The American oyster Crassostrea virginica in Cheapeake Bay

Authors

Dexter Haven, Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Files

Document Type

Book Chapter

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Editors

S.K. Majumdar, L.W. Hall , Jr. and H.M. Austin

Publication Date

1987

Book Title

Contaminant Problems and Management of Living Chesapeake Bay Resources

Publisher

Pennsylvania Academy of Science

City

Easton, PA

Abstract

The American Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is widely distributed in Chesapeake Bay where it grows in the intertidal zone to depths of about 6.5 m. The salinity range over which it occurs, is from about 5 to 34 ° /oo. It is most abundant in protected embayments where bottoms are a firm sand-clay mixed with shelly material. This bivalve is a filter feeder, and ingests planktonic material which it strains from the water with its gills. Spawning occurs in Chesapeake Bay from June through September, and the eggs and resulting larvae are widely distributed during their 10-20 day planktonic life.

Growth and development, predators and diseases and oyster fishery are briefly discussed.

ISBN

0960667075

Keywords

Estuarine ecology, water pollution, environmental policy

Recommended Citation

Haven, Dexter, "The American oyster Crassostrea virginica in Cheapeake Bay" (1987). VIMS Books and Book Chapters. 56.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsbooks/56