Downloads
Download the protocol documents, field- and laboratory sheets, and data entry spreadsheets from figshare:
| Protocol | Link | Required or Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Sampling Event and Environmental Monitoring | https://doi.org/10.25573/serc.14555511 | Required |
| Oyster Protocols | https://doi.org/10.25573/serc.14714328 | Required |
Background
Oysters are filter-feeding bivalves found in nearshore brackish or marine waters that coalesce with each other as they grow, forming structurally complex intertidal or subtidal reefs. Oysters are ecosystem engineers and provide critical ecosystem services including enhanced water quality via their strong filter-feeding capabilities and protection to submerged aquatic vegetation and waterfront communities. Oyster reefs also provide important biogenic habitat for a diverse suite of marine life including vital nursery grounds for many commercially valuable species in addition to many other species.
The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is found along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts and is a critical component to the health of nearshore ecosystems. However, increasing threats including overharvesting and disease threaten oyster populations and the benefits they provide. Ongoing restoration is a continued conservation priority, and this protocol was therefore developed to provide a means of monitoring both natural reef as well as restored reef to assess the long-term health of this important species as well as its critical function as refugia for associated fauna.
Introduction
In these protocols, we provide MarineGEO’s standard survey design for sampling eastern oyster reef habitat including key measurements on reef attributes (reef area and height), reef composition, oyster density and size, rugosity, and associated biodiversity. Additionally, we provide best practices for site selection, layout, workflow, and data submission.
The overall design and replication adhere as closely as possible to other oyster reef monitoring guidelines and in particular, much of this protocol was developed using the Oyster Habitat Restoration Monitoring and Assessment Handbook (2014), complied by NOAA, The Nature Conservancy, and others. Although the handbook was designed for restoration monitoring, it adopts well to naturally occurring reefs. Our goal is to provide a standardized sampling design that can be used in different regions and for restored or natural reefs, while still being comparative in both space and time. We thank Mike Beck, Matt Ferner, Ken Heck, Lisa Kellogg, Katie Macfarland, Chris Patrick, Lee Smee, and Ashley Smyth for thoughtful feedback on the initial draft of these protocols.
Methods
The following MarineGEO protocols provide a standardized set of measurements for characterizing the health of oyster reefs and their associated communities. The methodology was adopted from the Oyster Habitat Restoration Monitoring and Assessment Handbook, created by a working group including agencies from NOAA, the Natural Conservancy, as well as others and using “Universal Metrics” of study for best practices. These methods are specific for eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Oyster reef monitoring has two main components: 1) collection of a series of measurements to characterize the size, structure, and health of a reef and 2) collection of associated fauna to monitor changes in biodiversity over space and time. In general, fieldwork for a reef can be easily completed in a single day. MarineGEO recommends that 3 separate reefs be included per partner site for annual monitoring.