https://www.disl.edu/research/oyster-ecology-biology/ Recent content in Oyster Ecology & Biology on Dauphin Island Sea Lab Hugo en-us Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.disl.edu/research/oyster-ecology-biology/strengthening-oyster-shells/ Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.disl.edu/research/oyster-ecology-biology/strengthening-oyster-shells/ <div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; margin-bottom: 1rem;"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CpLGCuLByH4" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border:0;" allowfullscreen title="YouTube Video"></iframe> </div> <p>Oysters build their shells using a thin tissue called the mantle, which wraps around their body and lines the inside of the shell. The edge of the mantle secretes new shell material. To do this, oysters filter calcium and carbonate out of seawater and combine them into calcium carbonate, which is the same mineral in chalk and limestone. This gets layered on along with a protein framework that adds strength and structure, kind of like rebar in concrete.</p> https://www.disl.edu/research/oyster-ecology-biology/what-you-can-do/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.disl.edu/research/oyster-ecology-biology/what-you-can-do/