Orientadora: Léa Silvia Sant'Ana / Banca: Elisabete Maria Macedo Viegas / Banca: Marcelo Barbosa Henriques / Resumo: A ostreicultura surgiu da necessidade em: atender a crescente demanda de ostras, sem ameaçar o estoque natural através do extrativismo. Os métodos de cultivo foram aperfeiçoados ao longo dos anos em diversos países permitindo um crescente aumento na produção deste molusco. Em alguns lugares este aumento da produção está sendo superior ao volume consumido in natura como conseqüência, toma-se necessário o aperfeiçoamento da tecnologia pós-colheita. Para alcançar tal objetivo, foi realizado congelamento de ostras inteiras (vivas) em túnel de ar forçado. Amostras de ostras frescas e congeladas, com ° (recém congelada), 30 e 60 e 90 dias foram submetidas às análises de composição química, testes sensoriais e estudo dos índices de condição. A composição química da ostra fresca mostrou teores médios de umidade de 81,7 I ± 0,56% e 83,25 ± 0,12; de proteína de 9,96 ± 0,48 e 11,02 ± 0,59; lipídeo de 0,51 ± 0,11 e 0,27 ±0,14; carboidrato de 6,06 e 3,22, para o I e II experimento, respectivamente. Com relação ao processamento da ostra, foram detectadas alterações em sua composição química, tanto em função do congelamento quanto do armazenamento, em ambos experimentos. Os três índices de condição estudados mostraram diferenças entre as ostras frescas e as congeladas, e de modo geral estão de acordo com os valores descritos na literatura. Com a análise sensorial foi possível verificar que a ostra congelada foi satisfatoriamente aceita para o consumo humano, com índices de aceitabilidade acima de 70%. / Abstract: Oyster fanning appeared of the necessity in taking care of the increasing- demand of oysters, without threatening the natural supply through the extrativism. The farming had been improved to long of the years in diverse countries allowing a increase the production of this mollusc. Increase of the production is being incompatible to the consumed volume in natura, and as consequence, becomes necessary the perfectioning of the technology after¬ harvest. To reach such objective, the freezing of entire oysters (alive) in continuous air blast freezer was carried through. The changes of chemical composition, condition indices and sensorial tests were analyzed in response to different samples of oysters: fresh and frozen, with O (just frozen), 30 and 60 and 90 days. The chemical composition of the fresh oyster showed average texts of moisture of 81.71 ± 0.56 and 83.25 ± 0.12; of protein of 9.96 ± 0.48 and 11.02 ± 0.59; lipid of 0.51 ± 0.11 and 0.27 ± 0.14; carbohydrate of 6.06 and 3.22, for the I and II experiment, respective1y. Relating to the processing of the oyster, alterations in its chemical composition, as much in function of the freezing as of the storage had been detected, in both experiments. The studied indices of condition had shown to differences between the fresh oysters and the frozen ones, and in general way they are in accordance with the described va1ues in literature. With the sensorial analysis it was possible to verify that the frozen oyster was satisfactorily accepted for the human consumption, with situated indices of acceptability above of 70%. / Mestre

Climate change is already impacting many coastal ecosystems and the communities that depend upon them. Efforts to mitigate and adapt to it will likely further strain these socio-ecological systems. This points to the need for research that explores the socio-ecological dynamics of environmental change, in order to better understand how community resilience can best be supported during a period of rapid global environmental change. This research uses a case study of the oyster farming industry on the West Coast of British Columbia (B.C.). This thesis explores two interrelated clusters of questions: 1. How are oyster farmers on the B.C. coast perceiving and responding to environmental change, and what are the implications of this for the governance of the industry? 2. What role does—and might—the oyster farming industry play in supporting coastal sustainability in B.C., and how can researchers better support the efforts of those in the industry to solve the challenges they—and coastal communities more generally—face? Drawing on field research, including participant observation and sixteen interviews with oyster farmers and industry representatives across the region, this research finds that navigating broader social, political and economic changes is at least as important to farmers as the specific ecological changes with which they are grappling. As these findings suggest, environmental change needs to be understood within the context of the industry and culture on the coast; it should be nested within broader reforms to support the sustainability of the industry and the resilience of coastal communities to which it contributes. Furthermore, despite the myriad challenges facing oyster farmers, this research finds that they are actively seeking solutions to ameliorate the difficulties they face. In turn, environmental research and communication should consider how to better support the cultivation of environmental solutions. In summary, the research integrates the need for socio-political reform and solutions-based research and communication. It contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of how to support people and places during periods of rapid change. / Graduate

This work places itself in the field of knitted textile design and the context of body and interior. The primary motive is to investigate the tactile and visual properties of oysters and pearls, inspired by Botticelli’s painting Venus. The aim is to explore free-flowing and texture through knitted three-dimensional textile surfaces. Material and colour choices have been made based on the source of inspiration, the oyster, and investigated on industrial circle knit and flat knit machines. The circle knit’s expression has been explored from a hand knitting perspective, using the manual elements to push the machine’s technique to design new expressions. The result of the project is a collection that has four suggestions for a knitted, three-dimensional surface, each inspired and developed from one specific part of the oyster; the shell, the nacre, the flesh, and the pearl. This work investigates the potential of using circle knit machines, commonly used in fast fashion for bulk production, as a tool for handicraft and higher art forms. The final collection pushes the conversation regarding the future uses of the knitting machines and investigates how rigid objects can be expressed through the flexible structure.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第18330号 / 農博第2055号 / 新制||農||1022(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H26||N4837(農学部図書室) / 31188 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科応用生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 荒井 修亮, 教授 山下 洋, 准教授 笠井 亮秀 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

No description available.

The objective of this study is to estimate the willingness to pay of U.S. Gulf Coast residents to support oyster reef restoration. The Gulf Coast is the leading commercial oyster- producing region in the United States, accounting for approximately 46% of the total commercial oyster harvest in 2021. My benefit estimates were based on data obtained from a contingent valuation survey of 6,475 Gulf Coast respondents. I estimated the willingness to pay (WTP) for oyster reef restoration using interval regression and Turnbull lower-bound methods. The estimated mean WTP value is in the range of $142 and $436 per household. The results show respondents who eat oysters and those that hold saltwater fishing licenses have significantly higher WTP.

Widely regarded as a keystone species and ecosystem engineer, the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica plays a vital role in estuarine environments. Complex, three-dimensional oyster reefs act as havens for biodiversity and contribute to ecological processes. Recently, concern for this resource has arisen in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, the southernmost limit along the Atlantic coast for undisturbed, intertidal reefs of C. virginica. Since the 1990s, intense recreational boating activity has caused atypical dead margins (mounds of disarticulated shells) to emerge on the seaward edges of oyster reefs located along major navigational channels. Once dead margins are formed, little is known about their influence on biotic composition and interactions on oyster reefs. This study focused on the affect of dead margins on: (1) mobile species biodiversity and distribution, (2) reef architecture, and (3) the affect of structural variables on predation of juvenile oysters. To determine if dead margins influenced the biodiversity of mobile species on oyster reefs, lift nets (1 m2) were deployed within Mosquito Lagoon for one year (June 2004 - June 2005). These nets (5/site) were deployed on the back-reef areas of six reefs (3 reference reefs and 3 reefs containing dead margins). To simulate reef habitat, one and a half liters of live oysters were placed within each net. Lift nets were checked monthly and surveyed for all mobile species. The resulting data were assimilated into a species inventory containing 65 species of fishes, mollusks, crustaceans, worms, and echinoderms. The two most abundant species present on reefs in Mosquito Lagoon were the big-claw snapping shrimp Alpheus heterochaelis, a filter-feeder, and the flat-back mud crab Eurypanopeus herbstii, a predator of oyster spat. Contrary to expections, analyses of community metrics showed that dead margins did not significantly affect the biodiversity of back-reef areas on oyster reefs. Modified lift nets (0.25 m2) were placed on six different oyster reefs (3 reference reefs and 3 containing dead margins) to test if dead margins affected the distribution of mobile species inhabiting oyster reefs. Nine nets were arranged to cover three separate areas of each reef: the fore-reef (3 nets), mid-reef (3 nets), and back-reef (3 nets). Half a liter of oyster shells were placed inside each net. These nets were checked weekly, for five weeks and species richness, density, and biomass were recorded. Analyses revealed that all community metrics were significantly higher on reference reefs than reefs affected with dead margins. Further, a significant drop in all three metrics was seen on the mid-reef area of affected reefs. The absence of species on this area is hypothesized to be due to a lack of water, shade, and habitat complexity. To document architectural differences, two types of transects were run along five reference reefs and five reefs with dead margins. First, quadrat transects determined the percent of live oysters, the percent of shell clusters, topographic complexity (using chain links), and the angle of shells on each reef type. Transect lines were stretched parallel to the water line and covered all three reef areas (fore-reef, mid-reef, and back-reef). The results showed reference reefs to have approximately four-fold more live oysters, approximately twice as many shell clusters, and significantly greater topographic complexity. Numbers of live oysters and shell clusters were greater on the fore-reef and back-reef areas of both reef types. Second, laser transects were used to record reef profiles and the slope of fore-reef areas. Transect lines were stretched perpendicular to the water line and every 20 cm the distance between the lagoon bottom and reef top was measured. Vertical reef profiles and fore-reef slopes were significantly different between reference reefs and reefs with dead margins. Dead margins compressed reef widths, increased center peaks, and increased slopes on the fore-reef area by two-fold. Lastly, field experiments were conducted to determine the affect of dead margins on the vulnerability of oyster spat to predation. Structural variables (e.g. shell orientation, single versus shell clusters, reef slope) were manipulated and effects on oyster mortality were observed. Three predators were tested: the blue crab Callinectes sapidus, the common mud crab Panopeus herbstii, and the Atlantic oyster drill Urosalpinx cinerea. Structural variables did not have a significant influence on oyster mortality; however, a significant difference was established between predators. Panopeus herbstii consumed the most juvenile oysters, followed by U. cinerea and then C. sapidus. Together, these findings document ecological implications of dead margins on C. virginica reefs and reinforce the urgent need for enhanced regulations and restoration. If the intensity of recreational boating remains unregulated, dead margins will continue to increase. Thus, in order to maintain the diversity and productivity of Mosquito Lagoon, it is crucial to fully understand how dead margins alter the biogenic habitat and biotic communities of oyster reefs.

Sea level rise and changing storm frequency and intensity resulting from climate change create tremendous amounts of uncertainty for coastal species. Intertidal species may be especially affected since they are dependent on daily inundation and exposure. The eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica is an economically and biologically important sessile intertidal species ranging from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Declines and changes in distribution of oyster populations has forced commercial harvesting to spread from subtidal to intertidal reefs. We investigated the potential responses of intertidal C. virginica to sea level rise, and the response of larval settlement to sedimentation which is likely to increase with higher water levels and storm frequency. Inundation was used as a proxy for sea level rise. We hypothesized four possible outcomes for intertidal oyster reefs as a result of changes in inundation due to sea level rise: (a) intertidal reefs become subtidal and remain in place, (b) intertidal reefs will be lost, (c) intertidal reefs migrate shoreward upslope and remain intertidal, and (d) intertidal reefs will grow in elevation and remain intertidal. To test the plausibility of these four outcomes, oyster ladders were placed at two sites within Apalachicola Bay, Florida, USA. Ladders supported oyster recruitment mats at five heights within the range of intertidal elevations. The bottom-most mat was placed near mean low tide, and the top mat near mean high tide to investigate the effect of tidal inundation time on C. virginica. Sediment traps were attached to ladders with openings at equal elevation to the oyster mats. Ladders were deployed for one year starting in June 2012, and again in June 2013, during peak oyster recruitment season. Monthly for six months during year one, sediment was collected from traps, dried to constant weight and weighed to obtain a monthly average for total sediment at each elevation. At the end of one year, oyster mats were collected from the field and examined for the following responses: live oyster density, mean oyster shell length of live oysters, mean oyster shell angle of growth relative to the benthos, and mean number of sessile competitors. We used AICc to identify the most plausible models using elevation, site, and year as independent variables. Oyster density peaked at intermediate inundation at both sites (maximum 1740 oysters per m2), it decreased slightly at the mean low tide, and sharply at the mean high tide. This response varied between years and sites. Mean oyster shell length peaked near mean low tide (6.7 cm), and decreased with increasing elevation. It varied between years and sites. Oyster shell angle of growth relative to the benthos showed a quadratic response for elevation; site but not year affected this response. Sessile competitor density also showed a quadratic response for elevation and varied between sites and years. Barnacles were the primary spatial competitor reaching densities of up to 28,328 barnacles per m2. Total monthly sedimentation peaked at the lowest elevations, and varied by site, with an order of magnitude difference between sites. Sediment increased with decreasing elevation. Outcomes a, c, and d were found to be viable results of sea level rise, ruling out complete loss of intertidal reefs. Outcome (a) would be associated with decrease in oyster density and increase in oyster length. Outcome (c) would require the laying of oyster cultch upslope and shoreward of current intertidal reefs, as well as the removal of any hard armoring or development. Outcome (d) remained possible, but is the least likely requiring a balance between sedimentation, oyster angle of growth, and recruitment. This should be further investigated. A laboratory experiment was designed to test relative impact of varying sediment grain sizes on settlement of C. virginica larvae. Previous studies showed that suspended solids resulted in decreased larval settlement when using mixed sediment grain sizes. Predicted storm levels and hurricane levels of total suspended solids were used in flow tanks. Sediment from the field experiment was sieved into seven size classes, the most common five of which were used in the experiment since they represented 98.8% of total mass. Flow tanks were designed and built that held 12 aged oyster shells, instant ocean saltwater, and sediment. Oyster larvae were added to the flow tanks and allowed one hour to settle on shells. Each run utilized one of the five size classes of sediment at either a high or low concentration. Following the one-hour settlement period, oyster shells were removed from the flow tank and settled larvae were counted under a dissecting microscope. Settlement was standardized by settlement area using Image J. AICc model selection was performed and the selected model included only grain size, but not concentration. A Tukey's post hoc test differentiated < 63 µm from 500 – 2000 µm, with the < 63 µm grain size having a negative effect on oyster larval settlement. This indicates that the smaller grain sizes of suspended solids are more detrimental to oyster larval settlement than larger grain sizes. The oyster ladder experiment will help resource managers predict and plan for oyster reef migration by cultch laying, and or associated changes in oyster density and shell length if shoreward reef growth is not allowed to occur. The laboratory experiment will help to predict the impacts of future storms on oyster larval recruitment. Together this information can help managers conserve as much remaining oyster habitat as possible by predicting future impacts of climate change on oysters.

Predicting the locations of new biological invasions has become a high priority for biologists as well as trying to predict if newly introduced species will become damaging to native ecosystems. Reefs of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida have been highly disturbed in recent years resulting in dead reefs (piles of dead, disarticulated shells) some of which have been restored. I conducted oyster reef surveys for non-native invertebrates to determine if disturbance on these oyster reefs might assist invasion by two species, Mytella charruana and Perna viridis, recently introduced to the southeastern coast of the United States. Next, I investigated if M. charruana's temperature and aerial exposure tolerance limits may allow for it to establish permanently on intertidal oyster reefs. Temperature and aerial exposure tolerance experiments were conducted and oyster reef temperatures were collected. Oyster reef surveys could not predict if reef disturbance is assisting in the invasion process because only two non-native individuals (P.viridis) were found, one on a restored reef and one on a natural (reference) reef. Tolerance experiments showed that some Mytella charruana survived even after 7 days of 8??C temperatures if the mussels are exposed to air for 4 hours or less per day. Mytella charruana had near 0% survival after 4 hours of 44??C. However, only disturbed reefs reached this temperature in the field. It is likely that M. charruana could survive in the low intertidal zone on restored or reference reefs. This information is important for understanding the introduction of M. charruana in Mosquito Lagoon and also provides a data set of temperature tolerances for better understanding of whether the species might be able to invade other areas.

Pattern formation in ecological systems refers to a nonuniform distribution of animal and plant species across a landscape. Pattern formation can be observed in many aquatic and terrestrial systems and can provide important insights into their dynamics and ability to cope with environmental changes. In this dissertation, we focus on pattern formation in tidal marshes and oyster reefs, two important habitats that provide a number of essential ecosystem services. Both of these systems have also experienced dramatic losses, prompting much research to investigate their dynamics as and viable restoration and management strategies. The first part of this dissertation focuses on understanding the spatial patterning of the marsh shoreline, which can range from a uniform to a more wave-like shoreline. We present a mathematical framework for modeling the spatial variation of the shoreline as a result of interactions between marsh vegetation, mussels and their impact on marsh sedimentation and erosion. While both species are known to significantly impact marsh dynamics, no mathematical model describing this phenomenon has been previously proposed. Numerical and analytical investigation of our model indicates that the interactions between these species can drive the spatial variation of the marsh edge, increase the system’s productivity and allow it to withstand harsh erosion conditions. The second part of this dissertation focuses on pattern formation in intertidal oyster reef communities, where both round and elongated reefs of various orientations dominate the landscape. Most of what is currently known about reef geometry has been anecdotal, with no comprehensive, quantitative study of reef pattern formation carried out. In particular, the interaction of oyster reefs of various geometric configuration with tidal flow remains poorly understood. This is important in reef restoration, where understanding the interaction of reef geometry with flow and other environmental factors can inform the construction of artificial oyster reefs. In this dissertation, we present a comprehensive analysis of remotely sensed aerial imagery of an intertidal oyster reef network in conjunction with information on tidal flow dynamics and bathymetry. Using texture and color properties of the aerial imagery, we identify and delineate over six thousand individual reefs. We then classify reefs into natural classes based on geometric attributes such as reef shape, size and orientation. Finally, we use multiple spatial analysis techniques to determine the spatial clustering of different reef types and investigate the role of flow and bathymetry in their spatial distribution.