On top of creating habitat, reefs can also prevent erosion. They are called this because they hang around oyster “rocks,” which is a regional term for oyster reefs. In the region, striped bass are called rockfish. This makes oyster reefs important ecological areas, but also great recreational fishing spots! One of the Chesapeake Bay‘s most popular sportfish actually gets its name from its association with reefs. Reefs can act as a nursery for juvenile animals, but also a refuge for smaller fish this, in turn, attracts larger predators and makes oyster reefs very active areas, not unlike coral reefs in tropical climates. Oyster reefs also provide habitat for lots of marine animals. Oysters help prevent this by removing excess nutrients that can lead to oversized algae blooms.
These dead zones are so depleted of oxygen that animals can’t survive in them, meaning they either leave the area or end up dying. Excess nutrients will cause large algae blooms, which both cloud the water and cause oxygen starved areas, called dead zones, when the blooms settle and decompose. These pollutants enter the water by way of runoff and have a negative impact on the Bay. They also filter out and absorb excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. Cloudy water blocks sunlight, and just like any other plant, underwater vegetation needs light to survive.īut oysters do more than clear the water. Cloudy water is bad for a lot of things, but one of the worst impacts is the damage to underwater vegetation. This filtration helps to clarify the water by removing sediment and phytoplankton, both of which can cloud the water. Oysters are filter feeders, and an adult can filter between 20 and 50 gallons of water a day. One of their most important functions is cleaning the water. Despite being relatively small and completely sedentary, they provide several critical ecological benefits. If you have ever heard people refer to Blue Points, Chesapeake’s, or Gulf oysters, they are all Virginicas. Whatever it is called, it runs from the east coast of Canada down to Florida, and then from Florida through the Gulf.
This oyster is sometimes called the Eastern oyster or the Virginia oyster. Only one species of oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is native to the eastern seaboard. Author: Aaron Rowland, Virginia Certified Ecotour Guide
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