Strongholds of Ostrea edulis populations in estuaries in Essex, SE England and their association with traditional oyster aquaculture: evidence to support a MPA designation
Strongholds of Ostrea edulis populations in estuaries in Essex, SE England and their association with traditional oyster aquaculture: evidence to support a MPA designation
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DOI：
10.1017/s0025315419001048
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发表时间：
2020-02-01
影响因子：
1.2
通讯作者：
Underwood, Graham J. C.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Allison, Sarah;Hardy, Malcolm;Underwood, Graham J. C.
自 1850 年代以来，由于人类活动，欧洲水域中的扁牡蛎 Ostrea edulis 数量大幅减少。美味牡蛎于 1995 年被指定为英国生物多样性行动计划物种和栖息地，并在 2009 年英国海洋和沿海准入法案中被指定为保护重要性特征 (FOCI)。为了促进牡蛎养殖场的恢复，需要对其丰度和分布有更深入的了解。 2008 年至 2012 年间确定了拟建的埃塞克斯黑水、克劳奇、罗奇和科恩 MCZ 中美味牡蛎的分布情况。美味牡蛎存在于四个河口区；黑水和雷沙地区的样品丰度最高。种群大小结构各异，雷沙区和科恩区明显缺乏具有壳高的个体，牡蛎在壳底层的数量最多，其次是粉砂质沉积物。美味野生稻的丰度或大小结构与水体叶绿素 a、悬浮固体、氧气、硝酸盐或铵浓度、温度或 pH 值之间没有显着相关性。 O. edulis 的最高丰度和最公平的种群贝壳尺寸分布位于积极管理的水产养殖区之内或附近。这表明传统的海底管理有助于保护物种的维持或恢复。由于证明埃塞克斯河口是北海南部美味牡蛎的大本营，2013 年指定了黑水河口、克劳奇河口、罗奇河口和科恩河口海洋保护区。
The flat oyster Ostrea edulis has declined significantly in European waters since the 1850s as a result of anthropogenic activity. Ostrea edulis was designated a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Species and Habitat in 1995, and as a Feature of Conservation Importance (FOCI) within the UK Marine & Coastal Access Act 2009. To promote the recovery of oyster beds, a greater understanding of its abundance and distribution is required. Distribution of O. edulis across the proposed Blackwater, Crouch, Roach and Colne MCZ in Essex was determined between 2008 and 2012. Ostrea edulis were present in four estuary zones; with highest sample abundance in the Blackwater and Ray Sand zones. Size structure of populations varied, with the Ray Sand and Colne zones showing a significant lack of individuals with shell height Ostrea edulis occurred in highest number on shell substratum, followed by silty sediments. There were no significant associations between O. edulis abundance or size structure with water column Chl a, suspended solids, oxygen, nitrate or ammonium concentrations, temperature or pH. Highest abundance and most equitable population shell-size distribution for O. edulis were located within, or adjacent to, actively managed aquaculture zones. This suggests that traditional seabed management contributed to the maintenance or recovery of the species of conservation concern. Demonstration that the Essex estuaries were a stronghold for Ostrea edulis in the southern North sea area led to the designation of the Blackwater, Crouch, Roach and Colne estuaries Marine Conservation Zone in 2013.