Restoration that targets function as opposed to structure: replacing lost bivalve production and filtration ...

• Main Authors: Catena, John, Peterson, Charles H., DeAlteris, Joseph T., French McCay, Deborah P.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries 2003
• Subjects: North Cape
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17615/ns30-3327; https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/concern/articles/f4752s08f

ABSTRACT: Abundant suspension-feeding bivalves have a dominant organizing role in shallow aquatic systems by filtering overlying waters, affecting biogeochemical processing, and diverting production from the water column to the benthos. In degraded aquatic systems where bivalve populations have been reduced, successful restoration of ecosystem functions may be achieved by targeting the revival of bivalve populations. The ‘North Cape’ oil spill on the coast of Rhode Island (USA) provides an opportunity to demonstrate the feasibility of scaling bivalve restoration to meet quantitative goals of enhanced production. After this oil spill, mortalities of bivalves were estimated by impact assessment modeling of acute toxicity, and results were confirmed by comparisons with counts of dead and moribund animals on local beaches. Computation of lost bivalve production included future production expected from affected animals, had they lived out their expected life spans. This calculation of production forgone required ...