeders, may compete for food, but also for waterborne pathogens. Moreover, a non-focal host population ingesting or otherwise collecting infective particles (e.g., bivalves, sponges or tunicates), may enhance the competition effect, which could lead to a lower per capita exposure to pathogens (Peterson and Andre, 1980;Beukema and Cadée, 1996;Powell et al, 2012c). Thus, the threshold of the initial host population for an epizootic to occur may be substantially increased with increasing numbers of non-focal hosts (Fig.…”

Section: Epizootiology and Rmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microparasitic disease dynamics in benthic suspension feeders: Infective dose, non-focal hosts, and particle diffusion

Bidegain

Powell

Klinck³

et al. 2016

Ecological Modelling

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Benthic suspension-feeders can accumulate substantial numbers of microparasitic pathogens by contacting or filtering particles while feeding, thus making them highly vulnerable to infectious diseases. The study of disease dynamics in these marine organisms requires an innovative approach to modeling. To do so, we developed a single-population deterministic compartmental model adapted from the mathematical theory of epidemics. The model is a continuous-time model, unstructured in spatial or age terms, and configured to simulate the dynamics of diverse dose (body burden)-dependent infectious disease transmission processes in suspension feeders caused by susceptible individuals contacting or absorbing (filtering) infectious waterborne pathogens. Different scenarios were simulated to explore the effect of recruitment, filtration rate, particle loss, diffusion-like processes in the water column and non-focal hosts (i.e. non-susceptible in terms of disease) on disease incidence. An increase in recruitment (i.e. new disease free susceptibles) can reduce the prevalence of infection due to the dilution effect of adding more susceptibles, but the disease can spread faster for the same reason. Lower infective particle accumulation rates or increasing particle loss rates in the environment reduce the prevalence of infection. This effect is trivial when the water is saturated with infective particles released by infected and/or dead animals. Diffusion of particles from the local pool available to suspension feeders to the adjacent remote pool, prompted by a large remote volume and high particle exchange, limits epizootic development. Similarly, the likelihood of an epizootic can be constrained in a large susceptible population when competition for pathogens, more 'active' in active filter feeders than in passive suspension feeders, reduces the per capita infective particle accumulation rate. In passive suspension feeders, decreasing the area of the feeding surface has the same effect in constraining disease development. The effect of competition for infective particles in essence diluting the infective particle concentration in the water column is magnified when the susceptible population is part of a community with non-focal filter feeders, and is particularly effective in limiting disease development in high infective dose systems. At the same time, this active foraging strategy makes filter feeders more vulnerable to epizootics. The model is a suitable framework for studying the disease dynamics and determinants of disease outbreaks in benthic suspension feeders.

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Oyster food supply in Delaware Bay: Estimation from a hydrodynamic model and interaction with the oyster population

Cited by 19 publications

References 81 publications

The allometry of oysters: spatial and temporal variation in the length–biomass relationships forCrassostrea virginica

The allometry of oysters: spatial and temporal variation in the length–biomass relationships forCrassostrea virginica

It takes guts to locate elusive crustacean prey

Microparasitic disease dynamics in benthic suspension feeders: Infective dose, non-focal hosts, and particle diffusion

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