Data underlying the publication: Settlement success of European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) on different types of hard substrate to support reef development in offshore wind farms.

Data collected to determine settlement success of flat oyster larvae on nine different types of hard substrate. These substrate types include granite, sandstone, flint, conventional concrete, concrete with natural adhesives (ECOncrete), galvanized steel, biodegradable plastic (BESE), mussel shell, and clay roof tile. The experiments took place at two different locations in Ireland, i.e. in an oyster spatting pond (controlled conditions; New Quay) and near a wild population of oysters (natural environment; Tralee Bay).The substrates were contained in polyethylene baskets (diameter 15cm, height 40cm) with a 2x2cm mesh size. Weight and volume of the content in each basket was determined prior to deployment. At both locations, the substrate baskets (n=5 per substrate type) were suspended 20-30cm below the water surface, approximately 30cm apart. The sequence of the substrate baskets was randomly assigned.After retrieval of the substrate baskets, the substrates in each basket were weighed, biofouling was removed, and if necessary, the substrate was cleaned using filtered seawater. Then, the total number of oyster spat on the substrate was counted. In order to assess the initial settlement preference, the total number of spat included both living and dead spat, which was recorded separately. In order to compare the spat densities on the different substrate types, the three-dimensional surface area of the different substrates was estimated using a combination of double wax dipping and 3D scanning. To determine which substrate collected the highest numbers of spat, the total numbers of spat were compared between the two locations and between different substrate types. Spat density was taken as an indicator for settlement preference, calculated by dividing total spat by the available settlement surface in cm2. Spat survival was calculated as the fraction of living spat out of the total spat counted after retrieval, and also compared between locations and substrate types.For further information see manuscript

本数据集用于探究扁平牡蛎幼虫（flat oyster larvae）在9种不同硬质基底（hard substrate）上的附着成功率。所涉基底类型包括花岗岩、砂岩、燧石、普通混凝土、含天然粘合剂的混凝土（ECOncrete）、镀锌钢、可生物降解塑料（BESE）、贻贝壳及黏土瓦。实验设置于爱尔兰两处地点：一处为牡蛎育苗池（oyster spatting pond，受控环境，新码头New Quay），另一处为野生牡蛎种群附近海域（自然环境，特拉利湾Tralee Bay）。基底被放置于聚乙烯（polyethylene）篮筐中，篮筐直径15cm、高40cm，网孔尺寸为2×2cm。每个篮筐内物料的重量与体积均在部署前完成测定。两处实验点中，每种基底类型对应5个篮筐（n=5），悬挂于水面下20-30cm处，间距约30cm，篮筐的摆放顺序为随机分配。取回篮筐后，先对每个篮筐内的基底进行称重，去除生物附着层，必要时使用过滤海水清洗基底。随后统计基底上的牡蛎稚贝（oyster spat）总数。为评估初始附着偏好，统计的稚贝总数包含存活与死亡个体，并分别予以记录。为比较不同基底上的稚贝密度，采用双蜡浸法（double wax dipping）与三维扫描（3D scanning）相结合的方式，估算不同基底的三维表面积。为明确哪种基底的稚贝附着量最高，对比了两处实验点及不同基底类型间的稚贝总数。稚贝密度被作为附着偏好的评价指标，计算方式为总稚贝数除以可用附着表面积（单位：cm²）。稚贝存活率以取回后存活稚贝数占总统计稚贝数的比例计算，并同样对比了不同实验点与基底类型间的差异。如需进一步相关信息，请参阅对应手稿。