FEATURE ARTICLE

Oyster Institute

A workshop for environmental educators
concerning the Eastern Oyster

An up-close view of an oyster mantle and tentacles of one of the feeding oysters at the Horn Point Laboratory.

In June 2001, environmental educators from a variety of organizations in Maryland gathered together to immerse themselves for a few days concerning the research, restoration, biology, and ecology of the Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica.

The workshop was hosted by a collaborative between Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Horn Point Lab (HPL), and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute's Center of Marine Biotechnology (CoMB).

During the three day experience participants were treated to a variety of lectures from prominent scientists involved in the study of the Eastern Oyster. At HPL lectures were given by Dr. Victor Kennedy, Dr. Stan Allen, and Dr. Ken Paynter ranging from general oyster biology, oyster genetics, and oyster restoration efforts in MD and VA. These outstanding lectures and "Q and A" were complemented by a day of field and wet lab activities in the HPL oyster hatchery led by

Dr. Don Meritt talks to participants about the growth and development of spat or juvenile oysters.

Dr. Don Meritt, Ms. Jackie Takacs, Mr. Merrill Leffler, and Mr. Adam Frederick of the Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program and University of Maryland Extension. Participants were exposed to the inner working of the oyster hatchery and were treated to demonstrations including filtering or clearing of algae by oysters, oyster anatomy, commensal organisms, and oyster larvae via microscopy. Participation in an oyster spawning demonstration allowed individuals to "sex" oysters and realize the components and resources necessary to perform such an activity. The spawning generated a lot of excitement (not just for the oyster) and the development of embryos was enhanced by video microscopy so that various embryonic stages could be viewed. If you would like to see some spawning clips check out the HPL oyster hatchery website at http://www.hpl.umces.edu/facilities/facilities.htm. In the afternoon participants sampled oysters from the hatchery restoration study sites in the river and were treated to a feast of steamed crabs and fried chicken in the evening.

Oyster hemocyte with pseudopodia extended prepared to engulf a cell.

The focus at CoMB turned to oyster disease diagnosis and the work of Dr. Gerardo Vasta and his team of scientists. An introductory wet lab on harvesting oyster hemocytes for examination and culturing was followed up by a lecture by Dr. Vasta on disease mechanisms and specificity of diagnostic tools both past and present. The presentation was integrated with the wet lab experiences so that participants were able to understand the defense mechanisms of an oyster and how new tools in biotechnology can be used to assist in rapid and accurate disease diagnosis. In Dr. Vasta's lab a demonstration of how polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is applied to oyster disease diagnosis was given and participants were able to view the results. The PCR technique has been adapted by Dr. Vasta and his team to specifically target a unique segment of DNA produced by the disease causing protozoan dermo, Perkinsus marinus.

http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/Extension/msgsnn/msgsnn04_1/oyster_inst.html