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Adaptive Restoration Reveals Potential Effect of Tidal Elevation on Oyster Restoration Outcomes

  • Applied Wetland Science
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Abstract

Oyster restoration practitioners augment habitat with hard substrata to increase oyster recruitment, but success can be complicated by non-indigenous species recruitment and physical processes such as sedimentation. From June 2012 to June 2014, we examined changes in shell cover and recruitment of native Ostrea lurida and non-indigenous, global invader Crassostrea gigas onto a constructed oyster bed in Alamitos Bay, CA, USA relative to an un-augmented control mudflat. Due to 72% shell loss after 1 year and informed by a concurrent study on elevational distributions of both oyster species, we augmented the oyster bed with additional shell on the lower-elevation, seaward side. One year later, O. lurida densities were significantly greater on the lower-elevation bed relative to the control and 19.4 times greater than reference populations throughout Alamitos Bay. Crassostrea gigas recruited in densities equivalent to reference populations. Adaptively restoring the bed via shell additions at a lower elevation achieved higher shell retention, increased O. lurida densities, and increased the ratio of native versus non-indigenous oysters. Our increased understanding about the role of tidal elevation in targeted restoration success of a native relative to a non-indigenous oyster species will inform future restoration designs.

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Data Availability

Applicable international, national and institutional guidelines for care and use of animals were followed. Oysters collected were permitted via a California Department of Fish and Wildlife Scientific Collecting Permit to Zacherl. Data are available upon request.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to the agencies who helped us secure permits and permissions: California Coastal Commission, City of Long Beach, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Thanks to collaborators Orange County Coastkeeper and KZO Education, Lenny Arkinstall for site access and logistical support, Kelly Donovan for graphics, and our hardworking community volunteers and students. Carlsbad Aquafarm provided discounted shell, arranged for shell inspection, and facilitated shell transport. Dennis Peterson provided invaluable advice. Two anonymous reviewers provided thoughtful comments that greatly improved the quality of the manuscript. Funds were provided to Zacherl by NOAA Restoration Center, California State Coastal Conservancy (Project No. 11-058-01), California State University Fullerton Department of Biological Science, CSU Fullerton Senior Intramural Award, Zucchero Management Incorporated, and The CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science and Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Science, California State University Fullerton, 800 N. State College Boulevard, Fullerton, CA, 92834-6850, USA

    Cristina M. Fuentes & Danielle C. Zacherl

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd, MS 9502, Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA

    Christine R. Whitcraft

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  1. Cristina M. Fuentes
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Correspondence to Danielle C. Zacherl.

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We complied with all ethical standards and declare no conflict of interest. Applicable international, national and institutional guidelines for care and use of animals were followed. Oysters collected were permitted via a California Department of Fish and Wildlife Scientific Collecting Permit to Zacherl.

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Fuentes, C.M., Whitcraft, C.R. & Zacherl, D.C. Adaptive Restoration Reveals Potential Effect of Tidal Elevation on Oyster Restoration Outcomes. Wetlands 40, 93–99 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-019-01166-7

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