Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
This study provides a quantitative analysis of the biofouling organism community structure that competes with oyster spat for space on oyster cultch substrate in the York River. For this study, a biofouling organism is defined as a benthic, sessile organism that lives on substrate or other organisms. The research question investigated in this study is: What organisms are competing with oysters for shell substrate and what percent surface area coverage do they achieve? The sub questions of this study include: (1) What taxa are represented in the biofouling community? (2) What percent surface coverage do these taxa foul oyster shell? (3) How does biofouling organism percent surface coverage vary according to cage location, shell surface, and location on shell? and (4) How does biofouling organism percent surface coverage vary through time?
Date Awarded
2010
Department
Geology
Advisor 1
Rowan Lockwood
Recommended Citation
Rarig, Amy E., "Quantification of biofouling community structure on oyster shell exposed in the York River, Chesapeake Bay, USA" (2010). Geology Senior Theses. William & Mary. Paper 238.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/geologyseniors/238
