2008 Woodie Awards
Chesapeake oyster revitalization could bring viruses
Issue date: 10/9/08
They found that C. ariakensis had accumulated three of the five viruses - human norovirus, marine norovirus and hepatitis A virus - at greater concentrations than had C. virginica.
C. ariakensis, an oyster that is native to Chinese and Japanese shores, is bigger than C. virginica, tolerant of a wider range of saltwater conditions and resistant to the parasites that plague the Eastern oyster.
Should C. ariakensis be deliberately introduced to the Chesapeake, it would take over much of C. virginica's former habitat and eventually be harvested for human consumption. Its increased likelihood to harbor viruses that are dangerous to humans is a matter of concern.
No final decision has been made on whether this new species will be brought to the Bay.
This method of introducing new species to an ecosystem is not new. Sailors have done it unintentionally for years, carrying species from one port to another in ballast water or clinging to the hulls of their ships.
Other regions have introduced new oyster species to their coasts in hopes of rebuilding their beds, with mixed success. C. virginica has in fact been brought from the Chesapeake to several regions on the West Coast, where it is better adapted than the local species.
Oyster beds are not only an important part of the coastal economy, but a vital part of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. A grown oyster can filter up to 60 gallons of water a day as it feeds, which helps keep the water clear of algae.
Oyster beds also provide surfaces for hundreds of other animals and plants to feed, hide and live. The effects of replacing a native species with a foreign species are not always predictable in such a complex ecosystem.
This year, Maryland has planted 485 million juvenile C. virginica oysters in the Bay in the hopes that they will mature into harvestable oyster beds. There is also an ongoing effort to breed a type of C. virginica that is more resistant to disease.
It is clear that no one step or one plan is sufficient to restore the Chesapeake's oyster beds; Despite many efforts, the oyster population has continued to decline dramatically in recent years. But these findings suggest that caution is in order before introducing a foreign oyster species.
C. ariakensis, an oyster that is native to Chinese and Japanese shores, is bigger than C. virginica, tolerant of a wider range of saltwater conditions and resistant to the parasites that plague the Eastern oyster.
Should C. ariakensis be deliberately introduced to the Chesapeake, it would take over much of C. virginica's former habitat and eventually be harvested for human consumption. Its increased likelihood to harbor viruses that are dangerous to humans is a matter of concern.
No final decision has been made on whether this new species will be brought to the Bay.
This method of introducing new species to an ecosystem is not new. Sailors have done it unintentionally for years, carrying species from one port to another in ballast water or clinging to the hulls of their ships.
Other regions have introduced new oyster species to their coasts in hopes of rebuilding their beds, with mixed success. C. virginica has in fact been brought from the Chesapeake to several regions on the West Coast, where it is better adapted than the local species.
Oyster beds are not only an important part of the coastal economy, but a vital part of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. A grown oyster can filter up to 60 gallons of water a day as it feeds, which helps keep the water clear of algae.
Oyster beds also provide surfaces for hundreds of other animals and plants to feed, hide and live. The effects of replacing a native species with a foreign species are not always predictable in such a complex ecosystem.
This year, Maryland has planted 485 million juvenile C. virginica oysters in the Bay in the hopes that they will mature into harvestable oyster beds. There is also an ongoing effort to breed a type of C. virginica that is more resistant to disease.
It is clear that no one step or one plan is sufficient to restore the Chesapeake's oyster beds; Despite many efforts, the oyster population has continued to decline dramatically in recent years. But these findings suggest that caution is in order before introducing a foreign oyster species.
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