The NOAA IR serves as an archival repository of NOAA-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other information authored or co-authored by NOAA or funded partners.
As a repository, the NOAA IR retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.
i
Meta-Analysis Of Oyster Impacts On Coastal Biogeochemistry
-
2020
-
Source: Nat Sustain 4, 261–269
[PDF-874.00 KB]
Details:
-
Journal Title:Nature Sustainability
-
Personal Author:
-
NOAA Program & Office:
-
Sea Grant Program:
-
Description:Overfishing, nutrient-fuelled hypoxia and habitat destruction have reduced oyster populations to a fraction of their former abundance. Over the past two decades there has been a widespread effort to restore oyster reefs and develop oyster aquaculture. Yet it remains unclear how re-introduction of large oyster populations will change coastal biogeochemistry. Of particular interest is whether oysters may help offset excess nitrogen loading, which is responsible for widespread coastal water quality degradation, low oxygen conditions and biodiversity declines. Here we used a meta-analysis approach to assess how oysters alter inorganic nutrient cycling, with a focus on nitrogen removal. Additionally, we examined how oysters alter greenhouse gas emissions. We demonstrate that oysters enhance removal of excess nitrogen by stimulating denitrification, promote efficient nutrient recycling and may have a negligible greenhouse gas footprint. Further, oyster reefs and oyster aquaculture appear to have similar biogeochemical function, suggesting the potential for sustainable production of animal protein alongside environmental restoration.
-
Keywords:
-
Source:Nat Sustain 4, 261–269
-
DOI:
-
Document Type:
-
Funding:
-
Rights Information:Accepted Manuscript
-
Compliance:Submitted
-
Main Document Checksum:
-
Download URL:
-
File Type:
