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Sea Lab Sidebar: Scaring Oysters Strong

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A century ago, oysters were plentiful in Mobile Bay. Today, Alabama oyster populations are at an all-time low due to overharvesting, environmental changes, storms, and predators and disease.

DISL’s Senior Marine Scientist Dr. Lee Smee research aims to help oyster survivability by helping them to create a stronger shell as soon as they settle. In this podcast, Smee explains how they use predator cues to scare the oysters strong.

Oyster Life Cycle

oyster life cycle graphic

Remote Setting

The Smee Lab uses remote setting in oyster restoration projects. It gives the oysters a head start on building a new reef. This is important where natural populations are low.

In the process, oyster larvae need a hard surface for settlement. The Smee Lab uses bagged recycled oyster shells set into large tanks to give the oyster larvae a place to settle. Once settled, the oysters are referred to as spat-on-shell. The bags used in the process are biodegradable.

overhead of wet lab tank
The tank in this photo includes bags of recycled oyster shells where oyster larvae can settle.
up close look of recycled oyster shells in the biodegradable bags
A close-up look at the bagged recycled oyster shells. The bags are biodegradable.
oyster larvae under a microscope
Oysters start life as plankton, about the size of a grain of sand. In this photo, you can see the oyster larvae as they are before they settle.
aerial view of the restored oyster reef project at Blankenship Park on Dauphin Island
An aerial view of the restored oyster reef at the Blankenship Kayak and Ecotourism Park on Dauphin Island.

Transcript