Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Oyster reef restoration is a growing field in Australia, yet formal descriptions of associated biological communities for reefs created by native flat oysters (Ostrea angasi) do not currently exist. Native flat oysters once formed extensive and complex three-dimensional habitats in bays and estuaries across southern Australia until indiscriminate fishing, sedimentation and disease led to their near disappearance. To determine the diversity and abundance on naturally occurring oyster reefs, we sampled four sites on the last known naturally occurring oyster reef ecosystem, which resides in north-eastern Tasmania, and compared them to the surrounding soft sediment regions. Assemblages were related to environmental variables to determine whether consistent patterns were present. Oyster reef sites contained three times the faunal abundance of the surrounding soft sediment regions. Abundance among echinoderms, arthropods, molluscs and fish was much elevated, whereas annelids showed similar levels of abundance but differed in terms of species composition. These results show that oyster reefs do support abundant and diverse assemblages, emphasising the probable loss of community-level biodiversity associated with their historical decline around southern Australia.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Crawford, C and Edgar, G and Gillies, CL and Heller-Wagner, G
Keywords:	oyster reef, ecosystem, estuary, conservation, ecosystem services, habitat complexity, reef restoration, shellfish reefs
Journal or Publication Title:	Marine and Freshwater Research
Publisher:	C S I R O Publishing
ISSN:	1323-1650
DOI / ID Number:	10.1071/MF19171
Copyright Information:	Copyright 2019 CSIRO
Related URLs:	UTAS Profile: Crawford, C Google Scholar: Edgar, G UTAS Profile: Edgar, G
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

Actions (login required)

Item Control Page