Effects of Non-Native Species on Two Life Stages of the Olympia Oyster, Ostrea Lurida, in the Elkhorn Slough Estuary
Description
Marine and estuarine systems worldwide have been altered due to introductions of nonnative species. A common mode of non-native species transport is in ship ballast water that, when released, deposits larvae in new locations. Once established, non-native species compete for resources, reduce native species populations and alter ecosystem services. Some non-native species have been found to be ecosystem engineers, encouraging additional non-native species settlement. Many studies have looked at the competitive interaction between non-native and native species, but few have examined the possibility of a facilitative effect or how additional environmental stressors, such as desiccation, may modify species interactions. This study examined the effect of non-native species on two life stages (adult and juvenile) of the Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida, a species in decline at two different tidal heights in a central California estuary. In separate experiments, adult and juvenile O. lurida were outplanted on settlement plates in Elkhorn Slough, and two treatments were maintained: (1) manual removal of non-natives every two weeks from half the plates or (2) control treatments that allowed non-native species to colonize and persist. Every two weeks, photographs were taken of each plate in order to calculate changes in percent cover of non-native species and to measure growth of O. lurida in response to the experimental treatment conditions. Results indicated that in the presence of the Australian tubeworm, Ficopomatus enigmaticus, and other non-native species, adult O. lurida exhibited an ~50% increase in area (cm2) on average across the plates. The presence of non-natives consistently resulted in a neutral or positive facilitative effect on oyster growth at two different life stages. The results of this study show that adult O. lurida are able to survive and even benefit from the presence of other species currently found in Elkhorn Slough both above and below MLLW. Juvenile O. lurida demonstrated high initial growth regardless of treatment, with increased growth below MLLW. With this increased understanding, there is much that is unknown about the long-term affect of introduced species on ecosystems and it is important to continue to study their impacts. In particular, the effect of nonnatives on oyster recruitment requires further investigation because the earliest life stages are most likely to be adversely affects by a rapid growing non-native that can monopolize available bare space for settlement. If O. lurida recruitment and juvenile survivorship is further reduced, the local Elkhorn Slough population may be lost.
Contributions to the biology of Melibe leonina (Gould). (Mollusca, Opistobrancia).
Description
by Richard Antone Ajeska, "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.", Thesis (M.A.) - California State University, Hayward, 1971.,
Foraging behavior of the leather seastar, Dermasterias imbricata (Grube), in Monterey Bay, California
Description
by Cynthia Ann Annett, "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.", Thesis (M.S.) -- San Jose State University, 1982.,
Institution
San Jose State University
Title
Diet composition of Bathyraja interrupta (Gill and Townsend, 1897) and Bathyraja aleutica (Gilbert, 1896) ≈
Description
by Simon Charles Brown., "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.", Thesis (M.S.) -- California State University, Monterey Bay, 2010.,
Seasonal variation of diatoms and dinoflagellates in Monterey Bay, CA determined by CHEMTAX analysis of HPLC pigment data
Description
by Kelene N. Keating, "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.", Thesis (M.S.) -- California State University, Monterey Bay, 2013.
A study of feeding in two sympatric opisthobranch snails from Monterey Bay, California
Description
by David Shonman., "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.", Thesis (M.S.) -- California State University, Hayward, 1979.,
The catch composition of two monofilament gill net fisheries in Monterey Bay, California
Description
by Thomas Michael Keating
"A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories."
Thesis (M.S.) -- San Francisco State University, 1986.
An assessment of genetic variation within and between sea otter(Enhydra lutris) populations off Alaska and California
Description
by Lisa Christine Cheney., "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.", Thesis (M.S.) -- San Jose State University, 1995., ,
Gulf of California pleistocene and modern molluscan comparison as a test for global change
Description
by Carlos E. Cintra Buenrostro., "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories." Thesis (M.S.)--San Jose State University, 2000.
Interspecific variation in morphology and swimming performance within surfperches (embiotocidae) from California
Description
by Benjamin Michael Perlman., "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.", Thesis (M.S.) -- San Jose State University, 2010.
Evaluating methods to anesthetize Gopher Rockfish (Sebastes carnatus) for immediate release in the field: Induction, recovery, and cortisol stress response to surgical anesthesia
Description
by Jahnava K. Duryea, "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.", Thesis (M.S.) -- San Jose State University, 2014.
The The vertical distribution of the infauna in a sublittoral sand-bottom
Description
by John S. Oliver, "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.", Thesis (M.S.) -- California State University, Hayward, 1973.
An evaluation of mercury offloading in three central California elasmobranchs
Description
by Kelley E. van Hees, "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.", Thesis (M.S.) -- California State University, Monterey Bay, 2014.
Effects of depth, site, and season on phenotypic variation of the geniculate coralline, Calliarthron tuberculosum: around the Monterey Peninsula, California
Description
by Jasmine E. Ruvalcaba, "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.", Thesis (M.S.) -- San Jose State University, 2014.
Deposition, peristence, and utilization of kelp wrack along the central California coast
Description
by Jarred A.Klosinski., "A thesis presented to the faculty of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.", Thesis (M.S.) - California State University, Monterey Bay, 2015.
