Loading...
Oyster Reefs at Risk and Recommendations for Conservation, Restoration, and Management
Beck, Michael W. Brumbaugh, Robert D. Airoldi, Laura Carranza, Alvar Coen, Loren D. Crawford, Christine Defeo, Omar Edgar, Graham J. Handcock, Boze Kay, Matthew C
Beck, Michael W.
Brumbaugh, Robert D.
Airoldi, Laura
Carranza, Alvar
Coen, Loren D.
Crawford, Christine
Defeo, Omar
Edgar, Graham J.
Handcock, Boze
Kay, Matthew C
Abstract
Native oyster reefs once dominated many estuaries, ecologically and economically. Centuries of resource extraction exacerbated by coastal degradation have pushed oyster reefs to the brink of functional extinction worldwide. We examined the condition of oyster reefs across 144 bays and 44 ecoregions; our comparisons of past with present abundances indicate that more than 90% of them have been lost in bays (70%) and ecoregions (63%). In many bays, more than 99% of oyster reefs have been lost and are functionally extinct. Overall, we estimate that 85% of oyster reefs have been lost globally. Most of the world's remaining wild capture of native oysters (> 75%) comes from just five ecoregions in North America, yet the condition of reefs in these ecoregions is poor at best, except in the Gulf of Mexico. We identify many cost-effective solutions for conservation, restoration, and the management of fisheries and nonnative species that could reverse these oyster losses and restore reef ecosystem services.
Description
Date
2011-02-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Collections
Download Dataset
Files
Loading...
61_2_107.pdf
Adobe PDF, 392.26 KB
Rights Holder
Usage License
Embargo
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Biological Sciences Peer-Reviewed Articles
Citation
Advisor
Department
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1525/bio.2011.61.2.5