Effects of oyster harvest activities on Louisiana reef habitat and resident nekton communities
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Abstract
Oysters are often cited as “ecosystem engineers” because they modify their environment. Coastal Louisiana contains extensive oyster reef areas that have been harvested for decades, and whether differences in habitat functions exist between those areas and nonharvested reefs is unclear. We compared reef physical structure and resident community metrics between these 2 subtidal reef types. Harvested reefs were more fragmented and had lower densities of live eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and hooked mussels (Ischadium recurvum) than the nonharvested reefs. Stable isotope values (13C and 15N) of dominant nekton species and basal food sources were used to compare food web characteristics. Nonpelagic source contributions and trophic positions of dominant species were slightly elevated at harvested sites. Oyster harvesting appeared to have decreased the number of large oysters and to have increased the percentage of reefs that were nonliving by decreasing water column filtration and benthopelagic coupling. The differences in reef matrix composition, however, had little effect on resident nekton communities. Understanding the thresholds of reef habitat areas, the oyster density or oyster size distribution below which ecosystem services may be compromised, remains key to sustainable management.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Effects of oyster harvest activities on Louisiana reef habitat and resident nekton communities |
| Series title | Fishery Bulletin |
| DOI | 10.7755/FB.113.3.8 |
| Volume | 113 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 2015 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
| Contributing office(s) | Coop Res Unit Atlanta |
| Description | 14 p. |
| First page | 327 |
| Last page | 340 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Other Geospatial | Calcasieu Lake, Sabine Lake, Sister Lake |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |