noaa’s non-native oyster research program in support of an eis jamie l. king, ph.d. noaa...
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NOAA’s Non-native Oyster NOAA’s Non-native Oyster Research Program Research Program in Support of an EISin Support of an EIS
Jamie L. King, Ph.D.
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
November 16, 2006
NOAA Chesapeake Bay OfficeScience, Service, & Stewardship
To Introduce or Not to Introduce?To Introduce or Not to Introduce?
Economic damages associated with alien invasive species in the United States: Cost of $120 billion/year (Pimentel et al. 2004)
Species introduced as food crops or livestock provide >98% of U.S. food supply: Value of $800 billion/year (US Bureau of the Census 1998)
A review of case studies of intentional shellfish introductions indicates that there are both benefits and risks dependent on the region (National Research Council 2003)
Proposed Oyster IntroductionProposed Oyster Introduction Joint Maryland/Virginia Proposal
Crassostrea ariakensis (Asian or Suminoe oyster)
”Oregon strain” or “West Coast ariakensis (WCA)”
Purpose: Oyster population that would support sustainable harvests comparable to harvest levels 1920-1970
Potential inter-state issues, effects beyond Chesapeake Bay
EIS Lead Agencies: Army Corps of EngineersMaryland Dept. of Natural ResourcesVirginia Marine Resources
Commission
Cooperating Agencies: NOAA, USEPA, USF&WS
Current EIS ActivitiesCurrent EIS Activities
Research • Research projects underway since 2004• Funding from NOAA, MDNR, VASG, PRFC
Ecological Risk Assessment• Identifying ecological risk factors• Developing qualitative/quantitative estimates
of risk
Developing Assessment Tools• Demographic model• Larval dispersal model• Filtration and water quality modeling
NOAA Research ProgramNOAA Research Program 3-year, $6M competitive research program
Designed to support information needs of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Priorities identified by NRC and STAC
Funded FY04-FY06
Work continues through late 2007 - early 2008
Biological Research TopicsBiological Research Topics1. Understanding C. ariakensis in its native range
• Taxonomy, population genetics, pathogens, ecology
2. Potential for population growth/sustainability• Data to parameterize demographic & larval transport models
3. Susceptibility to known diseases• Bonamia, MSX, Dermo, Herpes virus, Polydora (shell disease)
4. Interactions with native oyster • Competition, hybridization, gamete sink
5. Human consumption risks• Uptake/clearance of bacterial, viral, protozoan human pathogens
6. Potential to be fouling nuisance or invasive
7. Ecosystem services• Reef building, water filtration, food web dynamics
Product quality and marketability• shelf life, taste tests, consumer acceptance
Production or implementation costs• hatchery seed production costs• infrastructure capital investments• industry buy-out, enforcement
Economic feasibility• feasibility of various production methods
(aquaculture, leased grounds, public fishery)
Economic impacts• dockside value, jobs, secondary revenue• dollar value of nutrient reductions
Economic Research TopicsEconomic Research Topics
Institutions Involved in ResearchInstitutions Involved in ResearchUniversity of Maryland
• UMCES Horn Point Laboratory
• UMCES Chesapeake Biological Lab
• Biotechnology Institute, COMB
• College Park
Virginia Institute of Marine Science• Gloucester Point
• Eastern Shore Laboratory
Smithsonian Env. Research Center
Harbor Branch Oceanographic
Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences
Rutgers University• Haskin Shellfish Research Lab
University of North Carolina• Institute of Marine Science
North Carolina• Division of Marine Fisheries
Johns Hopkins University• Bloomberg School Public Health
Cooperative Oxford Lab
Main Street Economics
Hainan University
Quarterly ReviewsQuarterly ReviewsSpring 2005 Various topics – taxonomy, disease, etc.Summer 2005 Aquaculture alternativesFall 2005 Potential for interspecific interactionsWinter 2006 Human health risksSpring 2006 NSA session (JSR volume in prep.)Summer 2006 Comparative growth & mortality
Available online at http://noaa.chesapeakebay.net
• Rapidly share information for discussion/synthesis
• Build consensus on what we do/don’t know
• Modify projects underway to maximize utility of data
Taxonomy & GeneticsTaxonomy & Genetics Development of diagnostic molecular tools now able
to discriminate among Crassostrea species in Asia 2 species have been called C. ariakensis True C. ariakensis has 2 strains: northern and southern “Oregon strain” has less genetic diversity than wild
C. ariakensis
Oyster DiseasesOyster Diseases
C. ariakensis acquires Dermo, but does not die from infection (data limited to “ideal” aquaculture conditions)
2 Bonamia species discovered in North Carolina, only 1 infects C. ariakensis
Small C. ariakensis (<40mm) experience mass mortalities, larger oysters are less susceptible
Life History & EcologyLife History & Ecology Larval behavior
C. ariakensis – at the bottomC. virginica – upper water column
Substrate preferenceBoth species prefer natural substratesC. ariakensis is 10x more likely to settle on
fiberglass
FertilizationCross-fertilization, but inviable hybrid offspringGamete sink will occur if spawning is synchronous
Life History & EcologyLife History & Ecology
Early post-settlement growthEvidence for interspecific competition for space
Later growth ratesHigh salinity: C. ariakensis >>> C. virginicaLow salinity: C. ariakensis > C. virginica
C. ariakensis seems to exhibit:Extended growing season in winter months (November – January)Susceptibility to low dissolved oxygenInability to tolerate intertidal exposure
Aquaculture – Native oysterAquaculture – Native oyster Little investment in research & development to promote
native oyster aquaculture in the mid-Atlantic
C. virginica triploids showing better growth, survival, and meat quality relative to diploids
Virginia field trials: 22-78% of triploids market size in 18 months
Aquaculture – Aquaculture – C. ariakensisC. ariakensis
Bioeconomic analysis of triploid C. ariakensis in NC suggests profitability is possible under certain conditions
Industry trials with triploids underway in Chesapeake Bay
Concerns about C. ariakensis shelf life – gaping, shell splintering/cracking, leaking or “bleeding”
Similar rates of Polydora (mud worm) infestations, but C. ariakensis exhibits more mud blisters and knobs
EIS Evaluations = SynthesisEIS Evaluations = Synthesis
Potential for C. ariakensis – C. virginica interactions
Larval Substrate Selection• Both species prefer to settle on natural substrates (shell, granite)
Likely they will settle together and co-occur
Post-settlement Competition• Both species have slower growth rates when crowded, and growth
rates decrease further with interspecific competition Likely they will compete for space
Fertilization Interference• Inviable hybrid offspring result in >50% reduction in reproductive
capacity of each species Likely they will have greatly diminished reproductive output
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
http://noaa.chesapeakebay.net/
410-267-5655
Science, Service, & StewardshipNOAA Chesapeake Bay Office