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Community-Based Oyster Gardening
Partnership for the Indian River Lagoon (Oyster PIRL)
Brevard County, Florida
Canaveral National Seashore
Mosquito Lagoon, FL
Indian River Lagoon:
• 3 bodies of water
• Indian River
• Banana River
• Mosquito Lagoon
• 156 miles long
• Biologically diverse
estuary home to over
3,500 species.
What is a Keystone Species?
A keystone species is one that plays a critical role in determining and
maintaining the overall relationship of plants and animals within an
ecosystem.
If a keystone species is removed or declines, the nature of the
ecosystem will change dramatically.
• Food
• Habitat
• Prevent Erosion
• Filter Feeding
Oyster Biology
• Spat: Juvenile Oysters
• Gregarious species
• 2 week free-swimming
• Stationary
larval phase
• Must settle on hard surface
• Can live up to 20 years
• Oysters spawned in hatchery
• Overharvesting
• Habitat Loss
• Reduced Water Quality
• Diseases (MSX & Dermo)
• Boat Wakes
Stormwater Treatment
Since 1991 in Brevard:
More than 21,000 acres treated for Stormwater
$34 Million invested in Stormwater
More than 400 projects completed or underway
Sources of Nitrogen and Phosphorus
that Contribute to High Chlorophyll
POINT SOURCE
DISCHARGES
4%
ATMOSPHERIC
DEPOSITION
(AIR) 40%
BASEFLOW
52%
STORMWATER
RUNOFF
18%
BASEFLOW
(GROUNDWATER)
39%
POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES
2%
STORM WATER RUNOFF
39%
ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION
5%
Based on SJRWMD GMFR Optical Model for 1996-2007 data.
INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS TO REDUCE TURBIDITY:
Stop soil erosion by planting or mulching
bare ground.
Prevent leaves and grass clippings from
washing into the stormwater system.
Reduce pesticide, herbicide and fungicide use.
Wash cars at a Car Wash or over the grass.
Participate in shoreline planting or lagoon
restoration projects.
INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS TO REDUCE COLOR:
Keep leaf litter and yard debris out of ditches,
canals and waterways.
INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS TO REDUCE CHLOROPHYLL:
Minimize fertilizer use and irrigation.
Reduce vehicle emissions by choosing a more fuel
efficient vehicle, carpooling, walking, biking, or
riding the bus.
Adjust thermostat to reduce power use.
Inspect and maintain septic systems.
Catch runoff by installing rain barrels, rain gardens,
pervious pavers, retention ponds or swales.
Replace high-maintenance landscaping with
Florida-Friendly plantings.
Keep leaf litter and yard debris out of ditches,
canals and waterways.
Keep up with car maintenance & fix leaks.
Pick up after your pet.
Cancel junk mail.
TURBIDITY
64 – 69%
Based on SJRWMD GMFR Optical Model for 1996-2007 data.
COLOR
8 – 17%
CHLOROPHYLL
14 – 27%
SOURCES OF NITROGEN AND
PHOSPHORUS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
HIGH CHLOROPHYLL:
ATMOSPHERIC
DEPOSITION
(AIR) 40%
BASEFLOW
(GROUNDWATER)
39%
STORM WATER
RUNOFF
18%
POINT SOURCE
DISCHARGES
2%
POINT SOURCE
DISCHARGES
4%
ATMOSPHERIC
DEPOSITION
5%
BASEFLOW
52%
STORM WATER
RUNOFF
39%
LARGE-SCALE COMMUNITY ACTIONS TO
IMPROVE LIGHT PENETRATION:
Dredge muck deposits from the IRL.
Construct more stormwater treatment
projects.
Sponsor shoreline, oyster and clam
restoration projects.
Enforce erosion prevention during
development and construction.
Harvest vegetation from stormwater
ponds, canals, and ditches.
Expand sewer service to reduce the
number of septic tanks.
Require new construction to treat
stormwater on site.
Repair and replace leaky sewer pipes.
Increase street sweeping.
Regulate fertilizer use.
1986 Brevard harvested 3% of State total for oysters.
2013 Brevard harvested only .1% of State total for oysters
Brevard harvest of Oysters is .7%
of what it was 27 years ago.
1986 Brevard harvested 93% of State total for clams
2013 Brevard harvested only 43% of State total for clams
Brevard harvest of Clams is .2% of
what it was 27 years ago.
It's time to step out of the Box
Reduce
Pollutant and Nutrient Inputs
Restore
Remove
Oysters, Clams and Wetlands
Detrimental Muck
Research
(the foundation)
LHC Oyster Gardening Project
• Brevard County accounts for 71% of the IRL
• Community based restoration project
• 4 R’s: Reduce, Remove, Research and Restoration
• Includes a small staff and numerous volunteers
• One million oysters deployed in the IRL
• For our community, Cindy Pennington & Arabella Lewis
are the citizen scientists!
What is a Citizen Scientist
• Make your own habitats
• Use rope to suspend
these 4 habitats from
your dock
• Weekly time commitment
– Monitoring
– Online data input
Supplies
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Gloves
Brush
Online Datasheets
4 Oyster Habitats
Hanging Scale
Calipers (Masters only)
Oyster spat
Habitat Maintenance
• Perform weekly checks of
habitats
• Important to remove
“fouling” (i.e. barnacles,
algae, etc.) that can
impede water flow
• Check lines to ensure
secure connection
• Cleanliness is key!
– Rinse habitat with freshwater
– Use scrub brush to remove
barnacles
– Watch out for foes and
remove from habitat
– Shake oysters gently to
prevent attaching to
habitat
• Take habitat out of water
and place in shady spot
– 1-2 hour drying period
– Help to control predators
and fouling
Barnacles
Weekly Data Collection
All Oyster Gardeners
• Weigh Habitats (lbs)
– Weigh using digital scale
– Before and after cleaning
• Identify Friends & Foes
– Record any marine organisms found in
habitat
– Remove any foes
• Check test recruitment shell for oyster
spat, yes or no question
• Keep track of amount of time spent
Return all oysters back to their habitat and put habitats back in the water
Biweekly Data Collection
Master Oyster Gardeners
• Weigh habitat both with digital and
heavy duty scale
• Count the number of live oysters in each
habitat
– Dead oysters will be gaping open &
discharge water when lightly squeezed
• Randomly select and measure length of
25 live oysters from each habitat using
calipers
– Measure from umbo to bill in millimeters
Return all oysters back to their habitat and put habitats back in the water
Oyster Gardening Friends
Species
Description
Hermit Crab
• Keep habitat clean of fouling
organisms
• Typically no threat to oysters
• Can eat small oysters
Hermit Crab
Mud Crab
Mud Crab
Grass Shrimp
Snapping Shrimp
Shrimp:
• Grass shrimp
• Snapping shrimp
• Pink shrimp
Small Fish:
• Blennies
• Gobies
• Skillet fish
• Grass shrimp most common
• No threat to oysters
• Detritivores: feed on decaying
animal or plant material
Pink Shrimp
Goby
• Inhabit oyster reefs
• Usually in search of other prey
• Can eat small oysters
Blenny
• Inhabit oyster reefs
• Reef provides protection from
predators
• No threat to oysters
Oyster Gardening Foes
Species
Blue Crab
Stone Crab
• Scavengers, prey on oysters
• Use oyster reef for habitat
• Young stone crabs vary in
color: bluish gray, gray, green,
or dark tan with dark spots
Crabs:
• Blue Crab
• Stone Crab
Filter Feeders:
• Ribbed Mussel
• Barnacle
• Sea Squirt
• These three species are filter
feeders
• Compete with oyster spat for
food and space
Barnacle
Sea Squirt
Ribbed Mussel
Boring Sponge
Boring Sponge
Sheepshead Fish
Description
• Attacks oysters by boring holes
in shell
• Can bore completely through
shell and kill oyster
• Oyster can survive if damage is
limited to outer shell
• Eat oysters
• Small fish can fit through wire
mesh into oyster habitat
The Aftermath
• Do not eat our oysters, their job isn’t done yet!
– They will be used to populate oyster reef restoration projects in
the Indian River Lagoon
– Provide numerous benefits
• Water quality improvement
• Habitat for over 300 different species
• Help restore natural population levels of
oysters to lagoon
Questions???
Contact Information
• LHC Citizen Scientist: Cindy Pennington at 732-580-5425
[email protected]
• Oyster Gardening Team at Brevard Zoo at (321) 254-9453 x284
– Sammy Anderson; [email protected]
• Holly Abeels, UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County
[email protected] or at (321) 633-1702 x235
• Scott Herber, Eastern Florida State College Environmental Club;
[email protected] or at (321) 433-5742