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MEPS 264:197-212 (2003)
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Abstract
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Restoration that targets function as opposed to structure: replacing lost bivalve production and filtration
Deborah P. French McCay1,*, Charles H. Peterson2, Joseph T. DeAlteris,3 John Catena4
1Applied Science Associates, 70 Dean Knauss Drive, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA
2Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557, USA
3University of Rhode Island, Building 50, East Farm, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, USA
4National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Restoration Center, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930, USA
*Email: dfrench@appsci.com
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ABSTRACT: Abundant suspension-feeding bivalves have a dominant organizing role in shallow aquatic systems by filtering overlying waters, affecting biogeochemical processing, and diverting production from the water column to the benthos. In degraded
aquatic systems where bivalve populations have been reduced, successful restoration of ecosystem functions may be achieved by targeting the revival of bivalve populations. The 'North Cape' oil spill on the coast of Rhode Island (USA) provides an
opportunity to demonstrate the feasibility of scaling bivalve restoration to meet quantitative goals of enhanced production. After this oil spill, mortalities of bivalves were estimated by impact assessment modeling of acute toxicity, and results were
confirmed by comparisons with counts of dead and moribund animals on local beaches. Computation of lost bivalve production included future production expected from affected animals, had they lived out their expected life spans. This calculation of
production forgone required a demographic model that combined age-specific mortality with individual growth. Application of this modeling approach to surf clams Spisula solidissima, the species that comprised 97% of the total loss of bivalve
production from the spill, illustrates the detailed implementation of scaling restoration to match estimates of losses. We consider the factors known to limit abundance and production of surf clams and other marine bivalves (hard clams, American oysters
and bay scallops) and review the advantages of hatchery stocking, transplantation, habitat restoration, and reduction of fishing pressure in selecting a reliable and efficient restoration action. Age-specific estimates of the scale of population
enhancement required to restore production showed that fewer additional animals were needed when larger (older) animals were added, but at the expense of greater grow-out requirements. Relaxation of fishing was most effective for hard clams. Accurate
scaling of restoration was most sensitive to mortality rate, and the most efficient restoration involving seeding of small bivalves would be accomplished using surf clams. Monitoring of the restoration option chosen to compensate for the bivalve loss
following the 'North Cape' oil spill can serve to test the underlying demographic assumptions and accuracy of the restoration scaling.
KEY WORDS: Bivalves · Loss · Limiting factors · Natural resource damage assessment · 'North Cape' oil spill · Population modeling · Restoration
Full text in pdf format
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Published in MEPS Vol.
264
(2003) on December 15
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2003
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