Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

PC03 Undergraduate Education

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2001

Location: Southwest Hall

Rine, H, E, Rodes College/The Academy of Natural Sciences, Memphis, USA, rinhe@rodes.edu

Hertler, J, , The Academy of Natural Sciences/Patrick Center for Environmental Research, Philadelphia, USA, hertler@acnatsci.org

Kreeger, D, A, The Academy of Natural Sciences/Patrick Center for Environmental Research, Philadelphia, USA, kreeger@acnatsci.org

VARIATION IN THE HEALTH OF MANGROVE OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA RHIZOPHORAE) ALONG A DEVELOPMENT GRADIENT AT LA PARGUERA, PUERTO RICO

Suspension-feeding bivalves are regarded as excellent bioindicators of water quality, but they have not been studied in this context in tropical waters. We examined the population size structure, physiological condition and tissue biochemical composition of mangrove oysters, Crassostrea rhizophorae, along a gradient of increasing new land development at La Parguera, Puerto Rico. Oysters were repeatedly sampled between January 1999 and June2000. Only one parameter, tissue carbohydrate content, varied seasonally, presumably in association with normal reproductive events. Spatial variation was significant, however. Oysters randomly sampled from areas nearest new development were larger in mean size, but this was due to fewer small recruits. Oyster health, as measured by condition index, tissue protein content and tissue lipid content were inversely correlated with increasing land use (p=0.001). Greatest concentrations of seston particulate material and chlorophyll were measured at sites most proximal to development. These data suggest that C. rhizophorae fares better in undisturbed, clearer water rather than in eutrophied areas near development where food availability may be greater. Physiological and biochemical measures of C. rhizophorae fitness were useful indicators of ecosystem integrity.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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