Title:

Rehoboth Bay, DE Water Quality Variation in Relation to Potential Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Viability

Rehoboth Bay Water Quality variation in relation to possible Oyster(Crassostrea Virginica) Viability Elisha Bunch, Dr.Gulinah Ozbay: Environmental Science, Delaware State University,Dover,DE,19901 The Rehoboth Bay is one of the few bays in Delaware and supports many different biological organisms as well as recreational activities for the visitors to the bay. One of the unsung heroes of most aquatic biomes are its filter feeders. In the case of the Rehoboths bay we are focussing on the eastern oyster (Crassostrea Virginica).As a filter feeder these oysters have played a major role in water quality in and around the Bays. Sadly the overall population over the last fifty years has plummeted due to changes in harvesting practices resulting in over-harvesting as well as being affected by disease. In reaction there have been organized oyster reef construction around the bay. There are also aquaculture reefs being used by commercial oyster companies to grow sterile oysters for consumption. These specimens may not contribute to the repopulation of the bay but do still perform the processes that are beneficial to the Bay.For my research project I went to Aquaculture locations, reefs, and randomly selected control sites throughout the Rehoboth Bay and collected water samples. These samples were taken with multi probes in the water as well as nutrient analysis tabs and filters in the lab.I then quantified the data for the parameters that I felt would be the most influential for the viability of new oyster reefs or the possibility of wild oysters to grow. Comparing these findings to compile a list of the most suitable to least. My hypothesis was that there would be a discernible difference in quantities received for the Aquaculture sites, to the Reefs to the Control sites, That was not the case. There were sites that were Optimal in relation to the rest, but the connections between the sites that came out on top and the ones at the bottom was not dependant on whether it was an Aquaculture site, Oyster Reef or control.There were multiple optimal locations of all of the sites two of which were controls which means they could be good candidates for future reefs with one winner being a current Aquaculture site. This Study was funded by CLOSES-GAP program at UNH and by the DSU Department of Environmental science

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