Quantifying Magnitude of Nitrogen and Removal Associated with Restoration of Oysters in Chesapeake Bay
It is well recognized that oysters are a keystone species in Chesapeake Bay – their reef habitats provide refuge for many organisms and as filter feeders of algae, they can play a significant role in removing nitrogen and phosphorus, which are now excessive and lead to the depletion of oxygen and deterioration of water quality. The widespread decline of Bay oysters over the last 25 years has coincided with that deterioration. Building on prior Sea Grant support, the researchers will field test their hypothesis that oysters in shallow water reef habitats remove substantial quantities of inorganic nutrients by filtering algae and by enhancing biochemical processes that lead to the removal of nitrogen as a harmless gas from the water.
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Roger Newell, Jeff Cornwell and Don Merit
Horn Point Laboratory
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
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