Marine Reservoir Effects in Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica) from Southwestern Florida, USA

Radiocarbon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 1501-1510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla S Hadden ◽  
Margo Schwadron
Keyword(s):  
Crassostrea Virginica ◽  
National Park ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Eastern Oyster ◽  
Everglades National Park ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Southwest Florida ◽  
Functional Relationships ◽  
Best Estimate ◽  
Carbon Reservoir

ABSTRACTIn southwestern Florida, USA, terraformed landscapes built almost entirely of oyster shells (Crassostrea virginica) reflect a unique pre-Columbian tradition of shell-built architecture. The ability to reliably date oyster shells is essential to identifying spatial, temporal, and functional relationships among shellworks sites, yet to date there has been no systematic attempt to quantify or correct for carbon reservoir effects in this region. Here we present 14 radiocarbon (14C) ages for 5 known-age, pre-bomb oyster shells collected between AD 1932–1948, as well as 6 14C ages for archaeological oyster/charcoal pairs from the Turner River Mound Complex, Everglades National Park. We report our current best estimate of ΔR = 92 ± 74 yr for Greater Southwest Florida, and ΔR = –15 ± 42 yr for the Turner River archaeological site. Future research should focus on paired archaeological specimens to obtain spatially and temporally relevant estimates of ΔR.

scholarly journals Molecular Epizootiology of Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium parvum in the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) from Maine (USA)

Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas D. Marquis ◽  
Theodore J. Bishop ◽  
Nicholas R. Record ◽  
Peter D. Countway ◽  
José A. Fernández Robledo
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Crassostrea Virginica ◽  
Cryptosporidium Parvum ◽  
Eastern Oyster ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Current Direction ◽  
Significant Patterns ◽  
Oxygen Measurements

Shellfish are known as a potential source of Toxoplasma gondii (responsible for toxoplasmosis), and Cryptosporidium parvum, which is one of the major causes of gastroenteritis in the world. Here we performed a comprehensive qPCR-based monthly survey for T. gondii and C. parvum during 2016 and 2017 in oysters (Crassostrea virginica) (n = 1440) from all six sites along the coast of Maine (USA). Pooled samples (mantle, gills, and rectum) from individual oysters were used for DNA extraction and qPCR. Our study resulted in detections of qPCR positives oysters for T. gondii and C. parvum at each of the six sites sampled (in 31% and 10% of total oysters, respectively). The prevalence of T. gondii was low in 2016, and in September 2017 several sites peaked in prevalence with 100% of the samples testing positive. The prevalence of C. parvum was very low except in one estuarine location (Jack’s Point) in June 2016 (58%), and in October of 2016, when both prevalence and density of C. parvum at most of the sampling sites were among the highest values detected. Statistical analysis of environmental data did not identify clear drivers of retention, but there were some notable statistically significant patterns including current direction and nitrate along with the T. gondii prevalence. The major C. parvum retention event (in October 2016) corresponded with the month of highest dissolved oxygen measurements as well as a shift in the current direction revealed by nearby instrumentation. This study may guide future research to locate any contributing parasite reservoirs and evaluate the potential risk to human consumption.

Effects of resuspension of eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica biodeposits on phytoplankton community structure

2020 ◽  
Vol 640 ◽  
pp. 79-105
Author(s):  
ET Porter ◽  
E Robins ◽  
S Davis ◽  
R Lacouture ◽  
JC Cornwell
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Crassostrea Virginica ◽  
Skeletonema Costatum ◽  
Eastern Oyster ◽  
Energy Dissipation Rate ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cell Densities ◽  
Sediment Bottom ◽  
Nitrite Nitrate

Anthropogenic disturbances in the Chesapeake Bay (USA) have depleted eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica abundance and altered the estuary’s environment and water quality. Efforts to rehabilitate oyster populations are underway; however, the effect of oyster biodeposits on water quality and plankton community structure are not clear. In July 2017, we used 6 shear turbulence resuspension mesocosms (STURMs) to determine differences in plankton composition with and without the daily addition of oyster biodeposits to a muddy sediment bottom. STURM systems had a volume-weighted root mean square turbulent velocity of 1.08 cm s-1, energy dissipation rate of ~0.08 cm2 s-3, and bottom shear stress of ~0.36-0.51 Pa during mixing-on periods during 4 wk of tidal resuspension. Phytoplankton increased their chlorophyll a content in their cells in response to low light in tanks with biodeposits. The diatom Skeletonema costatum bloomed and had significantly longer chains in tanks without biodeposits. These tanks also had significantly lower concentrations of total suspended solids, zooplankton carbon, and nitrite +nitrate, and higher phytoplankton carbon concentrations. Results suggest that the absence of biodeposit resuspension initiates nitrogen uptake for diatom reproduction, increasing the cell densities of S. costatum. The low abundance of the zooplankton population in non-biodeposit tanks suggests an inability of zooplankton to graze on S. costatum and negative effects of S. costatum on zooplankton. A high abundance of the copepod Acartia tonsa in biodeposit tanks may have reduced S. costatum chain length. Oyster biodeposit addition and resuspension efficiently transferred phytoplankton carbon to zooplankton carbon, thus supporting the food web in the estuary.

Preliminary analysis of down-core biotic assemblages Bob Allen Keys, Everglades National Park, Florida Bay

1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. L. Brewster-Wingard ◽  
S.E. Ishman ◽  
Thomas M. Cronin ◽  
Lucy E. Edwards ◽  
Debra A. Willard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
National Park ◽  
Florida Bay ◽  
Everglades National Park

THE ROLE OF SEA-LEVEL RISE AND STORMS IN FORMATION AND RESILIENCE OF FLORIDA BAY ISLANDS, EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Lynn Wingard ◽  
◽  
Miriam C. Jones ◽  
Sarah E. Bergstresser ◽  
Bethany L. Stackhouse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
National Park ◽  
Florida Bay ◽  
Everglades National Park ◽  
Bay Islands
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