By Aidan Shell

Faculty Mentor: Bradley Lamphere

Abstract

An Analysis of The Eastern Oyster and its Impact on Community Biodiversity

The Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) has played a crucial role in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem since the 19th century. The species offers a range of services for both humans and other aquatic organisms from habitat provisioning to water filtration. As a keystone species, oysters foster diverse communities and support various taxa. Consequently, restoring oysters through reef creation has become a prominent focus in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This study aims to assess biodiversity at the community level, comparing habitats with and without oysters to understand their impact. One cage with 50 oysters and one empty cage were left tied to each site’s dock in the Rappahannock River. Cages were pulled on two separate occasions and the different taxon along with each species abundance were recorded. Species were identified on site and included fish, plants, invertebrates, and crustaceans. A two-way ANOVA test was run, and the results suggest that species richness is higher in cages where oysters are present (ANOVA, F= 16.5, p= 0.0102). These results emphasize the importance of oysters in maintaining healthy and biodiverse ecosystems. Further studies should expand upon sample sites and collection dates when studying oysters and their impact on community biodiversity.