Comments on: Oyster reefs. Huh! What are they good for! http://wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/?p=4287 The Adventure of Discovery Where the Land Meets the Sea Wed, 15 May 2013 12:01:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: WFSU In the Grass, On the Reef http://wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/?p=4287#comment-70144 WFSU In the Grass, On the Reef Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:09:15 +0000 http://wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/?p=4287#comment-70144 [...] of the three estuarine habitats that we follow: oyster reefs, salt marshes, and seagrass beds.  We saw that oysters offer more to the seafood industry than their meat.  And we’re starting to see [...] [...] of the three estuarine habitats that we follow: oyster reefs, salt marshes, and seagrass beds.  We saw that oysters offer more to the seafood industry than their meat.  And we’re starting to see [...]

]]> By: WFSU In the Grass, On the Reef http://wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/?p=4287#comment-59298 WFSU In the Grass, On the Reef Tue, 02 Oct 2012 20:54:15 +0000 http://wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/?p=4287#comment-59298 [...] always a good shoot day at Bay Mouth Bar as every animal seems to be eating every other animal.  Oyster reefs, salt marshes, and seagrass beds- the habitats we’ve covered over the last three weeks- [...] [...] always a good shoot day at Bay Mouth Bar as every animal seems to be eating every other animal.  Oyster reefs, salt marshes, and seagrass beds- the habitats we’ve covered over the last three weeks- [...]

]]> By: David http://wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/?p=4287#comment-58983 David Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:43:50 +0000 http://wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/?p=4287#comment-58983 Hey Chris, Following up on your great questions, which i'll divide up into smaller Q/As. (1) How effective are oysters at limiting phytoplankton communities by de-nitrifying their nutrients (NO3 => N2)? Answer = the study i cited didn't look at the effects of how well this service limits the population growth of phytoplankton, which would be a serious undertaking. But as a first step along this journey of exploration, they did test whether oysters really do ramp up the first ingredient of this hypothesis....de-nitrificaiton. Based on the great study, I can say unequivocally that even small clumps of oysters can ramp up de-nitrificaition. How this influences or does not influence phytoplankton remains to be seen. (2) As you know, some phytoplankton, such as cyanobacteria, are able to convert elemental nitrogen back into NH3 through nitrogen fixation. Answer: you thought about the influence of n-fixers is correct. But again, the study i mentioned only focused on the first step in this service, so I can't really address this question. (3) The slide you provided also shows NO3 being released into the water along with N2, which would add to the nutrients available to the phytoplankton. Answer: I totally agree. but given the complexity of this dynamic and the many possible pathways by which nitrogen may get off the de-nitrification path and go back into a useable form in the sediment or the water, isn't it cool that the study STILL found a huge effect of oysters on the rate of de-nitrification! (3) Some of the nastier algal blooms contain these cyanobacteria, like Microcystis aeruginosa, so are oysters really that effective at improving water quality by removal/conversion of nutrients? Answer: again, this remains to be seen. And like the other services mentioned in this post, I imagine that some environmental conditions will promote this service more than other sites or environmental conditions. We just have to figure that out. Thanks for the great questions! Hey Chris,

Following up on your great questions, which i’ll divide up into smaller Q/As.

(1) How effective are oysters at limiting phytoplankton communities by de-nitrifying their nutrients (NO3 => N2)?

Answer = the study i cited didn’t look at the effects of how well this service limits the population growth of phytoplankton, which would be a serious undertaking. But as a first step along this journey of exploration, they did test whether oysters really do ramp up the first ingredient of this hypothesis….de-nitrificaiton. Based on the great study, I can say unequivocally that even small clumps of oysters can ramp up de-nitrificaition. How this influences or does not influence phytoplankton remains to be seen.

(2) As you know, some phytoplankton, such as cyanobacteria, are able to convert elemental nitrogen back into NH3 through nitrogen fixation.

Answer: you thought about the influence of n-fixers is correct. But again, the study i mentioned only focused on the first step in this service, so I can’t really address this question.

(3) The slide you provided also shows NO3 being released into the water along with N2, which would add to the nutrients available to the phytoplankton.

Answer: I totally agree. but given the complexity of this dynamic and the many possible pathways by which nitrogen may get off the de-nitrification path and go back into a useable form in the sediment or the water, isn’t it cool that the study STILL found a huge effect of oysters on the rate of de-nitrification!

(3) Some of the nastier algal blooms contain these cyanobacteria, like Microcystis aeruginosa, so are oysters really that effective at improving water quality by removal/conversion of nutrients?

Answer: again, this remains to be seen. And like the other services mentioned in this post, I imagine that some environmental conditions will promote this service more than other sites or environmental conditions. We just have to figure that out.

Thanks for the great questions!

]]> By: David http://wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/?p=4287#comment-58945 David Sat, 15 Sep 2012 16:49:01 +0000 http://wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/?p=4287#comment-58945 Hey Chris This is a great question and it definitely brings up the whole issue of context dependent services. I'm without computer for the weekend (anniversary in New Orleans!). So, I'll answer your questions tomorrow evening Cheers David Hey Chris

This is a great question and it definitely brings up the whole issue of context dependent services.

I’m without computer for the weekend (anniversary in New Orleans!). So, I’ll answer your questions tomorrow evening

Cheers
David

]]> By: Chris Warhurst http://wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/?p=4287#comment-58916 Chris Warhurst Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:15:06 +0000 http://wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/?p=4287#comment-58916 How effective are oysters at limiting phytoplankton communities by de-nitrifying their nutrients (NO3 => N2)? As you know, some phytoplankton, such as cyanobacteria, are able to convert elemental nitrogen back into NH3 through nitrogen fixation. The slide you provided also shows NO3 being released into the water along with N2, which would add to the nutrients available to the phytoplankton. Some of the nastier algal blooms contain these cyanobacteria, like Microcystis aeruginosa, so are oysters really that effective at improving water quality by removal/conversion of nutrients? How effective are oysters at limiting phytoplankton communities by de-nitrifying their nutrients (NO3 => N2)? As you know, some phytoplankton, such as cyanobacteria, are able to convert elemental nitrogen back into NH3 through nitrogen fixation. The slide you provided also shows NO3 being released into the water along with N2, which would add to the nutrients available to the phytoplankton. Some of the nastier algal blooms contain these cyanobacteria, like Microcystis aeruginosa, so are oysters really that effective at improving water quality by removal/conversion of nutrients?

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