RayRay
New member
Oyster Mat Build
This Saturday June 9th at noon in the Field Building (Biology Field Research Center). Park in the grass near the back side of the building. You will see my white volvo with clownfish tags and Rachel's gold jeep. Look for some signs and call me if you are lost 407.421.9777. Food will be provided. I would like to get an idea of the number coming so I can plan on the amount of food.... Please RSVP here on this thread. I hope everyone attends. This is a worthy endeavor. I know that this isn't a coral reef, this is going to help with a "local" reef.This will help our own back yard, so to speak. In a few weeks, I'll have more info on the coral restoration project in the Keys in August.
Why Restore Oyster Reefs?
Oyster reefs benefit marine flora and fauna, improve water quality and help protect shorelines. Globally, 85 percent of oyster reefs have been lost, making them the most severely impacted marine habitat on Earth. Oysters face a number of threats that include overharvesting, habitat degradation, reduced water quality and disease. In Mosquito Lagoon they are also impacted by boat wakes. Boat wakes dislodge live oysters from the reef and push them towards the shore in large piles. These piles can extend above the water line, causing dislodged oysters to die. The piles create "œdead margins," dam-like structures that restrict water flow over the surrounding reef and seagrasses, resulting in the eventual loss of these areas.
Restoring Dead Margins
The Nature Conservancy is working with the University of Central Florida, Brevard Zoo and many other partners and community volunteers to restore oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon. Dead margins are being restored back to oyster reefs using "œoyster mats." The oyster mats are created by attaching oyster shells to a mesh material. The mats, tied together and anchored to the bottom of the lagoon, provide a stationary substrate on which oyster larvae will settle and grow.
Restoration Progress
Restoration of oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon began in 2005, using science-based protocol established by the University of Central Florida to restore oyster habitat within the boundaries of Canaveral National Seashore. By the end of 2010, 42 reefs had been restored with the help of more than 18,000 volunteers who made and deployed 19,654 oyster mats. These newly created reefs provide habitat and food for fishes, crabs, birds and other important estuarine species. Results have proven the oyster mat restoration technique successful in the shallow, intertidal system of Mosquito Lagoon.
After only one year in the water, an average of 36 new oysters had settled on each mat and a 3-dimensional reef structure had started to form. After three years the mats are totally covered by live reef. More than 140 different species have been identified using these restored reefs, which is similar to the number of species using nearby natural reefs. In addition, seagrass establishment has been observed adjacent to new reefs. The new reefs are monitored every year to determine the success of this restoration method over time.
Biology Field Research Center Building
Here's the location of the building, https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa...&t=h&z=10&vpsrc=1&iwloc=0004bf743f09a18dd82dc
This Saturday June 9th at noon in the Field Building (Biology Field Research Center). Park in the grass near the back side of the building. You will see my white volvo with clownfish tags and Rachel's gold jeep. Look for some signs and call me if you are lost 407.421.9777. Food will be provided. I would like to get an idea of the number coming so I can plan on the amount of food.... Please RSVP here on this thread. I hope everyone attends. This is a worthy endeavor. I know that this isn't a coral reef, this is going to help with a "local" reef.This will help our own back yard, so to speak. In a few weeks, I'll have more info on the coral restoration project in the Keys in August.
Why Restore Oyster Reefs?
Oyster reefs benefit marine flora and fauna, improve water quality and help protect shorelines. Globally, 85 percent of oyster reefs have been lost, making them the most severely impacted marine habitat on Earth. Oysters face a number of threats that include overharvesting, habitat degradation, reduced water quality and disease. In Mosquito Lagoon they are also impacted by boat wakes. Boat wakes dislodge live oysters from the reef and push them towards the shore in large piles. These piles can extend above the water line, causing dislodged oysters to die. The piles create "œdead margins," dam-like structures that restrict water flow over the surrounding reef and seagrasses, resulting in the eventual loss of these areas.
Restoring Dead Margins
The Nature Conservancy is working with the University of Central Florida, Brevard Zoo and many other partners and community volunteers to restore oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon. Dead margins are being restored back to oyster reefs using "œoyster mats." The oyster mats are created by attaching oyster shells to a mesh material. The mats, tied together and anchored to the bottom of the lagoon, provide a stationary substrate on which oyster larvae will settle and grow.
Restoration Progress
Restoration of oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon began in 2005, using science-based protocol established by the University of Central Florida to restore oyster habitat within the boundaries of Canaveral National Seashore. By the end of 2010, 42 reefs had been restored with the help of more than 18,000 volunteers who made and deployed 19,654 oyster mats. These newly created reefs provide habitat and food for fishes, crabs, birds and other important estuarine species. Results have proven the oyster mat restoration technique successful in the shallow, intertidal system of Mosquito Lagoon.
After only one year in the water, an average of 36 new oysters had settled on each mat and a 3-dimensional reef structure had started to form. After three years the mats are totally covered by live reef. More than 140 different species have been identified using these restored reefs, which is similar to the number of species using nearby natural reefs. In addition, seagrass establishment has been observed adjacent to new reefs. The new reefs are monitored every year to determine the success of this restoration method over time.
Biology Field Research Center Building
Here's the location of the building, https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa...&t=h&z=10&vpsrc=1&iwloc=0004bf743f09a18dd82dc
