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Improving the World of Oysters
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Restoration efforts are underway for oysters, an important marine
species that promotes biodiversity, coastline protection, food for
humans and others, and more. Credit: Fumikas Sagisavas, CC0.
Sound travels farther in water than it does in the air, and acoustics are an
important aspect of daily life for marine creatures ranging from whales
to coral. In addition to communication, many marine animals rely on
sound for navigation, hunting, avoiding predators, and choosing ideal
places to live. Baby oysters are among the many species that depend
on sound cues in their environment to determine where best to settle
down. But researchers in Australia have discovered a growing challenge
for oysters: the interference of human-created noise in the ocean.
To counter declining oyster populations, the researchers conducted a study in which they set up speakers to broadcast sounds that would attract larval oysters. The strategy was successful—the sounds did recruit larvae to settle down in those areas—but only in areas without substantial noise from shipping, machinery, and construction. In areas with higher levels of human noise pollution, the extra noise appeared to have drowned out the acoustic signals that the baby oysters rely on to determine a safe place to make their home.
But there’s good news: not only did the speaker strategy work in areas without man-made noise pollution, but other strategies are also succeeding at building up oyster communities. In Chesapeake Bay, for example, oyster populations have shrunk to about 1% of what they once were. But officials have set up oyster sanctuaries where harvesting is banned. These sanctuaries have begun successfully restoring oyster populations—despite the simultaneous rise of two oyster parasites native to the area, the boring sponge and the mud blister worm. Neither of these parasites is dangerous to humans, and some evidence suggests that these oyster sanctuaries may even be helping the oysters become more resilient to parasites.
To counter declining oyster populations, the researchers conducted a study in which they set up speakers to broadcast sounds that would attract larval oysters. The strategy was successful—the sounds did recruit larvae to settle down in those areas—but only in areas without substantial noise from shipping, machinery, and construction. In areas with higher levels of human noise pollution, the extra noise appeared to have drowned out the acoustic signals that the baby oysters rely on to determine a safe place to make their home.
But there’s good news: not only did the speaker strategy work in areas without man-made noise pollution, but other strategies are also succeeding at building up oyster communities. In Chesapeake Bay, for example, oyster populations have shrunk to about 1% of what they once were. But officials have set up oyster sanctuaries where harvesting is banned. These sanctuaries have begun successfully restoring oyster populations—despite the simultaneous rise of two oyster parasites native to the area, the boring sponge and the mud blister worm. Neither of these parasites is dangerous to humans, and some evidence suggests that these oyster sanctuaries may even be helping the oysters become more resilient to parasites.
