Oyster cultch–recruit patterns provide new insight into the restoration and management of a critical resource Marine and Coastal Fisheries

Our objective was to quantify the relationship between oyster cultch mass (kg/m³) and density (oysters/m²) of live eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica on intertidal reefs in Suwannee Sound, Florida. We also evaluated the potential for a cultch-mass threshold below which recruitment declines (depensation) to inform oyster fishery management and restoration strategies.

本研究旨在量化佛罗里达州萨旺尼湾潮间带礁床上，活体美洲东部牡蛎（Crassostrea virginica）的牡蛎附着基（oyster cultch）质量（单位：kg/m³）与其种群密度（单位：个/㎡）之间的关联关系。本研究同时评估了牡蛎附着基质量阈值的潜在存在性——当附着基质量低于该阈值时，牡蛎种群补充量将出现下降（depensation），以期为牡蛎渔业管理与修复策略制定提供科学依据。