Impact of Water Quality Stressors on Oyster Reef Restoration

The Mississippi Sound has seen a recent surge in freshwater flooding events due to multiple openings of the Bonnet Carré spillway and historic levels of coastal rainfall. Declines in oyster landings and massive die-offs have been documented in the presence of water quality stressors associated with these flooding events (i.e. low salinity/hypoxia/acidification). A team of researchers at the University of Mississippi have received funding from the Mississippi Based RESTORE Center of Excellence (MBRACE) to study the effects of water quality stressors on oyster physiology and survival using a combination of lab, field, and synthesis research approaches. As a part of this team, the National Sea Grant Law Center works collaboratively with the researchers to translate their research findings for use by policy-makers to inform oyster reef restoration and management in Mississippi.

UM Team’s Research

Gledhill J, Barnett AF, Slattery M, Willett KL, Easson G, Showalter Otts S, Gochfeld DJ. 2020. Mass mortality of Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica in the western Mississippi Sound following unprecedented Mississippi River flooding in 2019. Journal of Shellfish Research 39:235-244.

Pruett JL, Pandelides AF, Willett KL, Gochfeld DJ. 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.

Pruett JL et al. Life-stage-dependent effects of multiple flood-associated stressors on a coastal foundational species. Ecosphere. 2022. 13:e4343.

Policy Brief

In March 2022, the National Sea Grant Law Center published “Accounting for the Entire Oyster Life Cycle in Restoration Efforts: A Brief for Policy Makers.” This policy brief summarizes the importance of the UM team’s research findings on the effects of stressors on early life stages of oysters for oyster restoration policy in Mississippi.

Pruett JL, Showalter Otts S, Willett KL, Gochfeld DJ. 2022. Accounting for the Entire Oyster Life Cycle in Restoration Efforts: A Brief for Policy Makers. University of Mississippi. National Sea Grant Law Center Publication NSGLC-22-06-03 (April).

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Presentations

Pruett JL, Otts S (Sep 2022). Accounting for the Entire Oyster Life Cycle in Mississippi Restoration Efforts. National Sea Grant Law Center 2022 Webinar Series.

Pruett JL, Pandelides AF, Keylon J, Willett KL, Showalter Otts S, Gochfeld DJ (Nov 2021). Integrating science and policy research to inform oyster reef restoration efforts in the Mississippi Sound. Oral presentation, 26th Biennial Coast and Estuarine Research Federation Conference, Virtual.

This project was paid for with federal funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and the Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act). The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Treasury, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, or the Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence.