Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Louisiana
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Changes in the timing and interaction of seasonal high temperatures and low salinities as predicted by climate change models could dramatically alter oyster population dynamics. Little is known explicitly about how low salinity and high temperature combinations affect spat (< 25 mm), seed (25-75 mm), and market (> 75 mm) oyster growth and mortality. Using lab and field studies, this project quantified the combined effects of extremely low salinities (< 5 psu) and high temperatures (>30°C) on growth and survival of spat, seed, and market-sized oysters. In 2012 and 2013, hatchery-produced oysters were placed in open and closed bags at three sites in Breton Sound, LA, along a salinity gradient which typically ranges from 5 to 20 psu. Growth and mortality were recorded monthly. Regardless of size class, oysters at the lowest salinity site (annual mean = 4.8 psu) experienced significantly higher mortality and lower growth than oysters located in higher salinity sites (annual means = 11.1 and 13.0 psu); furthermore, all oysters in open bags at the two higher salinity sites experienced higher mortality, likely due to predation. To explicitly examine oyster responses to extreme low salinity and high temperature combinations, a series of laboratory studies were conducted. Oysters were placed in 18 tanks in a fully crossed temperature (25°C, 32°C) by salinity (1, 5, 15 psu) study with 3 replicates, and repeated twice for each oyster size class. Regardless of temperature, seed and market oysters held in low salinity tanks (salinity = 1 psu) experienced 100% mortality within seven days. In contrast, at 5 psu, temperature significantly affected the mortality rate; all size class oysters experienced greater than 50% mortality at 32°C, and less than 40% mortality at 25°C. In higher salinity tanks (15 psu), only market-sized oysters held at 32°C experienced significant mortality (> 60%). These studies demonstrate that high water temperatures (> 30°C) and low salinities (< 5 psu) negatively impact oyster growth and survival, and that high temperatures alone may negatively impact market-sized oysters. It is critical to understand the potential impacts of climate and anthropogenic changes on oyster resources in order to better adapt and manage for long-term sustainability.