Dataset for: Effects of flood-associated stressors on growth and survival of early life stage oysters (Crassostrea virginica)

This study investigated the impacts of abiotic (low salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen [DO]) and biotic (HAB) stressors on early life stages of oysters. Hatchery-spawned and fertilized oyster larvae were exposed to various levels of salinity, pH, DO, and microcystin-LR, a toxin produced by HABs. Growth and survival of larvae were measured following exposure. Then, hatchery-reared juvenile oysters (<10 mm) from the same spawn as the larvae were exposed to the EC50 concentration of the most sensitive response variable determined for each of the stressors tested in the larval assay. Growth and survival were measured following lab exposure to the stressors and juveniles were then transplanted to a field site at St. Stanislaus High School in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Growth and survival were measured biweekly during field deployment for 2 months. In situ salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen (mg/L), and temperature (°C) were recorded throughout the field deployment via HOBOware data loggers. The results of this study will improve our understanding of how chronic and acute environmental stressors affect early life stages of oysters. This dataset supports the publication: Pruett, Jessica L., Ann Fairly Pandelides, Kristine L. Willett, and Deborah J. Gochfeld. 2021. Effects of flood-associated stressors on growth and survival of early life stage oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 544, 151615. DOI: 10.1016/j.jembe.2021.151615