Project Summary
This multi-reserve catalyst project compared established and emerging methods for assessing intertidal oyster reef community structure and ecosystem function. Established techniques for assessing intertidal oyster reefs are labor intensive and difficult to replicate at multiple sites, limiting the ecological information they can provide, especially at large scales. In contrast, emerging techniques prove promising for examining the function of oyster reefs as habitat.
Collaborating across four reserves, this project compared established methods for assessing intertidal oyster reefs with four emerging methods that each provide unique ecological information:
- High-Resolution Acoustic Imaging
- Stable Isotope Analysis
- eDNA Metabarcoding
- Oyster Disease Assays
With their partners, the project catalyzed a strong community of practice in the Southeastern U.S. to support management efforts related to oyster reef conservation and the advancement of monitoring protocol.
About this Resource
This poster, presented at the 2024 NERRS/NERRA Fall Meeting, provides an overview of the traditional and emerging data collection methods used to assess intertidal oyster reef community structure and ecosystem function. The poster also highlights the results of the project’s field sampling in NC, SC, GA, and FL and their implications.