NATIONAL SHELLFISHERIES ASSOCIATION Program and … PROGRAM FRO… · Lionel Dégremont, Nicole Faury, Peter D. Kirkland, Daniel Mancilla Cortez, D. Terry Sawyer, James D. Moore,

NATIONAL SHELLFISHERIES ASSOCIATION

Program and Abstractsof the

110th Annual Mee%ng

March 18 – 22, 2018

Sea#le, Washington

NSA110thANNUALMEETING

NationalShellfisheriesAssociation

RenaissanceHotel,SEATTLE,WASHINGTON

March18–March22,2018

SUNDAY,MARCH18,2018

6:30PM

7:00PM

STUDENTORIENTATION

(FoyeroutsideCourtyardBallroom)

PRESIDENT’SRECEPTION

CourtyardBallroom

MONDAY,MARCH19,2018

6:30-8:00AM

STUDENTBREAKFAST(studentsonly)

South

8:00-8:50AM

PLENARYLECTURE:SuzanneWilliams(NaturalHistoryMuseum,London)

CourtyardBallroom

Federal

Superior

Municipal

James

North

9:00-10:30AM

OLYMPIA

OYSTERS

GENETICS,

GENOMICS,AND

BREEDING

SHELLFISH

LEASINGAND

PERMITTINGWORKSHOP:

CASESTUDIESFOROVERCOMING

COMMONLEGALBARRIERS

THESHRIMP

EPIGENOME

(ShrimpENCODE)

PROJECT

SCALLOPS

10:30-11:00AM

MORNINGBREAK

11:00-12:30PM

OLYMPIA

OYSTERS

GENETICS,

GENOMICS,AND

BREEDING

COLLABORATIVERESEARCHAND

ENGAGINGFISHERMEN

THESHRIMP

EPIGENOME

(ShrimpENCODE)

PROJECT

SCALLOPS

12:30-1:30PM

LUNCHBREAK

1:30-2:15PM

OLYMPIA

OYSTERS

GENETICS,

GENOMICS,AND

BREEDING


ENGAGINGFISHERMEN

THESHRIMP

EPIGENOME

(ShrimpENCODE)

PROJECT

SCALLOPS

2:15-3:00PM

OLYMPIA

OYSTERS

GENETICS,

GENOMICS,AND

BREEDING


ENGAGINGFISHERMEN

THESHRIMP

EPIGENOME

(ShrimpENCODE)

PROJECT

GENERAL

CONTRIBUTEDI

3:00-3:30PM

AFTERNOONBREAK

3:30-6:00PM

OLYMPIA

OYSTERS

GENETICS,

GENOMICS,AND

BREEDING


ENGAGINGFISHERMEN

THESHRIMP

EPIGENOME

(ShrimpENCODE)

PROJECT

GENERAL

CONTRIBUTEDI

TUESDAY,MARCH20,2018

8:00-8:50AM

PLENARYLECTURE:PeterBeninger(UniversitedeNantes)

CourtyardBallroom

Federal

Superior

Municipal

James

North

9:00-10:30AM

SCIENCE,ART,AND

COMMUNICATION

VIBRIO

HARMFULALGAL

BLOOMS

GENOMICS:AN

INTRODUCTORY

PRIMERWORKSHOP

GENERAL

CONTRIBUTEDII

10:30-11:00AM

MORNINGBREAK

11:00-12:30PM

SEAGRASS-BIVALVE

INTERACTIONS

VIBRIO

HARMFULALGAL

BLOOMS

COMPARATIVE

GENOMICS:

AHANDS-ON

WORKSHOPONTHE

EASTERNOYSTER

GENOME

GENERAL

CONTRIBUTEDII

12:30-1:30PM

LUNCHBREAK

1:30-3:15PM

SEAGRASS-BIVALVE

INTERACTIONS

VIBRIO

CLAMS

PREPARATIONOF

SHELLFISH

FOR

DISEASE

DIAGNOSTICS

WORKSHOP

NORTHWESTINDIAN

TRIBES

SHELLFISH

MANAGEMENT

ANDFISHERIES

3:15-4:30PM

SEAGRASS-BIVALVE

INTERACTIONS

VIBRIO

PHYTOPLANKTON

CULTURE:ATRIBUTE

TORRLGUILLARD

PREPARATIONOF

SHELLFISH

FOR

DISEASE

DIAGNOSTICS

WORKSHOP

NORTHWESTINDIAN

TRIBES

SHELLFISH

MANAGEMENT

ANDFISHERIES

4:00-6:00PM

POSTERSESSIONANDHAPPYHOUR

MadisonBallroom

7:00PM

-???

STUDENTENDOWMENTFUNDAUCTION

CourtyardBallroom

WEDNESDAY,MARCH21,2018

8:00-8:50AM

PLENARYLECTURE:DonalManahan(UniversityofSouthernCalifornia)

CourtyardBallroom

North

West

James

South

East

9:00-10:30AM

GREENCRABS

UNDERGRADUATE

RESEARCH

COLLOQUIUM

CONTAMINANTSOF

EMERGINGCONCERN

OYSTERS:EASTMEETS

SOUTHMEETSWEST

GENERAL

CONTRIBUTEDIII

10:30-11:00AM

MORNINGBREAK

11:00-11:45PM

GREENCRABS

RIBBEDMUSSELS

CONTAMINANTSOF

EMERGINGCONCERN

OYSTERS:EASTMEETS

SOUTHMEETSWEST

GENERAL

CONTRIBUTEDIII

11:45-12:30PM

GREENCRABS

RIBBEDMUSSELS

SHELLSANDMATERIALS

OYSTERS:EASTMEETS

SOUTHMEETSWEST

GENERAL

CONTRIBUTEDIII

12:30-2:00PM

NSABUSINESSLUNCHEON

CourtyardBallroom

2:00-4:30PM

SCALLOPGALLOP

EXPLORESEATTLE!!

4:30-6:00PM

POSTERSESSIONANDHAPPYHOUR

MadisonBallroom

6:30PM-???

KENCHEWCHINESEDINNER

(TicketsMUSTbepurchasedby5PM

onMonday)

THURSDAY,MARCH22,2018

8:00-8:50AM

PLENARYLECTURE:GaryWikfors(NOAA/NMFS,NortheastFisheriesScienceCenter)

CourtyardBallroom

Federal

Superior

Municipal

North

West

9:00-10:15AM

GEODUCKS

OsHV-1

SHELLFISHAND

CLIMATECHANGE

APPLICATIONSOF

CRUSTACEAN

BIOLOGYTO

FISHERIES

MANAGEMENT

ONEHEALTH

EPIGENOMICSAND

MICROBIOMES:

FROMSOILTO

PEOPLEWORKSHOP

10:15-10:45AM

MORNINGBREAK

10:45-12:00PM

GEODUCKS

OsHV-1

SHELLFISHAND

CLIMATECHANGE

APPLICATIONSOF

CRUSTACEAN

BIOLOGYTO

FISHERIES

MANAGEMENT

ONEHEALTH

EPIGENOMICSAND

MICROBIOMES:

FROMSOILTO

PEOPLEWORKSHOP

12:00-1:00PM

LUNCHBREAK

1:00-3:30PM

DOWNONTHEFARM

OsHV-1

SHELLFISHAND

CLIMATECHANGE

APPLICATIONSOF

CRUSTACEAN

BIOLOGYTO

FISHERIES

MANAGEMENT

ONEHEALTH

EPIGENOMICSAND

MICROBIOMES:

FROMSOILTO

PEOPLEWORKSHOP

3:30-6:30PM

CLOSINGHAPPYHOUR

MadisonBallroom

AllBREAKSareintheMADISONBALLROOMwiththePOSTERS.

InadditiontothescheduledPosterSessions,posterswillbeavailableforviewingintheMadisonBallroomfromMonday,9a.m.throughThursday

noon.

PLEASEREMOVE

YOURPOSTERSBYNOONONTHURSDAY

12 National Shellfisheries Association Seattle, Washington Abstracts 110thAnnual Meeting, March 18–22, 2018

CONTENTS

ORALPRESENTATIONSJohn Adams

RECOGNIZING HOW LNC VARIATIONS EXPOSE OLYMPIAOYSTER POPULATIONS TOTHERMAL RISK.................................................................................................................................................. 35

Nicolaus G. Adams, Stephanie K. Moore, John B. Mickett, Tina Mikulski, Gregory J. Doucette, James M. BirchUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLE PROCESSOR FOR NEAR-REAL TIME DETECTIONOF HARMFULALGAL SPECIES AND DOMOICACID IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST .......................... 35

M. Victoria Agnew, Abigail Scro, Roxanna SmolowitzUSE OFAQPCRASSAYTO DETECT THE TREMATODE, PROCTOECES MACULATUS, INWATER COLUMN SAMPLES ............................................................................................................................ 35

Acacia Alcivar-WarrenONE HEALTH EPIGENOMICSAND MICROBIOMES: FROM SOIL TO PEOPLEWORKSHOP ............... 36

Acacia Alcivar-WarrenSHRIMP EPIGENOME (SHRIMPENCODE) PROJECT SESSION .................................................................. 36

Acacia Alcivar-Warren, ShrimpENCODE collaboratorsBASIC RESEARCH NEEDED TO PRODUCE HEALTHY SHRIMP: A PUBLICLYAVAILABLE, FULLY-ASSEMBLED, REFERENCE GENOME FROM THE FIRST SPECIFIC PATHOGEN-FREE (SPF)DOMESTICATED STOCKS OF PENAEUS (LITOPENAEUS) VANNAMEI IN THE UNITED STATESIS A PRIORITY..................................................................................................................................................... 36

Acacia Alcivar-Warren, ShrimpENCODE collaboratorsSHRIMPENCODE (2017-2027): TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THE EPIGENETIC MECHANISMSAND TRANSGENERATIONAL INHERITANCEASSOCIATEDWITH EXPOSURE OF SPF SHRIMP,PENAEUS (LITOPENAEUS) VANNAMEI, TO ACUTE HEPATOPANCREATIC NECROSIS DISEASE(AHPND)-CAUSING VIBRIO SPP. AND MICROBIAL TRANSGENE INSECTICIDE, BACILLUSTHURINGIENSIS.................................................................................................................................................. 37

Acacia Alcivar-Warren, ShrimpENCODE Project CollaboratorsSHRIMPENCODE (2017-2027): TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS OF THE ORIGINAL SPECIFICPATHOGEN-FREE (SPF) SHRIMP, PENAEUS (LITOPENAEUS) VANNAMEI,DOMESTICATED IN THE UNITED STATES – REVIEW OF HORIZONTAL TRANSFER OFTRANSPOSONS (HTT) ASSOCIATEDWITH SHRIMP DISEASES............................................................... 37

Acacia Alcivar-Warren, Weidong Bao, Daniela EspinozaTHE NONLTR-1_LVA NON-LTR RETROTRANSPON OF SPECIFIC PATHOGEN-FREE (SPF) SHRIMP, LI-TOPENAEUS VANNAMEI, FROM THE UNITED STATES IS HOMOLOGOUS TO THE NLRS NON-LTR RETROTRANSPOSONASSOCIATEDWITHABDOMINAL SEGMENT DEFORMITY DISEASE(ASDD) OF CULTIVATED SHRIMP FROM THAILAND................................................................................. 38

Acacia Alcivar-Warren, Bruno Gomez-Gil, Sonia Soto-Rodriguez, Zhenkang Xu, Daniela EspinozaTRANSPOSASE DDE DOMAINSAND N-6 DNAMETHYLASE FAMILY PROTEINSAS POTENTIALEPIGENETIC MARKS OF PATHOGENIC VIBRIO SPP. FROMASIA (CHINA, VIETNAM, THAILAND)AND LATINAMERICA (MEXICO, ECUADOR) THAT CAUSEACUTE HEPATOPANCREATICNECROSIS DISEASE (AHPND) IN SHRIMP.................................................................................................... 38

Diego Alejandro-Tigrero, Karina Alejandro-Rosales, Kelvin Molina-Vasquez, Daniela Espinoza,Ana Lucia Matute, Ryan Hutchins, Allison Berardi, Sruthi Tanikella, Martha Reyes, Ayron Zambrano,Cristhian Argandoña, Miriam Alcivar-Arteaga, Chika Ikeogu, E.T. Asogwa, S.M. Obodoefuna,Chinnaiah Amutha, Karol Alarcon, Sara Zambrano-Basurto, Acacia Alcivar-Warren

CHILDRENENCODE (2017-2027): REVIEW OF EPIGENETIC MECHANISMSASSOCIATEDWITHENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS (GLYPHOSATE, METALS, BISPHENOLA) ANDMICROBIAL TRANSGENE BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS IN SHELLFISHAND PEOPLE FROMESTUARIES: A CASE STUDYOF METALSASSOCIATEDWITH MICROCEPHALYAND OTHERCONGENITALMALFORMATIONS IN CHILDREN FROM THE SANTA ELENA PENINSULAOF ECUADOR ..................................................................................................................................................... 39

Standish K. Allen, Jr., J.M. Small, Peter D. KubeFAMILY-BASED GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR TETRAPLOID CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICAANDBREEDING IMPLICATIONS.............................................................................................................................. 39

National Shellfisheries Association Seattle, Washington Abstracts 110thAnnual Meeting, March 18–22, 2018 13

Lindsay Alma, Courtney Fiamengo, Simone Alin, Molly Jackson, Jacqueline Padilla-GaminoVARIABLE SPATIALAND TEMPORAL OCEAN CONDITIONS IMPACT PHYSIOLOGICALPERFORMANCE OF BIVALVES IN PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON, USA............................................... 40

Joel Anderson, Zachary Olsen, Tom Wagner, Carey Gelpi, Darin ToppingENVIRONMENTAL DRIVERS OF THE SPATIALAND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF SPAWNINGBLUE CRABS, CALLINECTES SAPIDUS, IN THEWESTERN GULF OF MEXICO..................................... 40

Elizabeth AndrewsSHELLFISH LEASINGAND PERMITTING: CASE STUDIES FOR OVERCOMING COMMON LEGALBARRIERS ........................................................................................................................................................... 40

E. Alberto Aragón-Noriega, Rolando Cruz-Vásquez, Sergio G. Castillo-Vargasmachuca,Guillermo Rodríguez-Domínguez, Edgar Alcántara-Razo, Jesús T. Ponce-Palafox, J. Armando López-Sánchez

COMPARISON OF GROWTH CURVES OF THE GEODUCK, PANOPEA GLOBOSA, FROM FOURFISHING ZONES IN NORTHWESTERN MEXICO.......................................................................................... 41

Isabelle Arzul, Coralie Lupo, Marc Engelsma, Céline GarciaDO PARASITES OF THE GENUS MIKROCYTOS PRESENTARISK FOR THE PRODUCTION OFSHELLFISH IN EUROPE? .................................................................................................................................. 41

Isabelle Arzul, Jean Prou, Estelle Delangle, Paola Venier, Deborah Cheslett, Dolors Furones, Rebeca Moreira,Romina Ventura, Antonio Figueras, Steve Feist, Coralie Lupo

SHELLFISH INDUSTRY IN EU: AN EXERCISE OF STAKEHOLDERS MAPPING..................................... 41Dan L. Ayres, Clayton E. Parson

RAZOR CLAM (SILIQUA PATULA) SEASON SETTING INWASHINGTON STATE .................................. 42Weidong Bao, Acacia Alcivar-Warren, Robert Bogden, Quanzhou Tao, Suresh Iyer, Galina Mikhaylenko,Jon Wittendorp, Amy Mraz, Evan Hart, Emily Hatas, Steven Kujawa, Joan Wilson, Karl Voss

WHITE SPOT SYNDROME VIRUS-LIKE ELEMENT, DNAV-1_LVA, IN ORIGINAL SPECIFICPATHOGEN-FREE (SPF) SHRIMP, LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI, DOMESTICATED IN THEUNITED STATES ................................................................................................................................................. 42

Julie S. Barber, Sarah K. Grossman, Jeffery R. Cordell, James T. McArdle, Lindy L. Hunter, Courtney M. GreinerQUANTIFYING PARAMETERS OF ECOLOGICAL CHANGE BEFOREANDAFTER OLYMPIAOYSTER RESTORATION ................................................................................................................................... 43

Julie S. Barber, Casey P. Ruff, James T. McArdle, Lindy L. Hunter, Camille Speck, Douglas Rogers,Courtney M. Greiner

SPATIALAND TEMPORAL POPULATION VARIABILITY IN INTERTIDAL CLAMS................................ 43Tim P. Bean, Alejandro Gutierrez, Chantelle Hooper, Craig A. Stenton, Matthew B. Sanders, Richard K. Paley,Karim Gharbi, Ross D. Houston

OSTREID HERPES VIRUS IN THE UK: DISEASE CHALLENGES, SNP-ARRAYDEVELOPMENT,ANDAGENOME-WIDEASSOCIATION STUDY FOR HOST RESISTANCE IN PACIFIC OYSTERS(CRASSOSTREA GIGAS)...................................................................................................................................... 44

Tal Ben-Horin, Corinne Audemard, Dave Bushek, Lisa Calvo, Kimberly S. ReeceTHE EFFECTS OFAERIAL EXPOSUREAT LOW TIDE ON VIBRIO CONCENTRATIONS INHARVESTED OYSTERS CULTURED IN THE INTERTIDAL ........................................................................ 44

Peter G. BeningerCENTERING ON FUNCTIONALANATOMYUNLOCKS NEAT STUFF FROM THE MOLECULAR TOTHE ECOLOGICAL LEVELS............................................................................................................................. 44

Peter G. BeningerCONTEMPORARYOBSTACLES TO CREDIBILITY IN SCIENCE................................................................ 45

Theresa M. Bert, Charles Crawford, Colin SheaYOUNG-OF-THE-YEAR STONE CRAB (MENIPPE) RECRUITMENT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO OFFFLORIDA: KEY SHALLOW-WATER RECRUITMENT HOTSPOTS.............................................................. 45

Theresa M. Bert, Susan D. Gerhart, Charles CrawfordREPRODUCTION IN FEMALE STONE CRABS (GENUS MENIPPE) FROM TAMPABAY, FLORIDA,USA: INTERANNUAL, SEASONAL, AND TEMPERATURE-RELATED VARIATION................................ 45


Kiley Best, Arnault Le BrisLARGE-SCALE GREEN CRAB REMOVALAS SITE PREPARATION FOR EELGRASS RESTORATIONEFFORTS IN PLACENTIA BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA .................................................................. 46

Lydia M. Bienlien, Henry S. Lane, Ryan B. CarnegieREEXAMINING BONAMIA OSTREAE IN MAINE FLAT OYSTERS.............................................................. 46

Thomas Bliss, Dominic Guadagnoli, Jill Andrews, Mark RisseAN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF OYSTERAQUACULTURE (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA)IN GEORGIA........................................................................................................................................................ 46

Lianne Blodgett, Chris Langdon, Matt HawkyardEVALUATING LIPOSOMES FOR THE DELIVERY OF OXYTETRACYCLINE TO OYSTER LARVAE(CRASSOSTREA GIGAS) AND SUBSEQUENT EFFECTS ON RESISTANCE TOVIBRIO CORALLIILYTICUS ................................................................................................................................ 47

B.E. Bookelaar, S.C. Culloty, S.A. LynchTHE EFFECTS OF CRUDEAND REFINEDALGAL-DERIVEDANTIVIRAL BIOTHERAPEUTICSON OSTREID HERPESVIRUS DEVELOPMENTAND PACIFIC OYSTER (CRASSOSTREAGIGAS) PERFORMANCE ................................................................................................................................... 47

Louis W. BotsfordPOPULATION CYCLES IN CRAB FISHERIES ................................................................................................ 47

David W. Brew, Marsha C. BlackTEMPORAL EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO PHARMACEUTICALSAND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTSAND THEIR MIXTURE ON THE EASTERN OYSTER (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA) METABOLOME .... 48

Hannah O. Brown, Susan JacobsonCOLLABORATING FOR OYSTER SUSTAINABILITY: COMMUNICATIONSASSESSMENTANDNETWORKANALYSIS OF RESTORATION STAKEHOLDERS ON THE GULF COAST ........................... 48

Jeff Brunson, Michael Kendrick, Stephen Czwartacki, Peter Kingsley-SmithUNDERSTANDING BLUE CRAB, CALLINECTES SAPIDUS, PATTERNS OF MOVEMENTALONGASALINITY GRADIENTWITHIN THEASHLEY RIVER, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA ...... 48

Colleen A. Burge, Kimberly S. Reece, Natalie D. Rivlin, Bryanda T. Wippel, Arun K. Dar, Benjamin Morga,Lionel Dégremont, Nicole Faury, Peter D. Kirkland, Daniel Mancilla Cortez, D. Terry Sawyer, James D. Moore,Carolyn S. Friedman

HOPING FOR THE BEST, PREPARING FOR THEWORST: DETERMINING RESISTANCE OF OYSTERSPECIES TO EXPOSURE TO OSHV-1 AND OSHV-1ΜVARS IN THE UNITED STATES........................... 49

Dominique BureauGEODUCK STOCKASSESSMENT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA....................................................................... 49

Dominique Bureau, Joanne LessardCOMPARISON OF UNDERWATER PHOTOAND VIDEO SURVEYMETHODSWITH DIVEROBSERVATIONS TOASSESS NEARSHOREALGAEAND BENTHIC MARINEINVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES .................................................................................................................... 50

Elizabeth M. Burmester, Michael J. McCann, Katie Mosher, Peter MalinowskiTHE BILLION OYSTER PROJECT: CHALLENGES, LESSONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES IN RESTORINGOYSTERS TOAN URBANIZED ENVIRONMENT.......................................................................................... 50

Rick Burris, Traci FloydENCOURAGING DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN CONSERVATION THROUGH COOPERATIONWITHTHE MISSISSIPPI BLUE CRAB FISHERY ....................................................................................................... 50

Andrea Burton, Eli Meyer, Evan Durland, Chris LangondIMPACTS OF OCEANACIDIFICATION ON THE SETTLEMENT OF CRASSOSTREA GIGAS .................. 51

David Bushek, Lisa Calvo, Lucas Marxen, Ryan Carnegie, Robert Rheault, Lori GustafsonINTERACTIVE TALK: BUILDINGA SHELLFISH HEALTH DATABASE TO FACILITATESHELLFISH TRANSFERS .................................................................................................................................. 51

Laura Butler, Laura HoberechtIMPLEMENTING PHASE II OF THEWASHINGTON SHELLFISH INITIATIVE......................................... 51


Mark Butler, Gayathiri Gnanalingam, Andrew Kough, Claire ParisAN ECOLOGICAL FOUNDATION FOR THE RATIONALMANAGEMENT OF THE FISHERY FORCARIBBEAN SPINY LOBSTER (PANULIRUS ARGUS)................................................................................... 52

Justine Castrec, Philippe Soudant, Bruno Petton, Dominique Ratiskol, Jacqueline Le Grand, Nelly Le Goïc,Christophe Lambert, Myrina Boulais, Hélène Hégaret, Caroline Fabioux

STAGE-SPECIFIC DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE BIOACTIVE EXTRACELLULAR COMPOUNDSPRODUCED BY ALEXANDRIUM MINUTUM ON EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE OYSTERCRASSOSTREA GIGAS ........................................................................................................................................ 52

Edward J. Catapane, Margaret A. Carroll, Christina Florestan, Kelly GazcaTAURINE REDUCES THE TOXIC EFFECTS OF MANGANESE ON MITOCHONDRIALMEMBRANEPOTENTIAL......................................................................................................................................................... 52

David M. Charifson, Paul E. BourdeauPHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY IN SHELL CONSTRUCTIONAND REMODELING IN THE GASTROPOD,NUCELLA LAMELLOSA ...................................................................................................................................... 53

Daniel Cheney, Bobbi Hudson, Brett Dumbauld Jeff Cordell, Fiona Nash, Sharon KramerQUANTIFYING ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS IN MIXED OYSTER CULTUREAND SEAGRASS/MACROALGAL HABITATS............................................................................................................................... 53

Kurt Cheng, Danielle Kreeger, Angela Padeletti, Lance Butler, Roger ThomasGROWTH OF JUVENILE FRESHWATER MUSSELS (ANODONTA IMPLICATA) REARED IN PONDSWITHIN THE DELAWARE ESTUARY.............................................................................................................. 54

Young-Ghan Cho, Hye-Mi Lee, Kwang-Sik Choi, Hyun-Sil Kang, Chul-Won KimREPORT ON THE UNKOWN HAPLOSPORIDIAN PARASITE FROM THE GRAYMUSSEL,CRENOMYTILUS GRAYANUS, FROM GANGNEUNG ON THE EAST SEAOF KOREA.............................. 54

Antoinette Clemetson, Michael Ciaramella, Gregg RivaraFACILITATING BETTER DECISION-MAKING: IS SHELLFISHING RIGHT FOR YOU?........................... 54

Sarah M. Cole, Kelly M. Dorgan, William WaltonOYSTER INFESTATION: ABUNDANCE OF MUDBLISTERWORMS (POLYDORA WEBSTERI) INALABAMACOASTAL OYSTER FARMS ......................................................................................................... 55

Fernanda Cornejo-Granados, Alonso A. Lopez-Zavala, Luigui Gallardo-Becerra, Alfredo Mendoza-Vargas,Filiberto Sánchez, Rodrigo Vichido, Luis G. Brieba, Maria Teresa Viana, Rogerio R. Sotelo-Mundo,Adrián Ochoa-Leyva

DEFINING THE MICROBIOME OF THE PACIFIC WHITELEG SHRIMP (LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI)IN WILD, AQUACULTURED, ANDAHPND/EMS OUTBREAK CONDITIONS .......................................... 55

Simão Correia, Luísa Magalhães, Xavier de Montaudouin, Hocein Bazairi, Mériame Gam, Rosa FreitasLARGE-SCALE PATTERNS OF TREMATODE PARASITE COMMUNITIES INFECTINGCERASTODERMA EDULE FROM PORTUGAL TO MOROCCO..................................................................... 56

Fiz da Costa, René Robert, Claudie Quéré, Gary H. Wikfors, Philippe SoudantESSENTIAL FATTYACIDASSIMILATIONAND SYNTHESIS IN CRASSOSTREA GIGAS LARVAE ........ 56

Lyanne J.F. Curtis, Christopher M. Pearce, Vanessa R. Hodes, Thomas W. TherriaultASSESSING SHELLFISH TRANSFERSASAVECTOR FOR THE EUROPEAN GREEN CRAB(CARCINUS MAENAS) AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POWER-WASHING TOMITIGATE MOVEMENT.................................................................................................................................... 56

Carter Cyr, Reggie Markham, Charles A. Sims, Leslie N. SturmerAPPLICATION OF TRIPLOIDY TOAN EMERGENT OYSTER CULTURE INDUSTRY ON THEFLORIDAWEST COAST.................................................................................................................................... 57

Anthony F. D’Andrea, Elizabeth A. Perotti, Cinamon Moffett, Stacy StricklandSHELLFISH COMMUNITY PATTERNS IN THE NATIVEAND NON-NATIVE EELGRASS HABITATSOF NETARTS BAY, OREGON, USA .................................................................................................................. 57

Cecile Dang, Mike Snow, Terry Miller, Aaron IrvingINSIGHTS INTO MORTALITIES AFFECTING SILVER-LIPPED PEARL OYSTER PINCTADA MAXIMAIN THE KIMBERLEY SINCE 2006 .................................................................................................................... 58


Cecile Dang, Cheryl Jenkins, Terry Miller, Mike Snow, Charles Caraguel, Jeffrey Go, Daniel BogemaPERKINSUS OLSENI IN MOLLUSCS FROMWESTERNAUSTRALIA......................................................... 58

Benjamin J.K. Davis, John M. Jacob, Angelo DePaol, Frank C. CurrieroENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANTS OF VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY:CURRENTAND FUTUREWORK ..................................................................................................................... 58

Chris Davis, Joth Davis, Bill WaltonEXPLORINGAN INITIATIVE TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF SHELLFISH BIOLOGISTS ..... 59

Joth DavisDEVELOPMENT OFAQUACULTURE PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES FOR PURPLE-HINGEROCK SCALLOPS............................................................................................................................................... 59

Julie Decker, Paula CullenbergALASKAN MARICULTURE INTIATIVE—TANGIBLE INDICATIONS OF PROGRESS ASARESULT OFATHREE-YEAR COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS........................................................................ 59

Lizenn Delisle, Bruno Petton, Jean-François Burguin, Claudie Quéré, Elodie Fleury, Marianna Pauletto,Benjamin Morga, Sébastien Artigaud, Vianney Pichereau, Charlotte Corporeau, Fabrice Pernet

UNDERSTANDING THE PHYSIOLOGICALMECHANISMS UNDERLYING THE ENHANCEDSURVIVAL OF CRASSOSTREA GIGAS INFECTED BYTHE OSTREID HERPESVIRUS-1 ATHIGH TEMPERATURE ....................................................................................................................................... 60

Angelo DePaola, John C. Bowers, Ben Davis, Frank CurrieroNEXT GENERATION VIBRIO RISK TOOLS ................................................................................................... 60

Michael H. Doall, Rebecca E. Kulp, Bradley J. Peterson, Carl Lobue, Adam Starke, Andrew W. Griffith,Christopher J. Gobler

ARE SPAWNER SANCTUARIES AN EFFECTIVE RESTORATION STRATEGY FOR THE NORTHERNQUAHOG (=HARD CLAM) MERCENARIA MERCENARIA: A COMPARISON OF TWO RESTORATIONEFFORTS ON LONG ISLAND, NEWYORK .................................................................................................... 60

Walter DoerflerEPIGENETIC RE-PROGRAMMING UPON FOREIGN (VIRAL) DNA INVASION INTO CELLS............... 61

Brett R. DumbauldSOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR EVALUATING OYSTER-SEAGRASS INTERACTIONSAT BROADERSCALES IN US WEST COAST ESTUARIES .................................................................................................... 61

Evan Durland, Eli Meyer, Pierre De Wit, Chris LangdonSTAGE-SPECIFIC EFFECTS OF ELEVATED SEAWATER PCO2 ON THE GENETIC COMPOSITIONOF LARVAL PACIFIC OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA GIGAS)............................................................................. 62

Danielle EdelmanIDENTIFYING REGULATORY BARRIERS TO NATIVE OYSTER RESTORATION INWASHINGTON, USA........................................................................................................................................... 62

David B. EgglestonINTERACTING EFFECTS OF HUMANSAND NATURE: FLOODWATERS, FISHERMEN, ANDPOPULATION DECLINE OF THE BLUE CRAB.............................................................................................. 62

Mohamed Eid, Peter Amoako, Delilah Cummings, Maxine Jacobs, Margaret A. Carroll, Edward J. CatapaneIMMUNOHISTOFLUORESCENCE STUDYOF THEACTIONS OF MANGANESE ON THEPHOSPHOLIPASE CAND IP3 RECEPTOR MECHANISMS OF DOPAMINE D2-LIKE POST-SYNAPTIC RECEPTORS IN CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA ............................................................................... 63

Jose M. Eirin-Lopez, Victoria Suarez-UlloaUNIQUEAND COMMON PATTERNS IN THE STRESS RESPONSE OF THE PACIFIC OYSTER,CRASSOSTREA GIGAS ....................................................................................................................................... 63

Aubrey A. Ellertson, Anna Malek Mercer, David Spencer, Robert GlennSUPPORTING MANAGEMENT OF THE EMERGING JONAH CRAB FISHERYAND THE ICONICLOBSTER FISHERY IN THE NORTHEAST USA: A COLLABORATIVE FISHING VESSEL RESEARCHFLEETAPPROACH............................................................................................................................................. 63

Vincent EncomioOYSTER RESTORATION EFFORTS IN THE SOUTHERN INDIAN RIVER LAGOON, FLORIDA—INCORPORATING RESILIENCY TO FRESHWATER DISCHARGES ........................................................... 64


Daniela Espinoza, Acacia Alcivar-Warren, Jurgenne Primavera, Leobert De la Pena, Kathy Tang, Gladys Zuniga,Zhenkang Xu

POLYMORPHISMS IN RTE-3_LVA NON-LTR RETROTRANSPOSON OF SPF PENAEUS VANNAMEIFROM THE UNITED STATES: ITS ASSOCIATIONWITH THE PENAEUS MONODON ENDOGENOUSVIRUS IHHNV (INFECTIOUS HYPODERMALAND HEMATOPOIETIC NECROSIS VIRUS) FROMAFRICAANDAUSTRALIA................................................................................................................................ 64

Sal Essajee, Lewis E. DeatonLACTIC ACID IN THE TISSUES OF THEAPPLE SNAIL, POMACEA MACULATA ..................................... 65

John W. EwartSHELLFISHAQUACULTURE IN THE COASTAL (INLAND) BAYS OF DELAWARE 2018: STATUSAND OUTLOOK.................................................................................................................................................. 65

Bridget E. Ferriss, Tish Conway-Cranos, Beth L. Sanderson, Laura HoberechtSHELLFISHAQUACULTUREAND EELGRASS: AGLOBALMETA-ANALYSIS ...................................... 65

Elodie Fleury, Pierrick Barbier, Julien Normand, Stéphane Pouvreau, Bruno Petton, Gatean Daigle,Fabrice Pernet

SPATIO-TEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF PACIFC OYSTERS MORTALITY PATTERNSALONG THEFRENCH COAST: DISENTANGLING ORIGIN, AGING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ................. 66

Zach Forster, Charlotte BerryRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GROWTH CYCLE OF THE RAZOR CLAMAND THE SEASONALITYOF PHYTOPLANKTON BLOOMS ON THEWASHINGTON COAST ........................................................... 66

David Alan FyfeTRIBAL CO-MANAGEMENT OF THE SHELLFISH RESOURCES IN WASHINGTON STATE: ANEVOLVING PROCESS ........................................................................................................................................ 66

Eve Galimany, Gary H. Wikfors, Mark S. Dixon, Carter R. Newell, Shannon L. Meseck, Dawn Henning, Yaqin Li,Mark Tedesco, Lynn Dwyer, Julie M. Rose

A PILOT STUDYOF NUTRIENT BIOEXTRACTION USING RIBBED MUSSELSAT HUNTS POINT,NEWYORK CITY, FROM CONCEPTION TO CONCLUSION: PATHS, PROCESSES, PARTNERSHIPS,PERCEPTIONS, AND PROJECTIONS............................................................................................................... 67

Jennifer GardyDIGITAL PATHOGEN SURVEILLANCE: AONE HEALTHAPPROACH TO PREVENTING INFECTIOUSDISEASES IN HUMANSANDANIMALS ........................................................................................................ 67

Stephen P. Geiger, Jennifer Granneman, Brittany J. ScharfRECREATIONAL HARVEST OF BAY SCALLOPS IN FLORIDA .................................................................. 67

Tessa Getchis, Sylvain De Guise, Nancy Balcom, Anoushka ConcepcionLISTENING, LEARNING, AND LEADING TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLEAQUACULTUREDEVELOPMENT IN CONNECTICUT............................................................................................................... 68

Hillary Lane Glandon, K. Halimeda Kilbourne, Thomas J. MillerWINTER IS (NOT) COMING: CHANGES TO OVERWINTER BEHAVIOR OF BLUE CRAB INRESPONSE TOWARMING TEMPERATURES ................................................................................................ 68

Robert P. Glenn, Tracy L. PughFROM PILOT EFFORT TOAREGIONALMONITORING PROGRAM: THE COASTWIDE VENTLESSLOBSTER TRAP SURVEY.................................................................................................................................. 69979797Shawn D. Glover, Robert S. RoulstonALGAL ECONOMICS FOR SHELLFISH HATCHERIES................................................................................. 69

Gaya Gnanalingam, Mark J. Butler IV, Thomas R. Matthews, Emily Hutchinson, Raouf KiladaFINALLY, ATECHNIQUE TOAGE DECAPODS: PROGRESS WITH THE CARIBBEAN SPINYLOBSTER, PANULIRUS ARGUS, AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS.................................................... 69

Marta Gomez-Chiarri, Wesley C. Warren, Patrick Minx, Chad Tomlinson, Ximing Guo, Dina A. ProestouTHE EASTERN OYSTER GENOME: A RESOURCE FOR COMPARATIVE GENOMICS IN SHELLFISHAQUACULTURE SPECIES................................................................................................................................. 70

Bruno Gómez-Gil, Sonia Soto-RodríguezTHE PIRAB TOXIN-PRODUCING GENES OF VIBRIO SPP. HAVEA FUNCTION SIMILAR TO THEBACILLUS THURINGIENSIS CRY PROTEINS.................................................................................................. 70


Sergio Scarry González-Peláez, Mónica Nurenskaya Vélez-Arellano, J. Jesús Bautista-Romero,Liliana Carvalho-Saucedo, Daniel B. Lluch-Cota

THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE GEODUCKS, PANOPEA GENEROSAANDP. GLOBOSA ......................................................................................................................................................... 70

Emily W. Grason, P. Sean McDonald, Kate Litle, Jeff AdamsEUROPEAN GREEN CRAB IN THEWASHINGTON SALISH SEA: SAME STATE,DIFFERENT INVASION...................................................................................................................................... 71

Philip M. Gravinese, Ian C. Enochs, Derek P. Manzello, Robert van WoesikWARMINGAND PCO2 EFFECTS ON FLORIDA STONE CRAB LARVAE .................................................. 71

Matthew Gray, Philine zu Ermgassen, Jonathan Gair, Chris Langdon, Emily Lemagie, Jim LerczakSPATIALLY EXPLICIT ESTIMATES OF OLYMPIAOYSTER (OSTREA LURIDA) FILTRATIONSERVICES: AMODEL-BASEDAPPROACH FORAUGMENTING ECOSYSTEM SERVICESANDREDUCING RESOURCE USE DURING RESTORATION............................................................................... 71

Timothy Green, Nachshon Siboni, William King, Justin Seymour, David RaftosSIMULATED MARINE HEATWAVEALTERSABUNDANCEAND STRUCTURE OF VIBRIOPOPULATIONSASSOCIATEDWITH THE PACIFIC OYSTER RESULTING INAMASSMORTALITY EVENT.......................................................................................................................................... 72

Courtney M. Greiner, Terrie Klinger, Jennifer L. Ruesink, Micah HorwithHABITAT EFFECTS OF MACROPHYTESAND SHELL ON THE PERFORMANCE OF JUVENILECLAMSAND LOCAL PH CONDITIONS.......................................................................................................... 72

Edwin Grosholz, David Kimbro, Will WhiteUNDERSTANDING TOP-DOWN, BOTTOM-UP, AND SUPPLY SIDE INFLUENCES ON OLYMPIAOYSTER POPULATIONS FOR MORE SUCCESSFUL RESTORATION ....................................................... 73

Edwin Grosholz, Andrew Chang, Rikke Jeppesen, Linda McCann, Catherine de Rivera, Gregory Ruiz,Thomas Therriault, Kerstin Wasson, Sylvia Yamada

THE MORAN EFFECTAND REGIONAL SYNCHRONYOF EUROPEAN GREEN CRAB POPULATIONSALONG THE PACIFIC COAST .......................................................................................................................... 73

Eric Guévélou, Joseph L. Matt, Standish K. Allen, Jr.GLYCOGEN CONTENT IN DIPLOIDAND TRIPLOID CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA DURINGGAMETOGENESIS IN LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY, USA............................................................................ 73

Trey Guilbeaux, Lewis DeatonCARDIAC RESPONSES TO BIOGENICAMINES IN SELECTED MOLLUSCAN SPECIES....................... 74

Ximing GuoMOLECULARADAPTATIONS OF BIVALVE MOLLUSCS REVEALED BY GENOMICANALYSES ...... 74

Ximing GuoOBSERVATIONS ON TETRAPLOID EASTERN OYSTERS, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA, ANDIMPLICATIONS IN GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF TRIPLOIDS .................................................................. 74

Clara H. HardMANAGING VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS IN WASHINGTON .................................................................. 75

F. Joan Hardy, Ellen PreeceTRANSFER OF THE HARMFULALGAL TOXIN, MICROCYSTIN, FROM FRESHWATER TOMARINE ECOSYSTEMS .................................................................................................................................... 75

Matthew P. Hare, Yuka KutsumiAGENOMIC TEST FOR HYBRIDIZATION BETWEEN SELECTIVELY BRED EASTERN OYSTERAQUACULTURE STRAINSANDWILD NEWYORK POPULATIONS......................................................... 75

Courtney E. Hart, Ginny L. Eckert, Elizabeth D. Tobin, Kate Sullivan, Christopher D. Whitehead, Kari Lanphier,Esther Kennedy, Chelsea Wallace

EXAMININGWINTERTIME PARALYTIC SHELLFISH TOXICITY IN GEODUCKS INSOUTHEASTALASKA....................................................................................................................................... 76

Natsuki Hasegawa, Satoshi Watanabe, Junya Higano, Yasushi Tsuchihashi, Isami KuriyamaANEW COLLECTION METHOD FORWILD PACIFIC OYSTER SPAT IN THE INTERTIDAL ZONEFOR COMPLEMENTING SPAT SUPPLY IN JAPAN........................................................................................ 76


Dennis Hedgecock, Xiaoshen Yin, Tevfik Hamdi Kitapci, Alberto Arias PerezGENETIC MAPSANDASSEMBLY OF THE PACIFIC OYSTER GENOME ................................................. 77

Eric Henry, Tim ReedWHATWE STILL DO NOT KNOWABOUT FEEDING BIVALVESANDWHATWE NEED TO DO ......... 77

Iris J.C. Hernandez, Mayra Galindo, Daniela EspinozaTHE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH CARBON STOCKS OF MANGROVESAND THEIR POTENTIAL FORTHE GLOBALMARKET OF CARBON—AREVIEW OF CO2 LEVELS IN THREE GEOGRAPHICREGIONS OF ECUADOR ................................................................................................................................... 77

Amelia V. Hesketh, Eleanor Simpson, Debby Ianson, Karen Kohfeld, Christopher D.G. HarleyTHE PACIFIC OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA GIGAS, DEMONSTRATES SENSITIVITY TO TEMPERATUREAND RESILIENCE TO PH CHANGE DURING SUMMER GROWTH........................................................... 78

José Angel Hidalgo-de-la-Toba, Sergio Scarry González-Peláez, Enrique Morales-Bojorquez,J. Jesús Bautista-Romero, Daniel Bernardo Lluch-Cota

INDIVIDUAL GROWTH PROFILES ASANALTERNATIVE TO THE TERMINAL SIZE-AT-AGEMETHOD IN PANOPEA GENEROSA STUDIES................................................................................................ 78

Megan Hintz, Bonnie Becker, Henry Carson, Brian Rusk, Marco Hatch, Brian Allen, Brent Vadopalas,Steven Roberts

TRACE ELEMENTAL FINGERPRINTS: AN ECOLOGICAL DETECTIVE’S TOOL TO TRACKOLYMPIAOYSTERS (OSTREA LURIDA) ......................................................................................................... 78

Laura Hoberecht, Beth L. Sanderson, Bridget E. FerrissMANAGING EELGRASSAND SHELLFISHAQUACULTURE INWASHINGTON: AWORKSHOP TOEXAMINE CHALLENGESAND INCONSISTENCIES.................................................................................... 79

Melissa Hoffman, Kathy Castro, Grace Underwood, Hilary Ranson, Mitch Hatzipetro, Barbara Somers,David Rowley, David R. Nelson, Marta Gomez-Chiarri

ISOLATIONAND TESTING OF PROBIOTICS ASA POTENTIAL TOOL FOR THE MANAGEMENT OFEPIZOOTIC SHELL DISEASE IN THEAMERICAN LOBSTER, HOMARUS AMERICANUS ...................... 79

Hyun-Ki Hong, Hee-Jung Lee, Hee-Do Jeung, Heung-Sik Park, Kwang-Sik ChoiGROWTHAND REPRODUCTIVE CONDITION OF PACIFIC OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA GIGAS)RAISED INAN INTERTIDAL RACK-SUSPENDED CULTURE SYSTEM IN TAEAN OFF THEWESTCOAST OF KOREA, THREE YEARSAFTER THE HEBEI SPIRIT OIL SPILL............................................. 80

Masakazu Hori, Franck Lagarde, Valérie Derolez, Marion Richard, Masami Hamaguchi, Juri Hori,Mitsutaku Makino

COASTALMANAGEMENT USING OYSTER-SEAGRASS INTERACTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLEAQUACULTURE, FISHERIES AND ENVIRONMENT.................................................................................... 80

Katherine M. Hornick, Louis V. PloughMONITORING THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF HATCHERY-PRODUCED COHORTSANDSUPPLEMENTED REEFS OF THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA ................................ 80

Micah Horwith, Alex LoweOYSTERS SHOW ENHANCED GROWTH IN EELGRASS: DOES PH EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE?.... 81

Lauren I. Huey, Ryan B. CarnegieARE OYSTERS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY PRIORITIZING THEIR OFFSPRING OVERTHEIR HEALTH?................................................................................................................................................. 81

Matthew HunterTHE OREGON PACIFIC RAZOR CLAM RESOURCE: HISTORICAND CURRENT MANAGEMENT ..... 81

Carl Huntsberger, Richard Wahle, Yong Chen, Raouf KiladaCOMPARING INDEPENDENTAPPROACHES TO ESTIMATEAGE OF THE JONAH CRAB (CANCERBOREALIS): CORROBORATING GASTRIC MILL BAND COUNTSASADIRECTAGING METHOD..... 82

Ryan Hutchins, Sruthi Tanikella, Allison Berardi, Martha Reyes, Caroline Warren, Jennifer Warren, Mulan Yang,Ayrton Zambrano, Sara Zambrano-Basurto, Acacia Alcivar-Warren

SHRIMP SCAMPI: A CITIZEN’S SCIENCE PROJECT TO EXAMINE THE LEVELS OF GLYPHOSATEAND OTHER ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS (METALS, BISPHENOLA) IN FROZENSHRIMP SOLDAT SUPERMARKETS IN THE UNITED STATES.................................................................. 82


Susan Inglis, Jennifer Koop, Árni Kristmundsson, Mark A. Freeman, Daniel GeorgiannaTHE MISSING LINK: TRANSMISSION OFAPICOMPLEXAN INFECTION IN GRAYMEATATLANTIC SEA SCALLOPS .............................................................................................................................. 83

Robert E. Isdell, Donna M. Bilkovic, Carlton HershnerSPATIALLY EXPLICIT ESTIMATES OF THE IMPACTS OF SEA LEVEL RISE AND EROSION ONRIBBED MUSSEL (GEUKENSIA DEMISSA) MEDIATED ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS ............................... 83

John Jacobs, Rohinee Paranjpye, Clara Hard, Bob DanielsUSING NOAAOBSERVATIONALAND MODELING TOOLS TOADDRESS VIBRIO RISK....................... 83

Jessica A. JenkinsUSINGARCHAEOLOGICAL OYSTER SHELL TO INFERANCIENT MARICULTURE............................. 84

Alexcia Johnson, Krystle Ernest, Margaret A. Carroll, Edward J. CatapaneAROLE FOR PROTEIN KINASE C IN GILL LATERAL CELLACTIVITY OFCRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA................................................................................................................................. 84

Stephen H. Jones, Cheryl A. Whistler, Meghan Hartwick, Michael Taylor, Ashley L. Marcinkiewicz,Randi Foxall, W. Christopher Nash

ECOSYSTEMAND GENOMIC RESEARCH IN SUPPORT OF VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS RISKMANAGEMENT: WHATARE THE CRITICAL THEMES? ............................................................................. 84

Asa Julien, Andrew Tweel, Nancy Hadley, Dan McGlinn, Peter Kingsley-SmithHABITAT CHARACERIZATION OF THE RIBBED MUSSEL (GEUKENSIA DEMISSA) AND ITSRESPONSE TO HARVEST IN SOUTH CAROLINA, USA............................................................................... 85

Andy Kane, Ross Brooks, Felipe Sanchez, Shelby Thomas, Karl Havens, Jim Estes, Melanie ParkerVISUAL KEYS SUPPORT OYSTER HEALTH MONITORINGAS PART OF OYSTER REEFRESTORATION EFFORTS.................................................................................................................................. 85

Miku Kawahara, Makoto Kanamori, Tomoyoshi Yoshinaga, Naoki ItohISOLATIONAND CHARACTERIZATION OF FRANCISELLA HALIOTICIDA FROMABSCESS LESIONSIN THEADDUCTOR MUSCLE OF THE YESSO SCALLOP, PATINOPECTEN YESSOENSIS ...................... 86

Michael R. Kendrick, Marc E. Frischer, Jeff Brunson, Elizabeth Gooding, James E. Byers, Pat Geer,Peter R. Kingsley-Smith

THE ROLE OF CLIMATE IN DRIVING DISEASE DYNAMICS IN THE COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANTWHITE SHRIMP, LITOPENAEUS SETIFERUS ................................................................................................. 86

Esther Kennedy, Kari Lanphier, Christopher WhiteheadCOMMUNITY-BASED MITIGATION OF HARMFULALGAL BLOOMSAND SHELLFISH POISONINGSIN SOUTHEASTALASKA ................................................................................................................................. 86

Carol M. Kerkvliet, Michael D. Booz, Timothy J. Blackmon, Patricia A. HansenMONITORING THE RECOVERY OF EAST SIDE COOK INLET RAZOR CLAMS ..................................... 87

Bushra Khan, Adeyemi Adeleye, Stephen Russo, Robert M. Burgess, Kay T. HoA 72-HOUR GRAPHENE OXIDE NANOPARTICLE EXPOSURE STUDYWITH EASTERN OYSTERS... 87

Teri King, Lyndsey Claassen, Jerry Borchert, Vera Trainer, SoundToxins PartnershipSOUNDTOXINS: A PUGET SOUND HAB MONITORING PARTNERSHIP.................................................. 87

William L. King, Cheryl Jenkins, Jeffrey Go, Nachshon Siboni, Justin R. Seymour, Maurizio LabbateCHARACTERISATION OF THE PACIFIC OYSTER MICROBIOME DURINGA SUMMERMORTALITY EVENT.......................................................................................................................................... 88

Peter Kingsley-Smith, Michael Hodges, Benjamin Stone, Gary Sundin, Sharleen Johnson, Andrew Tweel,Denise Sanger

QUANTIFYING OYSTER REEF DEVELOPMENTAL TRAJECTORIES FROM 16 YEARS OF LIVINGSHORELINES RESEARCH IN SOUTH CAROLINA, USA.............................................................................. 88

Sarah E. Kingston, Pieter Martino, Marko Melendy, Floyd A. Reed, David B. CarlonLINKING GENOTYPE TO PHENOTYPE INACHANGING OCEAN: INFERRING THE GENOMICARCHITECTURE OFABLUE MUSSEL STRESS RESPONSE....................................................................... 88

Peter D. Kirkland, S. Gestier, X. GuEXPERIENCES WITH OSTREID HERPESVIRUS 1 (OSHV-1) IN AUSTRALIA—IMPACTSANDPOSSIBLE SOLUTIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 89


Tevfik Hamdi Kitapci, Colleen Burge, Collin Closek, Carolyn Friedman, Dennis HedgecockMAPPING GENES CONFERRING RESISTANCE TO OSHV-1 IN THE PACIFIC OYSTER ........................ 89

Bruce KoikeTHE JAPANESEART OF GYOTAKU, THE INTERSECTING OF SCIENCEANDART ................................ 90

Yoshiki Komatsu, Tomoyoshi Yoshinaga, Naoki ItohEXPERIMENTAL INFECTION TOASSESS PATHOGENICITY OF PERKINSUS BEIHAIENSISAGAINSTDOMESTIC BIVALVE SPECIES IN JAPAN...................................................................................................... 90

Danielle Kreeger, Josh Moody, Kurt ChengSESTON FILTRATIONAND RESTORATION POTENTIAL OF RIBBED MUSSELS COMPAREDWITHOTHER NATIVE BIVALVES .............................................................................................................................. 90

Gordon H. Kruse, April Rebert, Jonathan I. Richar, Laura M. Slater, Joel B. WebbREPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY INFORMS FISHERYMANAGEMENT OF SNOW (CHIONOECETESOPILIO) AND TANNER CRABS (C. BAIRDI) IN THE EASTERN BERING SEA, ALASKA........................ 90

Peter D. Kube, Michael C. Dove, Matthew CunninghamGENETIC VARIATION IN PACIFIC OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA GIGAS) FOR RESISTANCE TOOSTREID HERPESVIRUS-1................................................................................................................................. 91

Lillian KuehlRADULAR DEVELOPMENTAND LACK OF RADULAR PLASTICITY IN PINTOABALONE(HALIOTIS KAMTSCHATKANA) POSTLARVAEANDYOUNG JUVENILES................................................ 91

Kelsey M. Kuykendall, Eric N. Powell, Roger Mann, M. Chase Long, Jeremy TimbsTHE ‘EAST OF NANTUCKET’ SURVEY: SURFCLAMS ON THE MARCH OFFSHORE—MUSSELS BEWARE ........................................................................................................................................... 92

Maxime Lafont, Priscila Goncalves, Ximing Guo, Caroline Montagnani, David Raftos, Timothy GreenMULTI-GENERATIONAL PLASTICITYANDANTIVIRAL IMMUNITY IN THE OYSTERAGAINST OSHV-1............................................................................................................................................... 92

Maxime Lafont, Bruno Petton, Agnès Vergnes, Jérémie Vidal-Dupiol, Julien deLorgeril, Yannick Gueguen,Jean-Baptiste Lamy, Tristan Renault, Antoine Bietry, Nicole Faury, Steve Webb, Jean-François Pepin,Benjamin Morga

UNSUSPECTED OSHV-1 GENOMIC DIVERSITYAT INTER- AND INTRA-HOST LEVEL....................... 92David Lappin, William Walton, Scott Rikard, Jason Herrmann

SPAT ON SHELLASAMEANS FOR STOCK ENHANCEMENT OF PUBLIC REEFS INALABAMA,AND THE STANDARDIZATION OF SETTING EFFICIENCYASSESSMENT ............................................. 93

Dung Viet Le, Andrea C. Alfaro, Tim Young, Nick King, Norman L.C. Ragg, Zoë HiltonCULTIVATION OF THE NEW ZEALAND GEODUCK, PANOPEA ZELANDICA .......................................... 93

Dale Leavitt, Robert Rheault, Heather KinneyDEVELOPINGARESEARCH PROGRAM TOADDRESS SHELLFISH GROWERS’NEEDS:NINIGRET POND - A CASE STUDY................................................................................................................. 93

Andrea Lee, Lewis E. DeatonLUNG VOLUME IN THEAPPLE SNAIL, POMACEA MACULATA ................................................................ 94

Hye-Mi Lee, Hyun-Sil Kang, Young-Ghan Cho, Hyun-Ki Hong, Hee-Jung Lee, Kwang-Sik ChoiHIGH MORTALITY, RETARDED REPRODUCTION, AND POOR GROWTH OF THE MANILACLAM,RUDITAPES PHILIPPINARUM, CAUSED BY HIGH LEVELS OF THE PARAMYXEAN PARASITE,MARTEILIA GRANULA, INFECTION OBSERVED ON THE SOUTH COAST OF KOREA .......................... 94

Sara M. Lindsay, Hanna Deon, Samantha Holmes, Emily Miller, Samantha Silverbrand, Paul D. RawsonSURVEYING BENTHIC INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATEDWITH OYSTERAQUACULTURE SITES IN MAINE .................................................................................................................. 94

Kristin Linesch, Louis Burnett, Karen Burnett, Rachel Kalisperis, Amy FowlerPHYSIOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF THE BIOMEDICAL BLEEDING PROCESS ON THEATLANTICHORSESHOE CRAB, LIMULUS POLYPHEMUS, IN SOUTH CAROLINA, USA.......................................... 95

Romuald N. Lipcius, Emily CheiFOODWEB OF THE EASTERN OYSTERAND BLUE CRAB: SCAVENGERS, FACILITATION,COMPETITION, AND KLEPTOPARASITISM.................................................................................................. 95


Naoko Little-Jackson, Dametria Faltz, Anna V. IvaninaCOMPARTMENTALIZATION OF HEMOCYTE FUNCTIONS IN CONGENERS OF TWO OYSTERS ...... 95

Chengchu Liu, Angela DePaolaMITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS IN OYSTER SHELLSTOCKINTENDED FOR RAW CONSUMPTION .......................................................................................................... 96

Michael W. Lomas, Julie Sexton, Mike Preston, Mark Hurd, Joan Blanchette, Rimar ReedTHE FUTURE OF THE PROVASOLI-GUILLARD NATIONAL CENTER FOR MARINEALGAEANDMICROBIOTA...................................................................................................................................................... 96

Matthew C. Long, Roger Mann, David Rudders, Sally Roman, Toni Chute, Kelly Cronin, Sally WalkerGROWTH RATE MEASUREMENTS IN SCALLOPS: REVISITING MERRILLAFTER 50 YEARS ONTHE LIBRARY SHELF........................................................................................................................................ 96

Lorraine Loomis, Julie S. Barber, Courtney M. Greiner, Sarah K. GrossmanTHE SWINOMISH SHELLFISH PROGRAM: MANAGEMENT, RESEARCH, ANDRESTORATION EFFORTS.................................................................................................................................. 97

Víctor López, Adrian Munguía, Pedro CruzPOPULATION GENOMICS OF PANOPEA GLOBOSA BASED ONANALYSIS OF SINGLE NUCLEOTIDEPOLYMORPHISM OBTAINED BY DDRAD..................................................................................................... 97

David C. Love, Robert M. Lane, Kate Clancy, Benjamin J.K. Davis, Jillian P. Fry, Jamie Harding, Bobbi HudsonCOLD CHAINS FOR FARMED OYSTERS PRODUCED IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAYAND MODELEDVIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS GROWTH........................................................................................................ 97

Alexander T. Lowe, Micah HorwithOYSTERS SHOW ENHANCED GROWTH IN EELGRASS: DOES DIET EXPLAINTHE DIFFERENCE? ............................................................................................................................................ 98

Sarah Lummis, Kristy Kroeker, Sarah Newkirk, Kirk Klausmeyer, Serena Lomonico, Robert Jones, John Finger,Terry Sawyer

MONITORING EELGRASS RESPONSES TOAQUACULTUREACTIVITIES AND DEVELOPMENT OFIMPROVED MONITORING TOOLS.................................................................................................................. 98

Samantha G. Lynch, Joseph CaracappaBAY SCALLOP LARVAL SWIMMING BEHAVIOR IN RESPONSE TO TEMPERATURE, SALINITY,AND LIGHT ......................................................................................................................................................... 98

Sharon A. Lynch, Erin Molloy, Ciara Mcdonald, Kathryn Cox, Sarah C. CullotyALIFE IN FLUX: EFFECTS OF FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURES, AIR EXPOSURE, SALINITY,SUSPENDENDED PARTICULATE MATTER (SPM), AND TURBIDITY ON OSTREID HERPES VIRUS-1MICROVAR EXPOSED CRASSOSTREA GIGAS (VIVALDI PROJECT).......................................................... 99

Sharon A. Lynch, Sara Lepée Rivero, Richard Kelly, Emma Quinn, Aoife Coughlan, Sarah C. CullotyUNDER THE RADAR: EMERGING HAPLOSPORIDIA SPP. IN WILD COMMON COCKLE,CERASTODERMA EDULE, AND MUSSELS, MYTILUS SPP., AT PACIFIC OYSTER, CRASSOSTREAGIGAS, CULTURE SITES.................................................................................................................................... 99

David Madison, Chris Langdon, Claudia Hase, Gary Richards, Michael Watson, Nitzan Soffer, Manrong Li,Alexander Sulakvelidze

BACTERIOPHAGES SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE LARVAL OYSTER MORTALITY CAUSED BYVIBRIO CORALLIILYTICUS ............................................................................................................................... 100

Luísa Magalhães, Xavier de Montaudouin, Etelvina Figueira, Rosa FreitasAN INTERTIDAL HOST-PARASITE SYSTEM: PREDICTING SOME OF THE EFFECTS OFCLIMATE CHANGE............................................................................................................................................ 100

Donal T. ManahanPREDICTINGADAPTIVE RESPONSES TO OCEAN CHANGE: IMPLICATIONSFORAQUACULTURE......................................................................................................................................... 100

Roger Mann, Eric N. Powell, Daphne M. MunroeTHE CASE OF THE “MISSING” ARCTIC BIVALVESAND THEWALRUS, THE BIGGEST [IGNORED]CLAM FISHERY ON THE PLANET .................................................................................................................. 101


Roger Mann, Melissa Southworth, James E. Wesson, Mitch Tarnowski, John ThomasOYSTER SHELL BUDGETS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY: A SUMMARY FROM LONG-TERMSURVEY DATA.................................................................................................................................................... 101

Abhijit Manna, Chinnaiah AmuthaLACCASE-SILICANANOPARTICLE CONJUGATES CAN EFFICIENTLY REDUCE THE EARLYMATURATION RISK DUE TO BISPHENOLA (BPA) IN FEMALE OREOCHROMIS MOSSAMBICUSAND ITS TOXIC LOAD FROM THE CONTAMINATED EFFLUENT............................................................ 101

Julieta C. Martinelli, Jaqueline L. Padilla-GamiñoCONSERVATION PALEOBIOLOGYASATOOL TO SUPPORT OLYMPIAOYSTER RESTORATION ..... 102

Julieta C. Martinelli, Jaqueline L. Padilla-GamiñoDETERMINING PRESENCE OF MICROPLASTICS IN SHELLFISH FROM PUGET SOUND,WASHINGTON, USA........................................................................................................................................... 102

Ava A. Mastrostefano, Abigail Scro, Kiserian Jackson, Roxanna SmolowitzDEVELOPMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC PCRASSAYTO DETECTAPICOMPLEXAN PARASITE INATLANTIC SEA SCALLOPS (PLACEOPECTEN MAGELLANICUS) WITH GRAYMEAT DISEASE ......... 102

Joseph L. Matt, Standish K. Allen, Jr.QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR MEASURING MITOTIC, MEIOTIC, AND DIFFERENTIATIONACTIVITYWITHIN GAMETOGENESIS OF TRIPLOID CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA ................................. 103

Joseph L. Matt, Eric Guévélou, Standish K. Allen, Jr.OBSERVATIONS OF GAMETOGENESIS IN CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA ASSOCIATEDWITH TRIP-LOID-SPECIFIC SPRING MORTALITIES ON COMMERCIAL FARMS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...... 103

Jason McDermottART, SCIENCE, AND HUMOR: THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION....................... 103

P. Sean McDonald, Kirstin K. Holsman, David A. ArmstrongCOMPARING PREDATION IMPACTS OF NATIVEAND INVASIVE CRABS USINGABIOENERGETICS APPROACH ........................................................................................................................ 104

P. Sean McDonald, Kirstin K. Holsman, Grace Workman, David A. ArmstrongTEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON THE BIOENERGETICS OF DUNGENESSAND GRACEFUL CRABS,WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................ 104

P. Sean McDonald, Jonathan Reum, Kirstin K. Holsman, William Christopher Long, David A. Armstrong,Janet Armstrong, Matt Sedlacek

MENTALMODELINGAND PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE TO INVESTIGATE PRIBILOF ISLANDBLUE KING CRAB ............................................................................................................................................. 104

Katherine McFarland, Louis Plough, Michelle Nguyen, Matthew HareTESTING FITNESS CONSEQUENCES OF DOMESTICATION SELECTIONAT THE LARVAL STAGE INEASTERN OYSTERS .......................................................................................................................................... 105

Katherine A. McGraw, Brett R. DumbauldBIVALVE—SEAGRASS INTERACTIONS: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SESSION................................. 105

Katherine A. McGraw, Betsy PeabodyOLYMPIAOYSTERS—PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE ............................................................................... 105

Brooke A. McIntyre, Erika McPhee-Shaw, Marco Hatch, Shawn M. ArellanoFACTORS THATAFFECT THE VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF OLYMPIAOYSTER LARVAE INFIDALGO BAY, WASHINGTON, USA............................................................................................................... 106

Stacey L. McIntyre, Joshua P. Der, Danielle C. Zacherl, Ryan P. WalterCOMPARING NATIVEAND NON-NATIVE ESTUARINE SPECIES: DO MORE TOLERANT SPECIESHARBOR MORE GENES TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE STRESS? ....................................................... 106

Rachel C. McTavishFRESHWATER MUSSEL SHELLFISHINGAS EVIDENCE OF CULTURAL CONTINUITYANDDIVERGENCE DURING THE LATE PREHISTORIC IN WISCONSIN .......................................................... 106

Marlene Meaders, Paul SchlengerASSESSMENT OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SALMON HABITAT RESTORATIONACTIONSANDSHELLFISH RESOURCES.................................................................................................................................. 107


Marlene Meaders, Phil Bloch, Chris CzieslaCOMPARATIVE HABITAT USE OF ESTUARINE HABITATS WITHANDWITHOUT OYSTERAQUACULTURE: CHALLENGES, PARTNERSHIPS, AND INITIAL LESSONS .......................................... 107

Anna Malek Mercer, Dale Leavitt, Conor McManus, Thomas HeimannENGAGING FISHERMEN TOADDRESS DATAGAPSAND EVOLVE MANAGEMENT OF THEQUAHOG (MERCENARIA MERCENARIA) IN NARRAGANSETT BAY ........................................................ 107

Gary R. Meyer, Naoki Itoh, Geoff Lowe, Eliah KimUPDATE ON TWO ENIGMATIC DISEASES (PERKINSUS QUGWADIAND FRANCISCELLAHALIOTICIDA) AFFECTING THE HEALTH OF CULTURED YESSO SCALLOPS (PATINOPECTENYESSOENSIS) IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA......................................................................................... 108

Adriane K. Michaelis, Donald W. Webster, L. Jen ShafferLIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATIONAND IMPLICATIONS IN EXTENSION PLANNING ........................... 108

Rebecca S. Millard, Bas Verbruggen, Lisa K. Bickley, Kelly S. Bateman, Grant D. Stentiford, Charles R. Tyler,Ronny van Aerle, Eduarda M. Santos

UNDERSTANDING THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF PATHOGENESIS OF WHITE SPOT SYNDROMEVIRUS (WSSV) USING COMPARATIVE TRANSCRIPTOMICS IN THE PACIFIC WHITELEG SHRIMP(PENAEUS VANNAMEI) AND EUROPEAN SHORE CRAB (CARCINUS MAENAS)...................................... 109

John J. Miller, Catharina H. M. Lüdeke, Bart C. Weimer, Jessica L. JonesPOPULATION GENETICS, BIOGEOGRAPHY, AND PHYLOGENETICS OF VIBRIOPARAHAEMOLYTICUS FROM NORTHAMERICAUSINGWHOLE GENOME SEQUENCE DATA........... 109

Thomas J. Miller, Michael J. Wilberg, Dong Liang, Geneviève M. NesslageALIGNING BIOLOGY, ASSESSMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF BLUE CRAB INCHESAPEAKE BAY............................................................................................................................................ 109

Tejashree Modak, David Nelson, David Rowley, Marta Gomez-ChiarriIMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA LARVAE TO PROBIOTICBACILLUS PUMILUS RI06-95 ............................................................................................................................ 110

Joshua A. Moody, Danielle KreegerEFFECTS OF PREDATIONAND SUBSTRATE CHOICE ON RIBBED MUSSEL RECRUITMENTFOR LIVING SHORELINEAPPLICATIONS .................................................................................................... 110

Jeff Moore, Viviane Barry, Elizabeth UnsellTRIBAL SHELLFISH HARVEST MANAGEMENT ON PRIVATELY OWNED TIDELANDS INWASHINGTON STATE........................................................................................................................................ 110

Benjamin Morga, Nicole Faury, Stéphane Guesdon, Bruno Chollet, Tristan RenaultHAEMOCYTES FROM CRASSOSTREA GIGASAND OSHV-1: A PROMISING IN VITRO SYSTEM TOSTUDYHOST-VIRUS INTERACTIONS ........................................................................................................... 111

Benjamin Morga, Sandy Picot, Nicole Faury, Lionel Dégremont, Tristan Renault, Coralie Lupo,Marie-Agnès Travers

DOES FIRST BARRIER PASSAGE SHUNTMATTER IN DISEASE REPRODUCTION? UPDATE FROMOSHV-1—CRASSOSTREA GIGASMODEL........................................................................................................ 111

Dana L. Morse, Melissa Britsch, Nathaniel Perry, Hugh S. CowperthwaiteGROWTH, MORTALITY, AND YIELD OF FARMED SEA SCALLOPS (PLACOPECTENMAGELLANICUS) IN MAINE USING THE EAR-HANGING METHOD, AND INFLUENCES OFSUBSTRATEAND DEPTH ONYIELD OF SCALLOP SPAT COLLECTORS ................................................ 112

Dana L. Morse, Chris Bartlett, Nick Battista, Sebastian Belle, Caitlin Cleaver, Hugh S. Cowperthwaite,Chris Davis, Teresa Johnson, Natalie Springuel

AQUACULTURE IN SHAREDWATERS—ANAQUACULTURE TRAINING PROGRAM DESIGNEDTO EXPLORE THE INTEGRATION OF FISHINGAND FARMING IN MAINE ........................................... 112

Jason M. Morson, Daphne M. Munroe, Kathy A. Ashton-Alcox, Eric N. Powell, David Bushek, Jennifer GiusDENSITY-DEPENDENT CAPTURE EFFICIENCY OFA SURVEY DREDGEAND ITS INFLUENCEON THE STOCKASSESSMENT OF EASTERN OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA) INDELAWARE BAY ................................................................................................................................................ 113


Steve L. Morton, Bennie Haynes, Zhihong Wang, Theresa Hattenrath, Christopher Gobler, Tod LeighfieldMONITORING HAB TOXINS USING SPATT PROXY FOR SHELLFISH MANAGEMENT........................ 113

Karl W. MuellerIMPLEMENTINGA SIZE RESTRICTION TO OFFSET IMPACTS FROM SIZE-SELECTIVEHARVESTING OF GIANT RED SEACUCUMBERS ....................................................................................... 113

Kelly Muething, Brett DumbauldCOMPARING FISHAND CRAB USE OF THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN TWO TYPES OF PACIFICOYSTERAQUACULTUREAND EELGRASS IN WILLAPABAY, WASHINGTON, USA............................ 114

Daphne Munroe, David Bushek, Patricia Woodruff, Lisa CalvoHORSESHOE CRAB PASSAGE THROUGH RACK-AND-BAG OYSTER FARMS...................................... 114

Whitney A. Neil, Victoria L. Pruente, Byron Webb, William C. Walton, Jessica L. JonesLEVELS OF VIBRIO SPP. AFTER DESICCATIONAND RE-SUBMERGENCE OF OYSTERS STORED INTHREE COMMON GEAR TYPES INALABAMA............................................................................................ 114

Amanda Nichols, Catherine JanasieNAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITY OFAQUACULTURE PERMITTING: UNDERSTANDING HOWTHEPIECES FIT TOGETHER THROUGH TWO CASE STUDIES.......................................................................... 115

Owen C. Nichols, Christine A. HudakANOVEL LOW-VOLUME PORTABLE PUMP SYSTEM FOR SAMPLING LARVAL SHELLFISH INSHALLOW, TURBULENT, ‘DIRTY’ ENVIRONMENTS ................................................................................. 115

Owen C. Nichols, Katie Groglio, Ernie EldredgeBABYSITTING BABY SQUID: IN SITUMONITORING OF LONGFIN INSHORE SQUID EGGDEPOSITIONAND EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT....................................................................................... 115

Owen C. Nichols, Michael V. Pol, David M. Chosid, Beau GribbinCHAIN REACTION? DEVELOPMENTAND TESTING OFAMODIFIED SEA SCALLOP DREDGE TOREDUCE FLATFISH BYCATCH........................................................................................................................ 116

Marisa R. NixonPUBLIC HEALTHAND PERSONAL LIVELIHOODS: A CASE STUDYOF OYSTERSAND NOROVIRUSIN HAMMERSLEY INLET, PUGET SOUND.................................................................................................... 116

Ana Nobre, Filipe Soares, João G. Ferreira, François Hubert, Luisa M.P. ValenteATOOL FOR SEED STOCK MANAGEMENT IN COMMERCIAL OYSTER NURSERIES......................... 116

T.C. Norgard, M.I. Bigg, S.E.M. MacConnachie, J.L. Finney, G.E. GillespieINDEX SITE SURVEYS FOR OLYMPIAOYSTERS (OSTREA LURIDA) IN BRITISH COLUMBIA—2009 TO 2017........................................................................................................................................................ 117

Megumi Oshima, Robert LeafAHIERARCHICAL BAYESIAN SURPLUS PRODUCTION MODEL FOR BLUE CRAB (CALLINECTES SAPIDUS) IN THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO......................................................................................... 117

Alyssa Outhwaite, Douglas C. Hansen, Karolyn M. HansenCRACKING THE SHELL: AN INVESTIGATION OF SHELL REPAIR IN THE OYSTER,CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA................................................................................................................................. 118

Dianna K. Padilla, Nils Volkenborn, Samuel Gurr, Lisa Milke, Shannon Meseck, Allison Rugila, Dylan Redman,Mark Dixon, David Veilleux, Alyssa Liguori, Maria Rosa

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: POPULATION DIFFERENCES IN RESPONSE TO OCEANACIDIFICATION IN BLUE MUSSELS.............................................................................................................. 118

Salina Parveen, Sara Elmahdi, Michael Jahncke, John Jacobs, John BowersTHE EFFECT OF HIGH SALINITY ON THEABUNDANCE, ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE, AND GENETICDIVERSITY OF VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS IN AN OYSTER RELAY STUDY...................................... 118

Kim Patten, Scott NoreliusEFFECTS OF CONTROLLED, LARGE-SCALE REMOVAL OF ZOSTERA JAPONICA ONESTUARINE FAUNA .......................................................................................................................................... 119

Blair M. Paul, Seth K. BooksUNUSUAL 2017 MICROALGAL BLOOM HAS RIPPLE EFFECTS ON THE BIVALVES OFHOOD CANAL..................................................................................................................................................... 119


Kennedy T. Paynter, Drew Needham, Audrey McDowellOYSTER RESTORATION IN HARRIS CREEK, MARYLAND: A PROGRESS REPORT ............................. 119

Ben Pearse, Laura Kravac, Sarah Schroeder, Heather Wright, Joachim Carolsfeld, Louise PageRECRUITMENT PATTERNS OF OLYMPIAOYSTER, OSTREA LURIDA (CARPENTER 1864), IN THEGORGEWATERWAY—ENHANCEMENT FROM NEW BRIDGE PILINGS ................................................. 120

Sarah Mae U. Penir, Cynthia P. SalomaTHE COREANDACCESSORY GENOME OF VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS, A PATHOGEN OFPENAEID SHRIMP.............................................................................................................................................. 120

Harriet Perry, Lillian Collins, John Anderson, Donald Johnson, Guillermo Sanchez-Rubio, Rick Burris,Tom Wagner

AREVIEW OF RECENT FISHERY-INDEPENDENT MONITORING DATA FOR BLUE CRABS IN THEGULF OF MEXICO: THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN SETTLEMENTAND SUBSEQUENTJUVENILEABUNDANCE .................................................................................................................................. 120

Bradley J. Peterson, Lisa J. Jackson, Bradley T. FurmanFILTER-FEEDING BIVALVES CAN ENHANCE ZOSTERA MARINA REPRODUCTIVE OUTPUT ............ 121

Britney L. Phippen, Anna V. Ivanina, Inna M. Sokolova, James D. OliverEFFECT OFANOXIAON THE VIRULENCE OF VIBRIO CORALLIILYTICUSAND ITS IMPACT ON THEMORTALITYAND IMMUNE FUNCTION OF THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA ..... 121

Read PorterLEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OFWATERFRONT INFRASTRUCTURE BY SHELLFISHGROWERS IN RHODE ISLAND: CHALLENGES FOR INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY ............................ 121

Eric N. Powell, Sara Pace, Roger Mann, J.M. KlinckTHEWARMING OF THE NORTHWESTATLANTICAS RECORDED BYTHE OCEAN QUAHOG,ARCTICA ISLANDICA,WITHANOTE ON CLIMATE CYCLES..................................................................... 122

Jonathan B. Puritz, Kathleen E. LotterhosEXPRESSED EXOME CAPTURE SEQUENCING (EECSEQ): AMETHOD FOR COST-EFFECTIVEEXOME SEQUENCING OF NON-MODEL ORGANISMS .............................................................................. 122

Dina A. Proestou, Kathryn Markey Lundgren, Jessica Moss Small, Standish K. Allen Jr.TRANSCRIPTOMIC RESPONSES TO DERMO DISEASE IN SUSCEPTIBLEAND RESISTANTEASTERN OYSTERS ......................................................................................................................................... 122

Victoria L. Pruente, William C. Walton, Jessica L. JonesEFFECTS OF TUMBLINGAND REFRIGERATION ON THEABUNDANCE OF VIBRIO VULNIFICUSAND VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS IN CULTURED OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA)................. 123

Paul D. Rawson, Lauren Rice, Sara M. LindsayMOLECULARAND MORPHOLOGICALANALYSIS OF BIVALVE SHELL BORERS OF THE GENUSPOLYDORA FROM THE EASTERN UNITED STATES.................................................................................... 123

Kimberly S. Reece, Patrice L. M. Hobbs, William M. Jones III, Gail P. Scott, Thomas M. Harris,Wolfgang K. Vogelbein

IMPACTS OF TWO HARMFULALGAL BLOOM SPECIES ON DIPLOIDAND TRIPLOID LARVALANDJUVENILE OYSTERS ......................................................................................................................................... 123

Robert Rheault, David Bushek, Lisa Calvo, Ryan Carnegie, Karen Hudson, Lori GustafsonINTERACTIVE TALK: DEVELOPINGA SHELLFISH HATCHERY BIOSECURITY CERTIFICATIONPROGRAM........................................................................................................................................................... 124

Ralph Riccio, Kelly Toy, Jim Parsons, Kurt GrinnellMAINTAINING LIVELIHOODSAND CULTURAL IDENTITY THROUGH TRIBAL SHELLFISHAQUACULTURE ................................................................................................................................................. 124

Scott M. Riley, Morgan W. Kelly, Jerome F. La Peyre, Megan K. La PeyreUSING NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL LOCALADAPTATIONTO SALINITY IN THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA, ALONG THE LOUISIANAGULF COAST ...................................................................................................................................................... 124

Erin M. Roberts, Marta Gomez-ChiarriDIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OFAPOPTOSIS PATHWAYGENE FAMILIES IN RESPONSE TOIMMUNE CHALLENGE IN CRASSOSTREA GIGAS AND CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA................................ 125


Clara L. Robison, Wolfgang K. Vogelbein, William G. Reay, Ryan B. Carnegie, Juliette L. Smith,Kimberly S. Reece

IMPACTS OF TWO HARMFULALGAL BLOOM SPECIES ON OYSTERS CULTURED IN LOWERCHESAPEAKE BAY............................................................................................................................................ 125

Maria Rosa, J. Evan Ward, Yoselin Flores, Katie Sierra, Brian TorresEFFECTS OF SURFACE SURFACTANTS ON PARTICLE CAPTURE, EFFICIENCY, AND CLEARANCERATES OF THE BLUE MUSSEL (MYTILUS EDULIS) ..................................................................................... 126

Umberto Rosani, Miriam Abbadi, Stefania Domeneghetti, Paola VenierAN ‘OMICS’APPROACH TO UNDERSTAND OYSTER-OSHV-1 INTERACTIONS ................................... 126

David B. Rudders, Sally A. Roman, Ryan J. Knotek, James A. Sulikowski, John A. Mandleman, Hugues T. BenoîtDISCARD MORTALITY OF SEA SCALLOPS (PLACOPECTEN MAGELLANICUS) FOLLOWINGCAPTUREAND HANDLING IN THE SEA SCALLOP DREDGE FISHERY.................................................. 126

David B. Rudders, Sally Roman, Robert Fisher, David Bushek, Daphne Munroe, Eleanor Bochenek,Emily McGurk

INVESTIGATION OF THE SCALLOP NEMATODE, SULCASCARIS SULCATA: DISTRIBUTION,SEASONALITY, SHEDDING, TRANSMISSION, THERMAL TOLERANCE, AND HOST IMPACT........... 127

Arturo Ruiz-Luna, César A. Berlanga-RoblesPRESENT STATUS OF MANGROVE ECOSYSTEMS IN MEXICO, WITH NOTES ON THEIRKNOWLEDGEAND CONSERVATION CHALLENGES, REGARDING NATURALANDANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS........................................................................................................................... 127

Stuart K. Ryan, Ryan N. Crim, Brian Allen, Betsy PeabodyOLYMPIAOYSTER PRODUCTIONAND RESEARCHAT THE KENNETH K. CHEW CENTER FORSHELLFISH RESEARCHAND RESTORATION .............................................................................................. 127

Ricardo Sánchez-Díaz, Rosa A. Ocampo Ayala, Diana P. Herrera Patiño, José C. Ibarra Gámez, Bruno Gómez Gil,Lucía E. Crúz Suárez, Zinnia J. Molina Garza, Lucio Galavíz Silva

EVALUATION OF MARINE BACTERIATHROUGH IN VITROAND IN VIVOASSAYSAND THEIRPOTENTIAL USEAS FEEDADDITIVEAND PROBIOTIC AGENTAGAINST PATHOGENIC VIBRIOPARAHAEMOLYTICUS (AHPND) IN WHITE SHRIMP, LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI .................................... 128

Rafael Santos, Emmanuel Agyei, Elvin Griffith, Jr., Margaret A. Carroll, Edward J. CatapaneTHE EFFECTS OF TAURINE ON MANGANESEACCUMULATIONS IN GILL OF THE EASTERNOYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA ............................................................................................................... 128

Brittany J. Scharf, Charles Adams, Stephen P. GeigerA PRELIMINARYASSESSMENT OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACTASSOCIATEDWITH THERECREATIONAL SCALLOP SEASON IN HERNANDO COUNTY, FLORIDA............................................. 128

Lisa SchiavinatoSHELLFISH LEASINGAND PERMITTINGWORKSHOP: CASE STUDIES FOR OVERCOMINGCOMMON LEGAL BARRIERS.......................................................................................................................... 129

Christopher A. Schillaci, Stephen Jones, Cheryl Whistler, Diane ReganVIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUSMANAGEMENT FOR OYSTERS IN MASSACHUSETTS......................... 129

Ervin Joe SchumackerPACIFIC RAZOR CLAMAND DUNGENESS CRAB FISHERYMANAGEMENT CHALLENGES ONTHEWASHINGTON COAST.............................................................................................................................. 130

Abigail K. Scro, M. Victoria Agnew, Roxanna SmolowitzTHEABUNDANCEAND OCCURRENCE OF VIBRIO IN CULTURED OYSTERS GROWNAT VARIOUSDEPTHSWITHIN THEWATER COLUMN....................................................................................................... 130

Rochelle D. Seitz, Cassandra N. GlaspieHABITAT COMPLEXITYMEDIATES PREDATOR-BIVALVE INTERACTIONS INCHESAPEAKE BAY............................................................................................................................................ 130

Jonathan van Senten, Carole R. EngleTHE COSTS OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ONWEST COAST SHELLFISH FARMS: EFFECTSANDIMPACTS ON PRODUCERS............................................................................................................................... 131

Katherine Silliman, Doug EernissePOPULATION GENOMICSAND PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF THE OLYMPIAOYSTER .............................. 131


Katherine Silliman, Sean Bennett, Steven B. RobertsVARIATION IN RESPONSE TO OCEANACIDIFICATIONAMONG OLYMPIAOYSTERS FROMCALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND BRITISH COLUMBIA................................................................................... 131

Roxanna Smolowitz, Dale LeavittSHELLFISH DISEASE WORKSHOP—MANAGING YOUR FARM TO REDUCE THE RISK..................... 132

Filipe M. Soares, Ana M. Nobre, François HubertADYNAMIC MODEL FOR MANAGEMENT OF OYSTER NURSERIES ..................................................... 132

Joana Teixeira de Sousa, Standish K. Allen Jr.DIFFERENCES IN MITOTIC INSTABILITY BETWEEN CHEMICALAND MATED TETRAPLOID LINESOF THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA ............................................................................. 132

Laura H. Spencer, Micah Horwith, Alex Lowe, Emma Timmins-Schiffman, Brook L. Nunn, Steven RobertsPROTEOMICS REVEALS GEODUCK PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TOENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE........................................................................................................................... 133

Laura H. Spencer, Brent Vadopalas, Crystal Simchick, Ryan Crim, Frederick W. Goetz, Steven RobertsGENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OFWILDAND HATCHERY-PRODUCED OSTREA LURIDA INPUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON, USA............................................................................................................. 133

George Stearns, Robert Conrad, David Winfrey, Nancy Shippentower-Games, Deanna FinleyDUNGENESS CRAB TRAP CATCH EFFICIENCY RELATED TO ESCAPE RING LOCATIONAND SIZE ............................................................................................................................................................ 133

Rebecca J. Stevick, Anton F. Post, Marta Gómez-ChiarriTRENDS IN OYSTER-ASSOCIATED MICROBIAL TRANSCRIPTOMES .................................................... 134

Rebecca J. Stevick, Saebom Sohn, Tejashree Modak, David Nelson, David Rowley, Roxanna Smolowitz,Anton F. Post, Marta Gómez-Chiarri

BACTERIAL COMMUNITY DYNAMICS INAN OYSTER HATCHERY IN RESPONSE TOPROBIOTIC TREATMENT ................................................................................................................................ 134

Kevin D.E. Stokesbury, Susan InglisESTIMATING SEASONAL GROWTH IN SEA SCALLOPS USING ISOTOPIC DATA INACHANGING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................................................... 134

Kevin D.E. Stokesbury, Emily Keiley, Daniel Georgianna, N. David Bethoney, and Susan InglisTHE RAMIFICATIONS OF MISMATCHING SPATIAL ROTATIONALMANAGEMENTWITH LIFEHISTORYAND POPULATION TRAITS: AN EXAMPLE IN THE SEA SCALLOP FISHERY ...................... 135

Daniel S. Swezey, Sara E. Boles, Kristin M. Aquilino, Haley K. Stott, Doug Bush, Tessa M. Hill, Brian Gaylord,Cynthia A. Catton, Laura Rogers-Bennett, Andrew Whitehead, Eric Sanford

DEVELOPING RESILIENCE TO OCEANACIDIFICATION IN REDABALONEAQUACULTURE .......... 135Thomas W. Therriault, Vanessa Hodes, Tammy Norgard, Lyanne J.F. Curtis, Graham E. Gillespie

EUROPEAN GREEN CRAB IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: TRACKING THE SPREAD OFAHIGH-RISK INVADER ................................................................................................................................................... 136

Jeremy Timbs, Roger Mann, Eric PowellASSESSMENT OF THE DISTRIBUTION SHIFTAND RANGE EXPANSION OF THEATLANTICSURFCLAM, SPISULA SOLIDISSIMA, USINGA SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION MODEL............ 136

Elizabeth D. Tobin, Cody Crumpton, Chelsea Wallace, Ginny L. EckertIDENTIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL DRIVERS OF ALEXANDRIUM HARMFULALGAL BLOOMSIN SOUTHEASTALASKA.................................................................................................................................. 136

Vera L. Trainer, Joo-Hwan Kim, Brian D. Bill, Nicolaus Adams, Urban Tillmann, Bernd Krock, Neil HarringtonFIRST RECORDS OF THE GENUS AZADINIUM (DINOPHYCEAE) FROM PUGET SOUND,WASHINGTON STATE........................................................................................................................................ 137

Vera L. Trainer, Ryan M. McCabe, Barbara M. Hickey, Parker MacCready, Matthew Hunter, Stephanie Moore,Gregory J. Doucette, Neil S. Banas, Zach Forster

PSEUDO-NITZSCHIA EARLYWARNING BULLETIN INCREASES CLAMMING OPPORTUNITIESON PACIFIC NORTHWEST OUTER COAST BEACHES ................................................................................ 137


Robin L. Varney, Ami E. WilburCOMPARISON OF GENETIC VARIATIONAND INBREEDINGAMONG THREE LINES OFHATCHERY-REARED CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA BROODSTOCK ............................................................ 138

Karla Daniela Vega-Collazo, Sergio Scarry González-Peláez, José Angel Hidalgo-de-la-Toba,J. Jesús Bautista-Romero, Daniel B. Lluch-Cota

GROWTH MODELING IN TWO POPULATIONS OF P. GLOBOSA FROM THE UPPER GULF OFCALIFORNIA: INTEGRATION OF INDIVIDUAL GROWTH PROFILES AND JUVENILE DATATOTERMINAL SIZE-AT-AGE.................................................................................................................................. 138

Yaamini R. Venkataraman, Steven B. RobertsEFFECT OF OCEANACIDIFICATION ON PACIFIC OYSTER (CRASSOSTREAGIGAS) REPRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 138

Marcelo Victorio-De Los Santos, Alejandra Hernández-Santoyo, Sonia Soto-RodriguezOLIGOMERIZATION PATTERNS OF PIRAAND PIRB CAUSINGACUTE HEPATOPANCREATICNECROSIS DISEASE (AHPND) AND ITS INTERACTIONWITH THE MEMBRANE COMPONENTSOF THE EPITHELIAL CELLS OF THE SHRIMP HEPATOPANCREAS ......................................................... 139

Uma Volety, Ai Ning Loh, Leo Soudant, Melissa Lenentine, Cailin Harell, Philippe Soudant, Aswani VoletyLETHALAND SUB-LETHAL EFFECTS OF THE POLYFLUORINATED COMPOUND, GENX, ONTHE EASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA ................................................................................... 139

Pandora C. Wadsworth, William C. WaltonSUMMER MORTALITY IN FARMED TRIPLOIDAND DIPLOID OYSTERS, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA,IN THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO ......................................................................................................... 139

TomWagner, Harriet Perry, Lillian Collins, John Anderson, Rick Burris, Joel Anderson, Zachary Olsen,Carey Gelpi, Darin Topping

A REVIEW OF RECENT FISHERY-INDEPENDENTAND FISHERY-DEPENDENT MONITORING DATAFOR BLUE CRABS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO SPECIFIC TO MANAGEMENT OF THE RESOURCE .. 140

Bethany A. Walton, LaDon Swann, William C. WaltonTHE GULF OF MEXICO SHELLFISH INITIATIVE: A REGIONALAPPROACH......................................... 140

Xiarong Wang, Qinggang Xue, Xiaowei Mao, Yinghui Dong, Chenhua Li, Zhihua LinMOLECULAR EVOLUTION OF I84 PROTEASE INHIBITOR FAMILY IN CHINESE RAZOR CLAMSAND PHYLUMMOLLUSCA.............................................................................................................................. 140

Zhenwei Wang, Ximing GuoDEVELOPINGAN EFFECTIVE TRANSFECTION PROTOCOL FOR GENE EDITING IN THE PACIFICOYSTER, CRASSOSTREA GIGAS ....................................................................................................................... 141

J. Evan Ward, John Doyle, Vena Haynes, Bridget HolohanCAPTUREAND INGESTION OF NANOPARTICLES BY BIVALVES: IMPLICATIONS FORBIOACCUMULATIONAND TOXICITY........................................................................................................... 141

J. Evan Ward, Vena Haynes, Bridget Holohan, Kayla MladinichINGESTION, BIOACCUMULATION, AND DEPURATION OF MICRO- AND NANO-PLASTICPARTICLES BYMARINE BIVALVES ............................................................................................................... 142

Kerstin Wasson, Danielle Zacherl, Chela ZabinCOAST-WIDE OLYMPIAOYSTER NETWORK: RESILIENT NATIVE OYSTERS FROM BRITISHCOLUMBIA, CANADATO BAJACALIFORNIA, MEXICO........................................................................... 142

Kerstin Wasson, Chela J. Zabin, Danielle C. Zacherl, Edwin D. Grosholz, Betsy Peabody, Kay McGrawWORKSHOP: BUILDINGACOAST-WIDE OLYMPIAOYSTER NETWORK.............................................. 142

Kerstin Wasson, Brent B. Hughes, John S. Berriman, Andrew L. Chang, Anna K. Deck, Paul A. Dinnel,Charlie Endris, Michael Espinoza, Sarah Dudas, Matthew C. Ferner, Edwin D. Grosholz, David Kimbro,Jennifer L. Ruesink, Alan C. Trimble, Dick Vander Schaaf, Chela J. Zabin, Danielle C. Zacherl

OLYMPIAOYSTER RECRUITMENT DYNAMICS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIATOBRITISH COLUMBIA......................................................................................................................................... 143

Phillip “P.J.” L. Waters, Jr., William C. Walton, Daniel R. Petrolia, David L. Swann, James E. WitteIF YOU BUILD IT, WHYDO THEY COME? AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MOTIVATIONS OFVOLUNTEER OYSTER GARDENERS ............................................................................................................. 143


Chuck Weirich, Ami Wilbur, Dave CerinoCOMMERCIAL SCALE COMPARISON OF SELECTEDWATER COLUMN OYSTER CULTURE GEARTYPESAND NATIVE OYSTER STRAINS DEVELOPED FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA INDUSTRY..... 144

Michael Whiteside, Ximing GuoEVERYTHING FROM SHELLS: GENETICS OF SHELL SHAPEAND COLOR IN THE EASTERNOYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA ............................................................................................................... 144

Michael M. Whitney, Kristin DeRosia-Banick, Steven R. Deignan-SchmidtFORECASTING VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS IN LONG ISLAND SOUND OYSTERSANDMANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FORAQUACULTURE .................................................................................. 145

Gary H. WikforsMICROALGAL BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITIONAND BIVALVE NUTRITION: HOWWE KNOWWHATWE KNOW ........................................................................................................................................................... 145

Gary H. Wikfors“THE MILFORD METHOD”: ORIGINS, EVOLUTION, ANDAPPLICATIONS.......................................... 145

Suzanne T. WilliamsCOLOURFUL SHELLS: THE EVOLUTION OF COLOUR IN MOLLUSCA.................................................. 146

Bryanda J.T. Wippel, Carolyn S. Friedman, Lisa Crosson, Molly Roberts, Robyn Strenge, Matt George,Emily Carrington, Sam White

POTENTIAL TRANSGENERATIONAL EFFECTS OF OCEANACIDIFICATION ON THE OLYMPIAOYSTER, OSTREA LURIDA: A THREE-PART EXPERIMENTAL STUDY..................................................... 146

Wang Yabing, Fu Hongtuo, Qiao Hui, Sun Shengming, Zhang Wenyi, Jin Shubo, Gong Yongsheng, Jiang Sufei,Xiong Yiwei, Wu Yan

MOLECULAR CLONING, EXPRESSION PATTERNANALYSIS, AND IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION OFADMRT11E GENE IN THE ORIENTAL FRESHWATER PRAWN,MACROBRACHIUM NIPPONENSE ........ 146

Jennifer Yakimishyn, Yuri ZharikovEVAULATION OF SHORT-TERM REMOVAL EFFORT TO CONTROL THE EUROPEAN GREEN CRAB,CARCINUS MAENAS, POPULATION IN THE BROKEN GROUP ISLANDS, BRITISH COLUMBIA ......... 147

Sylvia B. Yamada, Joel Prickett, Bree Yednock, Christina Geierman, Julia Indivero, Collin Williams,Andrea Randall, Bill Peterson, Jennifer Fisher, Mike Kosro

BIOLOGICALAND PHYSICAL OCEAN INDICATORS PREDICT THE SUCCESS OF THE INVASIVEEUROPEAN GREEN CRAB, CARCINUS MAENAS ......................................................................................... 147

Xiaoshen Yin, Dennis HedgecockUNCOVERING THE GENETIC BASES OF GROWTH HETEROSIS IN THE PACIFIC OYSTER,CRASSOSTREA GIGAS ........................................................................................................................................ 148

Weiwei You, Zekun Huang, Xuan Luo, Caihuan KeGENOME SEQUENCINGAND POPULATION GENOMICANALYSES PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTOTHERMALADAPTATION OF PACIFIC ABALONE........................................................................................ 148

Chela J. Zabin, Geana Ayala, Stephanie Kiriakopolos, Marilyn Latta, Edwin D. GrosholzTEMPORALAND SPATIALVARIABILITY IN OYSTER PERFORMANCE IN RESTORATIONPROJECTS IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY, USA.................................................................................................... 148

Danielle C. Zacherl, Richard A. Torres, Jr., Thomas A. Parker, Holly Henderson, Nicole TronskeHOW LOW CAN THEY GO? DISTRIBUTIONS OF THE OLYMPIAOYSTER (OSTREA LURIDA) ANDTHE PACIFIC OYSTER (CRASSOSTREA GIGAS) AS A FUNCTION OF TIDAL ELEVATIONSANDIMPLICATIONS FOR RESTORATION .............................................................................................................. 149

Kathryn Zimlich, Douglas C. Hansen, Karolyn M. HansenMOLECULAR MODELINGAND CHARACTERIZATION OFAMUSSELADHESIVEPROTEIN (MEFP-5)............................................................................................................................................. 149


Liliana Zuniga, Daniela Espinoza, Arturo Ruiz-Luna, Cesar A. Berlanga-Robles, Bruno Gómez-Gil,Mira Maude Chouinard, Dina Morell, Modesto Ochoa, Miriam Alcívar-Arteaga, Gober Asunción,Mayra Galindo, Christian Saltos, Sofía Figueroa Zambrano, Johanna Alcivar Parrales, Acacia Alcivar-Warren,Jorge Echevarria, Chika F. Ikeogu

MANGROVEENCODE (2017-2027: DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGIES FOR THEASSESSMENT OFCO2, MICROBIOME, ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS (GLYPHOSATE, METALS), ANDMICROBIAL TRANSGENE BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS IN MANGROVES SEDIMENTANDAGRICULTURAL SOIL OF SELECTED COUNTRIES .................................................................................... 150

POSTER PRESENTATIONSIsabelle Arzul, Steve Feist, Antonio Figueras, Sylvie Lapègue, Christine Paillard, Dolors Furones

WHAT IS VIVALDI? A 4-YEAR EUROPEAN PROJECTAIMINGAT PREVENTINGAND MITIGATINGFARMED BIVALVE DISEASES ......................................................................................................................... 150

Thomas H. Bliss, Justin P. Manley, Robert E. HeinGROWTHAND SURVIVAL OF HATCHERY PRODUCED EASTERN OYSTER (CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICA) SPAT IN BOTTOM CAGES IN COATAL GEORGIA................................................................... 151

Hailey M. Boeck, Susan E. Laramore, David S. Portnoy, John ScarpaPRELIMINARY FINDINGS OFA SURVEY FOR THE OYSTER PARASITES BONAMIAAND MSX INTEXAS BAYS....................................................................................................................................................... 151

B.E. Bookelaar, C.O’Toole, D. Cheslett, S.A. Lynch, S.C. CullotyREDUCING THE IMPACT OF PATHOGENS IN THE IRISH OYSTER INDUSTRY TO SUPPORT THESUSTAINABILITYAND GROWTH OF THE SECTOR ................................................................................... 151

Nicholas Brandimarte, Susan Laramore, Leslie N. SturmerHEALTH EVALUATION OF TRIPLOIDAND DIPLOID EASTERN OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICA) UNDER VARIOUS CULTURE CONDITIONS............................................................................. 152

David W. Brew, Marsha C. BlackCONTAMINANTS OF EMERGING CONCERN INWILD EASTERN OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICA) AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES FROM ESTUARIES IN GEORGIA, USA...................... 152

Liliana Carvalho-Saucedo, Nurenskaya Vélez-Arellano, Sergio Scarry González-Peláez,and Daniel B. Lluch-Cota

IS NEGATIVE SENESCENCEATACTIC IN THE LIFE HISTORY OF PANOPEA GLOBOSA?A CASE STUDY IN TROPICAL POPULATIONS ............................................................................................. 152

Angela B. Collins, Bruce Barber, Barry Hurt, Chuck Adams, Curt Hemmel, Aaron Welch IIICOOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIPS TO MAXIMIZE COMMERCIAL SHELLFISH PRODUCTION INSOUTHWEST FLORIDA..................................................................................................................................... 153

Ryan N. Crim, Stuart K. Ryan, Kendra Baird, Andy Suhrbier, Paul WilliamsDEVELOPINGAQUACULTURE TECHNIQUES FOR GIANT RED SEACUCUMBERS IN PUGETSOUND: BROODSTOCK, LARVAEAND JUVENILE CULTURE .................................................................. 153

Andreia Cruz, Ana Cerviño, Oscar Iglesias, Fiz da Costa, Bernardo CarvalhoRUDITAPES DECUSSATUS POPULATIONS IN EUROPE: EVIDENCE OF DIFFERENT INFECTIONLEVELS OF PERKINSUS SP.WITHIN THE SAME POPULATIONAND MORPHOLOGICALCHARACTERIZATION....................................................................................................................................... 154

Grant A. Diedrich, Ami E. WilburEFFECTS OF CAGE TYPE ON PARASITIC POLYDORA SP. INFESTATION OF THE EASTERN OYSTER,CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA................................................................................................................................. 154

Kathryn Doering, Michael Wilberg, Dong Liang, Mitchell TarnowskiSPATIALAND TEMPORAL PATTERNS OF NATURALMORTALITY OF EASTERN OYSTER INCHESAPEAKE BAY, MARYLAND DURING 1990-2015................................................................................. 154

Mohamed Eid, Peter Amoako, Delilah Cummings, Maxine Jacobs, Margaret A. Carroll, Edward J. CatapaneIMMUNOHISTOFLUORESCENCE STUDYOF THEACTIONS OF MANGANESE ON THEPHOSPHOLIPASE CAND IP3 RECEPTOR MECHANISMS OF DOPAMINE D2-LIKE POST-SYNAPTIC RECEPTORS IN CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA ............................................................................... 155


Anja Ewing, Eric N. Powell, Kelsey KuykendallTHE DISTRIBUTION OF OCEAN QUAHOGS, ATLANTIC SURFCLAMS, AND THEIR SHELLS ONTHE MID-ATLANTIC BIGHT CONTINENTAL SHELF .................................................................................. 155

Alejandro Tomás Hernández-Muñoz, Daniel B. Lluch-Cota, Liliana Carvalho-Saucedo,Nurenskaya Vélez-Arellano, Sergio Scarry González-Peláez, Fabiola Arcos-Ortega

IS NEGATIVE SENESCENCEATACTIC IN THE LIFE HISTORY OF PANOPEA GLOBOSA?ACASE STUDY IN TEMPERATE POPULATIONS .......................................................................................... 155

Marjorie Howard, Christine Whitcraft, Danielle C. ZacherlIMPACTS OF PAIRED OLYMPIAOYSTER (OSTREA LURIDA) AND EELGRASS (ZOSTERA MARINA)RESTORATION ON FISHAND INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES IN NEWPORT BAY, CALIFORNIA.. 156

Brandon Hsieh, Carol Habib, Maureen K. KrauseIS THE RNABINDING PROTEIN CSDE1 REGULATING TRANSLATION DURING HYPOXIAIN MOLLUSCS?................................................................................................................................................... 156

Samuel Hughes, David Rowley, David Nelson, Marta Gomez-ChiarriCOCULTURE OF PROBIOTIC BACTERIA INALGAL FEEDSTOCKS FOR DISEASE MANAGEMENTIN BIVALVE HATCHERIES................................................................................................................................ 156

Steve Geiger, Sarah Stephenson, Britt Burke, Michael Poniatowski, Erica Levine, Jennifer E. GrannemanANASSESSMENT OF SEASONAL GASTROPOD DISTRIBUTIONAND DENSITY IN NEARSHOREHABITATS OF THEWEST FLORIDA SHELF.................................................................................................. 157

Julia Indivero, Bree Yednock, Christina GeiermanMONITORING THE DISTRIBUTIONANDABUNDANCE OF INVASIVE EUROPEAN GREEN CRABS(CARCINUS MAENAS) IN THE SOUTH SLOUGH OF THE COOS ESTUARY, OREGON, USA.................. 157

Kiserian Jackson, Abigail Scro, and Roxanna SmolowitzCORRELATION OF OYSTER DISEASE WITHACCUMULATION OF VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS INOYSTER TISSUE................................................................................................................................................. 158

Johanne Jean-Pierre, Reniece Buchanan, Margaret A. Carroll, Edward J. CatapaneSPECTRAL SENSITIVITY OF SENSORYMOTOR INTEGRATION OF GILL LATERAL CELL CILIAIN THE BIVALVE MOLLUSC CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA............................................................................. 158

Alexcia Johnson, Krystle Ernest, Margaret A. Carroll, Edward J. CatapaneAROLE FOR PROTEIN KINASE C IN GILL LATERAL CELLACTIVITY OFCRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA................................................................................................................................. 158

Caihuan Ke, Yidi Wu, Bo Shi, Long Zhou, Chenyu Dong, Weiwei YouASSESSMENT OF THE GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR COPPERAND ZINCACCUMULATIONCAPABILITY IN THE OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA ANGULATA......................................................................... 159

Kelsey M. Kuykendall, Eric N. Powell, Roger Mann, Karen ReaySCEMFIS 2017: AYEAR IN REVIEW ............................................................................................................... 159

Susan Laramore, Elizabeth Urban-Gedamke, Carolyn Sinacore, Emily Davidson, Alycia Shatters, Erica Rose,Reika Yu, Jeffrey Beal, Emily Dark, Matthew R. Anderson

ASSESSMENT OF OYSTER (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA) HEALTH IN NATURALVS RESTORED REEFSIN THE NORTHERN, CENTRAL, AND SOUTHERN INDIAN RIVER LAGOON (IRL), FLORIDA .......... 159

Jonathan S.F. Lee, Ryan N. Crim, Brian L. Allen, Barry A. Berejikian, Rick W. GoetzOFF-BOTTOM CULTURE OF OLYMPIAOYSTERS....................................................................................... 160

Heather M. Lopes, Julieta C. Martinelli, Jaqueline L. Padilla-Gamino, Lorenz Hauser, Isadora Jimenez-Hidalgo,Paul D. Rawson, Jason D. Williams, Teri L. King, Chelsea L. Wood

MORPHOLOGICALAND MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OFA SHELL-BORING MUDWORMPOLYDORA WEBSTERI (POLYCHAETA: SPIONIDAE) FROM PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON, USA... 160

Kathryn R. Markey Lundgren, Brett Boudreau, Dina A. ProestouJUSTA SNIPPET: HIGH RESOLUTION MELTING (HRM) ANALYSIS TO VALIDATE SNPS FORTHE EASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA ................................................................................... 161

Kiarra I. Lyons, Austin H. Xu, Danielle C. Zacherl, William J. HoeseAVIAN USE OF RESTORED EELGRASS MEADOWSAND OYSTER BEDSAS PART OFA LIVINGSHORELINES PROJECT..................................................................................................................................... 161


Luísa Magalhães, Xavier de Montaudouin, Simão Correia, Guillemine Daffe, Patrice Gonzalez, Etelvina Figueira,Jorge M.S. Gonçalves, Rosa Freitas

SEASONALVARIATION OF TRANSCRIPTOMICAND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF DONAXTRUNCULUS RELATED TO ITS INFECTION BY THE TREMATODE PARASITE,BACCIGER BACCIGER ....................................................................................................................................... 161

Justin Manley, Thomas Bliss, Robert HeinPRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS REGARDING RIBBED MUSSEL (GEUKENSIA DEMISSA)SPAT PRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 162

Xiaowei Mao, Qinggang Xue, Qifeng Xia, Xiarong Wang, Dengfeng Li, Zhihua LinPOTENTIALS OF OYSTER MAJOR PLASMA PROTEINS IN FUNCTIONING FOR METAL IONSTORAGEAND TRANSPORTATION ............................................................................................................... 162

Althea N. Marks, Danielle ZacherlIN SITU FILTRATION RATES OF OLYMPIAOYSTER (OSTREA LURIDA) HABITATAND PACIFICOYSTER (CRASSOSTREA GIGAS) AQUACULTURE....................................................................................... 162

Alexandria Marquardt, Matthew Hunter, Steve Rumrill, Kelly Corbett, Cyreis SchmittMARINE BIOTOXINS: DOMOICACID MONITORING ON THE OREGON COAST.................................. 163

Katherine McFarland, Matthew HareEFFECTS OF GENETIC DIVERSITY ON FITNESS-RELATED PERFORMANCE OF THE EASTERNOYSTER IN NATURE ......................................................................................................................................... 163

Melanie L. Parker, Matthew Davis, Matthew LaGanke, Nicole Martin, Nicole Maloney, Nick TolopkaMONITORING OYSTER RESTORATION EFFORTS INAPALACHICOLABAY, FLORIDA ...................... 164

Tuan K. Phan, Dane Thomason, Ed Johnson, Annie Jacob, Kimani Kimbrough, Amy H. RingwoodCELLULAR BIOMARKER RESPONSES OF FRESHWATER BIVALVES TO CHLORPYRIFOS................ 164

Sandy Picot, Benjamin Morga, Nicole Faury, Bruno Chollet, Lionel Dégremont, Marie-Agnès Travers,Tristan Renault, Isabelle Arzul

FIRST INVESTIGATION OFAUTOPHAGYMONITORING BY FLOW CYTOMETRY INANINVERTEBRATE ORGANISM, CRASSOSTREA GIGAS................................................................................... 164

Rachel Pugh, Kelly Dorgan, Sarah Cole, William C. WaltonMUD BLISTERS IN OYSTERS: RELATINGWORM INFESTATION TO BLISTER STRENGTH ............... 165

Shantelle Richards, Matt Griffin, Dale LeavittINFLUENCE OF STOCK DENSITY ON REPRODUCTIVE CONDITION OF NORTHERN QUAHOGSFROM NARRAGANSETT BAY, USA................................................................................................................ 165

David Rivetti, Nehaben Patel, Jayne B. Robinson, Karolyn M. HansenINHIBITION OF BIOFOULINGAND BIOFILM GROWTH: THE EFFECT OFACATIONIC PORPHYRINON PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA BIOFILM FORMATION ON DIFFERENT SUBSTRATA.................... 165

S.A. Roberts, J.AMoody, K. Cheng, D.A. KreegerCREATING FLOW REFUGIA IN THE TIDAL FRESHWATER DELAWARE RIVER TOAUGMENTAND RESTORE FRESHWATER MUSSEL POPULATIONS ............................................................................ 166

Maria Rosa, Dianna K. PadillaONTOGENIC SHIFTS IN MICROALGAL HANDLING BY CRASSOSTREA GIGAS LARVAE .................... 166

Rafael Santos, Emmanuel Agyei, Elvin Griffith, Jr., Margaret A. Carroll, Edward J. CatapaneTHE EFFECTS OF TAURINE ON MANGANESEACCUMULATIONS IN GILL OF THE EASTERNOYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA ............................................................................................................... 166

Benjamin Schmeusser, Alyssa Outhwaite, Donald J. Kleppel, David Rivetti, Douglas C. Hansen,Karolyn M. Hansen

COMPARTMENTALIZATIONAND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF L-DOPA-CONTAININGPROTEINS INVOLVED IN OYSTER SHELL FORMATION ........................................................................... 167

Carrie Schuman, Shirley BakerHOWOYSTERMENAND FISHERMEN USEAND THINKABOUT OYSTERS IN THE ST.AUGUSTINE REGION OF FLORIDA................................................................................................................ 167


Gail P. Scott, William M. Jones III, Kimberly S. ReeceEMERGING PATTERNS OF LATE SUMMER HARMFULALGAL BLOOMS IN THE LOWERCHESAPEAKE BAY............................................................................................................................................ 168

Melissa Southworth, Roger Mann, James E. Wesson, Mitch Tarnowski, Mark Homer, William Reay,John Thomas

SPATIALVARIATION IN OYSTER SHAPE IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY: IMPLICATIONS FORSHELL CARBONATE BUDGETS ..................................................................................................................... 168

George Stearns, Robert Conrad, David Winfrey, Nancy Shippentower-Games, Deanna FinleyDUNGENESS CRAB TRAP CATCH EFFICIENCY RELATED TO ESCAPE RING LOCATIONAND SIZE............................................................................................................................................................. 168

Leslie N. Sturmer, Carter Cyr, Reggie Markham, Nicholas Brandimarte, Susan LaramoreAPPLICATION OF TRIPLOIDY TOAN EMERGENT OYSTER CULTURE INDUSTRY ON THEFLORIDAWEST COAST: RESULTS OF GROWER TRIALS.......................................................................... 169

Allison Surian, Abigail Scro, M. Victoria Agnew, Roxanna SmolowitzTHREE YEARS OF DISEASE MONITORING DATAOF CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA (EASTERNOYSTER) IN RHODE ISLANDAND SURROUNDING STATESAND IMPLICATIONS FORAQUACULTUREANDACHANGING ENVIRONMENT................................................................................ 169

Holly Suther, Jacob Javier, Brittany Cook, Shannon Chou, Daniel Jaques, Amber Jolly, William Hoese,Danielle C. Zacherl

THE IMPACT OFATMOSPHERIC RIVER EVENTS ON OSTREA LURIDAAND CRASSOSTREA GIGASDENSITIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ESTUARIES................................................................................ 169

Shelby Thomas, Andy Kane, Ross Brooks, Felipe Sanchez, Hanzhi GaoMORE THAN THE EYE CAN SEE: GROSS VISUALAND RADIOGRAPHIC OBSERVATIONS OFSHELL-BORING PARASITES IN THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA, REVEALDYNAMICS OF SHELL DAMAGE.................................................................................................................... 170

Tyler Van Kirk, Ian Bricknell, Olivia Joyce, Allyson Redcay, Molly Westbrook, Caroline Spangenberg,Rebecca Lopez-Anido, Liza Gallandt

INFECTION DYNAMICS OFANACANTHOCEPHALAN PARASITE, PROFILICOLLIS BOTULUS, INTHE GREEN CRAB, CARCINUS MAENAS, ON THE COAST OF MAINE..................................................... 170

Robin L. Varney, Ami E. WilburPREVALENCEAND INTENSITY OF THREE OYSTER PARASITES (PERKINSUS MARINUS,HAPLOSPORIDIUM NELSONI, AND BONAMIA SP.) IN WILDAND CULTURED OYSTERS(CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA) ONAN OYSTER FARM IN SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA .......... 170

Richard H. Visser II, Jesse M. SchultzWASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISHANDWILDLIFE MANAGEMENTACTIONS FOR EUROPEANGREEN CRAB INWASHINGTONWATERS .................................................................................................... 171

Brittany M. Wolfe, Ami E. WilburEFFECTS OF REDUCED PH ON GROWTHAND CHROMOSOME LOSS IN TETRAPLOID OYSTERSCRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA................................................................................................................................. 171

Victoria R. Wood, Juliann C. Vannordstrand, Christine Whitcraft, Joseph Carlin, Katie Nichols,Danielle C. Zacherl

THE EFFECT OF SEDIMENTATION ON OYSTERSADJACENT TO EELGRASS MEADOWS................. 172Johanna K. Woods, Ami E. Wilbur

THE EFFECT OF GEAR TYPEAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGYON THEACQUISITION OFPARASITES BY CULTURED OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA)......................................................... 172

National Shellfisheries Association Monterey, California Abstracts 110thAnnual Meeting, March 18–22, 2018 35

RECOGNIZING HOWLNCVARIATIONS EXPOSE OLYM-PIAOYSTER POPULATIONS TO THERMALRISKJohn AdamsSound Fresh Clams and Oysters, SE 222 Sells Dr, Shelton,

Washington 98584 [email protected] 18.6 year Lunar Nodal Cycle (LNC) shapes ecological con-

ditions and changes risk factors for intertidal organisms. The 2024LNC maximum presents as many as 40 low tides lower than a -2.5tide level. This is in contrast to the 2014 LNCminimumwhich pre-sented 4 low tides lower than the -2.5 level. The ten-fold increasein low tide exposure to summer and winter temperature extremesexploits the thermal vulnerabilities of Olympia oyster populations.Additionally, the LNC creates dramatic differences in current ve-locities, estuary flushing rates, and air/water temperatures thusimpacting estuary ecologies. With these, conditions, one can con-clude that multiple thermal events in the years centered upon the2024 LNCmax will result in a 70%mortality of the Olympia oysterpopulations above the -1.3 tide level.

USE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLE PROCESSORFOR NEAR-REAL TIME DETECTION OF HARMFULALGAL SPECIES AND DOMOIC ACID IN THE PACIFICNORTHWESTNicolaus G. Adams1*, Stephanie K. Moore1, John B. Mickett2,Tina Mikulski3, Gregory J. Doucette3, and James M. Birch4

1NOAA-Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725Montlake Blvd. E., Seattle, Washington, 98112 USA

2University of Washington, Applied Physics Laboratory, 1013NE 40th St., Seattle, Washington, 98105 USA

3NOAA-National Ocean Service, National Centers for CoastalOcean Science, 219 Fort Johnson Rd., Charleston, South Carolina,29412 USA

4Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, 7700 SandholdtRd., Moss Landing, California 95039 [email protected] of shellfish harvesting in the Pacific Northwest (PNW)

due to harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins can occur with littlewarning and result in significant economic losses to shellfish grow-ers and coastal communities. The Environmental Sample Pro-cessor (ESP) is an in situ, autonomous robotic platform that cancollect water samples and conduct quantitative harmful algal celland toxin analyses in near real-time. In 2012 and 2013, the ESPwas deployed shore side at shellfish beds in Puget Sound and in2016 and 2017, the ESP was installed on an open-water mooring~15 miles off the Washington State coast. Harmful algal (e.g., Al-exandrium spp., Pseudo-nitzschia spp.) and bacterial targets (e.g.,Vibrio, Bacteroides) were detected with DNA- and RNA-based

methodologies, while the neurotoxin domoic acid was detected us-ing an antibody-based assay. Low densities/concentrations (e.g., 5ng/L domoic acid) were detected, demonstrating the ability of theESP to identify HAB and their toxins before they impact shellfishand threaten public health or economic interests. Near-real timedata were distributed to end-users through the PNW regional oceanobserving system (NANOOS) of the Integrated Ocean ObservingSystem. In 2017, ESP data were incorporated into the PNW HABBulletin, a synthesis of HAB risk to inform management decisionsto protect shellfish resources and coastal communities. The ESPplatform can be expanded to include new HAB species and toxinsin the PNW, such as Azadinium spp. or Dinophysis spp. and diar-rhetic shellfish toxins, making it a powerful tool for detecting HABof emerging importance in the region.

USE OF A QPCR ASSAY TO DETECT THE TREMATODE,PROCTOECES MACULATUS, IN WATER COLUMN SAM-PLESM. Victoria Agnew*, Abigail Scro, and Roxanna SmolowitzAquatic Diagnostic Laboratory, Roger Williams University, 1

Old Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island 02809 [email protected] digenetic trematode, Proctoeces maculatus, is known to in-

fect the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis. Recent data collected by thislab demonstrates a strong relationship between severity of infec-tions and mortality events, which may both increase with risingseawater temperatures. P. maculatus is known to have a multi-hostlife cycle. The cercaria produced in an intermediate host leavesthe host and enters the water column to infect various fish species,their definitive host. Theoretically, this migration would lead toan increase of trematodes in the water column. Additionally, eggsand the second life stage of the parasite, miracidia, are releasedinto the water column with the fish feces. The ability to detect andquantify the relative abundance of P. maculatus in water samplescould make it possible to better understand, monitor and managemass mortality outbreaks in blue mussel culture. Multiple primerpairs were designed to target the 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) ofP. maculatus to be used in a quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR). These primers resulted in false amplification of speciesother than P. maculatus. A published primer pair targeting the 18SrDNA region was also used that was capable of detecting a sin-gle cercaria in one liter of water without false amplification. Watersamples collected in the summer of 2016 near mussel beds wererun in this assay.Although water collection methods require furtherstudy, initial results show this is a promising assay to accuratelydetect P. maculatus in water samples.


Speakers will address: efforts towards understanding the epi-genetic mechanisms associated with exposure of Pacific whiteshrimp, Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei to acute hepatopancre-atic necrosis disease (AHPND)-causing Vibrio spp. and microbialtransgenes; epigenetic re-programming upon foreign (viral) DNAinvasion into cells; viral diseases of shrimp [white spot syndromevirus (WSSV), infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosisvirus (IHHNV)], understanding the molecular basis of susceptibil-ity to WSSV in shrimp, WSSV-like element, DNAV-1_LVa, in SPFL. vannamei domesticated in the United States; polymorphisms inRTE-3_LVa non-LTR retrotransposon of SPF L. vannamei from theUnited States: its association with the Penaeus monodon endoge-nous virus IHHNV fromAfrica andAustralia; the PirAB toxin-pro-ducing genes of Vibrio spp. have a function similar to the Bacil-lus thuringiensis Cry proteins; Transposase DDE domain and N-6DNA Methylase family proteins as potential epigenetic marks ofpathogenicAHPND-causing Vibrio spp. fromAsia and LatinAmer-ica; and a global pathogen surveillance system based on real-time,informed genomic sequencing technologies; the microbiome of thePacific whiteleg shrimp (L. vannamei) in wild, aquacultured andAHPND/EMS outbreak conditions; evaluation of marine bacteriaand their potential use as feed additive and probiotic agent againstpathogenic V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND) in white shrimp L. van-namei; and efforts towards a genomics-informed, real-time, globalpathogen surveillance system. A group discussion will follow.

BASIC RESEARCH NEEDED TO PRODUCE HEALTHYSHRIMP:APUBLICLYAVAILABLE, FULLY-ASSEMBLED,REFERENCE GENOME FROM THE FIRST SPECIFICPATHOGEN-FREE (SPF) DOMESTICATED STOCKS OFPENAEUS (LITOPENAEUS) VANNAMEI IN THE UNITEDSTATES IS A PRIORITYAcacia Alcivar-Warren1,2* and ShrimpENCODE collaborators

1The Shrimp Epigenome (ShrimpENCODE) Project, Environ-mental Genomics Inc., P.O. Box 196, Southborough, Massachu-setts 01772 USA

2Fundacion para la Conservacion de la Biodiversidad Acuaticay Terrestre (FUCOBI), Quito, [email protected] of shrimp aquaculture genomics, genetics and breeding

will be presented. Evidence of horizontal gene transfer, horizontaltransfer of transposons, genome rearrangements, and genome sizevariation will be discussed, with comments on the current genomeassembly of Litopenaeus vannamei published by Abdelrahman etal. [BMC Genomics (2017) 18:191], particularly considering theserious Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND), alsoknown as Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), caused by Vibrio spp.The presence of a fossilized white spot virus (WSSV)-like el-

ement in the genome of the first SPF L. vannamei domesticated in

ONE HEALTH EPIGENOMICS AND MICROBIOMES:FROM SOILTO PEOPLEWORKSHOPAcacia Alcivar-WarrenONE HEALTH Epigenomics – AGlobal Educational Initiative,

Environmental Genomics Inc., P.O. Box 196, Southborough, Mas-sachusetts 01772 [email protected] ‘ONE HEALTH Epigenomics andMicrobiomes: From Soil

to People’ workshop focus on application of the holistic conceptof ONE HEALTH to conserve healthy ecosystems (agriculturalsoil, sediment of mangroves forests), to maintain healthy animals(shrimp/shellfish, fish), to protect human health long-term (antibi-otic resistance, zoonoses, obesity, diabetes, microcephaly and otherneural tube defects, among others).Speakers will address issues related to research projects planned

for 2017-2027, discussed at the ‘ONE HEALTH Epigenomics andMicrobiomes: From Soil to People’ Symposium held in Framing-ham, MA, March 16-18, 2017. Topics include: Present status ofmangrove ecosystems in Mexico; MangroveENCODE: developingtechnologies for assessment of C02, microbiome, EDCs and mi-crobial transgenes in mangroves sediments and agricultural soil;Transposable elements of specific pathogen-free (SPF) Litope-naeus vannamei - review of horizontal transfer of transposons;The NonLTR-1_LVa non-LTR retrotranspon of SPF L. vannameiis homologous to the NLRS non-LTR retrotransposon associatedwith abdominal segment deformity disease (ASDD) of cultivatedshrimp; Oligomerization patterns of PirA and PirB causing AH-PND and its interaction with the membrane components of theepithelial cells of the shrimp hepatopancreas; Shrimp Scampi: aCitizen Science project to examine glyphosate and other EDCs inshrimp sold at US supermarkets; Seafood safety and food security– who is in charge?; ChildrenENCODE: epigenetic mechanismsassociated with EDCs in shrimp and people from estuaries - a casestudy of metals associated with congenital malformations of chil-dren of the Santa Elena peninsula of Ecuador; and Basic researchneeded to produce healthy shrimp. A group discussion will follow.

SHRIMP EPIGENOME (SHRIMPENCODE) PROJECTSESSIONACACIAALCIVAR-WARRENEnvironmental Genomics Inc., P.O. Box 196, Southborough,

Massachusetts 01772 [email protected] ‘ShrimpENCODE’ session focus on application of the ho-

listic concept of ONE HEALTH to conserve healthy ecosystems(agricultural soil, sediment of mangroves forests and wetlands), tomaintain healthy animals (shrimp/shellfish, fish), to protect humanhealth long-term (antibiotic resistance, zoonoses, obesity, diabetes,microcephaly and other neural tube defects, among others).


SHRIMPENCODE (2017-2027): TRANSPOSABLE ELE-MENTS OF THE ORIGINAL SPECIFIC PATHOGEN-FREE(SPF) SHRIMP, PENAEUS (LITOPENAEUS) VANNAMEI,DOMESTICATED IN THE UNITED STATES – REVIEWOFHORIZONTAL TRANSFER OF TRANSPOSONS (HTT) AS-SOCIATEDWITH SHRIMPDISEASESAcacia Alcivar-Warren* and ShrimpENCODE Project Collab-oratorsThe Shrimp Epigenome (ShrimpENCODE) Project, Environ-

mental Genomics, Inc., Massachusetts, [email protected] goal of ShrimpENCODE is to understand the epigenetic

mechanisms associated with susceptibility of L. vannamei to acutehepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND). It was proposed thattransposition of mobile genetic elements [transposable elements(TEs)], among AHPND-causing Vibrio spp. occurs via horizontaltransfer (HGT) of transposase (Tpase), of transposons (HTT), andtransgenerational epigenetic inheritance. To test this hypothesis, afully-assembled reference genome sequence was needed. HMWDNA from the original SPF stocks of L. vannamei, developed bythe USMarine Shrimp Farming Program was subject to pilot wholegenome sequencing using 20K PacBio SMRTCell libraries andrunning on Pacific Bioscience RSII platform with P5 chemistry.Approximately 55% of the assembled 9.6 Mb is repetitive se-

quences, of which ~50% is simple or satellite sequences, AT-rich(GC%=15.5), other half is interspersed transposons, GC-rich(GC%=45.3). 110 TEs were characterized from 2 LTR retrotrans-poson clades [Gypsy, BEL], 9 non-LTR retrotransposons [RTE, Pe-nelope, CR1, Jockey, Ingi, Nimb, Proto2, Vingi, SINE, NonLTR], 6DNA transposons [Harbinger, Mariner, MuDRx, Polinton, Piggy-back, Merlin], 2 Satellite sequences, 4 TEs, 11 DNA transposons,and a WSSV-like DNAV-1_LVa element. Sequences are depositedin Repbase Reports 2015, Vol 15(4); www.girinst.org.Two non-LTR retrotransposons are associated with shrimp dis-

eases: RTE-3_LVa is associated with the P. monodon endogenousvirus IHHNV (DQ228358); NonLTR-1_LVa with ASDD of cul-tured L. vannamei from Thailand; they are not horizontally trans-ferred. 16 L. vannamei TE families are likely to be involved in HTTevents; transcripts involved in HTT events may play roles in antivi-ral immunity. L. vannamei transcript FE114166 may originate fromGypsy family (Gypsy-22_GM-I) of soybean, Glycine max.

the United States will be used to highlight the need for a publiclyavailable, fully-assembled, new reference genome sequence fromthe first domesticated stocks of L. vannamei. Recommendationsfor basic research needed to produce healthy shrimp will be madeon behalf of shrimp geneticists, breeders, animal welfare and foodsafety advocates, and experts on genomics and epigenetics.A group discussion will follow about distribution of tissue or

DNA samples from the original SPF broodstock used in the breed-ing program of the US Marine Shrimp Farming Program fundedby the USDA.

SHRIMPENCODE (2017-2027): TOWARDS UNDERSTAND-ING THE EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS AND TRANS-GENERATIONAL INHERITANCE ASSOCIATED WITHEXPOSURE OF SPF SHRIMP, PENAEUS (LITOPENAE-US) VANNAMEI, TO ACUTE HEPATOPANCREATIC NE-CROSIS DISEASE (AHPND)-CAUSING VIBRIO SPP. ANDMICROBIAL TRANSGENE INSECTICIDE, BACILLUSTHURINGIENSISAcacia Alcivar-Warren* and ShrimpENCODE collaboratorsThe Shrimp Epigenome (ShrimpENCODE) Project, Environ-

mental Genomics Inc., P.O. Box 196, Southborough, Massachu-setts 01772 [email protected] hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), also known

as early mortality syndrome (EMS), causes significant economiclosses to the shrimp industry worldwide. AHPND began in Chinain 2009 and spread quickly to Vietnam (2010), Malaysia (2011),Thailand (2012), Mexico (2013), and Ecuador (2015). The diseaseaffects both Penaeus monodon and Litopenaeus vannamei, charac-terized by mass mortalities (up to 100%) during the first 20-30 daysof culture (post-stocking in grow-out ponds). Clinical signs includeslow growth, corkscrew swimming, loose shells, as well as palecoloration, abnormal hepatopancreas (shrunken, small, swollen ordiscolored). To date, very limited information is available on thegenomic and epigenetic mechanisms associated with Vibrio spp.that causeAHPND in the most economically important farmed spe-cies, the Pacific white shrimp, L. vannamei.AHPND-causing Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. campbellii

contain a conjugative plasmid with the transposon Tn6264, alsoknown as PirAB-Tn903, that codes for PirAB toxins that are similarin function to the Cry proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). ATn3-like transposon is also present in Vp strains from Latin America.A review of the scientific literature on health considerations as-

sociated with horizontal transfer of microbial transgenes (Bacillusthuringiensis, Agrobacterium tumefaciens) will be presented. Theproposed hypothesis and experimental designs to study the epigen-etic mechanisms and transgenerational inheritance of susceptibilityto AHPND will be discussed.


TRANSPOSASE DDE DOMAINS AND N-6 DNA METH-YLASE FAMILY PROTEINS AS POTENTIAL EPIGENE-TIC MARKS OF PATHOGENIC VIBRIO SPP. FROM ASIA(CHINA, VIETNAM, THAILAND) AND LATIN AMERICA(MEXICO, ECUADOR) THAT CAUSEACUTE HEPATOPA-NCREATIC NECROSIS DISEASE (AHPND) IN SHRIMPAcacia Alcivar-Warren1,2, Bruno Gomez-Gil3, Sonia Soto-Ro-driguez3, Zhenkang Xu1, and Daniela Espinoza2*

1The Shrimp Epigenome (ShrimpENCODE) Project, Environ-mental Genomics Inc., P.O. Box 196, Southborough, Massachu-setts 01772 USA

2Programa ‘UNA SALUD / ONE HEALTH Epigenomics andMicrobiomes: Somos lo que comemos / We are what we eat’, FU-COBI Foundation, Quito, Ecuador

3Centro de Investigacion enAlimentacion y Desarrollo (CIAD),AC Mazatlán Unit for Aquaculture AP 711, Mazatlán, Sinaloa,México [email protected] (Tpases) cleave the ends of transposons, mediat-

ing the spread of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes amongbacteria. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and DNA methylationcontribute significantly to virulence development of Vibrio para-haemolyticus, but limited information is available on genomic andepigenetic mechanisms associated with Vibrio spp. that cause acutehepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in Penaeus vannamei.The PirAB toxins in transposon Tn6264 are similar in function toCry proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis. Tn6264 is flanked by IS-Val1-like Tpases with domains DDE_Tnp_1 and DDE_Tnp_1_5(IS5), flanked by N-6 DNAmethylases.A Tn3-like transposon is only in Latin America strains, insert-

ed in an YhgA-like Tpase, contains DDE_Tnp_Tn3 domain and aresolvase. A DNA sequence (Lv1.9b, 739 bp) from ovary of SPFP. vannamei is similar to ISEc63 (Tn3) Tpase, and contains DDE_Tnp_Tn3 and LacZ B-galactosidase domains. Lv1.9b is expressedin P. vannamei from Brazil (JR494595), contains four GATCmotifs. GATC is methylated by DNA adenine methyltransferase(Dam), known to silence transposons in some bacterial genomes.A zinc transporter close to a pathogenic island was HGTed

(IS91) to Vp strain from China, providing fitness for Vp. IS91(Zn-binding domain) transposes when Zn levels in water are verylow, interactions withAHPND strains suggest metal complexes arepotential virulence mechanism. IS91 locates upstream of N-6 DNAmethylase. When the combined IS91, DNA Methylase and Tpasesequences of Tn6264 were blasted against WGS databases, theywere only found in pathogenic Vibrio spp., suggesting that bothDNA transposition and DNA methylation enzymes are potentialepigenetic marks for virulence.

THE NONLTR-1_LVA NON-LTR RETROTRANSPON OFSPECIFIC PATHOGEN-FREE (SPF) SHRIMP, LITOPENAE-US VANNAMEI, FROM THE UNITED STATES IS HOMOL-OGOUS TO THE NLRS NON-LTR RETROTRANSPOSONASSOCIATED WITH ABDOMINAL SEGMENT DEFOR-MITY DISEASE (ASDD) OF CULTIVATED SHRIMP FROMTHAILANDAcacia Alcivar-Warren1,2, Weidong Bao3, and Daniela Espino-za2*

1Environmental Genomics, Inc., P.O. Box 196, Southborough,Massachusetts 01772 USA

2UNA SALUD / ONE HEALTH Epigenomics and Microbi-omes Program, FUCOBI Foundation, Quito, Ecuador

3Genetics Information Research Institute, 465 Fairchild Drive,Suite 201, Mountain View, California 94043 [email protected] Segment Deformity Disease (ASDD) of cultivated

Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, from Thailand wasassociated with a partial non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) el-ement (NLRS) (KC179708, 4161 bp). ASDD was initially asso-ciated with the presence of viral-like particles seen by electronmicroscopy in ventral nerve cords of affected shrimp. Using theNLRS probe, in situ hybridization signals were detected in abdomi-nal-ganglion neurons of the distorted abdominal muscles of shrimpwith ASDD, but were not detected in normal shrimp. ASDD ap-pears related to inbreeding and long-term use of eyestalk-ablatedfemale broodstock used in commercial hatcheries, and increasedprevalence in mysis stage offspring from those broodstock.Nucleotides 5-4101 of NLRS are 96% identical to nucleotides

1976-6062 of a young non-LTR family, NonLTR-1_LVa [6180-bp,Bao 2015, Repbase Reports 15(4), 1579], which is reconstructedfrom the original SPF L. vannamei stocks domesticated by the USMarine Shrimp Farming Program in 1992, and used around theworld. NonLTR-1_LVa contains 50% CG, two ORF, and three con-served protein domains: RT_nLTR_like, group_II_RT_mat, andRVT_1 [RT, RNA-dependent DNA polymerase].NonLTR-1_LVa is expressed in L. vannamei transcriptomes

from ovary of intact and ablated females, testis, hepatopancreas,muscle and other tissues of juveniles and adult shrimp, develop-mental stages (nauplius, zoea, mysis, poslarvae), and shrimp ex-posed to environmental stress conditions. Significant identitiesfound in transcriptomes of farmed L. vannamei from Thailand,USA and Brazil; wild L. vannamei and Farfanepenaeus aztecusfrom Mexico; and wild P. monodon and M. japonicus from China.Sequence comparisons of NonLTR clade with those of other Pe-naeid genomes will be presented.


scallops), concentrations from the Pacific Northwest are greaterthan values reported for shellfish from other regions of the world.BPA: alters DNA methylation, cancer, heart conditions. Bt resis-tance influences histone acetylation, DNA methylation, miRNAsin resistant and susceptible larvae, repress genes that confer Bt sus-ceptibility.

FAMILY-BASED GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR TETRA-PLOID CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA AND BREEDING IM-PLICATIONSStandish K. Allen, Jr.1*, J.M. Small1, and Peter D. Kube2

1Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Aquaculture Genetics andBreeding Technology Center, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062USA

2CSIROAgriculture Flagship, Hobart, 7000, [email protected] of triploids Crassostrea virginica is popular in the

mid-Atlantic and increasingly along the East and Gulf coast of theUSA. Production of triploids is driven by the availability of tet-raploid brood stock to commercial hatcheries. The AquacultureGenetics and Breeding Technology Center (ABC) has been tryingto determine the important traits to emphasize for tetraploids in ourbreeding program. Past research has focused on aspects of chromo-some instability (CIN) and its contribution to either triploid pro-duction or tetraploid propagation.Recently,ABC has begun a family based breeding program with

tetraploids in order to partition the genetic components of traits,not only the “usual suspects,” such as growth and survival, butalso traits concerning CIN. For example, from within and among4n families we obtain information on relative DNA content (theamount of DNA in a tetraploid compared to a diploid standard asmeasured by flow cytometry), extent of mosaicism, and sex ratio.These data are treated as traits in standard ASREML analysis.From the first set of data from the field from tetraploid fami-

lies, heritabilities for length, total weight, meat weight and survivalare relatively high, ranging from 0.52-0.73. Heritabilities for CINtraits were variable. For example, h2 for relative DNA content washigh, 0.68. Heritability for the degree to which a family becomesa heteroploid mosaic was low, 0.16. There was a strong negativegenetic correlation between reversion intensity and morphometrictraits (length, total weight, and meat weight) demonstrating thedetrimental effects of CIN. The appropriateness of using diploidASERMLmodels for tetraploids will be discussed.

CHILDRENENCODE (2017-2027): REVIEW OF EPIGEN-ETIC MECHANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH ENDOCRINEDISRUPTING CHEMICALS (GLYPHOSATE, METALS, BI-SPHENOL A) AND MICROBIAL TRANSGENE BACILLUSTHURINGIENSIS IN SHELLFISH AND PEOPLE FROMESTUARIES: A CASE STUDY OF METALS ASSOCIAT-ED WITH MICROCEPHALY AND OTHER CONGENITALMALFORMATIONS IN CHILDREN FROM THE SANTAELENAPENINSULAOF ECUADORDiego Alejandro-Tigrero1, Karina Alejandro-Rosales1, KelvinMolina-Vasquez1*, Daniela Espinoza1, Ana Lucia Matute1,Ryan Hutchins2, Allison Berardi2, Sruthi Tanikella2, MarthaReyes2, Ayron Zambrano1, CristhianArgandoña1, MiriamAlci-var-Arteaga1, Chika Ikeogu3, E.T. Asogwa3, S.M. Obodoefuna3,Chinnaiah Amutha4, Karol Alarcon1, Sara Zambrano-Basur-to2, Acacia Alcivar-Warren1,2

1The Coastal People Epigenome (ChildrenENCODE) Proj-ect, UNA SALUD / ONE HEALTH Epigenomics: Somos lo quecomemos / We are what we eat’ Program, FUCOBI Foundation,Quito, Ecuador

2ONE HEALTH Epigenomics Educational Initiative, Environ-mental Genomics Inc., P.O. Box 196, Southborough Massachu-setts, 01772 USA

3 Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Department of Fisheries andAquaculture, Awka. Nigeria

4School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University,Madurai-625 021, Tamilnadu, [email protected] goal of ChildrenENCODE is to understand epigenetic

mechanisms underlying exposure effects to endocrine disruptingchemicals (EDC). About 800 coastal people participated in a pilotproject to assess consumption habits and health status, includingpeople from Santa Elena where ~270 cases of neural tube defects(NTD) in children were documented. Most (~100) NTD were an-encephaly, also microcephaly, cyclopia, others. NTD causation in-volves interplay of fetal genes, environmental factors, epigeneticsdetermining susceptibility. Eight of 30 metals in hair of 14 mothersof NTD children had levels above maximum allowed.Glyphosate (G) causes microcephaly in chicken embryos, is

also antimicrobial, biocide. As, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb levels are high inG-based pesticide formulations. Roundup (G) has a direct effect ongut microbiota, changed susceptibility of E. coli and S. enterica tomultiple antibiotics. PirAB toxins in Vibrio spp. that causeAHPNDin shrimp are similar in function to Cry proteins of Bacillus thuring-iensis (Bt), also used to control mosquitos (microcephaly-associat-ed Zika). G and Bt are used in shrimp farms near estuaries.Epigenetic mechanisms associated with G, metals, Bisphenol A

(BPA), Bt: G induces DNAmethylation in human cells. Cd: globalDNA hypermethylation in gastropods, gene-specific hypomethyla-tion cancer, kidney disease. As: hypomethylation, cancer diabetes.Cd and other metals are found in shellfish (oysters, mussels, clams,


3Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 702 Navigation Circle,Rockport, Texas 78382 USA

4Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 601 Channelview, PortArthur, Texas 77640 [email protected] declines in abundance of blue crabs, Callinectes sapi-

dus, throughout the species range have driven progressive man-agement, including protection of spawning females by establish-ing “no-take” zones on the Atlantic coast. To date, no-take zoneshave not been established in the western Gulf of Mexico, althoughannual closures associated with mitigation of derelict traps existin both Texas and Louisiana. Long-term fishery-independent datacollected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department were usedto assess spatial and seasonal distribution of spawning females inorder to inform future evaluations of no-take areas in Texas. Thepresence of spawning females was modeled statistically by usingwater quality and spatial variables as predictors. Distance to thenearest Gulf pass was the most reliable predictor of presence, ac-counting for over 43% of the deviance observed in models fromtwo independent sampling eras. Salinity and temperature were alsoreliable predictors, and the values of salinity and temperature thatwere associated with peak presence remained consistent over anapproximately 30-year span despite increasing mean annual valuesof both variables through time. Peak presence in spawning groundsnow occurs in early spring (March–April), contrasting with histor-ical peak presence in the summer (June–July). These data implyseasonal shifts in spawning behavior despite relative spatial consis-tency through time, suggesting that Gulf pass areas would be idealfor protection of spawning blue crabs via no-take zones if such ameasure is deemed necessary.

SHELLFISH LEASING AND PERMITTING: CASE STUD-IES FOR OVERCOMING COMMON LEGALBARRIERSElizabeth AndrewsVirginia Coastal Policy Center, William & Mary Law School,

PO Box 8795, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187 [email protected] today face challenges such as a state permitting

landscape that can be confusing and complicated, and waterfrontuse conflicts that can arise due to the growth of the shellfish indus-try in highly populated coastal areas. This presentation will featuretwo case studies highlighting these issues and potential solutionsthat can be used to advance aquaculture.The first case study concerns the development of a quick-use

guide for novice aquaculturists in Virginia. The guide will discussissues such as operation startup costs, the process for determiningavailable locations for aquaculture, fulfillment of bonding require-ments, filling out state and federal forms, and responsibilities asso-ciated with aquaculture farming.

VARIABLE SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL OCEAN CONDI-TIONS IMPACT PHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OFBIVALVES IN PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON, USALindsay Alma*1, Courtney Fiamengo1, Simone Alin2, MollyJackson1,3, and Jacqueline Padilla-Gamino1

1University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ences, 1122 NE Boat St., Seattle, Washington 98195 USA

2National Oceanic andAtmosphericAdministration/Pacific Ma-rine Environmental Laboratory (NOAA/PMEL), 7600 Sand PointWay NE, Seattle, Washington 98115 USA

3Taylor Shellfish Hatchery, 701 Broadspit Rd., Quilcene, Wash-ington 98376 [email protected] change stressors such as hypoxia, ocean acidification,

salinity, and thermal stress can heavily affect marine invertebratephysiological performance, survival, metabolism, and shell integ-rity. The Pacific Coast of North America has already experiencedchanges in ocean patterns and these conditions are expected toworsen in the near-future as more carbon dioxide is added to the at-mosphere at an exponential rate. The results of this project explorehow key bivalve physiological performance metrics are impactedby variations in depth and season, specifically in two economical-ly and ecologically important species, the Mediterranean mussel(Mytilus galloprovincialis), and the purple-hinge rock scallop(Crassodoma gigantea). Organisms were held at two depths (5 mand 30 m) for six months within the Puget Sound, Washington andallowed to acclimate to different environmental regimes. Results ofthis study reveal that both species had significantly greater growthrates at the 5 m depth in warmer summer months. Shell integrityof mussels was significantly impacted by both depth and season ofcollection, while scallop shells were only affected by season andnot depth of acclimation. Finally, the standard metabolic rate ofboth species was heavily impacted by laboratory thermal stresstreatments, namely those acclimated to 30 m; however, there wereno significant differences between groups with varying pH labora-tory treatments. These results have contributed to our understand-ing of seasonal variation on oceanographic conditions and theireffects on bivalve performance at multiple levels.

ENVIRONMENTAL DRIVERS OF THE SPATIAL ANDTEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF SPAWNING BLUECRABS, CALLINECTES SAPIDUS, IN THE WESTERNGULFOFMEXICOJoel Anderson1, Zachary Olsen2, Tom Wagner3*, Carey Gelpi4,and Darin Topping3

1Texas Parks &Wildlife Department, Perry R Bass Marine Fish-eries Research Station, 3864 FM 3280, Palacios, Texas 77465 USA

2Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit5845, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412 USA


The second case study focuses on the relationship betweenaquaculturists, homeowners, the state regulatory agency, and leg-islators in Virginia, focusing on the events surrounding the resur-gence of aquaculture in the Lynnhaven River as water quality hasimproved. The case study will feature successful communicationbetween groups, problems still unresolved, changes in statutory re-quirements in response to the situation, and future steps to improvecommunication and cooperation between the varying groups.

COMPARISON OF GROWTH CURVES OF THE GEO-DUCK, PANOPEA GLOBOSA, FROM FOUR FISHINGZONES IN NORTHWESTERN MEXICOE. Alberto Aragón-Noriega1*, Rolando Cruz-Vásquez2, SergioG. Castillo-Vargasmachuca2, Guillermo Rodríguez-Domín-guez3, Edgar Alcántara-Razo1, Jesús T. Ponce-Palafox2, and J.Armando López-Sánchez2

1Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Unidad So-nora. Km 2.35 Camino al Tular, Estero Bacochibampo, Guaymas,Sonora 85454, Mexico

2Posgrado en Ciencias Biológico Agropecuarias, UniversidadAutónoma de Nayarit, Carretera Tepic-Compostela Km 9 Xalisco,Nayarit 63780, Mexico

3Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Facultad de Ciencias delMar, Paseo Claussen S/N, Col. Los Pinitos, Mazatlán, Sinaloa82000, [email protected] Kimura’s likelihood ratio test was used to compare growth

curves of Panopea globosa from four fishing zones in Northwest-ern Mexico, three inside the Gulf of California (Guaymas, PuertoPeñasco, and San Felipe), and one in the Pacific coast of southernBaja California Peninsula (Bahía Magdalena). The curves weregenerated using the von Bertalanffy growth model. The lengths-at-age data for each location were obtained from fishery-independentdata each location. The average asymptotic lengths were 114.4 mm,156.6 mm, 161.5 mm, and 168.4 mm, respectively, for each loca-tion in the order listed above. These findings provided good evi-dence that the largest individuals are present in the northern fishingzones and the Pacific coast there were no significant differences inlength between them. The location from the central Gulf of Cal-ifornia was the shortest with a significant difference in length atthe others three sites. Because the fishing management strategy forthis species uses the minimum legal size (MLS), the conclusion isthat MLS should be regionally different to achieve a sustainableexploitation.

DO PARASITES OF THE GENUS MIKROCYTOS PRESENTA RISK FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SHELLFISH IN EU-ROPE?Isabelle Arzul*1, Coralie Lupo1, Marc Engelsma2, and CélineGarcia1

1Ifremer, SG2M-LGPMM, av de Mus de Loup, 17390 La Trem-blade, France

2Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, P.O. Box 65, 8200 ABLelystad, The [email protected] many years, Mikrocytos mackini had been the only repre-

sentative of the genus Mikrocytos. Its geographic range appearsrestricted to the west coast North America. It has never been re-ported in Europe. Parasites similar to M. mackini have recentlybeen observed in bivalve species in different parts of the world.Such parasites have notably been detected during mortality eventsin oysters and clams in Europe. A new species, M. mimicus, hasbeen described in cupped oysters, Crassostrea gigas, in the UnitedKingdom and The Netherlands. Two additional species, M. donaxiandM. veneroïdes have also been characterized from clams, Donaxtrunculus, in France.The presence of the genus Mikrocytos in Europe questions its

potential risks for the local shellfish production. An exercise hasbeen undertaken in order to identify zones suitable for M. macki-ni introduction and spread in Charente Maritime, the main oysterproducing area in France. Geographical data were obtained for riskfactors identified from the literature and prioritized based on ex-perts’ opinion. This study has estimated that the risk of introductionof M. mackini is low whereas there is a high risk of establishmentof the infection in February to March in few areas.The detection of several Mikrocytos species in Europe in the

context of bivalve mortality and the identification of suitable sitesfor the establishment of infection of M. mackini suggest that theseparasites present a risk for the shellfish production and highlightthe need for an active surveillance regarding this parasite genus atthe European level.

SHELLFISH INDUSTRY IN EU:AN EXERCISE OFSTAKE-HOLDERS MAPPINGIsabelle Arzul1, Jean Prou1, Estelle Delangle1, Paola Venier2,Deborah Cheslett3, Dolors Furones4, Rebeca Moreira5, RominaVentura4, Antonio Figueras5, Steve Feist6, and Coralie Lupo1

1 IFREMER-SG2M-LGPMM-av de Mus de Loup, 17390 LaTremblade-France

2Universita Degli Studi Di Padova, Dipartimento di Biologia,Viale Giuseppe Colombo,3 - Via Ugo Bassi,58/B – Padova, Italy

3Marine Institute, Rinville, Galway, Ireland4Investigacion y Technologia Agroalimentarias (IRTA), Crta.

Poble Nou, km. 5’5 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Spain


Area Method are conducted by both state and tribal fisheries man-agers. This method requires water to be pumped from the surf ora nearby lagoon, directed through a handheld PVC wand, and thenused to liquefy the sand within an aluminum ring (½ square meterin area). Razor clams in the area of the ring float to the surface andare removed, measured and returned. This process is repeated alongrandomly selected transects with one transect per mile of suitablerazor clam habitat. The PumpedArea Method provides data used tocalculate the total number (abundance) and size frequency of razorclam populations and divide those into pre-recruit and recruit por-tions of the total population. The individual total allowable catch(TAC) for each of five fishery management areas are set with a goalto maximize harvest opportunities while maintaining stable popu-lations. This is accomplished using a harvest rate dependent on theratio of the current recruit portion of the populations to the Biologi-cal Maximum SustainedYield (BMSY.) In this presentation we willalso review Washington razor clam population and harvest trends.

WHITE SPOT SYNDROME VIRUS-LIKE ELEMENT,DNAV-1_LVA, IN ORIGINAL SPECIFIC PATHOGEN-FREE(SPF) SHRIMP, LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI, DOMESTI-CATED IN THE UNITED STATESWeidong Bao1, Acacia Alcivar-Warren2,3*, Robert Bogden4,Quanzhou Tao4, Suresh Iyer4, Galina Mikhaylenko4, Jon Wit-tendorp4, Amy Mraz4, Evan Hart4, Emily Hatas5, Steven Kuja-wa5, Joan Wilson5, and Karl Voss5

1Genetics Information Research Institute (GIRI), 465 FairchildDrive, Suite 201, Mountain View, California 94043 USA

2UNA SALUD / ONE HEALTH Epigenomics and Microbi-omes Program, Fundacion para la Conservacion de la Biodiversi-dad Acuatica y Terrestre (FUCOBI), Quito, Ecuador

3Environmental Genomics, Inc. (EGI), P.O. Box 196, Southbor-ough, Massachusetts 01772 USA

4Amplicon Express, Pullman, Washington 99163 USA5Pacific Biosciences, Menlo Park, California, [email protected] understand the mechanisms associated with susceptibility of

Litopenaeus vannamei to bacterial and viral diseases, a broodstockof the first specific pathogen-free (SPF) L. vannamei, developed bythe U.S. Marine Shrimp Farming Program, was subject to a pilotwhole genome sequencing using PacBio SMRT method.453,089 subreads were generated from 89,716 genome loci, to-

taling 1.2Gb sequences. ~424Mb (~1/7 of the genome) is reclaimedas non-redundant genomic sequence. More than 330 diverse repet-itive families, including 113 DNA tansposons, 94 LTR retrotrans-posons, 75 Non-LTR retrotransposons, 17 satellite sequences, andsome 27 unclassified repeats were found. Remarkably, a family ofwhite spot syndrome virus (WSSV)-like sequences is identified,

5Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) Insti-tuto de Investigaciones Marinas, Rúa de Eduardo Cabello, 6, 36208Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain

6Cefas, Weymouth Laboratory, Barrack Road, The Nothe, Wey-mouth, Dorset. DT4 8UB, United [email protected] European project VIVALDI (PreVenting and mItigating

farmed bivalve DIseases) aims at increasing the sustainabilityand competitiveness of the shellfish industry in Europe, devel-oping tools and approaches with a view to better preventing andcontrolling marine bivalve diseases. In order to improve thedialogue among the parties affected by shellfish diseases and todisseminate results of the project, a mapping of stakeholders hasbeen undertaken. Two distinct online cross-sectional surveys wereconducted. The first survey was aimed at identifying all potentialstakeholders and their perceptions regarding shellfish diseases anddisease management measures. The second survey evaluated thenature and intensity of the relationships between stakeholders. Thesurveys were edited in five languages: English, French, Spanish,Catalan and Italian. Seven categories of stakeholders were iden-tified: politicians; public institutions; education/training organisa-tions; research organisations; knowledge transfer and technologicaldevelopment organisations or individual experts; shellfish industryand related sectors; and, finally, society including NGO and media.Shellfish diseases appear as a major issue and have an important

impact, generally negative, on stakeholders’ activities. Preventingand mitigating bivalve diseases seem possible for most of the re-spondents which take part in different actions related to the controlof diseases: definition, implementation, application and transfer.Producers are important interlocutors for most of stakeholders.Moreover producers, research and health-related Institutions arethe most connected stakeholders. Results from this analysis caninform an improved risk communication process and the develop-ment of a better targeted communication approach about shellfishdisease management either at the EU and national levels.

RAZOR CLAM (SILIQUA PATULA) SEASON SETTING INWASHINGTON STATEDan L. Ayres* and Clayton E. ParsonWashington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, 48 Devon-

shire Road, Montesano, Washington 98563 [email protected] intertidal populations of the Pacific razor clam (Si-

liqua patula) are found along the Washington Pacific Ocean coast.Fisheries managers annually take specific steps to insure the sus-tainability of the large and economically important recreationaland commercial fisheries that are dependent on these populations.During the summer fishery closure, assessments using the Pumped


SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL POPULATION VARIABILITYIN INTERTIDALCLAMSJulie S. Barber1*, Casey P. Ruff2, James T. McArdle1, Lindy L.Hunter1, Camille Speck3, Douglas Rogers3, and Courtney M.Greiner1

1Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Fisheries Department,11426 Moorage Way, La Conner, Washington 98257 USA

2Skagit River System Cooperative, 11426 Moorage Way, LaConner, Washington 98257 USA

3Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 375 HudsonStreet, Port Townsend, Washington 98368 [email protected] long-term datasets can be particularly useful for pars-

ing out factors influencing populations, few studies have utilizedcontinuous datasets to quantify population synchrony in bivalvemollusks. Dynamic factor analysis was used on a clam biomassdataset spanning 28 years and four distinct regions in the southernSalish Sea to determine (1) if native intertidal clam populationsexhibit spatial or temporal coherence and (2) what environmentalcovariates influence population trends. The model with the mostdata support included three predominant trends to describe decadalchange in mean clam biomass. Results demonstrate that intertid-al clam population coherence can vary spatially and temporallyby species. Intraspecific coherence was the highest in Leukomastaminea, followed by Saxidomus gigantea, with lowest synchronyin Clinocardium nuttallii. Population dynamics on three beaches(two in Hood Canal and one in Admiralty Inlet) showed similartemporal trends regardless of species. No other beaches showedsynchrony in temporal trends across species indicating that spe-cies-specific trends (regardless of location) were more commonthan beach-specific trends (regardless of species). Eight covariateswere evaluated in their ability to explain variability in annual meanbiomass not captured in the latent trends. Of these, the North Pacif-ic Gyre Oscillation lagged four years prior to the observation yearreceived the strongest data support. While this large-scale ocean-ographic factor may play a valuable and previously undescribedrole in population variation of venerid clams, local factors are alsolikely to account for variance not explained by our model.

named as DNAV-1_LVa. The genome of DNAV-1_LVa is ~279-kb,supported by 3-6 copies throughout the whole length, all flankedby the putative telomeric (GGTTA)n. Consequently, ~0.39% of thewhole shrimp genome consists of DNAV-1_LVa. Due to the lowaccuracy of the sequence, 66 hypothetic ORFs are recognized. 15are significantly homologous to WSSV of shrimp (NC_003225.3),and 6 other ORFs show marginal similarity.The shrimp genome exhibits high abundance of repetitive

sequences: at least 55% of the genome is estimated transposonsand other repetitive sequences. Identification of a large fossil WS-SV-like DNA virus in large quantity in shrimp genome not onlyreveals one unidentified lineage of WSSV, consistent with previousreports of fossilized relatives of WSSV in decapod crustacean ge-nomes, it also provides a model for studying the mutual relation-ship between host and pathogen.

QUANTIFYING PARAMETERS OF ECOLOGICALCHANGE BEFORE AND AFTER OLYMPIA OYSTER RES-TORATIONJulie S. Barber1*, Sarah K. Grossman1, Jeffery R. Cordell2,James T. McArdle1, Lindy L. Hunter1, and Courtney M. Grein-er1


2University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ences, Seattle, Washington 98195 [email protected] of oyster beds is important for both rebuilding pop-

ulations of native species and for the reestablishment of biologicalcommunities that co-evolved with these ecosystem engineers. Re-search investigating the biology and ecology of Olympia oysters,Ostrea lurida, has increased over the last decade, but little infor-mation exists on how the reintroduction of this species affects localbiological communities. To address this gap, the Swinomish IndianTribal Community developed a long-term monitoring program toquantify ecological change before and after Olympia oyster res-toration efforts in northern Puget Sound. It was hypothesized thatthe restoration effort would change habitat complexity, resulting inchanges in species abundance and diversity within tidal lagoons.Epifaunal, sessile, and mobile invertebrate surveys were conductedin the spring for two years prior to the reintroduction of Olympiaoysters and for one year following oyster reintroduction; post-oys-ter restoration data collection is planned for the next decade. Siteswere located within tidal lagoons in Skagit and Similk Bays suchthat two lagoons served as the treatment sites (oysters reintroduced)and one served as the control site (no oyster reintroduction). Priorto oyster restoration, epibenthic results show that all three lagoonshave distinct biological communities despite relative proximity.These results highlight the importance of collecting ecological databefore beginning restoration efforts and will serve as a baseline forpost-restoration data comparisons.


2Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, College of William andMary, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062, USA

3Rutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory,6959 Miller Ave, Port Norris, New Jersey 08349 [email protected] how aquaculture practices influence levels of

harmful Vibrios in harvested oysters is of paramount importance tothe oyster aquaculture industry. Results from a regional field studyexamining variation in concentrations of total Vibrio parahaemo-lyticus (Vp), pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus (trh+ Vp and tdh+Vp), and total Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) in oysters grown under inter-tidal or subtidal conditions at low (12-15), moderate (18-25), andhigh (27-35) salinity sites in Delaware and Chesapeake Bays willbe reported. For oysters grown under intertidal conditions, it wasfound that Vibrio concentrations increase with aerial exposure atlow tide, but the magnitude of this increase depends on the Vibriospecies and duration of aerial exposure. Concentrations of patho-genic Vp increased with as little as two hours of exposure to aerialconditions, but only weak evidence for increases in total Vp and Vvover this time frame was found. The maximum duration of aerialexposure for intertidal-cultured oysters at the sampling sites rangedfrom three and a half to four hours, and over this period of expo-sure, levels of total Vpwere found to be approximately two to thirtytimes that of oysters in the subtidal. Levels of trh+ Vp and tdh+ Vpin intertidal oysters sampled at maximum emergence were found tobe two to fifteen and one to ten times that of oysters in the subtid-al. Weaker evidence indicates that emergence at low tide increasesconcentrations of total Vv in oysters. Vibrio concentrations in inter-tidal oysters returned to levels found in subtidal oysters by the fol-lowing tide series, if not sooner. Hence, intertidal farms themselvesdo not present an increased risk with respect to Vibrio concentra-tions. Many aquaculture harvest regulations presently consider thetime of initial aerial exposure as the harvest starting time for oys-ters grown under intertidal conditions, which is supported by thesedata, and growers should be cautious when harvesting intertidaloysters as close to initial aerial exposure as possible.

CENTERING ON FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY UNLOCKSNEAT STUFF FROM THE MOLECULAR TO THE ECO-LOGICALLEVELSPeter G. BeningerLaboratoire de Biologie Marine, Faculté des Sciences, Univer-

sité de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, Nantes, Cedex [email protected] organism is the mid-point on the scale of organization of

life. Centering on this level allows one to extend in both directions– toward both the molecular and the ecosystem levels, concomi-tantly extending the reach of one’s research. Over several decades

OSTREID HERPES VIRUS IN THE UK: DISEASE CHAL-LENGES, SNP-ARRAY DEVELOPMENT, AND A GE-NOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION STUDY FOR HOST RESIS-TANCE IN PACIFIC OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREAGIGAS)Tim P. Bean*1, Alejandro Gutierrez2, Chantelle Hooper1, CraigA. Stenton1, Matthew B. Sanders1, Richard K. Paley1, KarimGharbi3, and Ross D. Houston2

1Cefas Weymouth Laboratory, Barrack Road, Weymouth, UKDT4 8UB

2University of Edinburgh, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick)School of Veterinary Studies, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United King-dom

3University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Genomics,Ashworth Lab-oratories, EH9 3FL, United [email protected] Herpesvirus (OsHV-1) has recently been associated

with sporadic mass mortality events in UK Pacific oysters (Cras-sostrea gigas). Sites along the South coast have suffered varyinglevels of infection with OsHV-1 µVar and, except for the practiceof rigorous biosecurity, there are limited methods through whichshellfish farmers can control the disease; however, shifts in sus-ceptibility of breeding populations have demonstrated that someoysters carry an inherent level of survivability when challenged bythe pathogen, and that this “resistance” is heritable. This study wasdesigned to characterise the genetics of resistance and enhance ef-forts to breed resilient animals. To this end a large-scale controlleddisease challenge of roughly 1000 oysters was performed, andsamples taken from mortalities and survivors for genotyping andfor qPCR measurement of viral loading. Genotypes were analysedby high density single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-chip),which had been developed via whole genome sequencing of C.gigas oysters and sampled from hatcheries and farm locations inthe UK and France. Genetic parameters of OsHV-1 resistance wereestimated and indicate significant, but low heritability for both sur-vival and for viral loading. In addition, genome-wide associationstudies highlight significant QTLs which affect host resistance. Ef-forts will now be made to design and utilise assays to identify theseQTLs in breeding populations and provide a basis for producinganimals with reduced susceptibility to OsHV-1.

THE EFFECTS OFAERIALEXPOSUREAT LOWTIDE ONVIBRIO CONCENTRATIONS IN HARVESTED OYSTERSCULTURED IN THE INTERTIDALTal Ben-Horin1*, Corinne Audemard2, Dave Bushek3, Lisa Cal-

vo3, and Kimberly S. Reece21University of Rhode Island, Department of Fisheries, Animal

and Veterinary Sciences, College of the Environment and Life Sci-ences, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, USA


geographical, seasonal, and interannual variation in the distributionand relative abundance of megalopal and post-settlement juvenilestone crabs inhabiting the Gulf of Mexico off peninsular Floridaand north of the Florida Keys are defined. Then the influences ofthe relative abundance of spawning females, temperature, salinity,depth, distance from shore, habitat, red tide blooms, tropical cy-clones, and ENSO events on the patterns of variation are described.Two principal and two secondary recruitment grounds, stablethrough decades, account for approximately 75% of the YOY stonecrabs recruited in the Florida Gulf. Approximately 65% - 75% ofthe recruits were collected August – October; but with movementsouthward, the timing of the recruitment season shifts to later in theyear and the season’s duration increases. Monthly patterns of rela-tive abundance can differ among locations within a year and amongyears within locations.Water temperature, salinity, depth, and habi-tat are important factors in structuring recruitment. Highest relativeabundances of recruits were collected from sites off large, pristineestuaries in murky water less than 5 m deep, with salinities ranging24 – 36 and temperatures near and at summer high values. Annualvariation in relative abundance was influenced significantly only bythe occurrence of tropical cyclones in the vicinity. Because stonecrabs support an intense fishery throughout the Florida Gulf, re-cruitment grounds and associated estuaries should be protected.

REPRODUCTION IN FEMALE STONE CRABS (GENUSMENIPPE) FROM TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA, USA: INTER-ANNUAL, SEASONAL, AND TEMPERATURE-RELATEDVARIATIONTheresa M. Bert1*, Susan D. Gerhart2, and Charles Crawford1

1Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish andWildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue SE, St. Petersburg,Florida 33701 USA

2National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office,263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 [email protected] of short- and long-term reproductive patterns is basic

for fisheries management. Using data from over 22 years of sam-pling commercially-valuable female stone crabs (genus Menippe)in Tampa Bay, Florida, size-specific inter-annual and intra-annualpatterns in ovarian development and spawning were defined; rela-tionships between the molting cycle and the intra-annual patternswere explored; and the influence of water temperature on those inter-relationships was identified. Frequency of gravid females (frequen-cy-gravid) shifted in multiyear cycles, but frequency of ovigerousfemales (frequency-ovigerous) did not. Frequency-gravid and fre-quency-ovigerous increased with size class except in the largest fe-males. Inter-annual variation in frequency-ovigerous was the productof multiple patterns differing principally between size-class-70 and-80 (mmCW) females and size-class-90 and -100+ females. Ovariandevelopment, spawning, and molting in females of size classes 20-50

of organism-centered research, largely involving functional anato-my, I have been able to discover/elucidate some important biolog-ical phenomena, as well as opening several very active and currentfields of research. What more could a scientist want (besides mon-ey…)? Research case histories from the following fields will bepresented:• Bivalve feeding• Bivalve reproduction• Gastropod reproduction• Crab reproduction• Shorebird feeding

CONTEMPORARY OBSTACLES TO CREDIBILITY INSCIENCEPeter G. BeningerLaboratoire de Biologie Marine, Faculté des Sciences, Univer-

sité de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, Nantes, Cedex [email protected] is a unique approach to understanding the physical

universe. It comprises two complementary types of reasoning: in-ductive and deductive, and three types of methodology: direct ob-servation, empirical, and experimental. Appropriately combiningthese components is not a natural human enterprise; and the centralplace of science in modern civilization is largely due to its suc-cess in medicine and technology, rather than to its ease of practice.The Achilles heel of science is the rest of human cognition, char-acterized by thought processes and behaviours antithecal to sci-ence. These elements have hindered and discredited science fromits outset. In the contemporary world, the credibility of science isplagued most acutely by its instrumentalisation for the advance-ment of power agendas, by faulty reasoning (especially statistical),and by dilution/inactivation due to the massive input of ‘research’which has little or no quality control. These themes will be present-ed, with a view to providing what can only be a difficult ‘solution’.

YOUNG-OF-THE-YEAR STONE CRAB (MENIPPE) RE-CRUITMENT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO OFF FLORIDA:KEY SHALLOW-WATER RECRUITMENT HOTSPOTSTheresa M. Bert*, Charles Crawford, and Colin SheaFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and

Wildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue SE, St. Petersburg,Florida 33701 [email protected] of juvenile recruitment is instrumental for conserv-

ing heavily harvested species and their critical habitats. At multiplehierarchical spatial scales and for multiple stone crab generations,


REEXAMINING BONAMIA OSTREAE IN MAINE FLATOYSTERSLydia M. Bienlien1*, Henry S. Lane2, and Ryan B. Carnegie1

1Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William &Mary, P.O. Box 1346, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062, USA

2Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56,Dunedin 9054, New [email protected] oyster parasite genus, Bonamia, infects numerous hosts

worldwide. These “microcell” protozoans, characteristically in-fecting oyster hemocytes, are directly transmissible among hostsand can cause substantial mortality in oyster fisheries and aquacul-ture, as exemplified by damage caused to European Ostrea edulispopulations following invasion of Bonamia ostreae in the 1970s.Major pathogens, B. ostreae and Bonamia exitiosa, are notifiableto the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and have re-ceived significant research attention. Yet questions remain aboutBonamia biology and ecology, including the evolution of interac-tions with hosts long exposed to the pathogens. In Maine, USA,O. edulis is locally abundant and B. ostreae has been present sinceat least 1991, at prevalences up to 45% and with up to 75% of in-fections reaching advanced moderate to heavy intensities. Oystersfrom Casco Bay, Maine infected with B. ostreae were reanalyzedto determine infection status 17 years after its last assessment. InMay 2017 adult and juvenile O. edulis were collected and eval-uated using PCR diagnostics and histology. Adult oysters had a15% detection prevalence and juveniles a 55% prevalence by PCR.Histologically confirmed prevalence was 10% (67% of these ad-vanced) in adult oysters and 25% (18% advanced) in juveniles. It isclear that B. ostreae persists in Casco Bay, albeit with no indicationof significant host mortality. Results suggest that a modest infectionprevalence, though with a number of these infections developing tohigh intensities, may represent a stable state ensuring reasonablefitness of both host and pathogen populations.

AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF OYSTER AQUACUL-TURE (CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICA) IN GEORGIAThomas Bliss1*, Dominic Guadagnoli2, Jill Andrews2, and MarkRisse3

1University of Georgia, Marine Extension and Georgia SeaGrant, 20 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, Georgia 31411 USA

2Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal ResourcesDivision, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 USA

3Univeristy of Georgia, Marine Extension and Georgia SeaGrant, Chicopee Building No. 1, 1180 East Broad St., Athens,Georgia 30602 [email protected] University of Georgia, Georgia Department of Natural

Resources, and Georgia Department of Agriculture are partners to

occurred principally during peak temperatures (August-September).In females of size classes 70-100+, ovarian development--tightlyand inversely linked to molting--occurred principally February-Au-gust; and spawning--influenced by both water temperature and molt-ing--occurred principally April-September. Size-class-60 femalesexhibited a mosaic of those patterns. Ovarian development andspawning ceased in all size classes when temperature decreased to25oC during October. Other temperatures were associated with ad-ditional shifts in reproduction and molting. Decreases through yearsin frequency-ovigerous of females in size classes 70-110, concomi-tant with increases in frequency-ovigerous of females in size classes50-60, and coupled with possible decreases in size-at-maturity andminimum spawning size, suggest fisheries selection. Shortening har-vesting season by six weeks during the spring would protect femalesduring the first spawning pulse in the spring.

LARGE-SCALEGREENCRABREMOVALASSITEPREPA-RATION FOR EELGRASS RESTORATION EFFORTS INPLACENTIABAY, NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADAKiley Best* and Arnault Le BrisMarine Institute of Memorial University,Centre for Fisheries

Ecosystems Research, 155 Ridge Road, St. John’s, Newfoundland,Canada, A1C [email protected] invasive green crabs were discovered in Placentia Bay,

Newfoundland in 2007 and have established a significant popula-tion. Eelgrass habitat coverage has decreased 50-100% in areas ofPlacentia Bay that are within this invasion range. It has been sur-mised that green crab invasion is one of the major contributors tothe decrease of this ecologically significant species. Eelgrass hab-itat provides nursery habitat for many ecologically and commer-cially important species like Atlantic cod, scallop and Americanlobster. In response to this issue efforts are underway to restoreeelgrass beds to historical coverage in areas of Placentia Bay. Inpreparation for eelgrass restoration and to increase likelihood ofsuccess green crab must be reduced in the areas of interest. Us-ing removal methods established by the Department of Fisheriesand Oceans Canada, green crab removal started in the fall of 2017with an intensive eight week fishery. Ten fisherman with a fleet of70 Fukui pots each fished nine areas, using 12 hours soaks. Over30 metric tons of crabs were removed from the system. Catch perunit of effort did not decrease over the eight weeks but number ofcrab per kilo increased. Many lessons learned in the first season offishing will be assessed and taken into account for planning futureefforts in 2018. As this site maintenance continues for five years,data collected will provide information on population abundance,help define threshold levels for control of target population’s levelsand contribute to recommendations for future control of green crab.


THE EFFECTS OF CRUDE AND REFINED ALGAL-DE-RIVED ANTIVIRAL BIOTHERAPEUTICS ON OSTREIDHERPESVIRUS DEVELOPMENT AND PACIFIC OYSTER(CRASSOSTREAGIGAS) PERFORMANCEB.E. Bookelaar*, S.C. Culloty, and S.A. LynchAquaculture and Fisheries Development Centre, School of Bi-

ological, Earth and Environmental Sciences & Environmental Re-search Institute, University College Cork, Cork, [email protected] species are exposed to artificial and stressful con-

ditions resulting in disease development and even mortalities.Sulphated polysaccharides (SP) are compounds found in seaweedspecies and have been showing positive effects on immune sys-tems in marine vertebrate and invertebrate species. Pacific oystersCrassostrea gigas are important commercial aquaculture speciesworldwide; however, over the past few decades C. gigas havebeen suffering summer mortalities related to a complex aetiologyincluding pathogens like ostreid herpes virus variants (OsHV-1)and Vibrio spp. The future sustainability of the Irish Pacific oysterindustry is dependent on new modified measures and husbandrytechniques. In this study, the impact of seaweed and derivativeson innate immunity and ability to understand OsHV-1 infectionwas assessed through lab based trials. Naïve and naturally patho-gen exposed oysters were exposed to two different seaweed speciesin the lab for 26 days under elevate temperature regime. Resultsindicated that, seaweed species had a positive effect on disease de-velopment of naturally pathogen exposed oysters. Those oystersshowed significant lower prevalence of ostreid herpes virus whenexposed to seaweed species compared to control oysters; however,over the limited study period no significant differences in oysterperformance, like mortality and lysozyme activity were observedbetween the treatments. It would be of high interest to carry out fur-ther studies to test new seaweed species, shorter/longer exposuretimes, different seaweed concentrations, and endorse this approachas a new tool for disease control in Pacific oysters.

POPULATION CYCLES IN CRAB FISHERIESLouis W. BotsfordUniversity of California, Davis, Department of Wildlife, Fish,

and Conservation Biology, One Shields Ave., Davis, California95616 [email protected] crab populations along the US west coast experience

cyclic variability period near 10 years, and cyclic variability withvarious periods also appears in snow crab populations in the Ber-ing Sea and eastern Canada. These cycles could be caused by twodifferent population dynamic mechanisms. Cycles of the type seenin Dungeness crab are of period 2T (T=generation time), require

working to expand shellfish aquaculture industry in Georgia. Aqua-culture in Georgia is dominated by the northern quahog (=hardclam) (Mercenaria mercenaria) and the development of sustain-able single oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is of highest importanceto the Georgia Shellfish GrowersAssociation diversify the shellfishindustry. In 2016, a Blueprint for Georgia Oyster Aquaculture wasdeveloped to start to process and lay the groundwork for develop-ment of oyster aquaculture. An update on the status of the Geor-gia aquaculture industry and changes to the Blueprint for GeorgiaOyster Aquaculture will be provided as Georgia works to transitionfrom an oyster industry based on wild harvest to an aquaculturebased industry.

EVALUATING LIPOSOMES FOR THE DELIVERY OFOXYTETRACYCLINE TO OYSTER LARVAE (CRASSOST-REA GIGAS) AND SUBSEQUENT EFFECTS ON RESIS-TANCE TO VIBRIO CORALLIILYTICUSLianne Blodgett1*, Chris Langdon2, and Matt Hawkyard2

1University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA2Oregon State University, Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment

Station and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Corvallis, Ore-gon 97331, [email protected] leading cause of disease-associated mortality in oyster lar-

viculture is the outbreak of Vibrio spp. Improved methods forpreventing and treating bacterial infections are needed to ensurereliable larval culture. Current treatments used in research oftenrequire dissolving large quantities of antibiotics in culture water, amethod that wastes antibiotics and may promote the developmentof antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, microparticles (lipo-somes) were investigated for the delivery of antibiotics to Pacificoysters (Crassostrea gigas), and the effects of additions of antibiot-ic-liposomes on larval resistance to Vibrio coralliilyticus were de-termined. To measure uptake of liposomes by larval oysters, larvaewere fed fluorescently-labeled liposomes and then examined us-ing an epifluorescent microscope. The fluorescent images revealedthat two-day and nine-day old oyster larvae readily ingested andpartially digested liposomes, liberating water-soluble fluoresceinfrom liposomes into their guts. In addition, oxytetracycline (OTC),a water-soluble antibiotic known to be highly effective against V.coralliilyticus, was successfully encapsulated within liposomes.However, oyster larvae treated with OTC-liposomes and exposedto V. coralliilyticus for 48 hours did not show increased survival.Similarly, while larvae were shown to take up dissolved OTC fromculture water, pre-treatment with dissolved OTC before exposureto V. coralliilyticus did not increase larval survival. Taken together,these results indicate that more research is needed to evaluate theuse of liposomes for treatment of oyster larvae against bacterialinfections. Utilization of liposomes by oyster larvae suggests thatthey may be useful in the delivery of other water-soluble com-pounds, such as dietary supplements, to oyster larvae.


COLLABORATING FOR OYSTER SUSTAINABILITY:COMMUNICATIONS ASSESSMENT AND NETWORKANALYSIS OF RESTORATION STAKEHOLDERS ON THEGULF COASTHannah O. Brown1* and Susan Jacobson2

1University of Florida, School of Natural Resources and Envi-ronment, 103 Black Hall, 1128 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida32611-6455 USA

2University of Florida, Department of Wildlife Ecology andConservation, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, Florida32611-0430 [email protected] restoration projects on the Gulf Coast present a possi-

ble solution to mitigating decreasing oyster populations. To ensurethe success of restoration projects, it is essential to understand thecommunication strategies used by stakeholder groups involved inrestoration projects. This research will analyze how mass mediarepresent stakeholder perspectives, assess the factors that influencenetwork structure among stakeholder groups, map the flow of in-formation between stakeholders, and create an expert-driven set ofcommunication recommendations for future restoration projects.A mixed-methods approach will be used to investigate the socio-logical dynamics of communication between and preferences ofstakeholder groups, including content analyses, a multi-state sur-vey, semi-structured interviews, a social network analysis, and aDelphi panel.

UNDERSTANDING BLUE CRAB, CALLINECTES SAPI-DUS, PATTERNS OF MOVEMENT ALONG A SALINITYGRADIENT WITHIN THE ASHLEY RIVER, CHARLES-TON, SOUTH CAROLINA, USAJeff Brunson*, Michael Kendrick, Stephen Czwartacki, andPeter Kingsley-SmithSouth Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR),

217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29422, [email protected] its life stages, the Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapi-

dus) occupies a diversity of habitats with different environmen-tal characteristics, particularly in regards to salinity. Within thisbroader distribution, temporal and spatial segregation by size, sex,and reproductive status have been observed and are reflected in adynamic commercial blue crab fishery in South Carolina. Mon-itoring of blue crab populations by the SCDNR has historicallyfocused on year-round trawl and fall commercial-style crab potsampling. Crab pot sampling is effective at capturing larger sub-adult and adult crabs and allows for sampling of habitats that arenot amenable to trawl-based techniques, such that this samplingapproach constitutes an informative tool for characterizing habi-tat use by blue crab. Monitoring of blue crab populations by theSCDNR was recently expanded to include year-round samplingat a range of habitat conditions in the main-stem of the Ashley

over-compensatory density-dependent recruitment, and are mathe-matically a deterministic local instability. The cycles in the BeringSea snow crab appear to be of period 1T, and they may be due to arecently discovered phenomenon termed cohort resonance. Suchcycles of period 1T occur with compensatory density-dependentrecruitment, and they arise in a locally stable population driven bya random environment. The consequences of these differences forthe detection of mechanisms and the management of fisheries aredescribed.

TEMPORALEFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO PHARMACEU-TICALS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS AND THEIRMIXTURE ON THE EASTERN OYSTER (CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICA) METABOLOMEDavid W. Brew* and Marsha C. BlackUniversity of Georgia, Department of Environmental Health

Science, Athens, Georgia, [email protected] are keystone species in estuaries, and are routinely ex-

posed to complex mixtures of contaminants, which can frequent-ly include pharmaceuticals and personal care products; however,the biological effects of these exposures are poorly characterized.Untargeted GC-MS metabolomics were utilized to quantify the re-sponses of oysters exposed to fluoxetine, N,N-diethyl-meta-tolu-amide (DEET), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), diphenhydramine andtheir mixture. Contaminant exposure lasted for ten days, followedby an eight-day depuration period, and adductor muscle tissuewas sampled at days 0, 1, 5, 10 and 18. Changes in the relativeabundance of individual metabolites in each treatment were usedto identify potential biomarkers of exposure. Detected metaboliteswere associated with the Krebs cycle, cellular signaling, fatty acid,carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism, and the urea cycle. Overthe first 10 days, the observed metabolite changes in the individu-al treatments were related to their respective mechanism-of-action(MOA). The mixture treatment response shared certain character-istics with the EE2, diphenhydramine and fluoxetine treatments;however, most metabolite changes were unique to the mixture.Several generalized stress responses (anaerobic metabolism, os-motic stress, and oxidative stress) were also detected at least onceduring the course of each exposure. After depuration, both partialleast-squares discriminant analysis and changes in metabolite ex-pression showed that minimal biochemical recovery occurred, asmost of the detected metabolites were still statistically differentfrom the controls. This research highlights the utility of untargetedmetabolomics in developing exposure biomarkers for compoundswith differing MOA, while also highlighting challenges in inter-preting single chemical versus mixture responses in bivalves.


spread of OsHV-1 μvars, it may be only a matter of time beforeoyster culture in the US is threatened by OsHV-1 μvars. The goalof the present work is to demonstrate differential survival of USoyster species and genetic stocks in the face of OsHV-1 and OsHV-1 µvars. In 2017, three species of oysters grown on the US WestCoast (C. gigas, C. sikamea, andOstrea lurida) were planted in To-males Bay and monitored for survival and OsHV-1 quantification.Results suggest that C. sikamea and O. lurida are more resistant toOsHV-1 than C. gigas. Susceptibility to OsHV-1 varied among C.gigas stocks planted in Tomales Bay. We are investigating whetherresistance to OsHV-1 confers resistance to OsHV-1 μvar exposureusing laboratory challenge experiments exposing stocks of C. gi-gas, C. virginica, C. sikamea, and O. lurida to OsHV-1 µvars fromFrance and Australia.

GEODUCK STOCK ASSESSMENT IN BRITISH COLUM-BIADominique BureauInshore Assessment Section, Pacific Biological Station, Fish-

eries and Oceans Canada, 3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo,British Columbia, Canada, V9T [email protected] overview of the stock assessment framework for the British

Columbia (BC) Geoduck fishery will be provided. Geoducks arefound in discrete beds of soft substrates throughout the coast of BC.The stock is spatially structured with over five thousand Geoduckbeds identified in BC. The framework in place for assessment of theBC Geoduck fishery consists of estimating biomass for each bed.Geoduck biomass on a bed is estimated from bed area, mean

weight and density data. Bed area is estimated in a Geographic In-formation System (GIS) from fishing event positions, dive surveyand substrate mapping data. Mean weight is estimated from dataprovided on commercial fishery logbooks. Density is estimatedthrough fishery-independent dive surveys. There is a strong col-laboration between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Geoduckfishing industry (Underwater HarvestersAssociation). The industryhas been involved in stock assessment and survey activities for thelast 25 years and provides significant funding towards Geoduckstock assessment.Regional annual harvest rates between 1.2% and 1.8% are ap-

plied to estimates of current biomass to provide harvest options tofishery managers. A Limit Reference Point (LRP) was defined forthe BC Geoduck fishery as current biomass being equal to 40% ofestimated unfished exploitable biomass and is applied on a bed-by-bed basis.

River. The primary goal of the study presented here was to bettercharacterize the distribution of blue crab across a salinity gradi-ent. Monthly sampling was conducted for two years using trip-licate crab pots deployed at six stations along a salinity gradient(0.1 – 26.5 psu). High numbers of mature males were captured atall stations, females and immature males were generally capturedin lower numbers, and mature females were more commonly cap-tured at the higher salinity stations. Temporal and spatial variabil-ity in blue crab distribution suggest that modifications to currentsampling regimes may improve indices of abundance, particularlyif management actions are recommended that target specific bluecrab demographics.

HOPING FOR THE BEST, PREPARING FOR THEWORST:DETERMINING RESISTANCE OF OYSTER SPECIES TOEXPOSURE TO OSHV-1 AND OSHV-1 ΜVARS IN THEUNITED STATESColleen A. Burge1*, Kimberly S. Reece2, Natalie D. Rivlin1,Bryanda T. Wippel3, Arun K. Dar4, Benjamin Morga5, LionelDégremont5, Nicole Faury5, Peter D. Kirkland6, Daniel Man-cilla Cortez7, D. Terry Sawyer7, James D. Moore8, and CarolynS. Friedman3

1University of Maryland Baltimore County, Institute of Marineand Environmental Technology, 701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore,Maryland 21202 USA

2Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, College of William andMary, 1375 Greate Rd, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 USA

3University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ences, Box 355020, Seattle, Washington 98195 USA

4University of Arizona, Animal and Comparative BiomedicalSciences, 1117 E Lowell Road, Tucson, Arizona 85721 USA

5Ifremer, SG2M-LGPMM, Station La Tremblade, 17390 LaTremblade, France

6Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Departmentof Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia

7Hog Island Oyster Company, PO Box 829, Marshall, Califor-nia 94940 USA

8California Department of Fish and Wildlife and UC Davis-Bo-dega Marine Laboratory, PO Box 247, Bodega Bay, California94923 [email protected] Ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1) and its variants, particular-

ly the OsHV-1 µvars are virulent and emerging pathogens knownto infect and kill Crassostrea gigas, globally. Since 2008, an in-crease in C. gigas mortality in France has been associated with anew genetic variant, OsHV-1 μvar. OsHV-1 μvars are continuing tospread in Europe and similar variants cause severe losses in Aus-tralia, New Zealand, and Asia. In the US, OsHV-1 has been detect-ed only in California, mostly notably in Tomales Bay where since1993 an OsHV-1 variant (not considered a µvar) has caused lossesof juvenile oysters each summer. Given the emergence and rapid


eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), creating a reef system thatis estimated to have covered 220,000 acres. Today, NYH supportsa diverse population of over 8.5 million people and a functionallyextinct population of oysters. The Billion Oyster Project (BOP) isa non-profit organization dedicated to the improvement of NYHand the restoration of its once native oyster population through ed-ucation and community engagement. Challenges to the restorationand conservation of NYH are socially and physically complex andinclude raw sewage discharge, heavy use by marine and shippingvessels, a lack of natural shoreline, and urban pollution. Towardthat end, BOP engages students and community members acrossfour community reef projects, two community nurseries, two oys-ter hatchery nurseries, two restoration pilot projects, and threeplanned oyster restoration projects as well as through 105 partner-ing schools, 84 oyster research stations, and six career and techni-cal education programs in association with the New York HarborSchool. This presentation will explore the challenges, lessons, andopportunities associated with marine restoration in an urbanizedenvironment, specifically in relation to BOP’s (1) ecological andrestoration, (2) community engagement, and (3) educational goalsand efforts.

ENCOURAGING DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN CONSER-VATION THROUGH COOPERATION WITH THE MISSIS-SIPPI BLUE CRAB FISHERYRick Burris* and Traci FloydMississippi Department of Marine Resources, 1141 Bayview

Avenue, Biloxi, Mississippi 39530 [email protected] the Gulf of Mexico, Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys ter-

rapin) mortality rates have been linked to nest predation, habitatloss through increased coastal development, and bycatch within theblue crab (Callinectes sapidus) fishery. Derelict crab traps lost byfishermen also pose a threat to terrapins through ghost fishing. TheMississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR), Office ofMarine Fisheries has been actively promoting terrapin conserva-tion through a variety of cooperative approaches such as increasingpublic awareness about the potential threats to the Mississippi ter-rapin population, encouraging the use of Terrapin Excluder Devic-es (TEDs) in the blue crab fishery, utilizing commercial crab fish-ermen to provide useful geospatially referenced data on localizedpopulations of terrapins, and through the removal of derelict crabtraps in Mississippi marine waters.The Mississippi Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program, the most

successful terrapin conservation initiative, largely through the helpof Mississippi commercial crab fishermen, has removed and recy-cled over 21,600 derelict traps from Mississippi waters since itsinception of the program in 1999. TheMDMR is also exploring and

COMPARISON OF UNDERWATER PHOTO AND VIDEOSURVEY METHODS WITH DIVER OBSERVATIONS TOASSESS NEARSHORE ALGAE AND BENTHIC MARINEINVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIESDominique Bureau* and Joanne LessardMarine Spatial Ecology and Analysis Section, Pacific Biolog-

ical Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 3190 Hammond BayRoad, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, V9T [email protected] collection for benthic marine invertebrates and algae in the

shallow subtidal zone is challenging and often done through SCU-BA diving surveys. Other survey methods (e.g. underwater photoand/or video) are sometimes proposed as alternatives to direct datacollection underwater by divers.A study was conducted to compareunderwater photo and video data collection methods with directdata collection underwater by SCUBA divers.The survey was conducted in the Central Coast of British Co-

lumbia and consisted of collecting presence/absence data of algaeand benthic marine invertebrate species along transects placedperpendicular to shore. Each transect was swum twice, first to re-cord video and still images, and a second time for divers to directlyrecord algae and benthic marine invertebrate species presence/ab-sence. Photos and videos were later reviewed to estimate presence/absence of algae and benthic marine invertebrate species. For diverand video surveys, data were recorded in 1m x 5m quadrats alongeach transect while, for photo surveys, one photo of a 0.5m x 0.5mquadrat was taken every 5 m along each transect.The number of species encountered was greatest when using

direct observation by divers, followed by video and photo methods.Field time required to survey transects with video and photo meth-ods were similar to direct underwater data recording by divers;however, photo and video methods require more post-processingafter the survey to extract data. Direct data collection underwaterby divers is therefore more efficient in terms of both detection abil-ity and time requirements.

THE BILLION OYSTER PROJECT: CHALLENGES, LES-SONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES IN RESTORING OYSTERSTOAN URBANIZED ENVIRONMENTElizabeth M. Burmester*1, Michael J. McCann2, Katie Mosh-er1, and Peter Malinowski1

1Billion Oyster Project, Governor’s Island, 10 South St. Slip 7,New York, New York 10004 USA

2The Nature Conservancy, 322 8th Ave, New York, New York10001 [email protected] NewYork Harbor (NYH) represents a complex marine eco-

system impacted by dynamic and dramatic human use. Specifically,this ecosystem once supported the largest known population of the


4Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, USDAAPHISVeterinary Services, 2150 Centre Ave, Building B, Mail Stop2E6, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526 [email protected] is the fastest growing segment of food produc-

tion with molluscan shellfish aquaculture leading the way. Oysteraquaculture alone has doubled production in just the past five yearsleading to seed shortages in many states and subsequent increasesin requests for seed importation across state lines. The East CoastShellfish Growers Association estimates there are around 50 shell-fish hatcheries along the East Coast of the United States produc-ing a dozen or more different species that support more than 1,400shellfish farms with production growing at 8-10% annually. Sev-eral species are impacted by pathogens that decrease survival andproduction while also threatening native stocks. Knowing whichpathogens pose risks and which do not in any particular situationis key to protecting cultured stocks and wild populations. Withoutaccess to such information, regulators are pushed toward more pre-cautionary measures, up to and including bans on transfers.With support from the NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy Program,

this interactive session will present progress toward developing ashellfish health management database for the East Coast of the US.Attendees will critique the proposed database structure to identifyweaknesses and oversights, and provide feedback on features thatwould encourage and facilitate its use by industry, managers andacademics.

IMPLEMENTING PHASE II OF THE WASHINGTONSHELLFISH INITIATIVELaura Butler1* and Laura Hoberecht2

1Washington Department of Agriculture, 1111 Washington St.SE Natural Resources Building, Washington 98504 USA

2National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)West Coast Region(WCR), 7600 Sand PointWay NE, Seattle, Washington 98115 [email protected] State Shellfish Initiative (WSI) is an innovative

partnership among state government, federal government, tribes,the shellfish industry and nonprofit organizations to promote cleanwater commerce, create family-wage jobs and elevate the role thatshellfish play in keeping our marine waters healthy. The WSI wasoriginally introduced in 2011 by Governor Gregoire in conjunctionwith the NOAANational Shellfish Initiative. After the completionof over 30 action items, a new work plan was developed and PhaseII of the WSI was launched in 2016 by Governor Inslee. Phase IIincludes a new suite of action items to advance the goals of healthy,abundant shellfish resources for the Washington residents and Na-tive American tribes, as well as a thriving shellfish aquaculture in-dustry. Highlights from the Phase II workplan and progress to datewill be presented.

applying innovative technology to locate and remove submergedderelict traps that may otherwise go unnoticed. The MississippiCrab Trap Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) /TED Program hasalso been highly effective in distributing over 19,500 TEDs (4,800traps equipped) and over 54,500 BRDs (27,250 traps equipped) toboth commercial and recreational blue crab fishermen.

IMPACTS OF OCEANACIDIFICATION ON THE SETTLE-MENT OF CRASSOSTREAGIGASAndrea Burton1*, Eli Meyer1, Evan Durland2, and Chris Lan-gond2

1Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, 2701 SWCampusWay, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA

2Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Dr,Newport, Oregon 97365 [email protected] acidification (OA) resulting from increasing atmospheric

PCO2 impairs the growth of calcifying organisms, especially in earlydevelopmental stages. Little is known about how this impacts theprocess of metamorphosis in organisms such as marine bivalvesthat require rapid rates of calcification during metamorphosis. Toinvestigate functional consequences of OAfor settlement and meta-morphosis, larvae of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) weregrown and induced to settle in acidified and control conditions, us-ing selected families from the Molluscan Broodstock Program. Tostudy the mechanisms underlying effects of OA on settlement suc-cess, gene expression was profiled using RNASeq in larvae and set-tled spat from each condition. Differences in gene expression wereevaluated, which were compared using a negative binomial modelincluding the factors of age, settlement treatment (epinephrine),and OA condition. The OA treatments used in this study reducedthe settlement rate of spat by 73%.At the same time, the treatmentsproduced significant changes in gene expression with 50 upregu-lated and 51 downregulated genes in the OA treatment. Together,these findings identify genes and biological processes associatedwith effects of ocean acidification on settlement and metamorpho-sis of marine bivalves and other calcifying invertebrates.

INTERACTIVETALK: BUILDINGASHELLFISHHEALTHDATABASE TO FACILITATE SHELLFISH TRANSFERSDavid Bushek1*, Lisa Calvo1, Lucas Marxen2, Ryan Carne-gie3, Robert Rheault4, and Lori Gustafson5

1Rutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory,6959 Miller Avenue, Port Norris, New Jersey 08349 USA

2Rutgers University, NJAES Office of Research Analytics, 88Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-8525 USA

2Virginia Institute of Marine Science, P.O. Box 1346, Glouces-ter Point, Virginia 23062 USA

3East Coast Shellfish Growers Association, 1623 WhitesvilleRd., Toms River, New Jersey 08755 USA


Harmful algal blooms have increasingly disrupted coastal eco-systems for the last few decades with dinoflagellates of the genusAlexandrium being of global importance due to its widespreaddistribution. In France, blooms of toxic Alexandrium minutum,known to produce Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST) and uncharac-terized Bioactive Extracellular Compounds (BEC), appear gener-ally during the season of the reproduction of most bivalves. Theseblooms could impact larval development or recruitment of juve-niles, therefore causing real issues for economically important spe-cies, such as the oyster Crassostrea gigas.To test the sensitivity of early life stages of C. gigas to A. minu-

tum blooms, whether fertilized eggs, veliger larvae (too small tofeed on A. minutum) or eyed larvae were experimentally exposedfor one or two days to A. minutum, at environmentally realistic con-centration. To discriminate the respective effects of PST and BECproduced by A. minutum, the effects of two strains of A. minutumknown to produce either only BEC, or both PST and BEC, on larvalgrowth, mortality, and settlement were analyzed.The most deleterious effects have been observed with exposure

to the BEC-producing A. minutum strain. This treatment i) totallyinhibited embryo development by inducing lysis of fertilized eggs,ii) delayed competence for metamorphosis of veliger larvae, part-ly because of a reduction in larval growth, and iii) reduced lar-val settlement rate after exposure at veliger or eyed stages. Thisstudy provides evidence that BEC produced by A. minutum havestage-specific deleterious effects on early development of C. gigas.

TAURINE REDUCES THE TOXIC EFFECTS OF MANGA-NESE ON MITOCHONDRIALMEMBRANE POTENTIALEdward J. Catapane*1, Margaret A. Carroll1, Christina Flor-estan1, and Kelly Gazca2

1Medgar Evers College, 1638 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NewYork 11225 USA

2Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Blvd.,Brooklyn, New York 11235 [email protected] causes Manganism, which is similar to Parkinson’s

disease. The neurotoxic mechanism is not understood. Some pro-pose manganese causes oxidative stress damaging dopaminergicsystems. Results showed manganese reduced oxygen consumptionand depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential in Crassostreavirginica gill mitochondria. These effects were reduced by EDTAand p-aminosalicylic acid, and taurine reduced deleterious effectsof manganese on cilio-inhibitory actions of dopamine on gill lat-eral cell cilia (GLC). Since taurine alleviate symptoms in otherneurodegenerative diseases, we hypothesize taurine will preventmanganese neurotoxicity on GLC mitochondrial membrane poten-tial. TMRM, a mitochondrial probe, was used to study taurine in

AN ECOLOGICAL FOUNDATION FOR THE RATIONALMANAGEMENT OF THE FISHERY FOR CARIBBEANSPINY LOBSTER (PANULIRUS ARGUS)Mark Butler1*, Gayathiri Gnanalingam1, Andrew Kough2, andClaire Paris3

1Old Dominion University, Department of Biological Sciences,Norfolk, Virginia 23529 USA

2John G. Shedd Aquarium, Daniel P. Haerther Center for Con-servation and Research, Chicago, Illinois 60605 USA

3University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmo-spheric Science, Miami, Florida 33149 [email protected] Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus is an iconic spe-

cies in the Caribbean where it supports one of the largest and mosteconomically valuable fisheries in the region whose estimatedworth approaches $1B US. Over the past few decades, landings inthe Caribbean have declined by ~30% and the average size of adultP. argus in most areas has decreased, patterns that are indicative ofa dramatic loss of spawning stock biomass due to over-fishing. Yet,the more than 35 nations that share the Caribbean Sea struggle for asensible basis upon which to manage and restore the lobster fishery,see-sawing between parochial management of each nation’s lobsterresources and the implementation of uniform, Caribbean-wide reg-ulations. In recent years, scientific information has emerged thatprovides an ecological foundation for the rational management ofthe P. argus fishery in the Caribbean - one based on an understand-ing of larval connectivity and size-specific reproductive dynamics.Laboratory studies of larval life history and size-dependent maleand female reproductive success, when integrated into biophysicalmodels of larval dispersal and spatially-explicit stage-based mod-els that explore the interplay of an MPA and harvest slot-limits,provide insight into new avenues for the cooperative internationalmanagement of P. argus in the Caribbean. This novel schema thatmerges traditional and ecosystem-based management approachesappears promising as a means to rebuild and sustain stocks of awidespread decapod crustacean, although its implementation mayperhaps be politically unpalatable.

STAGE-SPECIFIC DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF THEBIOACTIVE EXTRACELLULAR COMPOUNDS PRO-DUCED BY ALEXANDRIUM MINUTUM ON EARLY DE-VELOPMENT OFTHE OYSTER CRASSOSTREAGIGASJustine Castrec1*, Philippe Soudant1, Bruno Petton2, Domi-nique Ratiskol2, Jacqueline Le Grand2, Nelly Le Goïc1, Christo-phe Lambert1, Myrina Boulais1, Hélène Hégaret1, and CarolineFabioux1

1LEMAR UMR 6539, Technopole Brest Iroise, 29280 Plou-zané, France

2Ifremer/ LEMAR UMR 6539, Presqu’île du vivier, 29840 Ar-genton, [email protected]


QUANTIFYING ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS IN MIXEDOYSTER CULTURE AND SEAGRASS/MACROALGALHABITATSDaniel Cheney1*, Bobbi Hudson1, Brett Dumbauld2, Jeff Cord-ell3, Fiona Nash4, and Sharon Kramer5

1Pacific Shellfish Institute, 120 State Ave NE #1056, Olympia,Washington 98502 USA

2USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Hatfield Marine Sci-ence Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport Oregon97365-5296 USA

3University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ences, P.O. Box 355020, Seattle Washington 98195-5020 USA

4Oregon State University, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, Cor-vallis, Oregon 97331 USA

5HT Harvey and Associates Ecological Consultants, 1125 16thStreet, Suite 209 Arcata, California 95521 [email protected] effort is directed at studies of ecosystem func-

tions in shellfish culture and associated aquatic vegetation. Theapplication of the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) as a simplifiedtool to quantify and map aspects of ecosystem functions in mixedoyster culture and seagrass habitats will be described. Epibenthictaxa were examined in areas used for oyster long-line and flip-bagculture, and adjacent eelgrass and edge habitats at multiple loca-tions in Humboldt, Tillamook, Willapa, and Samish Bays, fourmajor U.S. west coast shellfish producing regions. The epibenthicdata were assigned numerical ratings based on the total number oftaxa, total taxa abundance, and mean abundance of selected preytaxa. Oyster culture ratings were then calibrated using data fromavailable assessments of epibenthic taxa on long-line clusters andground cultured oysters, and eelgrass and macroalgae densities.Based on project field data, seagrass/macroalgae habitat had the

highest overall average ratings. Ratings were lower and similarfor oyster culture and bare or mixed sediment habitat types. Cali-brating oyster culture ratings with epibenthic densities from long-line clusters resulted in ratings which were nearly equivalent tothe eelgrass ratings. Limited sampling from flip-bags elsewhere inthe region also indicates epibenthic production on these structureswas also similar to the long-line clusters. Finally, this work appliesthe HSI ratings in a preliminary examination of the areal extent ofpredator prey functions across a range of mapped shellfish culturemethods and habitat types.

manganese treated GLC. The gills of C. virginica were exposedto manganese, taurine, or manganese and taurine (125 µM each)and compared to controls. Sections were viewed on a Leica mi-croscope with DFC400 camera, 50 watt HBO mercury lamp andTexas Red filters. Photomicrographs were taken at 0, 10 and 20min, all with the same camera settings. Mitochondria fluorescencewas measured using ImageJ from NIH. Control and taurine treat-ed cells were brightly fluorescing indicating strong mitochondrialmembrane potentials. Manganese treatment reduced fluorescenceby 40%. Co-treatments with manganese and taurine reduced fluo-rescence by only 20%. This study showed taurine protects againstmanganese on mitochondrial membrane potential, supporting ourphysiology studies demonstrating taurine’s neuro-protective abilityagainst manganese on dopaminergic, cilio-inhibitory innervation ofGLC. These finding should be of interest to those exploring thera-peutic treatments for Manganism.

PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY IN SHELL CONSTRUCTIONAND REMODELING IN THE GASTROPOD, NUCELLALAMELLOSADavid M. Charifson1* and Paul E. Bourdeau2

1Stony Brook University, Department of Ecology and Evolu-tion, 650 Life Sciences Building, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5245 USA

2Humboldt State University, Department of Biological Scienc-es, 1 Harpst St., Arcata, California, 95521 [email protected] marine gastropods exhibit inducible defenses, or phe-

notypic plasticity in response to increased predation risk. Often,inducible responses result in a thicker shell that is more difficultfor predators to break; however, little is known about the finescale construction of the shell under inducible shell thickening.Studies of inducible shell thickening tend to only examine recentshell growth or do not make a distinction between recent growthand modifications to parts of the shell present before exposure topredators (shell remodeling). Snails may remodel older regions oftheir shell in response to increased predation risk. The intertidalgastropod, Nucella lamellosa, exhibits inducible shell thickeningin response to the predatory crab, Cancer productus. The role ofshell construction and remodeling in inducible shell thickening wasexamined using hard tissue histology. The thickness of microstruc-tural shell layers was examined at various parts of the shell, fromnewly produced shell material at the aperture to older parts of theshell at the apex. N. lamellosa exposed to chemical cues from C.productus had thicker shells compared to the controls, not only nearthe aperture, but near the apex as well. All N. lamellosa exposed tocrabs had an inner crossed lamellar layer at the aperture, while mostcontrol snails had no detectable crossed lamellar layer at the aper-ture. These results demonstrate that increased predation risk effectshow snails construct their shells and that such alterations are notlimited to shell growth that occurs after exposure to the predator.


3Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries, Depart-ment of Aquaculture, Kongjwipatjwi-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si,Jeollabuk-do, 54874, South [email protected] phylum Haplosporidia contains 52 described species and

several unidentified species. In this study, unidentified Haplospo-ridian member was found from the gray mussel, Crenomytilusgrayanus (Dunker, 1853) on the East Sea of Korea. From Septem-ber 2012 to August 2013, 30 mussels were collected monthly andprepared for histology. For the assay, a longitudinal section wascut in the middle of the body, fixed in the Davison’s fixative, dehy-drated and embedded in paraffin. The histo-blocks were sectionedto 6 µm, stained with hematoxylin and counter-stained with eosinY. In September 2012, Haplosporidian-like organisms exhibitingspherical multinucleate plasmodia could be seen in the digestivetubules of the mussel. These plasmodia developed into sporocystscalled sporonts forming walls around each nucleus. Immature spo-ronts and group of spores were also observed in the epithelium ofthe digestive tubules. Heavy infection with the Haplosporidian-likeorganisms was associated with hemocytic infiltration around theinfected digestive gland. The small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSUrDNA, 1784bps) and DNA sequence similarity analysis revealedthat the Haplosporidian-like organisms discovered from the mus-sel was closely related to the genus Minchinia and Bonamia withthe highest sequence similarity of 87.1% with Minchinia tapetis.Twelve mussels out of 300 examined exhibited the unidentifiedHaplosporidian parasite. Currently ultrastructure of the unknownHaplosporidian parasite from the gray mussel is analyzed using thetransmitted electron microscope.

FACILITATING BETTERDECISION-MAKING: IS SHELL-FISHING RIGHT FORYOU?Antoinette Clemetson1*, Michael Ciaramella1, and Gregg Ri-vara2

1New York Sea Grant, Cornell University, 146 Suffolk Hall,Stony Brook, New York 11794-5002 USA

2Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, 423 N Griff-ing Avenue, Suite 100, Riverhead, New York 11901-3071 [email protected] is substantial interest in shellfish cultivation through-

out the northeast. In New York, hard clams and oysters representthe most commonly cultivated species. Access to submerged (orunderwater) lands is a major constraint to the expansion of theshellfish cultivation industry, and the Suffolk County AquacultureLease Program (SCALP) was enacted in 2014 to address this need.With the designation of a 30,000 acre Shellfish Cultivation Zone,SCALP presents a relatively inexpensive option for private partiesto establish a marine business. While the first two cycles of SCALPfocused on converting shellfish leases carried over from earlier ac-cess programs, SCALP began accepting applications for new shell-fish leases in 2010.

GROWTH OF JUVENILE FRESHWATER MUSSELS (AN-ODONTA IMPLICATA) REARED IN PONDS WITHIN THEDELAWARE ESTUARYKurt Cheng*1, Danielle Kreeger1,3, Angela Padeletti1, LanceButler2, and Roger Thomas3

1Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, 110 South Poplar St.Suite 202, Wilmington Delware, 19801 USA

2Philadelphia Water Department, 1101 Market St. 4th Floor,Philadelphia Pennsylvania, 19107 USA

3The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, [email protected] America is home to nearly 300 of 840 identified species

of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida). These filter-feedingbivalves have gained recent attention due in part to their conser-vation status, with over 70% of North American species at risk ofextinction. In the Delaware River Basin, freshwater mussels havebeen declining in range, abundance, and species richness. A Fresh-water Mussel Recovery Program (FMRP) was formulated in 2008in attempt to reverse these declines, pairing traditional conserva-tion measures with new restoration tactics aimed at promotingbivalve-delivered ecosystem services. One facet of the FMRP ispropagation of freshwater mussel seed for restoration projects.Withhatchery support from the Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery,over 80,000 juvenile alewife floaters (Anodonta implicata) wereproduced in spring 2017 using Delaware River brood stock. Sever-al thousand juveniles were deployed into floating baskets in rearingponds at six different locations throughout Pennsylvania and Del-aware. Initial stocked mussel size varied between 0.3 to 0.5 mm inshell length. Within seven months, juveniles reared in some pondsdemonstrated high survival with growth to 60 mm shell length. Ju-veniles reared in other ponds initially experienced 100% mortal-ity but mussels did survive and grow when stocked at 10 mm orgreater shell length. Size at deployment may therefore influencesite-specific survival, possibly due to variability in biofouling orfood conditions. Future studies include comparing juvenile musselcondition and seston composition among ponds. Optimization ofjuvenile rearing protocols will strengthen restoration outcomes asthe FMRP expands its hatchery propagation program.

REPORT ON THE UNKOWN HAPLOSPORIDIAN PAR-ASITE FROM THE GRAY MUSSEL, CRENOMYTILUSGRAYANUS, FROM GANGNEUNG ON THE EAST SEA OFKOREAYoung-Ghan Cho1*, Hye-Mi Lee1, Kwang-Sik Choi1, Hyun-SilKang2, and Chul-Won Kim3

1Jeju National University, School of Marine Biomedical Science(BK21 PLUS), 102 Jejudaehakno, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea

2Tidal Flat Research Institute, National Institute of FisheriesScience (NIFS), Kunsan 54014, Republic of Korea


when and how frequently to perform treatments to prevent highinfestation and reduce mud blisters in oyster shells.

DEFININGTHEMICROBIOMEOFTHE PACIFICWHITE-LEG SHRIMP (LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI) IN WILD,AQUACULTURED, AND AHPND/EMS OUTBREAK CON-DITIONSFernanda Cornejo-Granados1*, Alonso A. Lopez-Zavala2, Lu-igui Gallardo-Becerra1, Alfredo Mendoza-Vargas3, FilibertoSánchez1, Rodrigo Vichido4, Luis G. Brieba5, Maria Teresa Vi-ana6, Rogerio R. Sotelo-Mundo7, and Adrián Ochoa-Leyva1

1Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Bio-tecnología (IBT), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México(UNAM), Cuernavaca, México

2Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidadde Sonora (UNISON), Sonora, México

3Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Secretaría de Salud(INMEGEN), Ciudad de México, México

4Centro Nacional de Servicios de Constatación en SaludAnimal(CENAPA), Morelos, México

5Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad(LANGEBIO), Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados(CINVESTAV Unidad Irapuato) Guanajuato, México

6Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, UniversidadAutónoma de Baja California (UABC), Baja California, México

7Laboratorio de Estructura Biomolecular, Centro de Investi-gación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD), Sonora, [email protected] form the second largest subphylum on Earth, which

includes the Pacific whiteleg shrimp, Litopeneaus vannamei, oneof the most cultured shrimp worldwide. Despite efforts to study theshrimp microbiota, little is known about it from shrimp obtainedfrom the open sea and the role that aquaculture plays in microbiotaremodeling.The microbiota from the hepatopancreas and intestine of wild

type (wt) and aquacultured L. vannamei and pond sediment fromhatcheries were characterized using sequencing of seven hypervari-able regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Additionally, cultured shrimpwith AHPND/EMS disease symptoms were included.The analysis showed that (i) the microbiota and its predicted

metagenomic functions were different between wt and culturedshrimp; (ii) independent of the shrimp source, the microbiota of thehepatopancreas and intestine was different; (iii) the microbial di-versity between the sediment and intestines of cultured shrimp wassimilar; and (iv) associated to an early development of AHPND/EMS disease. Changes in the microbiota structure and the predict-ed functions as well as the appearance of disease-specific bacteriawere observed. Notably, the analysis of cultured conditions showedbacterial taxa enriched only in healthy shrimp, such as Faecalibac-

Many of the new applicants for SCALP were novice farmerswho lacked prior knowledge or experience with shellfish cultiva-tion. As a result, there was a significant failure rate of startup shell-fish businesses on account of their unfamiliarity with the industryand good aquaculture practices. In 2016, NewYork Sea Grant part-nered with Cornell Cooperative Extension and other local agenciesto develop an online course for new aquaculturists with interestin shellfish cultivation. This course includes an overview of theshellfish regulatory requirements, common pre-to-post harvest re-quirements, BMPs, capital requirements and investment insightsetc. This serves as an educational tool to help entrepreneurs makeinformed decisions before starting a shellfish farm. This sessionwill be used to describe: 1) steps involved in building the courseplatform, 2) topics and issues summarized; and 3) major challengesand constraints experienced to develop this online course.

OYSTER INFESTATION: ABUNDANCE OFMUDBLISTERWORMS (POLYDORA WEBSTERI) IN ALABAMA COAST-ALOYSTER FARMSSarah M. Cole1,2*, Kelly M. Dorgan2,1, and WilliamWalton3,2

1University of South Alabama, Department of Marine Sciences,Mobile, Alabama 36688 USA

2Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island,Alabama 36528 USA

3Auburn University,AUSL, 150Agassiz Street, Dauphin Island,Alabama, 36528 [email protected] worms (Polydora websteri) infest oyster shells in

off-bottom oyster farms across the northern Gulf ofMexico.Wormsbore into oysters, which cover mud-filled boreholes with layers ofshell, creating the mudblister. When shucked, infested oyster shellsbreak easily and mudblisters can burst, releasing anoxic mud. Thehalf shell market is growing and mudblister worms potentiallydecrease oyster marketability. This study quantified settlement ofworms over a full season of oyster growth in coastal Alabama, withthe aim of identifying preventative methods for oyster farmers.Diploid and triploid oysters at three different densities were de-ployed at fourAlabama oyster farms, and collected at different sea-sons. Worms were extracted from oysters and condition index wasquantified. Ploidy and stocking density showed minimal effects oninfestation, although abundances varied among seasons and sites.More frequent sampling was conducted in the summer, during thepeak of infestation, in combination with monitoring of environ-mental data to determine if salinity, temperature, oxygen, or tur-bidity are correlated with P. websteri infestation. Re-infestation ofpreviously heavily infested and lightly infested shell was comparedduring peak infestation to determine if P. websteri are re-infestingoysters that have previously been treated for heavy infestation overuninfested oysters. Ongoing experiments are characterizing larvalgrowth rates, planktonic durations, and larval dispersal. Knowingwhen higher abundances of P. websteri occur and under what con-ditions will help inform oyster farmers in making decisions about


ESSENTIAL FATTYACID ASSIMILATION AND SYNTHE-SIS IN CRASSOSTREAGIGAS LARVAEFiz da Costa1,2*, René Robert1,3, Claudie Quéré1, Gary H. Wik-fors4, and Philippe Soudant5

1Ifremer/Laboratoire des sciences de l’Environnement Marin(UMR 6539, LEMAR), 29280 Plouzané, France

2Present Address: Oceano Fresco Lda., Edifício Mira Center,Rua do Matadouro, piso 2, Lab. B2, Valeirinha, 3070-436 Mira,Portugal

3Ifremer, Unité Littoral, Centre Bretagne, ZI de la Pointe duDiable-CS 10070, 29280 Plouzané, France

4Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, NOAA, 212 Ro-gers Avenue, Milford, Connecticut 06460, USA

5Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Environnement Marin (UMR6539, LEMAR), IUEM/UBO, Technopole Brest Iroise, Plouzané,[email protected] fatty acids (EFA) are of utmost importance for bi-

valve larval survival and growth. The objective of this study wasto calculate accurately using a mass-balance approach dietary EFAincorporation and synthesis by Crassostrea gigas larvae. A first ex-periment was performed using two single diets (Tisochrysis lutea(T) and Chaetoceros neogracile (Cg)) and a bi-specific diet (TCg).A second experiment using a similar design was carried out to con-firm and validate the results observed in the first experiment. Use ofa flow-through larval rearing has allowed to control accurately foodsupply and measurement of ingestion. Fatty acid desaturaseΔ5 wasactively involved in non-methylene-interrupted fatty acids synthe-sis from precursors supplied in the diet (16:1n-7 and 18:1n-9). ThisΔ5 desaturase presumably participated in the conversion of 20:3n-6and 20:4n-3 to 20:4n-6 and 20:5n-3 in oyster larvae, respectively,when diets were deficient in these EFA, as when larvae were fed Texclusively. Under the experimental conditions, 22:6n-3 was notsynthetized, de novo or from precursors; however, 22:6n-3 incor-poration into larval tissues occurred selectively under non-limitingdietary supply to maintain optimal levels in the larvae. This ap-proach, which combines flow-through larval rearing and fatty acidquantification, could be useful to precisely define optimal levels ofEFA supply in bivalve larval diets.

ASSESSING SHELLFISH TRANSFERSASAVECTOR FORTHE EUROPEAN GREEN CRAB (CARCINUS MAENAS)AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POWER-WASHING TOMITIGATE MOVEMENTLyanne J.F. Curtis*, ChristopherM. Pearce, Vanessa R. Hodes,and Thomas W. TherriaultDepartment of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological

Station, 3190 Hammond Bay Rd. Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9T6N7 [email protected]

terium prausnitzii and Pantoea agglomerans, and communities en-riched in diseased shrimp, such as Aeromonas taiwanensis, Simidu-ia agarivorans and Photobacterium angustum suggesting their useas probiotics for L. vannamei. These findings strongly suggest thatthe microbiota manipulation could be utilized as a new approachagainst shrimp diseases.

LARGE-SCALE PATTERNS OF TREMATODE PARASITECOMMUNITIES INFECTING CERASTODERMA EDULEFROM PORTUGALTOMOROCCOSimão Correia1*, Luísa Magalhães1,2, Xavier de Montaudouin2,Hocein Bazairi3, Mériame Gam3, and Rosa Freitas1

1Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade deAveiro,3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

2Université de Bordeaux, EPOC, UMR 5805 CNRS, 2, rue duPr Jolyet, F-33120 Arcachon, France

3University Mohammed V in Rabat, Faculty of Sciences, 4 Av.Ibn Battota, Rabat, [email protected] are common coastal macroparasites with complex

life cycle using generally three hosts. The exploited cockle, Cer-astoderma edule, is a dominant bivalve distributed along north-eastern Atlantic coasts hosts several trematode species. Extensivespatial sampling of cockles from Portugal to South Morocco (2500km) was performed in order to 1) analyze cockle parasites southof 31°N. and 2) identify drivers of parasite community structure.Most of the 12 trematode species were observed along the

whole latitudinal gradient, demonstrating the high dispersal abilityof these parasites; however, one species was absent in the southernstations, in relation with host distribution area. Multivariate anal-ysis related to trematode communities in cockles clustered: 1) aseries of poorly connected sites with low infection, correspondingto northern Portuguese stations under the influence of cold water(upwelling proximity) and coarse sediments; 2) sites characterizedby the dominance of the trematode Parvatrema minutum in habitatsuitable for intermediate host, Scrobicularia plana; 3) lagoons (orbays) with high oceanic influence and characterized by high trem-atode diversity.This study highlighted that the most important limiting factor

was the presence of the other hosts. The results also suggest thattemperature is an important trigger to predict parasite infection,with coastal upwelling system operating for Portugal as a shieldagainst trematode infection. These vertical currents provide coolsurface temperature and mask latitudinal gradients of temperature(and trematode infection). This study figures out what could be theconsequence of thermal modification mediated by oceanographicglobal circulation changes on cockle populations.


fouled with wild spat. Another set of trials conducted from Aprilthrough November (2017) compared float type (square versus bul-let), float placement (side versus top), and anti-fouling coatings onbags stocked with oysters at 150/bag (n=4). Production results willbe presented. The sensory attributes of cultured oysters harvestedseasonally were also evaluated. In the spring (May), triploid oys-ters rated higher (P<0.10) in appearance and acceptability than dip-loids. Results may improve awareness of the benefits of triploidyand accelerate adoption of a new bivalve species for culture.

SHELLFISH COMMUNITY PATTERNS IN THE NATIVEAND NON-NATIVE EELGRASS HABITATS OF NETARTSBAY, OREGON, USAAnthony F. D’Andrea*, ElizabethA. Perotti, Cinamon Moffett,and Stacy StricklandOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marine Resources

Program, 2040 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon [email protected] non-native eelgrass Zostera japonica was introduced in

the 1930s to the Pacific Northwest (PNW) and has since becomewell-established in many Oregon estuaries. Several of these estu-aries have expansive native Zostera marina beds and support com-munities of ecologically, recreationally, and commercially import-ant shellfish; however, there is limited information about the effectsof Z. japonica expansion on these communities. In 2013-2014, theOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted a comprehen-sive shellfish community and estuarine habitat survey of NetartsBay. The survey used a whole estuary randomized approach strat-ified by region of the estuary and tide level on the intertidal. Therewere four major bed types identified in the bay: unvegetated (UV),Z. marina only (ZM), Z. japonica only (ZJ), and mixed eelgrassbeds (MX). Multivariate analyses showed evidence for differencesin community structure between sites with eelgrass relative to UVsites. Among the eelgrass bed types, there was a transition in com-munity composition from ZM to MX to ZJ bed types. A canonicalanalysis of principle coordinates (CAP) was used to test for distinctcommunities between the bed types. The CAP model explainedmore than 75% of the variability in community structure. This vari-ability was due to species compositional changes and characteris-tic species found within the different bed types. The results of thisstudy support the assertion that the expansion of Z. japonica in Ne-tarts Bay has led to shifts in shellfish communities and improve ourunderstanding of the ecological effects of this non-native eelgrassin PNW estuaries.

The European green crab (Carcinus maenas) is a high-riskglobal invader that has been redistributed via many anthropogenicvectors, including the movement of live seafood and aquacultureproducts. In 2012, shellfish movements were confirmed as a vectorfor green crabs in British Columbia (BC, Canada), transferring thisspecies from the west coast of Vancouver Island to Sooke Basin(Salish Sea). A conceptual framework was developed that identi-fied potential control points that could be used to reduce the risk ofinadvertently spreading green crabs. The first control point occursat the culture/collection site and involves an effort to prevent en-trainment with the vector. Present conditions of license in BritishColumbia require the “rinsing” of shellfish product prior to move-ment, however, the efficacy and potential utility of this mitigationmeasure have not been evaluated and no specific guidance (i.e.,duration, intensity, etc.) has been provided. Results of a projectevaluating the efficacy of power-washing (at different intensitiesand durations), relative to taking no action (i.e., control) and pres-ent industry practice (i.e., dipping), in removing green crabs fromPacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) will be presented. The potentialutility of these results for management will be discussed.

APPLICATION OF TRIPLOIDY TO AN EMERGENT OYS-TER CULTURE INDUSTRY ON THE FLORIDA WESTCOASTCarter Cyr1*, Reggie Markham1, Charles A. Sims2, and LeslieN. Sturmer1

1University of Florida/IFAS, Shellfish Aquaculture ExtensionProgram, Senator Kirkpatrick Marine Lab, 11350 SW 153rd Court,Cedar Key, Florida 32625 USA

2University of Florida/IFAS, Food Science and Human Nutri-tion Department, 530 Newell Drive, Gainesville, Florida [email protected] address increased interest in oyster culture on the Florida

west coast, replicated field trials were conducted to document theproduction performance of diploid and triploid oysters Crassostreavirginica and quantify the effects of stocking densities, gear modifi-cations, and seasonal harvests. Single-set oysters (shell height [SH]average: 25 mm) were cultured in 9 and 12 mm mesh floating bagsfrom August (2016) through April (2017) at final densities of 125,150, and 175/bag (n=6). Triploid oysters (averages: 84.2 mm SH,140.0 g total weight [TW], 12.8 g meat weight [MW], 3.1 g dryMW, 12.8 condition index [CI]) were significantly (P<0.05) largerthan diploids (averages: 75.8 mm SH, 109.4 g TW, 9.2 g MW, 1.7g dry MW, 9.8 CI); in contrast, survival of diploid oysters (97.7%) was higher (P<0.0001) than triploid oysters (90.4%). Stock-ing densities had little effect on production. Although biofoulingcontrol methods consisted of weekly aerial drying of bags, naturaloverset was problematic; over 70 % of the oysters harvested were


large-scale mollusc mortalities worldwide, and is notifiable to theWord Organisation in Animal Health (OIE). This parasite has beenreported from other mollusc hosts in most Australian states. Re-cent surveys in Western Australia using Ray’s Fluid Thioglycollatemedium method (RFTM) have revealed that this parasite infectsseveral farmed and wild mollusc species such as greenlip abalo-ne, H. laevigata, Roe’s abalone, H. roei, scallops, Amusium ballo-ti, pearl oysters, Pinctada margaritifera, P. maxima and P. fucata,and cockles, Circe plicatina and Costacallista impar. These recentinvestigations have revealed limitations in the analytical and di-agnostic sensitivity and specificity of current OIE recommendedtesting protocols. The industry has highlighted the need for a reli-able, rapid and specific method to detect this parasite. The abilityto detect P. olseni in abalone tissues as well as in haemolymph andwater samples will provide critical tools for surveillance and on-farm management of Perkinsus infections of commercial stocks.A current research project, funded by the Fisheries Research andDevelopment Corporation (FRDC), aims to optimise diagnostic ca-pabilities for Perkinsus spp. isolates, including developing a rapidand specific method to detect the parasite using an antibody-basedapproach. An overview of the P. olseni infection status in WAmol-luscs as well as the objectives and progress of the FRDC projectwill be presented.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANTS OF VIBRIO PARA-HAEMOLYTICUS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY: CURRENTAND FUTUREWORKBenjamin J.K. Davis1*, John M. Jacobs2, Angelo DePaola3, andFrank C. Curriero1

1Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Department of Epi-demiology, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 USA

2National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NationalOcean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Coop-erative Oxford Lab, 904 S. Morris Street, Oxford, Maryland 21654USA

3Angelo DePaola Consulting, 12719 Dauphin Island Parkway,Coden, Alabama 36523 [email protected] of the leading causes of seafood-borne illness in the

United States is Vibrio parahaemolyticus and it occurs naturallyin brackish waters. Given the natural presence of the bacterium,an improved understanding of its environmental determinants isnecessary for future preventative measures. This work attemptsto elucidate the environmental determinants of this bacterium inthe tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay using a uniquely large dataset (n = 1,385) collected from 148 monitoring stations between2007-2010. Interval-censored regression models with splines weredeveloped using water samples analyzed by qPCR for V. parahae-molyticus abundance along with spatially- and temporally-indexedwater quality data. Previously identified relationships with water

INSIGHTS INTO MORTALITIES AFFECTING SIL-VER-LIPPED PEARL OYSTER PINCTADA MAXIMA INTHE KIMBERLEY SINCE 2006Cecile Dang*1, Mike Snow1, Terry Miller1, and Aaron Irving2

1Fish Health Laboratory, Department of Primary Industry andRegional Development Western Australia, 3 Baron-Hay Court,South Perth, WA 6151, Australia

2Pearl Producers Association, PO Box 1605, Fremantle, WA6959, [email protected] pearl oyster industry is one of the most valuable and iconic

fisheries in Australia, creating significant economic and employ-ment opportunities across Northern Australia; however, health is-sues have been persistent obstacles affecting productivity of theAustralian pearling Industry. One of the largest mass mortalityevents of farmed silver-lipped pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima)occurred in the Exmouth Gulf of Western Australia (WA) in 2006,where an estimated 2.8 million individual oysters died. Oysters in-volved in this event displayed a marked oedema, a retraction of themantle and a lack of inflammation in tissues, which led to the Oys-ter Oedema Disease case definition to describe affected animals.Aninfectious agent was suspected following some initial epidemiolog-ical investigations. Since 2006, P. maxima pearl culture productiv-ity has been limited by morbidity and mortality of spat and adults,as well as by a decrease in the quality of the pearl across all regionsof northern Australia. A common sign across all affected oystersis a retraction of the mantle. Several research projects tasked withidentifying and characterising an infectious agent over the last 10years have failed to identify a pathogen as the cause. More workis required to investigate and better understand the cause of recentmortalities in the Kimberley. This presentation will provide someinsights into mortality events since 2006, into the research projectsundertaken over the past 10 years, as well as into recent new leadsand planned future research to better understand and address thisloss of productivity for industry.

PERKINSUS OLSENI IN MOLLUSCS FROM WESTERNAUSTRALIACecile Dang*1, Cheryl Jenkins2, Terry Miller1, Mike Snow1,Charles Caraguel3, Jeffrey Go2, and Daniel Bogema2

1Fish Health Laboratory, Department of Primary Industry andRegional Development Western Australia, 3 Baron-Hay Court,South Perth, WA 6151, Australia

2Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Departmentof Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia

3University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sci-ence, Roseworthy, SA 5371, [email protected] are an economically important species, which con-

tributes approximately AU$190 million annually to the Australianeconomy. First described in South Australia in 1981 as a parasiteof the abalone, Haliotis rubra, Perkinsus olseni, is responsible for


idly to a market size of 100mm in under three years. Survivorshipwas observed to be generally high and in excess of 80% from seed toharvestable size at most sites. Importantly, once scallops reach 50-60mm, the tendency to cement onto hard substrates is significantlyreduced. Obstacles remain to full commercialization in WashingtonState due mainly to regulatory concerns associated with wild cul-tured interactions. This may necessitate the development of triploidseed stocks prior to widespread efforts at commercial cultivationof this species. Recent efforts at producing triploid scallops will bediscussed with a discussion of opportunities and obstacles in thedevelopment of aquaculture methods for this scallop.

ALASKAN MARICULTURE INTIATIVE – TANGIBLE IN-DICATIONS OF PROGRESS AS A RESULT OF A THREE-YEAR COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESSJulie Decker*1 and Paula Cullenberg2

1Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, P.O. Box 2223,Wrangell, Alaska 99929 USA

2Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, 1007 W. 3rd Av-enue, Suite 100, Anchorage, Alaska 99501 [email protected] produces over 50% of the seafood in the United States;

its coastline is over 33,000 miles long; and Alaska has a reputationfor responsible resource management. The potential for maricul-ture in Alaska represents a tremendous opportunity for renewable,supplemental, and diversified economic development; however,industry growth is stagnant at around $1 million in annual produc-tion.In 2014, theAlaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF)

was funded through a NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy grant to spear-head the Alaska Mariculture Initiative (AMI) in order to expeditedevelopment of the mariculture industry in Alaska. As a result ofthe initiative, Governor Walker established the Alaska MaricultureTask Force by Administration Order #280 in 2016 with the direc-tive to deliver a comprehensive plan by March 1, 2018. This pre-sentation will cover the highlights of this comprehensive plan, theunique components of the planning process (including the three-phase iterative economic analysis), and the tangible indications ofprogress to date.

temperature and turbidity were confirmed, while more complex andnon-linear relationships were identified for many forms of nitrogenand phosphorus. Non-linear associations with salinity weredetermined to be a function of both low temperature and turbidity.Associations with dissolved oxygen and phosphate also appearedstronger when samples were taken near human developments.This analysis of environmental Vibrio parahaemolyticus is

one of only a few analyses that utilize a large data set measuredover a wide geographic and temporal range. This work contrib-utes to a larger NIH-funded research project with the overall goalof developing V. parahaemolyticus predictions and forecasts to beused by shellfish harvesters and regulators. Details of this project,including the regionalization of existing quantitative microbial riskassessments for V. parahaemolyticus in shellfish for the ChesapeakeBay andWashington State harvesting waters, will also be discussed.

EXPLORINGAN INITIATIVE TO TRAIN THE NEXTGEN-ERATION OF SHELLFISH BIOLOGISTSChris Davis*1, Joth Davis2, and Bill Walton3

1Pemaquid Oyster Company, PO Box 302, Waldoboro, Maine04572 USA

2Baywater, Inc., 10610 Manitou Park Blvd, Bainbridge Island,Washington 98110 USA

3Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, Auburn University ShellfishLab, 150 Agassiz St., Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528 [email protected] an effort to produce well-rounded shellfish biologists, the

moderators will lead a discussion to explore the feasibility offorming intensive graduate-level summer workshops focusing ona broad range of bivalve research methods. These Bivalve BootCamps would rotate annually around the three coastlines of the USand be taught by leading researchers within the NSA community.The overall goal is to train NSA recruits in a broad suite of shellfishresearch methods so that they become more well-rounded shell-fish biologists. This workshop seeks to develop interest and inputamong NSAmeeting attendees regarding this concept.

DEVELOPMENT OF AQUACULTURE PRODUCTIONTECHNIQUES FOR PURPLE-HINGE ROCK SCALLOPSJoth DavisBaywater, Inc., 10610 NE Manitou Park Blvd., Bainbridge,

Washington 98110 [email protected] is growing interest in aquaculture development of the

purple-hinge rock scallop (Crassadoma gigantea), a species withhigh market potential in the Pacific coastal states. Information ongrow out technologies, rate of growth, survivorship and methods toreduce the behavioral tendency for scallops to cement to hard sub-strates is necessary prior to widespread aquaculture development. Afield study describing size at age, survivorship, and cementation be-havior at seven Puget Sound sites indicates that scallops grow rap-


The risk of illness caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V.vulnificus after consuming raw oysters and clams is managed in theUS by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) using riskprediction tools (calculators) derived from risk assessments devel-oped by the Food and DrugAdministration and the United Nations.Predicted exposure at harvest is determined by water temperatureand at consumption by additional post-harvest growth based ontime and ambient temperatures. These risk calculations are cur-rently provided using Excel spreadsheets with fixed relationshipsfor different regions and production practices and allow controlauthorities to conduct scenario analyses for proposed post-harvestcontrols. Since the risk assessments were released in 2005 higherresolution temporal and spatial data that better address the rela-tionship between environmental conditions and risk have becomeavailable and could be used to improve the accuracy and reliabilityof predictions. R-shiny is a flexible and free menu driven analyticand visualization program that is based on the powerful R Statisti-cal Software and has been used in the US/Canada Norovirus RiskAssessment for raw shellfish. It is well-suited for updating and re-gionalizing Vibrio risk prediction tools. Architectural options forscenario analysis and visualization including expansion of shellfishspecies, pre-harvest controls and input variables that contribute torisk will be presented. Examples of incorporating new data will useongoing research at Johns Hopkins University and other sources.Additionally, other emerging tools based on risk models includ-ing ecological forecasting and verification of cold chain by time/temperature indicators will round out next generation Vibrio riskmanagement.

ARE SPAWNER SANCTUARIES AN EFFECTIVE RESTO-RATION STRATEGY FOR THE NORTHERN QUAHOG (=HARD CLAM) MERCENARIAMERCENARIA: A COMPAR-ISON OF TWO RESTORATION EFFORTS ON LONG IS-LAND, NEWYORKMichael H. Doall1*, Rebecca E. Kulp1, Bradley J. Peterson1,Carl Lobue2, Adam Starke2, Andrew W. Griffith1, and Chris-topher J. Gobler1

1Stony Brook University, School of Marine and AtmosphericSciences, 239 Montauk Highway, Southampton, New York 11968USA

2The Nature Conservancy, 250 Lawrence Hill Rd., Cold SpringHarbor, New York 11724 [email protected] creation of “spawner sanctuaries”, harvest-free areas where

adult shellfish are planted at high densities, has been employedas a restoration strategy for the northern quahog (= hard clam),Mercenaria mercenaria, in several U.S. east coast estuaries. Re-cently, New York State has announced a $10.4 million initiativeto establish hard clam spawner sanctuaries in five Long Island es-

UNDERSTANDING THE PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHA-NISMS UNDERLYING THE ENHANCED SURVIVAL OFCRASSOSTREA GIGAS INFECTED BY THE OSTREIDHERPESVIRUS 1 AT HIGH TEMPERATURELizenn Delisle1*, Bruno Petton2, Jean-François Burguin1, Clau-die Quéré1, Elodie Fleury1, Marianna Pauletto3, BenjaminMorga4, Sébastien Artigaud5, Vianney Pichereau5, CharlotteCorporeau1, and Fabrice Pernet1

1Ifremer/LEMAR UMR 6539, Technopole de Brest-Iroise,29280 Plouzané, France

2Ifremer/LEMAR UMR 6539, Presqu’île du vivier, 29840Argenton, France

3Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione(BCA), Università di Padova, Italy

4Ifremer/Laboratoire de génétique et Pathologie, avenue de Musde Loup, 17390 La Tremblade, France

5LEMAR UMR 6539 CNRS/UBO/IRD/Ifremer, Université deBretagne Occidentale, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer,29280 Plouzané, [email protected] all the environmental factors, seawater temperature

plays a decisive role in triggering marine diseases. Like fever invertebrates, high seawater temperature could modulate the aptitudeof the parasite to colonize a host and the ability of the host to de-fend itself in ectothermic animals. In France, massive mortality ofPacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) caused by the Ostreid herpes vi-rus 1 (OsHV-1) occurs when seawater temperature ranges between16°C and 24°C.Results show that oysters exposed to OsHV-1 at29°C exhibited 86% survival compared to only 52% at 21°C and44% at 26°C. These differences in survival likely reflect a protec-tive metabolism of the host at high temperature because there wasno evidence of change in OsHV-1 virulence.The objective of this session is to investigate the physiological

mechanisms underlying the enhanced survival of oysters infectedby OsHV-1 at high temperature by means of RNA sequencing anal-ysis, 2-DE proteomics, and specific biochemical analyses (energet-ic reserves, enzyme activities and fatty acids). First results indicatethat antioxidant metabolism and level of heat shock proteins werestrongly modulated at 29°C and may reflect a protective metabo-lism of the host.

NEXT GENERATION VIBRIO RISK TOOLSAngelo DePaola1*, John C. Bowers2, Ben Davis3, and FrankCurriero3

1Angelo DePaola Consulting, 12719 Dauphin Island Pkwy,Coden, Alabama 36523 USA

2FDA, Division of Public Health and Biostatistics, 5001 Cam-pus Dr., College Park, Maryland 20740 USA

3Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Depart-ment of Epidemiology, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Mary-land 21205 [email protected]


clear blood cells isolated from HIV-infected humans with a widespectrum of reactions to infection remain unmethylated, except inrare cases. The FV3 genome, the odd ball in viral DNA methyl-ation, is hypermethylated in the virion, and the hypermethylatedFV3 genomes are actively transcribed both in mammalian and fishcells. The fate of food-ingested bacterial plasmid DNA in the gas-trointestinal tract of mice was followed as well as the small amountof persisting food-derived DNA in the mouse organism.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR EVALUATING OYS-TER-SEAGRASS INTERACTIONS AT BROADER SCALESIN USWEST COAST ESTUARIESBrett R. DumbauldUSDA-ARS, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon

97365, [email protected] have contributed to the local economy of several com-

munities along the US West Coast for over 100 years and in mostof the estuaries where Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) cultureoccurs, it has coexisted with the native seagrass (eelgrass, Zosteramarina). Eelgrass is protected by no net loss provisions and oth-er laws, in part because it provides numerous ecosystem servicesincluding nursery habitat for juvenile fish and invertebrates. MostUS west coast estuaries are small relative to the nearby coast, ex-perience less riverine influence than estuaries where oysters arecultured on eastern edges of continents, and the majority of oysterculture takes place in intertidal areas. The ecology of eelgrass andcultured oysters as well as their role as habitat is thus directly in-fluenced by bathymetry and proximity to the coastal ocean. Recentinitiatives to expand shellfish aquaculture have received increasedregulatory scrutiny because eelgrass is declining in many locationsworldwide and concern over documented negative effects of cul-ture on eelgrass at local scales. An examination of effects overthe larger estuarine seascape scale in Willapa Bay suggests, how-ever, that these may not be negative for eelgrass or for Dungenesscrab that use this estuary as a nursery. Instead of using a permitprocess that simply attempts to preclude negative effects of oysterculture on eelgrass at small spatial and immediate temporal scales,managers should consider a more adaptive approach that considersbathymetric and along estuary gradients that affect both eelgrassand oysters and therefore the services they provide.

tuaries; however, the efficacy of this restoration strategy has notbeen demonstrated in Long Island bays. This study investigatesthe effectiveness of hard clam spawner sanctuaries through com-parison of two ongoing restoration efforts in separate Long Islandbays: 1) the Nature Conservancy Great South Bay (GSB) program,which began establishing spawner sanctuaries in 2004, and 2) theStony Brook University Shinnecock Bay (SB) Restoration Pro-gram started in 2012. Intensive monitoring has revealed significantdifferences in the performance of spawner transplants between andwithin bays, with condition index, gonad ripeness, and post-stock-ing survivorship higher in SB across years. In GSB, interannualvariability in recruitment has been observed, with greater recruit-ment occurring in years of higher clam condition, but there hasbeen little overall improvement in hard clam populations due tohigh juvenile mortality. Recent data from SB, on the other hand,has indicated improvements in bay-wide recruitment and harvestlevels since restoration activities began in 2012. Overall, resultsindicate: 1) proper siting of spawner sanctuaries is essential to max-imize survivorship and reproductive output of spawner transplants,2) high juvenile mortality can limit population recovery despite in-creases in recruitment, and 3) monitoring is essential to adaptivelymanage restoration.

EPIGENETIC RE-PROGRAMMING UPON FOREIGN (VI-RAL) DNA INVASION INTO CELLSWalter DoerflerUniversity of Cologne, Institute for Virology, Erlangen Uni-

versity Medical School, D-91054 Erlangen, Institute of Genetics,D-50674 Cologne, [email protected] CpG methylation of promoters is an import-

ant epigenetic signal for long-term eukaryotic gene silencing. Toelucidate the epigenetic consequences of the intrusion of virusesor of foreign DNA into mammalian cells, we have studied humanadenoviruses 2 and 12 (Ad2, 12), frog virus 3 (FV3), bacteriophagelambda (λ), human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV1), and Africanswine fever virus (ASFV). The investigated viral genomes often es-cape the cellular defense of de novomethylation and remain unmet-hylated when they elicit productive infection cycles. In contrast,upon viral (foreign) DNA integration into the host genome, theintegrated viral genomes become extensively de novo methylated.Ad12, bacteriophage λ or bacterial plasmid DNA as foreign DNAintegrates lead to changes in cellular methylation and transcriptionpatterns with far-reaching consequences for the functional stabilityof the recipient cell genomes. In Ad12-infected human cells in cul-ture, cellular DNA methylation profiles undergo distinct changes.HIV1 proviral genomes become hyper-methylated in cell culturesystems; however, HIV proviral genomes in peripheral mononu-


to define the current permitting pathways for Olympia oyster res-toration projects, as well as the points along those pathways whichmay delay or prevent permit approval. This research explored thepermitting framework for oyster restoration projects in Washing-ton State, with a focus on the following aspects: 1) Determiningthe common pathways for restoration projects based on the pathsof least resistance which have been utilized by various restorationgroups; 2) Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis to identify idealpermitting pathways based on the priorities for restoration projects.Identifying current strategies for navigating the permitting process,as well as those permitting pathways which best align with projectpriorities, may help to streamline the permitting process and in-crease the number of successful and ambitious projects.

INTERACTING EFFECTS OF HUMANS AND NATURE:FLOODWATERS, FISHERMEN, AND POPULATION DE-CLINE OFTHE BLUE CRABDavid B. EgglestonNorth Carolina State University, Department of Marine, Earth

&Atmospheric Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695 USACenter for Marine Sciences & Technology, Morehead City,

North Carolina 28557 [email protected] or populations exposed to multiple perturbations,

either simultaneously or at a rate faster than the rate of recovery,can suffer striking changes or “ecological surprises” that are sta-ble over time. This study documents a precipitous and concurrentdecline and lack of recovery in different life stages of the commer-cially important blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) population in Pam-lico Sound, North Carolina, the second largest estuary in the U.S.,following three sequential hurricanes in 1999. Spawning stock de-clined by 72%, young-of-the-year (YOY) by 63%, and postlarvaeby 84%. Fisheries-dependent and -independent data suggest thatthe decline was due to intense, localized fishing pressure as crabsmigrated en masse with hurricane floodwaters down rivers to east-ern portions of Pamlico Sound, and once crabs were resident inPamlico Sound, where catch rates increased state-wide by 369%compared to average catch. Despite a decrease in fishing effortof over 50% since 1999, spawning stock as not recovered to pre-1999 levels. The present study is one of few documented cases ofhuman influence (fishing pressure) and environmental catastrophe(multiple hurricanes) interacting synergistically to cause the rapidand precipitous decline of a fishery stock. The critical lesson is thatwe must anticipate how mobile animals will respond to large, in-frequent disturbances and implement adaptive management strate-gies that can reduce excessive human extraction at times and placeswhere animals form hyper-aggregations. This lesson is especiallyimportant to the southeastern coast of the U.S. where the frequencyof hurricanes is expected to increase.

STAGE-SPECIFIC EFFECTS OF ELEVATED SEAWATERPCO2 ON THE GENETIC COMPOSITION OF LARVAL PA-CIFIC OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREAGIGAS)Evan Durland*, Eli Meyer, Pierre De Wit, and Chris LangdonOregon State University, Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment

Station, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Newport, Oregon,97365 [email protected] impacts of acidified seawater on oyster larvae have

been well documented and several recent studies have shown thatphysiological responses of these larvae to elevated pCO2 conditionsare dependent on genotype. In 2015 and 2016 trials were conduct-ed in static-culture laboratory and commercial hatchery settings tocompare phenotypic and genetic changes in populations of Pacificoysters (Crassostrea gigas) reared under both ambient and elevatedpCO2 conditions. It was found that the impacts of elevated seawaterpCO2upon larval C. gigas are stage-specific and distinctly differentamong veliger developmental periods.In order to investigate the coincident genetic changes in these

larval groups under ambient and elevated pCO2 conditions, 2bRADlibraries were created from genomic DNA of larval samples col-lected during the 2015 trial and sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq2500. More than 15,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)were identified and used to compare changes in the genetic com-position of larval pools in both ambient and high pCO2 cultures.Initial results indicate that changes in the genetic composition

of larval Pacific oyster populations from fertilization to settlementare temporally dynamic. The stage-specific physiological sensitiv-ity of larval oysters to elevated seawater pCO2 is mirrored by con-current changes in the genetic composition of these larval pools.Furthermore, among the SNPs which were significantly affectedby seawater pCO2 treatment, ~28% of them displayed directionalselection which differed among development periods. The overallnature of genetic changes in larval pools across veliger life stagesin response elevated pCO2 suggests that genetic components of lar-val fitness are highly epistatic and pleiotropic across developmentalperiods.

IDENTIFYING REGULATORY BARRIERS TO NATIVEOYSTER RESTORATION INWASHINGTON, USADanielle EdelmanUniversity ofWashington, School of Marine and Environmental

Affairs, 3707 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, Washington 98105 [email protected] Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) suffered a population crash

in the early 1900s, and it has yet to recover to historical estimates.Though there are many biological and ecological reasons why theOlympia oyster struggles to return to its former population size,regulatory barriers exist which make it difficult to launch and sus-tain restoration projects. The author determined that there is a need


environmental stress. Accordingly, co-expression networks, clas-sification methods and discriminant analyses represent valuableapproaches for this purpose, given their ability to synthesize largeamounts of information and to unravel hidden patterns. The presentwork builds on this knowledge to provide a better understandingof the molecular strategies used by the oyster Crassotrea gigasduring responses to changing environments and stress. Such in-formation is critical to distinguish expression changes and alteredbiological processes specifically linked to particular environmentalconditions from a core response to stress in general. With this inmind, transcriptomic data series corresponding to different envi-ronmental variables were analyzed (temperature, salinity, exposureto the heavy metal Zinc and exposure to Vibrio pathogens). Theobserved general similarities in functional profiles support the no-tion of a core response to stress. Co-expression network analysis oftime-series further revealed a dynamic response to stress allowingthe chronological organization of responsive transcript modules.Lastly, the most informative genes in each dataset were identifiedusing sPLS-DA, constituting candidate biomarkers with predictivepower for specific stressors. These findings support the value oftranscriptomic data series and data mining techniques to promotenew hypotheses and convey relevant insights for the developmentof stress biomarkers in the oyster C. gigas useful in oceans bio-monitoring.

SUPPORTING MANAGEMENT OF THE EMERGING JO-NAH CRAB FISHERYAND THE ICONIC LOBSTER FISH-ERY IN THE NORTHEAST USA: A COLLABORATIVEFISHING VESSELRESEARCH FLEETAPPROACHAubrey A. Ellertson1*, Anna Malek Mercer1, David Spencer1,2,and Robert Glenn3

1Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, P.O. Box 278,Saunderstown, Rhode Island 02874 USA

2F/V Nathaniel Lee, Newport, Rhode Island, USA3Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, 1213 Purchase

Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740 [email protected] the economic and cultural importance of the lobster

(Homarus americanus) and Jonah crab (Cancer borealis) fisheries,research scientists, managers, and industry members agree that thedata being used to assess these stocks lack sufficient spatial andtemporal coverage, particularly in Southern New England. Specif-ically, there is a mismatch between the location of primary lobsterfishing grounds in this region (10-200 miles offshore) and the lo-cation where data are being collected (0-3 miles from shore). Simi-larly, Jonah crab fishery management efforts are hindered by majorgaps in the understanding of the catch compostion and operationalcharacteristics of the fishery.The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation developed the

Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet in 2013 to begin addressingthese data needs and inform the assessment and management of

IMMUNOHISTOFLUORESCENCE STUDY OF THE AC-TIONS OF MANGANESE ON THE PHOSPHOLIPASE CAND IP3 RECEPTOR MECHANISMS OF DOPAMINE D2-LIKE POST-SYNAPTIC RECEPTORS IN CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICAMohamed Eid1*, Peter Amoako1, Delilah Cummings1, MaxineJacobs2,Margaret A. Carroll1, and Edward J. Catapane1


2Kingsborough Community College, 2001 OrientalAve, Brook-lyn, New York 11235 [email protected] causes Manganism a Parkinson’s-like disease. Re-

ports postulate the neurotoxic mechanism is related to dopamineneuron dysfunction, not degeneration. Gill lateral cell (GLC) ciliaof Crassostrea virginica are controlled by serotonergic-dopami-nergic innervations. Dopamine is cilio-inhibitory. Previous workshowed the dopamine receptors are D2 type (D2DR) and manga-nese disrupts the cilio-inhibition of GLC cilia, suggesting D2DRis a site of action in manganese neurotoxicity. The D2DR pathwayinvolves inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and activation of phospholi-pase C (PLC). PLC synthesizes inositol trisphosphate (IP3), whichactivates IP3 receptors (IP3R) increasing intracellular Ca2+. PLChas not been well studied in bivalves, nor have effects of manga-nese on PLC or IP3R. It is hypothesized that PLC and IP3R arepresent in GLC, and if so, any effects of manganese will be deter-mined. Gill sections were prepared with PLC and IP3R antibodiesand viewed on a Leica microscope.All sections were photographedwith the same camera setting. It was found that GLC displayedgreen fluorescence in cytoplasm and along cell membranes indi-cating the presence of PLC and IP3R. Gills threated with manga-nese had reduced PLC and reduced IP3R fluorescence comparedto untreated cells. Zinc treated gills showed no differences. Thestudy shows PLC and IP3R presence in GLC and that manganesedid cause a small, significant reduction in PLC and IP3R fluores-cence. This study provides new knowledge of manganese actionson D2DR pathway in bivalve gill. Future experiments will test ifmanganese negatively effects physiological actions of PLC andIP3R on GLC cilia activity.

UNIQUEAND COMMON PATTERNS IN THE STRESS RE-SPONSE OF THE PACIFIC OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA GI-GASJose M. Eirin-Lopez1* and Victoria Suarez-Ulloa2

1Florida International University, Department of Biological Sci-ences, 3000 NE 151st St., North Miami Beach, Florida 33181, USA

2University of Namur, Department of Biology, Rue de Bruxelles61, 5000 Namur, [email protected] application of transcriptomic data series provides a better

understanding of the dynamics in the responses of organisms to


POLYMORPHISMS IN RTE-3_LVA NON-LTR RETRO-TRANSPOSON OF SPF PENAEUS VANNAMEI FROM THEUNITED STATES: ITS ASSOCIATION WITH THE PENAE-US MONODON ENDOGENOUS VIRUS IHHNV (INFEC-TIOUS HYPODERMAL AND HEMATOPOIETIC NECRO-SIS VIRUS) FROMAFRICAANDAUSTRALIADaniela Espinoza1*, Acacia Alcivar-Warren1,2, Jurgenne Pri-mavera3, Leobert De la Pena3, Kathy Tang, Gladys Zuniga1,3,and Zhenkang Xu1

1Fundación para la Conservación de la Biodiversidad Acuáticay Terrestre (FUCOBI), Quito, Ecuador

2Environmental Genomics, Inc., P. O. Box 196, Southborough,Massachusetts 01772 USA

3SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, Tigbauan 5021, Iloilo,[email protected] RTE-3_LVa non-LTR retrotransposon (3,654 bp) is among

the most abundant (3.5%) transposable elements characterizedin SPF P. vannamei genome (Bao. 2015. Repbase Reports 15(4),1592; http://www.girinst.org/censor/index.php). RTE-3_LVa is82% identical to the reverse transcriptase (RT, nucleotides 3511-4655) of unnamed retrotransposon in P. monodon endogenous vi-rus IHHNV from Africa and Australia (DQ228358, 4,655 bp), anon-infectious strain. IHHNV is prevalent in penaeid shrimp andassociated with runt deformity syndrome (slow growth).RTE-3_LVa contains four conserved domains: L1-EN [endonu-

clease domain of non-LTR retrotransposon LINE-1], RT_nLTR_like [non-LTR retrotransposon, non-LTR retrovirus reverse tran-scriptase (RT)], group_II_RT_mat [group II intron RT/maturase];and RVT-1 [RT: RNA-dependent DNA polymerase]; and is iden-tical to microsatellites and ESTs from SPF P. vannamei, wild andfarmed P. monodon, and cultured P. stylirostris. Microsatelliteswere tested for polymorphisms, some located on to the sex linkagegroup LG4 of P. vannamei (ShrimpMap2). Penaeid microsatellitesmay be generated from the RTE non-LTR retrotransposon clade.Both infectious and non-infectious IHNNV were amplified

by PCR in wild shrimp of Thailand, Ecuador and Gulf of Mexi-co USA; in frozen shrimp sold in US supermarkets, and SPF P.vannamei lines from Hawaii USA (Kona, High Growth, MexicanWSSV-resistant). Infectious IHHNV fragments were identified inP. monodon genome, and in isolates from imported SPF P. van-namei, wild P. monodon (Palawan, Negros Occidental), and cul-tured P. monodon (SEAFDEC) of the Philippines. It is possible thatIHHNV is inserted into RTE-3_LVa of P. vannamei, but a mecha-nism remains to be determined until a fully-assembled referencegenome of SPF P. vannamei is available.

these valuable fisheries resources. Research Fleet participants usea specialized tablet app, digital calipers, and wireless temperaturesensors to record information about their lobster and Jonah crabcatch and the environment during routine fishing practices. Since2013, the 18 fishermen participating in the Research Fleet havecollected biological data from over 105,000 lobsters and 44,000Jonah crab as well as coupled bottom water temperatures from theGulf of Maine to the Mid-Atlantic. The data collected by the Re-search Fleet are integrated into federal biosamples databases andused extensively in the lobster stock assessment and Jonah crabmanagement plan. Ultimately, the project’s approach increases thetransparency of the assessment process and promotes the fishingindustry’s trust in the data sources being used for management.

OYSTER RESTORATION EFFORTS IN THE SOUTHERNINDIAN RIVER LAGOON, FLORIDA - INCORPORATINGRESILIENCYTO FRESHWATER DISCHARGESVincent EncomioFlorida Oceanographic Society, Stuart, FL. 890 NE Ocean

Blvd. Stuart, Florida 34996 [email protected] St. Lucie River Estuary in southeast Florida is periodical-

ly beset by freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee and otherdrainage canals that have significantly expanded the St. Lucie’swatershed since the 1930s. Extended freshwater conditions, as aresult of these releases, can devastate oyster resources in this es-tuary. In 2013, severe wet season rainfall and resulting freshwaterdischarges resulted in near to complete extirpation of oysters fromthe St. Lucie. Recovery of lost oyster resources was initiated in2014-2015. An important facet of this effort was to build resilien-cy to future discharge events. To achieve this, oyster reef habitatwas constructed in seven locations in the southern Indian RiverLagoon, downstream from the St. Lucie River. These oyster reefswere incorporated as a component of living shoreline restoration,along with seagrass and shoreline plantings. In 2016, high dry sea-son rainfall due to El Niño conditions, led to freshwater discharg-es (primarily from Lake Okeechobee) persisting for nine months.Throughout this period, losses of oysters at these downstream siteswere minimal, reflective of higher salinities found at these sites.Timing of oyster reef construction at four sites coincided with highspatfall in May and remained consistent for five months follow-ing construction. Live oyster densities were extremely high (2000-10,000+ oysters m-2). Although other factors (predation, sea levelrise, storms) may influence these sites’ long-term persistence asoyster habitat, oysters at these sites were unaffected by the dis-charges. Future efforts will expand reef creation and continue mon-itoring of their long-term success.


Of the 58 individuals participating in the lottery, 34 continuedto participate by selecting a total of 206 acres now identified aspending and subject to a formal lease application process. Thepresent status and outlook for the Delaware leasing program andcoastal (inland) bays commercial shellfish aquaculture develop-ment for 2018 and beyond is reviewed. Additional regulatory andbackground information is available at the Delaware Inland BaysShellfish Aquaculture website <darc.cms.udel.edu/ibsa>.

SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE AND EELGRASS: A GLOB-ALMETA-ANALYSISBridget E. Ferriss1*, Tish Conway-Cranos2, Beth L. Sander-son1, and Laura Hoberecht3

1Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, Seattle,Washington 98112, USA

2Washington Department of Fish andWildlife, 1111WashingtonSt. SE Olympia, Washington 98501, USA

3NOAAWest Coast Region, Sand Point Way Northeast, Seattle,Washington 98115, [email protected] inter-tidal zone is optimal habitat for bivalve aquaculture

and eelgrass (Zostera spp.), a valuable and protected nearshorehabitat. It is important to understand how bivalve aquaculture in-teracts with eelgrass in order to sustainable develop this globallyexpanding, industry. This study provides a comprehensive under-standing of the positive and negative effects of bivalve aquacultureon eelgrass by conducting the first, quantitative, global meta-anal-ysis of aquaculture-eelgrass studies. The meta-analysis focused on:(1) how eelgrass responds to on-bottom and off-bottom shellfishaquaculture; and (2) the resilience of eelgrass after harvesting dis-turbances. On-bottom culture (e.g., laying directly on the sediment)corresponded to significant increases in eelgrass biomass, growth,and reproduction. Off-bottom culture (e.g., longline and suspendedbag) resulted in significant decreases in biomass, density, percentcover, and reproduction.AUSWest coast case study (relative to theremaining global average) revealed more negative impacts on bio-mass, density, and percent cover from off-bottom culture and morepositive impacts on biomass from on-bottom culture. Eelgrassdensities recovered after all shellfish harvest methods, howevermechanical harvesting created greater initial impact and longer re-covery times than manual harvest methods. The time-period overwhich observations were reported was an important variable thatwas not included in the analysis but could influence results. Theseanalyses suggest the response of eelgrass to shellfish aquaculturevaries depending on eelgrass characteristic, grow-out approaches,and harvesting methods, with potential regionally specific relation-ships. Questions remain, regarding how these cycles of eelgrassand aquaculture habitat relate to ecological functions and servicesin the nearshore environment.

LACTIC ACID IN THE TISSUES OF THE APPLE SNAIL,POMACEAMACULATASal Essajee and Lewis E. Deaton*Biology Department, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, La-

fayette, Louisiana 70504 [email protected] apple snail, Pomacea maculate, belongs to the Family Am-

pullariidae. Species in this group are generally characterized bytolerance of long term exposure to air. For example, Pila virensand P. urceus can survive six months or more of aerial exposure inaestivation. During aerial exposure, P. virens accumulates lacticacid but P. urceus does not. P. maculata is capable of survivingmany months of aerial exposure. When exposed to air, the animalsenter a state of aestivation characterized by inactivity; both oxygenuptake and heart rate decrease markedly. To assess the metabolicbiochemistry of active snails and snails in aestivation, test stripswere used to determine the presence of D- and L-lactate in the tis-sues of the animals. In active animals the foot and gill containedabout higher levels of L-lactate than other tissues. D-lactate levelswere higher in the gill than in other tissues. The tissues of snails inaestivation for several months will be assayed for comparison andthese results presented.

SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE IN THE COASTAL (IN-LAND) BAYS OF DELAWARE 2018: STATUS AND OUT-LOOKJohnW. EwartDelaware Sea Grant MarineAdvisory Service, College of Earth,

Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware, 700 PilottownRoad, Lewes, Delaware 19958 [email protected] more than a decade of field demonstration research to

evaluate shellfish aquaculture technologies for oyster restorationand seafood production in the coastal bays of Delaware, and sub-sequent public discussion to identify policy and legal constraints,Delaware Governor Jack Markell signed legislation authorizing re-instatement of commercial shellfish aquaculture bottom leases inAugust 2013.The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environ-

mental Control (DNREC) Division of Fish and Wildlife, chargedwith developing a bottom leasing program and regulatory frame-work, completed the drafting and public education/hearing stag-es with release of final regulations in August 2014. Strong publicopposition involving 2 proposed bottom lease tracts adjacent towaterfront residential communities stalled implementation of theleasing program and its review and approval by the USArmy Corpsof Engineers (ACOE). The issue was resolved in December 2016through the reduction or elimination of available bottom acreage inthe contested locations. The DNREC resumed the shellfish aqua-culture leasing program in May 2017 by holding a public lottery asan impartial site selection process for 343 acres ofACOE permittedcoastal bay bottom.


Attheya armatus. The sandy habitat and highly concentrated foodsource sustain large populations of the Pacific razor clam (Siliquapatula), an important resource to the coastal economies of Wash-ington. Razor clam body condition has been routinely monitoredby the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife since 2013.Comparing annual growth cycles using the body condition index(BCI) calculation ((meat dry weight) *100)/ (dry shell weight) peakcondition of clams typically occurs in early spring prior to spawn-ing with a subsequent recover of body mass late in the fall. Cellconcentrations of Attheya armatus increase with intensified waveaction in the fall and winter providing high amounts of nutrientsduring a time of otherwise low productivity. Chlorophyll measure-ments of surf zone waters are highest in the fall to spring whenoverall phytoplankton species diversity remains low. While thisrelationship undoubtedly effects the recruitment of clams onWash-ington beaches, recent population trends can also be correlatedwith larger climate indices such as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation(PDO).

TRIBAL CO-MANAGEMENT OF THE SHELLFISH RE-SOURCES INWASHINGTON STATE:AN EVOLVING PRO-CESSDavid Alan FyfeNorthwest Indian Fisheries Commission, 19472 Power Hill

Place NE, Suite 210, Poulsbo, Washington 98370 [email protected] tribes of the Pacific Northwest have lived in harmony

with the land and seas from time immemorial. As seasons changed,summer camps would be left behind, in favor more suitable loca-tions to survive the winter. Each tribe had Usual and Accustomedfishing areas, sometimes overlapping with neighboring tribes, andsometimes being exclusive to a particular tribe. As European set-tlers moved westward, interaction and confrontation grew, withtwo very different ways of life often conflicting. By the mid-1800s,there was a desire to resolve differences peacefully and the U.S.Government signed treaties with these tribes. A few years later,Washington State was carved out of the Oregon Territory. As thepopulation grew, so did the number of regulations necessary to pro-tect the natural resources. Increasingly, the state and tribes clashedover harvest limits, times and areas. The tribes, having reservedtheir rights to the natural resources in their treaties with the federalgovernment, did not feel bound by regulations developed by thestate. After a series of ‘Fish Wars’ between the state and tribes, thetribes filed within the federal court system to specifically determinewhat their reserved rights meant. The federal government alignedwith the tribes and sat opposite the state in a court hearing and de-cision that was ultimately referred to the U.S. Supreme Court. Thispresentation will review events leading up to that decision 40 yearsago, known as U.S. v. Washington, and how the state and tribeshave since implemented the Court’s findings.

SPATIO-TEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF PACIFC OYSTERSMORTALITY PATTERNS ALONG THE FRENCH COAST:DISENTANGLING ORIGIN, AGING, AND ENVIRONMEN-TAL FACTORSElodie Fleury1*, Pierrick Barbier1, Julien Normand2, StéphanePouvreau1, Bruno Petton1, Gatean Daigle3, and Fabrice Pernet1

1Ifremer, UMR LEMAR 3539 (UBO/CNRS/IRD/Ifremer),Technopôle Brest Iroise, BP70, 29280 Plouzané France

2Laboratoire Environnement Ressources Normandie, AvenueGénéral de GaulleBP 32, 14520 Port-en-Bessin France3Département de Mathématiques et de Statistiques, Faculté des

sciences et de génie, Pavillon Alexandre Vachon, Université Laval,Québec, QC G1V 0A6 [email protected] 2009, the RESCOmonitoring network has been surveying

sentinel batches of the cupped oyster, Crassostrea gigas, in severalstudy sites over the entire French coast. This network was designedto collect a nationally-spread dataset on diseased induced mortality,to contribute to the understanding of the spatio-temporal dynamicsof mortality of this species. Sentinel batches of oysters correspond-ing to different origins and to two rearing age classes are deployedsimultaneously in 13 sites covering the main shellfish growing re-gions of the French coastline. Mortality and growth are monitoredevery fifteen days along with environmental parameters and dataassociated with the presence of infectious agents in sentinel oysters(DNA detection of OsHV-1 and Vibrio aestuarianus). The RESCOnetwork actions thus contribute to disentangle the biotic and abiot-ic parameters involved in mortality phenomena, by implementinga proactive and integrative approach, accounting for the differentcompartments (environment / host / infectious agents) likely to in-teract with the evolution of the mortality. Logistic regression modelwas used to investigate the effect of sites and batches on the oysterfinal survival and the survival time curves were compared using aCox regression model with sites and batches as fixed effects, andenvironmental factors as covariates. A second Cox regression mod-el was performed with level of OsHV-1 and V. aestuarianus DNAcopy as time-dependant covariates. The results highlight spatialpatterns of disease-induced mortalities and the contributions of themain environmental factors adversely affecting oysters’ survival.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GROWTH CYCLE OFTHE RAZOR CLAM AND THE SEASONALITY OF PHY-TOPLANKTON BLOOMS ON THEWASHINGTON COASTZach Forster* and Charlotte BerryWashington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, 26700 San-

dridge Road, Ocean Park, Washington 98640 [email protected] ecology ofWashington coastal sandy beaches is endemic to

only a few places in the world. The exposed, wide and gently slop-ing beaches have persistent dense accumulations of the surf diatom


DIGITAL PATHOGEN SURVEILLANCE: A ONE HEALTHAPPROACH TO PREVENTING INFECTIOUS DISEASESIN HUMANSANDANIMALSJennifer GardyCanada Research Chair in Public Health Genomics, School

of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia,Vancouver, Canada, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control,655 West 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z [email protected] the human health domain, outbreaks and epidemics of in-

fectious diseases are typically studied through a combination ofmolecular epidemiology and traditional field epidemiology - wecan ask questions of the pathogen itself and ask questions of the in-dividuals who are ill in an attempt to understand how the outbreakstarted and how it’s spreading. Recently, technological advancesin multiple areas, from genome sequencing to detecting signals ofinfectious disease using data from the internet, are changing theway we investigate outbreaks like Ebola and Zika virus – a newparadigm, known as Digital Pathogen Surveillance, is emerging.This talk will introduce some of the technologies underlying

this new approach, discuss some of the successes of the approach inthe human health domain, and show how, by adopting a One Healthethos, the approach can be extended to improve disease surveil-lance in other ecosystems, including the marine world.

RECREATIONAL HARVEST OF BAY SCALLOPS INFLORIDAStephen P. Geiger1*, Jennifer Granneman1, and Brittany J.Scharf2

1Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and WildlifeConservation Commission, 100 8thAve SE, St. Petersburg, Florida33701 USA

2Florida Sea Grant, University of Florida, 16110 Aviation LoopDrive, Brooksville, Florida 34604 [email protected] fisheries landings in the United States have been

reported since the 1800s sporadically and with increasing consis-tency since the 1950s, but commercial harvest of bay scallops, Ar-gopecten irradians, in Florida was prohibited in 1995. Recreation-al fishing effort is currently estimated through a federally fundedstatistically model, but bay scallops are not included in those recre-ational surveys, so neither common method is available to managethe Florida stock based on harvest. Fishing mortality caused by therecreational fishery in Florida in 2002 was estimated to be small,relative to natural mortality, but the fishery appears to have expand-ed since then.Pre-season and post-season abundance surveys were conducted

in 2011 – 2014 to update estimates of natural and fishing mortality.Direct estimates of effort were conducted in 2016 and 2017 usingaerial surveys. Indirect estimates were also collected by monitoringboating activity from launch points known to be frequented by scal-

A PILOT STUDY OF NUTRIENT BIOEXTRACTION US-ING RIBBED MUSSELS AT HUNTS POINT, NEW YORKCITY, FROM CONCEPTION TO CONCLUSION: PATHS,PROCESSES, PARTNERSHIPS, PERCEPTIONS, ANDPROJECTIONSEve Galimany1, Gary H. Wikfors1*, Mark S. Dixon1, Carter R.Newell2, Shannon L. Meseck1, Dawn Henning3, Yaqin Li1, MarkTedesco4, Lynn Dwyer5, and Julie M. Rose1

1NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, MilfordLaboratory, 212 Rogers Avenue, Milford, Connecticut 06460 USA

2Maine Shellfish R&D, 7 Creek Lane, Damariscotta, Maine04543 USA

3Rocking the Boat, 812 Edgewater Road, Bronx, New York10474 USA

4EPA Long Island Sound Study, Stamford Government Center,888 Washington Blvd., Stamford, Connecticut 06904 USA

5National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, 1133 15th Street, Wash-ington, DC 20005 [email protected] term “Nutrient Bioextraction” was coined by three of us in

2009 while planning a workshop held at UCONN Stamford, CT,later that year. The EPA Long Island Sound Study and MilfordLaboratory were prompted to explore alternate nutrient manage-ment tools by models indicating that water-quality goals could notbe met in LIS with conventional technologies. We were inspired bythe pioneering work of Odd Lindahl, who employed farmed bluemussels in Lysekil, Sweden, to assimilate and remove nitrogen thatevaded the local wastewater treatment plant. The workshop con-cluded with an agreement to pursue a pilot study. Hunts Point,Bronx, NYC, was chosen because funding from a local environ-mental damages settlement was available. A coalition of NOAA,EPA, NY State, National Fish &Wildlife Foundation, Maine Shell-fish R&D, and local youth development organization Rocking TheBoat planned and executed a 2-year study evaluating the use ofcommercial blue mussel cultivation practices to grow and harvestribbed mussels in Hunts Point for the purpose of removing nitrogenfrom the ecosystem. The ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa, waschosen because it is an environmentally-resilient native species,and there is no commercial market for the species and, therefore,reduced risk of human illness from theft and consumption of themussels. During this study, much was learned about the ribbedmussel, about the local environment and its suitability for nutrientbioextraction, and about the social context of innovative methodsto improve the quality of heavily-degraded environments. Majorfindings and lessons learned will be highlighted.


harvest areas11. Establishing restoration priorities12. Expanding outreach on the regulatory process for aquacul-

ture13. Setting research goals for priority issues

These efforts may result in improved recreation, economic de-velopment, and a healthier ecosystem; however, to support the re-sponsible growth, outreach is focused on facilitating discussionsabout how aquaculture can fit into the culture, economy and ecolo-gy of local communities.

WINTER IS (NOT) COMING: CHANGES TO OVERWIN-TER BEHAVIOR OF BLUE CRAB IN RESPONSE TOWARMING TEMPERATURESHillary Lane Glandon*1,2, K. Halimeda Kilbourne1, and Thom-as J. Miller1

1Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of MarylandCenter for Environmental ScienceP.O. Box 38, Solomons, Maryland 20688 USA2University of North Carolina Wilmington, Biology and Marine

Biology, 601 S. College Road,Wilmington, North Carolina 28403 [email protected] how increases in water temperature may affect

the duration of the winter dormancy period and the overwinter sur-vival are important for the effective conservation and managementof estuarine species in the face of a warming climate. In this study,the length of the overwintering period and the probability of over-winter survival of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), an ecologicallyand economically important estuarine crustacean, was determined.Overwintering period length and probability of overwinter survivalwere determined using water temperature predictions up to the year2100 which were derived from a harmonic model that utilized airtemperatures predicted in multiple regional-scale climate projec-tions. Estimates of warming water temperatures by 2100 in Ches-apeake Bay indicate that the overwintering period in this specieswill be up to 50% shorter and overwinter survival will increaseby at least 20% compared to current conditions. The warmer con-ditions will lead to faster and prolonged seasonal growth, which,when combined with lower winter mortality, will lead to increasedpopulation productivity. The level of expression of this increasedproductivity will depend on the response of other elements of theChesapeake Bay food web, and on the response of fishery manage-ment policies.

lop harvesters. Finally, harvest rates were estimated using self-re-ported post cards and on-line surveys. An estimate of mortalitydue to harvest was then created based on extrapolating from directand indirect measures of harvest combined with catch data.Both methods indicate scallop harvest and total mortality in the

open-harvest regions have increased, though fishing mortality re-mains smaller than natural mortality. Improved estimates couldbe achieved with more frequent aerial surveys using refined spa-tial resolution, improved responses from harvesters (including an-gler-intercept style interviews), and an improved understanding ofwhat proportion of the total population range is being exploited.

LISTENING, LEARNING, AND LEADING TO SUPPORTRESPONSIBLE AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT INCONNECTICUTTessa Getchis*, Sylvain De Guise, Nancy Balcom, and Anoush-ka ConcepcionConnecticut Sea Grant, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, Con-

necticut 06340 [email protected] Connecticut Shellfish Initiative is an effort to grow com-

mercial, recreational, and natural shellfish sectors, and increasepublic awareness about their importance for maintaining a healthyLong Island Sound and providing maritime jobs.Shellfish are an important part of the environment, economy,

and culture. Shellfish depend upon, and also contribute to, cleanwater. There are forty-six companies with over 300 people em-ployed in shellfishing-related jobs. Commercial shellfish harvestcontributes greater than $30 million dollars annually, while salesof recreational harvest permits generate $110,000 annually in rev-enue to local communities. Citizens, shellfishermen, regulators,scientists, and other interested parties collaborated to develop andpublish the Connecticut Shellfish Vision Plan (http://shellfish.uco-nn.edu). Announced in October 2016, the plan contains specificrecommendations.

1. Key successes include:2. Eight new/expanded commercial shellfish operations3. Approval of hiring plan for three new staff at public healthoffices

4. An alternative route for access to shellfish grounds5. Expanded public outreach6. Bioextraction coordinator position announced

7. The next phase will include a focus on:8. Staff and infrastructure for public health offices9. Streamlining laws, regulations, and policies10. Strategies to address water quality impairments in shellfish


quantify. Coutteau and Sorgeoloos (1992) had six of nine hatcher-ies estimate that 1 kg of algal dry weight (DW) cost them between$300-$400 to produce. Assuming efficiency increases and inflationbalance each other to keep this estimate in the same range 25 yearslater, this can be used as one data point for comparing CAPEX andOPEX with modern production methods. Another metric of com-parison, though not comparing like items, has much easier math:concentrated or spun down algae paste. Concentrated algae costsroughly $450-$650/kg DW depending on the species. Includingamortized capital costs, Industrial Plankton’s PBR 1250 L converg-es on the value of ~250$/kg DW, making it a cost effective solutionto the algal feed bottleneck in hatcheries.

FINALLY, A TECHNIQUE TO AGE DECAPODS: PROG-RESSWITHTHE CARIBBEAN SPINYLOBSTER, PANULI-RUS ARGUS, AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONSGaya Gnanalingam1, Mark J. Butler IV1*, Thomas R. Mat-thews2, Emily Hutchinson2, and Raouf Kilada3

1Old Dominion University, Department of Biological Sciences,Norfolk, Virginia, USA

2Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and WildlifeConservation Commission, Marathon, Florida, USA

3University of New Brunswick, Biology Department, SaintJohn, New Brunswick, [email protected] ageing methods used for a variety of marine taxa

have proven inapplicable for decapods because of the loss and re-placement of calcified structures during ecdysis. However, in 2012Kilada and colleagues demonstrated that age could be estimated bycounting bands deposited in the eyestalk and ossicles of the gastricmill in four temperate decapod species. The technique has sincebeen applied to a few other crustaceans with promising results.Whether tropical species would exhibit the same biannual bandingwas questionable, but the same banding pattern has been confirmedin the tropical Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), whichsupports the most valuable fishery in the Caribbean. Clearly dis-tinguishable bands have been discovered in the mesocardiac andzygotic ossicles of the gastric mill (but not eyestalks) that differlogically between animals of different sizes and those of knownage. Experiments have demonstrated that the deposition of bandsis indicative of chronological age, but not influenced by the fre-quency of ecdysis. Lobsters tagged with calcein also retained thetag through several molts and now calcein and heavy metal markedbands are being used in experiments to validate band counts andto estimate time of postlarval settlement. Robust fisheries man-agement of crustaceans has long been hampered by an inability todisentangle patterns of size and age, but this technique stands torectify that shortcoming.

FROM PILOT EFFORT TO A REGIONAL MONITORINGPROGRAM: THE COAST-WIDE VENTLESS LOBSTERTRAP SURVEYRobert P. Glenn1 and Tracy L. Pugh2

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, 1213 Purchase St,New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740 USAMassachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, 30 Emerson Ave.,

Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 [email protected] lobster (Homarus americanus) support the most

valuable fishery in the northeastern United States with commerciallandings exceeding 140 million pounds and ex-vessel value ex-ceeding $500,000,000 since 2014. Historically, stock assessmentsfor American lobster have relied on indices of relative abundancegenerated from state and federal trawl surveys. This reliance ontrawl survey data for assessing American lobster has been a majorconcern for the fishing industry who astutely point out that trawlsurveys cannot tow on rocky hard bottom that is preferred by lob-sters. In 2004, a random stratified ventless lobster trap survey wasinitiated in Massachusetts Bay as a pilot effort in collaboration withMassachusetts commercial fishers. The goal of this survey was todevelop an additional fishery independent survey to monitor lobsterabundance. Survey methodology was developed with industry in-put, and the initial success and strong industry support lead to a sur-vey expansion. In 2006, the pilot effort was expanded regionally toa “Coast-wide” monitoring program covering coastal waters fromRhode Island to Maine. In 2015, the ventless lobster trap surveyindices were incorporated into population models in the AtlanticStates Marine Fisheries Commission American lobster benchmarkstock assessment. This marks the first time that an industry-collab-orative survey was formally used to assess American lobsters. In-dustry collaboration has been key to establishing long term fundingfor the survey and to promoting “buy-in” to survey results.

ALGALECONOMICS FOR SHELLFISH HATCHERIESShawn D. Glover* and Robert S. RoulstonIndustrial Plantkon Inc., 3378 Burns Avenue, Victoria British

Columbia, Canada V8Z [email protected] are undoubtedly one of the biggest bottlenecks in bivalve

hatcheries. Whether feed limitation is stifling larval productioncurrently or limiting the potential for expansion, economical solu-tions for reliable and clean algae production hold the key to mak-ing hatcheries more efficient, and ultimately more profitable. Mosttraditional systems for algal production (i.e. batch or continuousbag systems) have relatively low capital costs; however, they arelabour intensive and their output is operator dependant, making theproduction cost of hatchery-grade algae challenging to accurately


of a severe necrosis of the hepatopancreatic cells within hours ofthe disease onset. This effect has been associated to the presenceof two genes in a conjugative plasmid (pVp-AP) found in severalstrains of related species of Vibrio.The pVp-AP plasmid has one or two transposons inserted, de-

pending on the origin of the strain. The large 5.5 Kbp transposonin pVp-AP is composed of two inverted repeats of 55 bp at the ex-tremes followed by the transposases of 921 bp; six CDS are foundwithin, three hypothetical proteins, one putative cell surface anchorfamily protein (CSAP), and two potential delta endotoxins similarto the PirAB toxins of Photorhabdus luminescens. The Pir toxinsare encoded in two genes within a 1,776 bp operon (including the50 bp promoter, and the -10 and -35 signals). The pirA gene en-codes for a 111 amino acid 12.7 kDa protein and the pirB for a 438amino acid 50.1 kDa protein. The probable quaternary structure ofthese proteins resembles the tertiary structure of the Cry3A toxin ofBacillus thuringiensis.All these proteins (PirAB and Cry) have a similar function in

the digestive tract of invertebrates. They are pore-forming toxinsthat induce cell death by forming ionic pores into the membrane ofthe midgut epithelial cells in their target host, either in insect (forCry and PirAB) or shrimp (for PirAB).

THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE GEO-DUCKS, PANOPEAGENEROSAAND P. GLOBOSASergio Scarry González-Peláez*, Mónica NurenskayaVélez-Arellano, J. Jesús Bautista-Romero, Liliana Carval-ho-Saucedo, and Daniel B. Lluch-CotaCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste.Av. Instituto

Politécnico Nacional 195.Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, B.C.S., México

[email protected] development of the geoduck fishery in northwest of Mex-

ico have resulted in the identification of new populations of thisresource in recently years; however, the similar shape of Panopeagenerosa and P. globosa makes their identification misleading. Asa consequence, it is also hard to define correct management policiesfor each species. A sample of 480 geoduck shells from Punta Euge-nia (27°51’12.15”N, 115° 5’26.92”W), in the Pacific coast of BajaCalifornia, was analyzed using a Discriminant Function to identifythe species. The shell length, distance from the umbo to the ventralmargin along the shell surface, and the weight from a single shell,were used as morphological variables. The results indicated that247 individuals belonged to P. generosa and 233 to P. globosa. Thisdemonstrates that both geoduck species cohabit at Punta Eugenia,being the first confirmation of different geoduck living species co-existing in the North Pacific of America. This report also extendsthe equatorward distribution of Panopea generosa ~170 km, and P.globosa distribution increases poleward ~470 km.

THE EASTERN OYSTER GENOME: A RESOURCE FORCOMPARATIVE GENOMICS IN SHELLFISH AQUACUL-TURE SPECIESMarta Gomez-Chiarri1*, Wesley C. Warren2, Patrick Minx2,Chad Tomlinson2, Ximing Guo3, and Dina A. Proestou4

1University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881USA

2Washington University School of Medicine, McDonnell Ge-nome Institute, St Louis, Missouri 63108 USA

2Rutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, PortNorris, New Jersey 08349 USA

3USDAARS National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center,Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 [email protected] aquaculture is an important sector of world food produc-

tion. As such, it is imperative to develop a high quality referencegenome for the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, to assist inthe elucidation of the genomic basis of commercially and ecolog-ically important traits. It is predicted that the use of all types ofsequence variants (e.g. genetic, gene expression, methylation) willexpand the association of allelic states with trait variance. Genet-ic, gene expression, and methylation studies depend on the use ofaccurate assembled consensus base sequences. Major challenges tothe assembly of molluscan genomes are the high rate of polymor-phism and the unique repeat architecture present in these species.To partially address these challenges, DNA from an eastern oysterproduced by gynogenesis within an inbred line was used for singlemolecule real time sequencing of the genome (~87x coverage). Allreads were assembled using FALCON to a total size of 684Mb withan N50 contig length of 1.9Mb. The predicted genome size is re-ported to be 578-675Mb. Total repetitive elements were estimatedto be ~36% usingWindowMasker.Amajority of sequences (>99%)were scaffolded into the known number of 10 chromosomes usinga HiC proximity map then aligned to an eastern oyster genetic link-age map to confirm correct association. Gene annotation using theautomated NCBI pipeline predicts the presence of 34,596 proteincoding genes and 4,230 non-coding. This reference resource shouldfacilitate discovery of a wealth of information about traits import-ant to oyster health and development.

THE PIRAB TOXIN-PRODUCING GENES OF VIBRIOSPP. HAVE A FUNCTION SIMILAR TO THE BACILLUSTHURINGIENSIS CRY PROTEINSBruno Gómez-Gil* and Sonia Soto-RodríguezCIAD, AC Mazatlan Unit for Aquaculture. AP 711, Mazatlán,

Sinaloa México [email protected], cultured shrimps have been affected by the Acute

Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND), previously knownas Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS). Affected shrimps show signs


tional Oceanic andAtmosphericAdministration, 4301 Rickenback-er Causeway, Miami, Florida, 33149, [email protected] activities are deteriorating coastal habitats by

increasing nutrients, changing coastal carbonate chemistry, andreducing seawater pH. The emission of greenhouse gases is alsoincreasing oceanic temperatures.Although the adult stages of manymarine organisms are capable of tolerating fluctuations in environ-mental conditions, marine larvae that hatch in coastal habitats maynot have the ability to detect, respond to and/or tolerate such pertur-bations. This study examined the response of the commercially im-portant Florida stone crab, Menippe mercenaria, to determine theimpacts of simultaneous exposure to both elevated temperature andocean acidification (OA) on larval survival, growth, and geotacticswimming behavior. Larvae were raised in a fully crossed experi-ment with ambient and elevated treatments for temperature (30°Cand 32°C) and pCO2 (~450 ppm and ~1100 ppm). Exposure to ele-vated pCO2 and ambient temperatures increased larval mortality, aneffect which was further exacerbated by elevated temperature. Thelarval molt-stage duration was shorter when individuals were ex-posed to elevated temperature, however late stage larvae exhibiteda significantly longer molt-stage duration under OAconditions thanthe in controls. Geotactic responses changed throughout ontoge-ny and directional movement was reversed under OA conditions.The decrease in survival at elevated temperatures and the change inswimming orientation may have a negative effect on larval supply,and limit the potential for larval dispersal. These results suggestthat the future of the fishery may be threatened in the absence ofthe stone crabs ability to acclimatize or adapt to future changes inseawater conditions.

SPATIALLY EXPLICIT ESTIMATES OF OLYMPIA OYS-TER (OSTREA LURIDA) FILTRATION SERVICES: AMODEL-BASED APPROACH FOR AUGMENTING ECO-SYSTEM SERVICES AND REDUCING RESOURCE USEDURING RESTORATIONMatthew Gray*1, Philine zu Ermgassen2, Jonathan Gair3,4,Chris Langdon5, Emily Lemagie6, and Jim Lerczak6

1University of Maryland Center of Environmental Science,Horn Point Laboratory, Cambridge, Maryland, USA

2University of Edinburgh, School of Geosciences, Edinburgh,U.K.

3Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, Edinburgh, U.K.4School of Mathematics, The University of Edinburgh, U.K.5Oregon State University, Coastal Oregon Marine Experimental

Station, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon, USA6Oregon State University, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmo-

spheric Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon, [email protected] of oyster ecosystem services, such as water filtration,

that is derived from their suspension feeding activities (termed fil-

EUROPEAN GREEN CRAB IN THE WASHINGTON SAL-ISH SEA: SAME STATE, DIFFERENT INVASIONEmily W. Grason*1, P. Sean McDonald2, Kate Litle1, and JeffAdams1

1Washington Sea Grant, University ofWashington, 3716 Brook-lyn Ave NE, Seattle, Washington 98105-6716 USA

2University of Washington, Program on the Environment,School of Aquatic and Fisheries Science, 3737 Brooklyn Ave NE,Seattle, Washington 98105 [email protected] the European green crab, Carcinus maenas, has been

periodically abundant in coastal embayments of Washington Statesince the late 1990s, the recent range expansion into the Washing-ton Salish Sea has the potential for more destructive impacts anddynamics. Green crab spread is currently being tracked by a citizenscience network of early detection sites along Washington inlandshorelines: Washington Sea Grant (WSG) Crab Team. The networkof volunteer, tribal, and agency partners of the Crab Team monitors52 sites across Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands and the Strait ofJuan de Fuca, with the goals of assessing the status and impacts ofthe nascent invasion.In 2016, volunteers captured the first confirmed green crab from

Washington inland shorelines, and, to date, 108 European greencrabs have been captured across six locations in the WashingtonSalish Sea. Green crab populations are currently extremely small,but without swift intervention, have the potential to grow rapidly.Based on the size of crabs captured, all individuals are recent arriv-als, likely recruiting in as larvae dispersed from nearby populationsin 2015 and/or 2016. These arrival dates coincide with two years ofparticularly strong El Nino – Southern Oscillation indices, whichhave been observed to correlate with successful larval dispersalevents. The present rarity of the crab, infrequent dispersal, and ap-parent relative isolation of Salish Sea populations, sets up a prom-ising scenario for effective intervention.A collaborative, coordinat-ed, and rapid response is required to offer the greatest changes forsuccessful protection of natural, economic, and cultural resources.

WARMING AND PCO2 EFFECTS ON FLORIDA STONECRAB LARVAEPhilip M. Gravinese*1,2, Ian C. Enochs3,4, Derek P. Manzello4,and Robert van Woesik1

1Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Sci-ences, 150 W. Univ. Blvd. Melbourne, Florida 32901, USA

2Mote Marine Laboratory, Fisheries Ecology and Enhancement,1600 Ken Thompson Way, Sarasota, Florida 34236, USA

3University of Miami, Cooperative Institute for Marine and At-mospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine and AtmosphericScience, Miami, Florida, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Bis-cayne, Florida 33149, USA

4Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, Na-


dance by 300-fold and 10-fold at 25oC, respectively. Findings pro-vide evidence that bacteria associated with the oyster can causedisease during elevated seawater temperatures and highlight thepotential negative consequences of marine heat waves on food pro-duction by aquaculture.

HABITAT EFFECTS OFMACROPHYTES AND SHELLONTHE PERFORMANCE OF JUVENILE CLAMS AND LO-CALPH CONDITIONSCourtney M. Greiner1*, Terrie Klinger2, Jennifer L. Ruesink3,and Micah Horwith4


2University of Washington, School of Marine and Environmen-tal Affairs, 3707 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, Washington 98105USA

3University of Washington, Department of Biology, Box351800, Seattle, Washington 98195 USA

4Washington Department of Natural Resources, Aquatic Re-sources Division, PO Box 47027, Olympia, Washington 98504-47026 [email protected] of shell and photosynthesis by macrophytes have

potential to raise local pH and therefore improve conditions forshell-forming organisms, but habitat-specific performance couldalso derive from altered water flow or food web dynamics. Thisstudy involved a split plot design to examine two habitat treatments(macrophytes, shell) on (1) juvenile Venerupis philippinarum set-tlement, survival, and growth and (2) local water chemistry at Fi-dalgo Bay and Skokomish Delta, Washington. Results show nomacrophyte or shell hash treatment effect on V. philippinarum set-tlement or survival. A significant macrophyte treatment effect wasdetected on clam growth, with mean length higher when macro-phytes were absent regardless of the presence or absence of shellhash. Additionally, there was no significant difference in porewaterpH between the habitat treatments; however, the macrophyte treat-ment had an unexpected correlation with pH in the overlaying wa-ter, where pH was higher outside of macrophyte beds than inside.Although these results do not support the use of either treatment asan ocean acidification adaptation strategy, the mixed results report-ed in the literature for both treatments highlight the nascent natureof this research and the need to continue studying the effectivenessof potential strategies in the field. Such research could help guidelocal adaptation actions, especially among resource-dependentcommunities that rely on sustainable fisheries for their health andwell-being.

tration services; FS), often serves as the primary incentive for res-toration of O. lurida along the US west coast. To better understandthe ecological outcome of O. lurida restoration in Yaquina Bay,Oregon, an improved FS model that accounts for in situ feeding be-havior of this species and the complex hydrodynamics of the estu-ary is provided. As the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) currentlydominates most of the habitat historically occupied byO. lurida, anFS model was also developed of this non-native species in YaquinaBay. The total area and the order of locations chosen for oysterrestoration in Yaquina Bay was examined to determine how oysterFS could be maximized with limited resources. Model outcomesindicate hydrodynamics play the dominant role in the ability ofoysters to improve water quality. In contrast to previous modelingattempts, O. lurida, and equivalent populations of C. gigas, wereestimated to clear substantial portions of the Bay’s volume (e.g.28% and 33%, respectively). Populations of C. gigas consistent-ly contributed greater FS than equivalent populations of O. luridaacross all model scenarios. Importantly, model results point to anovel restoration strategy for augmenting ecosystem services andmore efficient use of resources; prioritizing areas with the longerresidence times used 25% (dry season) and 40% (wet season) ofthe area required when restored oysters were planted haphazardlyin historic habitats in order to achieve the same FS outcomes.

SIMULATED MARINE HEAT WAVE ALTERS ABUN-DANCE AND STRUCTURE OF VIBRIO POPULATIONSASSOCIATEDWITH THE PACIFIC OYSTER RESULTINGINAMASS MORTALITY EVENTTimothy Green*1, Nachshon Siboni2, William King2, JustinSeymour2, and David Raftos1

1Macquarie University, Department of Biological Sciences,Sydney Australia

2University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster(C3) Ocean Microbes and Healthy Oceans, [email protected] heat waves are predicted to become more frequent and

intense due to anthropogenic climate change, which will impactglobal production of seafood from aquaculture. Links betweenrising seawater temperature and disease have been documentedconvincingly for the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. The oysterharbors a diverse microbial community, which may act as a sourceof opportunistic pathogens during temperature stress. Whether theoyster’s microbial community can cause disease during a simulat-ed marine heat wave was assessed. Mortality occurred in C. gigaswhen the seawater temperature was rapidly raised from 20oC to25oC, however, mortality did not occur at 25oC when C. gigas wastreated with antibiotics. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealeda large change in the oyster’s bacterial community at 25oC, with anotable increase in the proportion of Vibrio. TaqMan® Real-TimePCR revealed Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio fortis increased in abun-


5Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 3190 Hammond Bay Rd., Pacif-ic Biological Station, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N7 Canada

6Oregon State University, Department of Integrative Biology,1500 SW Jefferson St., Corvallis, Oregon 97331 [email protected] of marine and estuarine species can be influenced

climatic and oceanographic process that influence broad geograph-ic areas. Synchrony at scales larger than the scale of dispersalwould likely represent a Moran effect at large-scales possibly dueto oceanographic drivers. These effects have been observed forouter coast and subtidal species, but have only recently been exam-ined for estuarine species that are also subject to similar regionalforcing. Data were analyzed for European green crabs collectedover twenty years from up to a dozen sites along the west coast ofNorth America. Unlike outer coast species, there was no evidenceof spatial synchrony among estuaries as a function of distance be-tween them; however, there were patterns of synchrony amongestuaries that differed strongly between regions. Similar to earli-er studies, there was strong synchrony among estuaries in Wash-ington and Oregon. In contrast, there was no synchrony amongCalifornia estuaries over the same period. Tests of the effects ofoceanographic processes on the degree of synchrony showed high-ly significant effects of El Niño-Southern Oscillation on synchronythat varied strongly with latitude. There was also a moderate effectof the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, but no significant effect of localupwelling strength on the degree of synchrony among estuaries.These results are compared with recent findings for synchrony ofOlympia oysters in the same region. Lastly, the consequences ofthese results are discussed in the context of future management ofthe European green crabs on the west coast.

GLYCOGEN CONTENT IN DIPLOID AND TRIPLOIDCRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA DURING GAMETOGENESISIN LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY, USAEric Guévélou*, Joseph L. Matt, and Standish K. Allen, Jr.Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Aquaculture Genetics and

Breeding Technology Center (ABC), Gloucester Point, Virginia23062, [email protected], at least 2012, shellfish aquaculturists in the Virginia por-

tion of the Chesapeake Bay have observed annual mortality eventsthat have typically peaked between May and June and resulted inthe reported loss of about 30% of Crassostrea virginica oysters ap-proaching market size. These events have been unusual in that theyhave not been associated with pathogens. In oyster species, glyco-gen is a major storage material with marked seasonal variation be-ing linked to survival and success of reproduction. Glycogen con-tent is known to be influenced by internal factors, such as growthand sexual maturation, but also external factors, such as food avail-

UNDERSTANDING TOP-DOWN, BOTTOM-UP, AND SUP-PLYSIDE INFLUENCES ONOLYMPIAOYSTER POPULA-TIONS FOR MORE SUCCESSFULRESTORATIONEdwin Grosholz*1, David Kimbro2, and Will White3,4

1University of California Davis, Department of EnvironmentalScience and Policy, Davis, California 95616 USA

2Northeastern University, Department of Marine and Environ-mental Science, Nahant, Massachusetts 01908 USA

3University of North Carolina Wilmington, Department of Biol-ogy and Marine Biology, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403 USA

4Oregon State University, Coastal Oregon Marine ExperimentStation, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Newport, Oregon97365 [email protected] populations are by a combination of top-down, bot-

tom-up, and supply-side (i.e., juvenile recruitment) factors. Es-tablishing how these processes interact remains a fundamentalchallenge, particularly for populations with open recruitment. Itis known that recruitment, growth, and mortality of Olympia oys-ters (Ostrea lurida) can vary along multiple environmental and bi-ological gradients within the estuary in Tomales Bay, CA, but therelative importance of those differences is unknown despite the im-portance of these factors for oyster restoration. A state-space modelwas fitted to oyster size and abundance data over a ten year period.Using model selection criteria, the results showed that spatio-tem-poral variation in juvenile oyster mortality spatial, but not temporalvariation in oyster growth, and temporal, but not spatial variationin larval recruitment best explained oyster population dynamicsover the past decade. Targeted field experiments also demonstrat-ed that predation (top-down control) accounted for 50% of naturalmortality, therefore, rapid growth of mid-bay oysters at the phy-toplankton maxima (bottom-up control) can create a size refugefrom predation. These results demonstrate how these key processesaffecting Olympia oyster populations in Tomales Bay and provide aguide for understanding how restoration could be more effectivelyachieved throughout the Bay.

THE MORAN EFFECTAND REGIONAL SYNCHRONYOFEUROPEAN GREEN CRAB POPULATIONS ALONG THEPACIFIC COASTEdwin Grosholz*1, Andrew Chang2, Rikke Jeppesen3, Lin-da McCann2, Catherine de Rivera4, Gregory Ruiz2, ThomasTherriault5, Kerstin Wasson3, and Sylvia Yamada6

1University of California, Department of Environmental Sci-ence and Policy, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, California 95616 USA

2Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 3152 ParadiseDrive, Tiburon, California 94920 USA

3Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, 1700Elkhorn Rd, Royal Oaks, California 95064 USA

4Portland State University, Department of Environmental Sci-ence, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97201 USA


MOLECULAR ADAPTATIONS OF BIVALVE MOLLUSCSREVEALED BYGENOMICANALYSESXiming GuoRutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, De-

partment of Marine and Coastal Sciences, 6959 Miller Avenue,Port Norris, New Jersey 08349, [email protected] molluscs are superbly adapted to benthic life. They are

remarkable calcifiers that produce strong shells for support andprotection, key to their evolutionary success. As successful colo-nizers of intertidal zones and estuaries, bivalves have developed re-markable resilience against wide fluctuations in temperature, salin-ity and air exposure. Bivalves are powerful filter-feeders that thrivein microbe-rich environments without adaptive immunity. Recent-ly, whole genomes of several bivalves such as Crassostrea gigas,Pinctada fucata martensii, Patinopecten yessoensis, Chlayms far-reri, Bathymodiolus platifrons, Modiolus philippinarum, and Cras-sostrea virginica, have been sequenced, and genomic analyses haveprovided insights into molecular bases of bivalve adaptation. Allbivalve genomes are highly polymorphic and show lineage-specificexpansion of certain gene families. The C. gigas genome is rich ingenes related to stress and immune responses. The expansion ofheat shock proteins, inhibitors of apoptosis and immune receptorsis common to bivalves. Key genes related to shell formation are ex-panded in both C. gigas and P. f. martensii. In C. farreri, advancedeyes are supported by expanded opsins, and neurotoxin tolerance isenabled by mutations in sodium channel proteins. The P. yessoensisgenome shows unprecedented conservation of ancestral bilaterianchromosomes, suggesting the bivalve karyotype is slow-evolving.Overall, genomic analyses indicate that gene expansion and diver-sification provide an important mechanism for the adaptation ofbivalve molluscs.

OBSERVATIONS ON TETRAPLOID EASTERN OYSTERS,CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA, AND IMPLICATIONS IN GE-NETIC IMPROVEMENT OFTRIPLOIDSXiming GuoRutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, De-

partment of Marine and Coastal Sciences, 6959 Miller Avenue,Port Norris, New Jersey 08349 [email protected] oysters are valuable for aquaculture because of their

sterility, superior growth and improved summer meat quality. Trip-loid oysters are produced by mating diploids with tetraploids. Tet-raploid eastern oysters have been produced and bred for over 10generations. Breeding over the years has produced observations onthe biology and reproduction of tetraploid oysters. The productionof tetraploids from triploid females is difficult and highly variable.Tetraploid oysters are fertile and can be reproduced by tetraploid x

ability and other environmental factors. Because glycogen contentvaries depending on the physiological state of the organism, it canbe used to evaluate physiological condition and therefore serves asan indicator for physiological distress in these sessile organisms.Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center (ABC) hasbeen developing Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technologyfor use in its breeding program and has developed several modelssuited for compositional analysis in C. virginica. NIRS technologyprovides a fast, safe, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional ana-lytical methods which may need the use of chemicals that are toxicto humans and the environment. The glycogen model was opti-mized and used to quantify glycogen content in diploid and triploidoysters in order to determine whether a variation in this major stor-age material can be correlated with the mortalities observed duringspring and summer in the lower part of the Chesapeake Bay.

CARDIAC RESPONSES TO BIOGENIC AMINES IN SE-LECTED MOLLUSCAN SPECIESTrey Guilbeaux* and Lewis DeatonUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette, Department of Biology,

104 East University Avenue, Lafayette, Louisiana 70504 [email protected] amines have been documented as cardioregulatory in

a few species of molluscs, but little work has been done to contin-ue their documentation. Octopamine, apomorphine, and histaminewere tested in a few bivalve gastropod species alongside the classiccardioregulatory chemicals serotonin, acetylcholine, epinephrine,and FMRFamide in varying concentrations to determine the basicpharmacology of each. Animals were collected among wild pop-ulations of available species which included members of Thais,Pomacea, Mytilus, Mercenaria, Melongena, and Geukensia. Thehearts were isolated from the animals to remove neural influencesand stabilized either in an organ bath for bivalves or internally per-fused for gastropods. The test chemicals were administered throughthe bathing solutions and effects measured via changes in contrac-tile force. Shifts in beat frequency, tone, amplitude, and durationwere observed to discern the effects of the drugs. Serotonin, whilebeing classically defined as cardioexcitatory, was observed to havevarying effects even among different populations of the same spe-cies in addition to having mixed effects in other cases. Epinephrineoften only showed effects in high concentrations possibly indicat-ing receptor cross talk. Octopamine and apomorphine often actedconsistently, but weakly cardioregulatory with one or two excep-tions. Histamine seldom had noticeable effects. It appears that thenumber and variety of receptors and their expression may be quitehigh as well as utilizing several different signaling pathways in or-der to increase the variety of responses available to the organisms.


TRANSFER OF THE HARMFULALGAL TOXIN, MICRO-CYSTIN, FROM FRESHWATER TO MARINE ECOSYS-TEMSF. Joan Hardy1* and Ellen Preece2

1Washington State Department of Health, 111 Israel Road SE,Tumwater, Washington 98501 USA

2Robertson-Bryan, Inc., 9888 Kent Street, Elk Grove, California95624 [email protected] algal blooms (HAB) are a persistent, worldwide envi-

ronmental problem in marine, estuarine and fresh waters. Climatechange and expanding human populations are expected to exacer-bate the frequency, intensity and distribution of HAB. In freshwa-ter environments, cyanobacteria, especially microcystins (MC), arethe most prolific toxin producers. Acute and chronic MC exposurescan cause death or permanent liver damage and have been impli-cated in carcinogenesis. Until recently, MC in marine environmentshave been largely ignored; however, it is suspected that MC-con-taminated fresh water is polluting the land-sea interface in manyareas throughout the world. Recent investigations documented thetransport and accumulation of MC from freshwater lakes to PugetSound shellfish. A handful of other studies have also found fresh-water-derivedMC in nearshore marine environments. The freshwa-ter origin of MC contamination reinforces the importance of fresh-water nutrient reduction and management efforts. It also highlightsthe connectivity of terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems.This review highlights new research findings and discusses how achanging climate is expected to intensify this ecological and humanhealth threat.

AGENOMIC TEST FOR HYBRIDIZATION BETWEEN SE-LECTIVELY BRED EASTERN OYSTER AQUACULTURESTRAINSANDWILD NEWYORK POPULATIONSMatthew P. Hare* and Yuka KutsumiCornell University, Department of Natural Resources, Ithaca,

New York 14853 [email protected] agricultural crops have been shown to hybridize with

wild relatives, more often than not the introgression of alleles fromdomesticated strains to the wild relative lowers fitness-related per-formance in at least some natural environments. In aquaculturethe most thoroughly studied case involves domesticated Atlanticsalmon. Several studies have shown widespread hybridization ofdomesticated escapees with wild stocks, inferring reduced wildpopulation fitness based on changes in life history and demography.Wild regional eastern oyster stocks represent a priceless source ofgermplasm for future selective breeding, and in some cases pro-vide direct annual benefits to the aquaculture industry in the formof seed. Where the eastern oyster aquaculture industry is growing,such as northeastern U.S., it is providing jobs, producing localprotein-rich food and improving the local coastal environmental;

tetraploid mating, although the survival of the mated tetraploids issignificantly lower than that of diploids. The first-generation tetra-ploids are smaller than diploids and triploids. Later generations oftetraploids can be significantly larger than diploids and triploidsduring the first year. Tetraploid oysters take longer time to con-dition. Tetraploid females produce fewer eggs than diploids, av-eraging about 1 million per female at one year of age. Eggs fromtetraploids show multivalent pairing during meiosis and producemore aneuploids than eggs from diploids. Sperm from tetraploidshave large heads and move slowly compared with normal sperm.Tetraploid genome is unstable, and tetraploid oysters may losechromosomes in some cells and revert to triploid/tetraploid mosa-ics. The germline cells of tetraploids are more stable than somaticcells. Tetraploids show improved growth and survival after severalgenerations of selective breeding. Tetraploid parents have a largereffect on the performance of triploid offspring than diploid parents,probably due to their contribution of two-sets of chromosomes. Ge-netic improvements of tetraploids are important for the productionand improvement of triploid oysters.

MANAGING VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS IN WASH-INGTONClara H. HardWashington State Department of Health, 243 Israel Road SE,

Tumwater, Washington, 98501 [email protected] Washington State Department of Health (DOH) manages

for Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) using several strategies: regularenvironmental sampling during summer months, implementationof a Vp Control Plan for the commercial shellfish industry, anda health advisory for recreational harvesters. For over two years,DOH worked with an advisory group comprised of industry repre-sentatives, regulators and researchers, with an objective to revisethe Vp Control Plan to make it more preventative of illness, ratherthan reactionary. As part of this revision, each growing area in thestate was assigned a risk category based how many illnesses areattributed to that area in the previous five years. Each risk categoryoutlines how much time companies have to cool oysters to less than50 degrees after harvest using the air, water, and internal tissue tem-peratures taken at the time of harvest. Harvest is prohibited on thehighest risk days when temperature thresholds are exceeded. Thisrevised rule was adopted by the Washington State Board of Healthin March 2015, and implemented in May 2015. This presentationwill discuss Washington’s experience with this process and the firstthree years of the rule implementation.


and identify locations of high density cyst near clam harvest ar-eas; and 3) determine if Alexandrium cysts are re-suspended duringgeoduck harvest. This research will improve understanding of tem-poral and spatial variability in toxicity, with a goal to better informthe fishery.

A NEW COLLECTION METHOD FOR WILD PACIFICOYSTER SPAT IN THE INTERTIDAL ZONE FOR COM-PLEMENTING SPAT SUPPLY IN JAPANNatsuki Hasegawa1*, Satoshi Watanabe1, Junya Higano2, Yasu-shi Tsuchihashi3, and Isami Kuriyama3

1National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Japan FisheriesResearch and Education Agency, Nakatsuhamaura 422-1, Mina-mi-ise, Mie 516-0193, Japan

2National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environmentof Inland Sea, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency,Maruishi 2-17-5, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0452, Japan

3Mie Prefecture Fisheries Research Institute, Hamajima 3564-3,Shima, Mie 517-0404, [email protected] oyster Crassostrea gigas aquaculture in Japan widely

uses wild spat collected and transplanted fromMiyagi and Hiroshi-ma Prefectures; however, the wild spat supply from these prefec-tures has been insufficient, and its price increasing in recent years.For complementing the shortage in the spat supply, a simple andinexpensive method was developed to collect the wild spat in in-tertidal zones by using mesh cage collectors containing pelletizedoyster shell powder (commercial product called careshell). Thismethod is advantageous in that it does not require monitoring ofthe planktonic larvae for optimal collection. Careshell functions asa settlement substrate for oyster larvae for several months in theintertidal zone because its surface is not fouled with other sessileorganisms. Single-seed careshell (i.e. only one spat on each pel-let) can also be obtained by this method and used for single-seedoyster culture. The proportion of single-seed careshell decreasedwith the increased spat collection rate, and the spat collection rateand proportion of single-seed varied depending on the location, tidelevel and mesh size of the collectors, suggesting site-specific ad-justments are required for optimal collection.

however, a growing industry also increases the risk of hybridiza-tion with wild stocks. Tests of this hybridization hypothesis willbe presented based on genomic analyses of Hudson and East Riveroyster samples (New York, USA). Using double-digest RADseqpolymorphisms assayed in both spat and adult samples from 2012and 2013, indications of sweepstakes reproduction are weak andthe average population differentiation is extremely low, as expect-ed for this typically high gene flow species. Most of the observedallele frequency differentiation was between the Hudson and EastRiver sample sets, and when analyzed with a reference aquaculturestrain, the East River (but not Hudson) showed levels of introgres-sion consistent with hybridization followed by two generations ofbackcrossing to wild oysters.

EXAMINING WINTERTIME PARALYTIC SHELLFISHTOXICITY IN GEODUCKS IN SOUTHEASTALASKACourtney E. Hart1*, Ginny L. Eckert1, Elizabeth D. Tobin1,4,Kate Sullivan2, Christopher D. Whitehead3, Kari Lanphier3,Esther Kennedy3, and Chelsea Wallace1

1University of Alaska, Fairbanks, College of Fisheries andOcean Science, 17101 Point Lena Loop Road, Juneau, Alaska99801 USA

2Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fishery Association, 1225Tongass Avenue, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 USA

3Sitka Tribe of Alaska Environmental Research Lab, 456 Kat-lian Street, Sitka, Alaska, 99835 USA

4Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Natural Resources, 1033 OldBlyn Hwy, Sequim, Washington, 98382 [email protected] commercial fishery for geoduck clams (Panopea genero-

sa) in Southeast Alaska is a small but lucrative fishery, with an-nual ex-vessel value averaging $4.9 million (2010-2015). Harvestin recent year has declined as a result of lack of fishery openingsbecause of failed tests for paralytic shellfish toxins (PST). Sev-enty-six percent of management areas failed weekly PST testingover four harvest seasons. High PST levels cause substantial eco-nomic loss to the fishery through increased sampling costs for re-peated tests (paid for by the fishery) and by delaying or closingharvest. Paralytic shellfish toxins bioaccumulate in filter feederswhen springtime blooms of the toxin producer, Alexandrium sp.,occur. Clam toxicity within a harvest area varies substantially fromweek-to-week, fluctuating well above (e.g., 600µg saxitoxins/100gshellfish tissue) and below (e.g., 40µg/100g) the regulatory limit of80µg/100g. Such week-to-week variation in toxicity is occurringthroughout winter months, long after the toxic blooms are gone. Itis hypothesized that ingestion of overwintering Alexandrium cystsis a mechanism for toxicity during winter months, however there isa paucity of information regarding the relationship between cystsand geoduck clam toxicity. This project will: 1) determine if Alex-andrium cysts are ingested by geoduck clams and if cyst ingestionis linked to toxicity; 2) map Alexandrium benthic cyst distributions


ing studies could accelerate progress: 1) The particular strain of anyalga used as feed must be clearly identified, and if it is “new” its nu-tritional content should be analyzed. 2) Algae well-known to havelimited nutritional value (e.g. Chlorella, Dunaliella) are unlikely tobe useful components of diets. 3) Studies should seek to identifyoptimal algae combinations, not to discover a single panacea feedspecies. 4) The choice of algal species should take into account ste-rol profile, which can vary considerably among similar strains. 5)Algal cell size, palatability and digestibility should be considered.6) Feeding should be quantified in the most biologically meaning-ful ways, such as biomass, carbon content, or energy content. ratherthan simple cell counts. This is especially important when algaewith great differences in cell size or constituents are compared. 7)Feeding efficiency should be measured. 8) In larviculture studies,the condition of broodstock and quality of gametes (especially egglipid stores) should be assessed. 9) The microbial community (mi-crobiome) existing in bivalve culture systems should be optimizedto suppress pathogens and enhance gut functions.

THE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH CARBON STOCKS OFMANGROVESAND THEIR POTENTIAL FOR THE GLOB-AL MARKET OF CARBON – A REVIEW OF CO2 LEVELSIN THREE GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS OF ECUADORIris J.C. Hernandez, Mayra Galindo*, Daniela EspinozaFundación para la Conservación de la Biodiversidad Acuática y

Terrestre de Ecuador (FUCOBI), Quito, [email protected] role of land forests as a source and sink of greenhouse gases

(GHG) is well known. A major source of GHG release is throughthe conversion of land use, from carbon (C) stored in coastal andmarine ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrass-es. They sequester and store large C quantities in plants and sed-iment. Mangroves are highly productive and biologically diversewetlands, serve as nurseries and habitats to many juvenile fishes,molluscs, and crustaceans. They support microorganisms such asfungi and bacteria associated with biogeochemical transformationsof nutrients via extensive root systems. Marine ecosystems are dis-appearing due to ozone depletion, freshwater diversion, ocean acid-ification, atmospheric pollution, natural disasters, introduction ofexotic chemicals and modified organisms in shrimp farms nearbymangrove habitats. In some countries, large tracts of mangroves arecut down for coastal development, agricultural/aquaculture purpos-es, other uses. Mangroves trap sediments and assimilate nutrients,along with associated contaminants (to be reviewed).Carbon stocks in mangroves of Asia Pacific is 500-1200 me-

gagram (Mg) of C/ha, which is equivalent to 1603-8023 Mg/ha ofCO2. Deforestation cause C sediment destabilize, increase microbi-al activity, GHG release, impacting rising sea level and frequencyof extreme weather events. High emissions from degradation isan untapped opportunity of C mitigation through U.N. ‘Reduction

GENETIC MAPS ANDASSEMBLY OF THE PACIFIC OYS-TER GENOMEDennis Hedgecock1*, Xiaoshen Yin1, Tevfik Hamdi Kitapci1,andAlberto Arias Perez1,2

1University of Southern California, Department of BiologicalSciences, 3616 Trousdale Pkwy, Los Angeles, California 90089-0371 USA

2University of Cádiz, Área de Genética, Facultad de Cienciasdel Mar y Ambientales, 11510 Cádiz, [email protected] maps can help verify the assembly of genome sequenc-

es and permit mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) that influ-ence production traits (e.g. survival, growth, sex-determination,and reproductive maturation). Co-linearity of genetic and physicalmaps facilitates identification of candidate genes underlying QTL.This study compiles linkage-map data for 10,583 single-nucleotidepolymorphisms (SNPs) across 13 full-sib families of the Pacificoyster. These include five previously published maps (Hedgecocket al. 2015 G3), which were based on Illumina Golden Gate SNPassays along with previously mapped microsatellite DNA mark-ers, and eight maps constructed using genotyping-by-sequencing(GBS) of reduced-representational genomic libraries. Altogether,these efforts yield high-density genetic maps of 10 linkage groups(the haploid chromosome number), with total lengths of ~600 cMand average marker spacing, in the GBS maps, of ~0.7 cM. Lo-cating these mapped markers on the published genome (Zhang etal. 2012 Nature), we assign the mapped SNPs to 1,628 (of 7,659)genome scaffolds and 96 independent genome contigs. Of 1,212genome scaffolds containing two or more mapped markers, 572(47.2%) have SNPs that map to two or more linkage groups. Thisobservation suggests that the current genome assembly comprisesa large number of miss-assembled, chimeric scaffolds, which willhinder progress in identifying candidate genes underlying QTL. Anew genome assembly, based on linkage mapping, comprises thosegenome contigs and scaffolds that map consistently to one linkagegroup, as well as unambiguously mapped contigs and sub-scaffoldsextracted from chimeric scaffolds.

WHAT WE STILL DO NOT KNOW ABOUT FEEDING BI-VALVESANDWHATWE NEED TO DOEric Henry*and Tim ReedReed Mariculture, 900 E. Hamilton Ave., Suite 100, Campbell,

California 95008 [email protected] much hard work during recent decades has generated

a sizeable literature on bivalve feeding, much remains to be learned.Significant gaps in our knowledge persist due to the differences inthe biology among the diversity of bivalves, variability in culturemanagement among hatcheries, and often poorly understood ef-fects of diseases and variable water quality. Such confounding fac-tors will always be with us, but improvements in the design of feed-


INDIVIDUALGROWTH PROFILESASANALTERNATIVETO THE TERMINAL SIZE-AT-AGE METHOD IN PANO-PEAGENEROSA STUDIESJosé Angel Hidalgo-de-la-Toba*, Sergio Scarry González-Peláez, Enrique Morales-Bojorquez, J. Jesús Bautista-Romero,and Daniel Bernardo Lluch-CotaCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, SC, Insti-

tuto Politécnico Nacional 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita. CP.23096, La Paz, B. C. S., Mé[email protected] description of the individual growth is closely related to

the quality and quantity of the data. When working with a specieswith infrequent recruitment events and prone to sampling bias, it iscommon to gather incomplete length to age data where some ageclasses are missed, predominantly the first ones. This has been arecurrent concern in long-lived species as the geoduck, P. generosa,therefore, it was proposed that the individual growth profile (IGP)as an alternative method to improve the modeling of their individu-al growth. This method consist in relating the inner annual growthmarks from transversal cross sections with their respective exter-nal growth mark in the whole shell to determinate the shell lengthattained at each age. The IGP of 32 geoducks from the locality ofPunta Canoas, in the west coast of the Baja California Peninsulawas determined and consisted of 260 age-to-length data, increas-ing to 292 by including size data at terminal ages. The individualgrowth was analyzed following a multimodel inference approachcontrasting five growth models. According to Akaike informationand Schwartz-Bayesian criteria, Schnute growth model is the bestcandidate model; which describes a growth that reaches its asymp-totic stage at ages over 15 years (L∞=126.53 mm). Comparativelywith a previous work based on terminal length-to-age data, the IGPmodelling allowed an agreement between both selection criteriaand estimated a different growth curve with a lower L∞. The ad-vantage granted by this proposal is to include information aboutsizes in the first years of life, thus providing less uncertainty in thegrowth prediction by avoiding an overestimation of the older agesas consequence of missing age classes.

TRACE ELEMENTAL FINGERPRINTS: AN ECOLOGI-CAL DETECTIVE’S TOOL TO TRACK OLYMPIA OYS-TERS (OSTREA LURIDA)Megan Hintz1*, Bonnie Becker2, Henry Carson3, Brian Rusk4,Marco Hatch4, Brian Allen5, Brent Vadopalas1, and StevenRoberts1

1University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ences, Seattle, Washington 98105 USA

2University of Washington Tacoma School of Math and Scienc-es, Tacoma, Washington 98402 USA

3Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Wash-ington 98501 USA

of C Emissions caused by Deforestation and Forest Degradation(REDD)’ program -economic incentives are considered to maintainC forests. The biomass C map of Ecuador will be used to discussCO2 emissions, biodiversity and ecosystems services in three prov-inces where mangroves were converted to shrimp farms.

THE PACIFIC OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA GIGAS, DEMON-STRATES SENSITIVITYTO TEMPERATUREAND RESIL-IENCE TO PH CHANGE DURING SUMMER GROWTHAmelia V. Hesketh1*, Eleanor Simpson2, Debby Ianson3, KarenKohfeld2, and Christopher D.G. Harley1

1University of British Columbia, Department of Zoology, 6270University Blvd., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4

2Simon Fraser University, School of Resources and Environ-mental Management, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, CanadaV5A 1S6

3Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Institute of Ocean Sciences,9860 West Saanich Road, Sidney, BC, Canada V8L [email protected] how ecologically and economically important

marine organisms will respond to climate change is critical to pre-dicting community structure and the future of aquaculture. Fieldstudies, which capture the inherent complexity of conditions in situ,are needed to accurately predict how organisms will fare under cli-mate change. Farmed populations of the Pacific oyster, Crassostreagigas, are being monitored in an ongoing field study to determinetheir response to different growing conditions in a oceanograph-ically heterogeneous estuarine sea, the Strait of Georgia (BritishColumbia, Canada) when grown on rafts (fully submerged) andbeaches (periodically emersed). Results to date indicate that C. gi-gas grow faster and are healthier (better condition) when grownon rafts compared to beaches. Throughout the summer, C. gi-gas growth and condition correlated with mean temperature andshowed some dependence on maximum temperature, though theeffect of increasing temperature varied depending on growing envi-ronment (raft vs. beach). Salinity and pH had limited and no effect,respectively, on growth, condition, and mortality of C. gigas. Fieldobservations indicate that local predator abundance or disease mayexert a greater effect on mortality than environmental conditions,and these indirect effects will be examined in future studies. Thisstudy demonstrates that temperature changes expected in the Straitof Georgia this century may affect C. gigas more than acidificationand changing salinity, though an assessment of oyster responses tocorrosive winter-time conditions is needed to holistically predicthow the British Columbian aquaculture industry will fare as cli-mate change progresses.


inconsistencies. Five scientific experts gave presentations on thestate of the science and addressed questions posed by participantsin a pre-workshop survey. The scientific presentations were fol-lowed by a discussion about ecosystem functions and services ofeelgrass and shellfish aquaculture. Presentations were then madeon eelgrass management related to shellfish aquaculture from boththe regulatory and industry perspectives. The management presen-tations were followed by discussions about management challeng-es, and recommendations for future actions. As a general outcomeof the workshop, participants agreed that industry and the regu-latory community should embrace a management approach thatsupports the protection of eelgrass functions and services as wellas sustainable aquaculture, and that scientists should be involved indevelopment of this approach. To achieve this goal, a more opendialogue between shellfish growers, scientists, and regulators, asprovided through this workshop, should be continued.

ISOLATION AND TESTING OF PROBIOTICS AS A PO-TENTIAL TOOL FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF EPIZO-OTIC SHELL DISEASE IN THE AMERICAN LOBSTER,HOMARUS AMERICANUSMelissa Hoffman1*, Kathy Castro1, Grace Underwood2, HilaryRanson3, Mitch Hatzipetro1, Barbara Somers1, David Rowley3,David R. Nelson2, and Marta Gomez-Chiarri1

1University of Rhode Island, Department of Fisheries, Animal,and Veterinary Sciences, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA

2University of Rhode Island, Department of Cell and MolecularBiology, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA

3University of Rhode Island, Department of Biomedical andPharmaceutical Sciences, Kingston, Rhode Island, [email protected] shell disease (ESD) in theAmerican lobster,Homarus

americanus, has a major impact on the southern New Englandlobster industry, yet there are no practical tools for managing thedisease. The goal of this study was to identify bacterial probioticsthat could be used to decrease the intensity of ESD in wild lob-ster populations. Candidate bacterial isolates (n = 24) have beenidentified from lobsters in Narragansett Bay as having probioticcharacteristics against ESD-associated bacteria Thalassobius sp.and Aquimarina ‘homaria’, or the fish pathogen Vibrio anguilla-rum. Healthy lobster post-larvae were exposed to 5 of the candidatestrains isolated from lobsters and a probiotic isolated from the east-ern oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Phaeobacter inhibens S4). Afterseveral weeks of treatment, there were no significant differences inmolting, mortality, or growth of treated lobsters when comparedwith the control, indicating the candidate probiotics do not exhibittoxicity to the lobster post-larvae. The effect of selected candidateprobiotics (n = 3) on progression of ESD in adult lobsters was test-ed for three months. Frequent molting due to strong disease sever-ity confounded long-term effects of the treatments, and no signifi-

4Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington98225 USA

5Puget Sound Restoration Fund, Bainbridge Island, Washington98110 [email protected] oysters (Ostrea lurida), a species of concern in Wash-

ington State, have failed to fully recover after both over-exploita-tion and environmental degradation. Although state agencies, tribalnations, and environmental groups in Washington have made it apriority to restore O. lurida because they are the only native oysteron the west coast of North America and provide key habitat andecosystem services to the Puget Sound, our understanding of O.lurida larval dispersal patterns remains limited. The early stagesof the Olympia oyster play a key role in their restoration becauseit is the only stage where they can disperse to other populations.Brooded Olympia oyster larvae incorporate trace elements presentin estuarine waters into their shell, creating a chemical “signature”of their natal site before release and dispersal. With the use of laserablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), the provenance signatures of larvae and recruits can be com-pared, and potentially matched, to signatures of source populations.Unique elemental fingerprints of O. lurida larval shells were foundto three regions in Puget Sound. This provides an approach to quan-tifying larvae dispersal that can be used to determine the extent towhich these O. lurida populations self-seed, seed other sites, andexchange larvae with other populations.

MANAGING EELGRASS AND SHELLFISH AQUACUL-TURE IN WASHINGTON: A WORKSHOP TO EXAMINECHALLENGESAND INCONSISTENCIESLaura Hoberecht1*, Beth L. Sanderson2, and Bridget E. Ferriss2

1National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)West Coast Region(WCR), 7600 Sand PointWay NE, Seattle, Washington 98115 USA

2NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 MontlakeBlvd. East, Seattle, Washington 98112 [email protected] eelgrass (Zostera marina) occurs in bays, estuaries, and

nearshore areas acrossWashington and is currently managed in dif-ferent ways by different agencies. In an effort to move toward acommon understanding of how eelgrass is managed in and aroundshellfish farms, NMFS WCR hosted an all-day workshop on April11, 2017. Over 70 scientists and agency, tribal, and shellfish indus-try representatives convened to discuss challenges related to themanagement of eelgrass and shellfish aquaculture in Washington.Specifically, the workshop sought to: increase understanding abouteelgrass and shellfish aquaculture interactions; determine whereand why inconsistencies in eelgrass management related to shell-fish aquaculture exist; and develop a path forward for addressing


2Ifremer/UMR MARBEC, 34200, Sete, France3National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Yokohama,

Kanagawa 236-8648, [email protected] the quality of coastal waters has been gradually im-

proved from eutrophication for past several decades in some re-gions; however, oligotrophication by this improvement has causedanother issue which reduces pelagic productivity and thereforefisheries products in the coastal ecosystems. Therefore, harmoniz-ing coastal fisheries with water-quality improvement is now essen-tial for the sustainable use of coastal ecosystem services. Here, theinteraction between oyster aquaculture and eelgrass vegetation waschosen as a key factor for the harmonization using an interdisci-plinary approach including ecological actions, socio-economicalactions and psychological actions. Coastal organisms have adaptedtheir traits to the environment over a long period of time, so thatrestoration of natural mixed habitats represents reconstruction ofthe original process of coastal production. Subtidal seagrass veg-etation with intertidal oyster reefs is the original mixed habitatsin Japan, which would be expected to enhance coastal productionby improving the production efficiency without adding nutrients. Asimple field experiment with carbon and nitrogen contents and thestable isotope analyses revealed that oyster spats cultivated on atidal flat adjacent to seagrass beds had higher nitrogen contents andhigher δ13C ratios than spats cultivated in an offshore area usingonly pelagic production. This result suggests that utilization of thetraditional mixed habitats, which enables oysters to use both pe-lagic and various benthic production, has potential to sustain foodprovisioning service for humans even in oligotrophic environment.

MONITORING THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF HATCH-ERY-PRODUCED COHORTS AND SUPPLEMENTEDREEFS OF THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIR-GINICAKatherine M. Hornick* and Louis V. PloughUniversity of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences,

Horn Point Laboratory, 2020 Horns Point Road, Cambridge, Mary-land 21613 [email protected] enhancement of marine fisheries is being un-

dertaken on a large worldwide scale, but the genetic impacts ofthese practices, specifically their effects on genetic diversity andlong-term population resilience, are often not fully understood. In-tensive hatchery-based restoration is underway in the ChesapeakeBay for depleted eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, populations,but the potential genetic impacts remain poorly understood. Toevaluate the effect of hatchery propagation on genetic diversity,microsatellite-based parentage analysis were conducted on ninehatchery cohorts to evaluate how genetic diversity changes acrossgenerations, calculating variance in parental contribution andthe effective number of breeders (Nb) represented in offspring at

cant differences were seen in mortality, molting, growth, or diseaseprogression. These results highlight the challenges involved in thedevelopment of tools for the management of a chronic disease withpoorly understood etiology. Future research should focus on a bet-ter understanding of microbial-microbial-host interactions in ESD,and the effect of environmental conditions on these interactions.

GROWTH AND REPRODUCTIVE CONDITION OF PA-CIFIC OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA GIGAS) RAISED IN ANINTERTIDAL RACK-SUSPENDED CULTURE SYSTEMIN TAEAN OFF THE WEST COAST OF KOREA, THREEYEARSAFTER THE HEBEI SPIRIT OIL SPILLHyun-Ki Hong1*, Hee-Jung Lee2, Hee-Do Jeung2, Heung-SikPark3, and Kwang-Sik Choi1

1Jeju National University, School of Marine Biomedical Sci-ence (BK21 PLUS), Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea

2Tidal Flat Research Institute, National Institute of FisheriesScience (NIFS), Kunsan 54014, Republic of Korea

3Marine Ecosystem and Biological Research Center, Korea In-stitute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Busan 49111,Republic of [email protected] December 2007, Hebei Spirit oil tanker released 10,800 tons

of crude oil by accident, and the oil covered oyster farms in Taeancoast on the west coast Korea. In 2010, the residual oil in the water,sediment, and oyster tissue in the spilled area returned to the levelprevious level. Growth and reproduction of the Pacific oyster threeyears after the oil spill was monitored at one of the most heavilydamaged oyster farming area. Annual gametogenesis and repro-ductive effort of oysters were assessed using histology and ELISAusing the oyster egg protein-specific polyclonal antibody. In Sep-tember 2013, two-year-old oysters reached to 6.5 cm in shell lengthand 5.8 in somatic tissue wet weight. Histology indicated that thetwo-year-old oysters spawned during July and September. An in-direct-ELISA indicated that the fully ripe oysters produced 20-23% of their body weight as egg prior to spawn. Reproductive effortand the annual gametogenic pattern of the rack suspended culturedoysters in the oil spilled area measured in this study was similar tothe pattern of oysters in oil-spill free areas. Consequently, it wasbelieved that oyster aquaculture in Taean coast could be resumed,although monitoring on the environmental quality and the oysterphysiology in this area should be continued.

COASTAL MANAGEMENT USING OYSTER-SEAGRASSINTERACTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE,FISHERIESAND ENVIRONMENTMasakazu Hori1*, Franck Lagarde2, Valérie Derolez2, MarionRichard2, Masami Hamaguchi1, Juri Hori3, and MitsutakuMakino3

1National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment ofInland Sea, 2-17-5 Maruishi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0452,Japan


The Chesapeake Bay region is steeped in appreciation for theeastern oyster. This stems from the ecosystem services, lucrativefishery, and historical significance that the species embodies; how-ever, over the last half century, intense parasitism paired with an-thropogenic impacts has reduced oyster abundances to historicallows. Today, the population is recovering, evidenced by increasingcatches and spatial expansion of the oysters. Based on anecdotalobservations, a contributor to the recovery seemed to be an increasein reproductive investment. To validate this, three measurementswere made on slides of oysters from a histological archive collectedduring the summer at Wreck Shoal in the James River from 1988–present: oocyte diameter, oocyte density, and gonad area fraction.While oocyte diameter has remained fairly constant, oocyte densityand gonad area fraction increased sharply around 2003. Mean oo-cyte densities increased by a factor of 1.691 (n=722) and gonadarea fraction by a factor of 2.245 (n=411). Wild oysters have main-tained this heightened reproductive investment to the present. Whatis responsible for such a sudden shift? The hypothesis presentedhere is that the increase is indicative of a tolerance response to thenative parasite Perkinsus marinus; the oysters have adjusted theirenergy budgets to invest more in reproduction, increasing their fit-ness, in response to high disease pressure.An intense outbreak of P.marinus in the early 2000s seems the likely trigger for the response,though trends in environmental conditions are being investigatedand insights into long-term temporal patterns in reproduction areincluded.

THE OREGON PACIFIC RAZOR CLAM RESOURCE: HIS-TORICAND CURRENTMANAGEMENTMatthew HunterOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2001 Marine Drive,

Astoria, Oregon 97103 [email protected] Oregon Department of Fish andWildlife (ODFW) has been

monitoring the Pacific razor clam (Siliqua patula) resource and itsfisheries in some capacity since 1935. The region of coast on themost northern 18 mile stretch of beach, known as Clatsop Beach,supports the largest recreational and commercial razor clam fisher-ies in Oregon. An estimated 90% of the overall harvest and effortoccurs in this region as does the research and management of theresource.Following improved transportation that subsequently led to

easier access to beach harvest areas and a shift to more leisure ac-tivities in the American culture in the late 1940s, a dramatic shiftin user profiles took place. Prior to this improvement, commer-cial harvest accounted for 75% of the use. By the middle 1950sthis ratio had completely reversed and the recreational componentaccounted for nearly 80% of the total use. Historical monitoringfocused heavily on the commercial fishery but with the user profilechange, monitoring efforts and regulation changes began to focus

the spat stage. Diversity of hatchery planted (restored) reefs and‘wild’ source populations were also examined. Examination ofhatchery-produced cohorts revealed high variance in parental con-tribution and significant reproductive skew, particularly in males,which lead to a reduction in Nb from the total number that spawned.Offspring also showed decreased allelic richness and observed het-erozygosity relative to their parents. The relative reduction in Nbdecreased as the sex ratio of parents approached one, in line withtheory. Attempts to reduce variance in contribution among malesvia separate fertilizations had mixed success, and might not bepractical in a large-scale hatchery restoration program. GenomicSNP data is currently being used to quantify effective size (Ne) andgenetic diversity in a number of ‘wild’ oyster populations and inrestored reefs with variable planting efforts to further characterizehow diversity is maintained in the field over time.

OYSTERS SHOW ENHANCED GROWTH IN EELGRASS:DOES PH EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE?Micah Horwith1* and Alex Lowe2

1Washington State Department of Natural Resources, 1111Washington St SE, Olympia, Washington 98504 USA

2University of Washington, Department of Biology, 24 KincaidHall, Seattle, Washington 98105 [email protected] bivalve species are likely to suffer negative consequenc-

es from progressing ocean acidification. Natural resource man-agers are at pains to mitigate these consequences and to adapt toanthropogenic change. In the face of acidification, seagrasses andkelp have received attention for their phytoremediation potential:through photosynthesis, these primary producers may removeenough carbon dioxide from the water to increase local pH andaragonite saturation state. In 2016 and 2017, this potential was test-ed by transplanting juvenile Pacific oysters, Olympia oysters, andgeoducks from a hatchery setting into field settings in- and outsideof eelgrass. At five intertidal sites in Washington State, the trans-planted juveniles were co-located with autonomous sensors mea-suring pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and temperature. Followingexposure periods ranging from 40 to 80 days, Pacific and Olym-pia oysters in eelgrass showed enhanced growth, while geoducksshowed no such response. Bivalve performance will be comparedto sensor measurements to evaluate whether local differences incarbon chemistry can explain biological outcomes.

ARE OYSTERS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY PRIORITIZ-ING THEIR OFFSPRING OVER THEIR HEALTH?Lauren I. Huey* and Ryan B. CarnegieVirginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and

Mary, P.O. Box 1346, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062, [email protected]


SHRIMP SCAMPI: A CITIZEN’S SCIENCE PROJECT TOEXAMINE THE LEVELS OF GLYPHOSATE AND OTHERENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS (METALS, BI-SPHENOLA) IN FROZEN SHRIMP SOLDAT SUPERMAR-KETS IN THE UNITED STATESRyan Hutchins1, Sruthi Tanikella1, Allison Berardi1, MarthaReyes1, Caroline Warren1, Jennifer Warren1, Mulan Yang1,Ayrton Zambrano1*, Sara Zambrano-Basurto1, Acacia Alci-var-Warren1,2

1ONE HEALTH Epigenomics – AGlobal Educational Initative;Shrimp Scampi: A Citizens Science Project, P.O. Box 196, South-borough, Massachusetts 01772 USA

2Environmental Genomics Inc., P.O. Box 196, Southborough,Massachusetts 01772, [email protected] ONE HEALTH Epigenomics Educational Initative

(OHEEI) was initiated by students to assess the adverse health ef-fects to the environment, wildlife, pets, seafood, and people, causedby the antimicrobial and herbicide Glyphosate (RoundUp) and oth-er endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC), such as metals and Bi-sphenol A (BPA).Shrimp is the favorite seafood ofAmericans, most of the shrimp

we eat is imported, causing a yearly US$4.5 billion trade deficit.Al-though shrimp viruses (WSSV, IHHNV) and metals have been de-tected in frozen shrimp sold at Massachusetts (MA) supermarkets,no official compulsory testing of imported seafood is performed.The goals of ‘Shrimp Scampi’ are to (a) review the scientific liter-ature about epigenetic mechanisms associated with EDC [Glypho-sate (G), metals, BPA] associated with antibiotic resistance, obesi-ty, diabetes and neural tube defects (NTD), and (b) detect the levelsof these EDC in frozen shrimp sold at US supermarkets.The effects of Glyphosate (G) alone and 14 of its formulations

in plant and human cells will be reviewed. Petroleum-based com-pounds in herbicides were highly more toxic than G.Arsenic, chro-mium, cobalt, lead, and nickel were found in the pesticide formu-lations.Epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation, histone modifica-

tions, non-coding RNAs) associated with 15 metals tested before2017 in shrimp sold at MA supermarkets will be summarized. Allthree epigenetic mechanisms are associated with exposure to G andBPA, linked to antibiotic resistance (G), obesity, diabetes, cancer(BPA, G) and NTD (G). Preliminary results on levels of metalsand G in shrimp sold at MA and New Jersey supermarkets will bepresented.

primarily on the recreational fishery. These monitoring data setsincluded; 1) effort indices during harvest time periods, 2) harvestrates and estimates, and 3) annual age and length composition.As these fisheries continue to evolve and the resource adapts

to changing environmental conditions, adaptive monitoring to ac-count for and anticipate future issues is becoming more necessary.This presentation will illustrate management strategies to mitigatecurrent and future issues as well as projects and policies that arecurrently being conducted to facilitate a sustainable natural re-source.

COMPARING INDEPENDENT APPROACHES TO ESTI-MATEAGE OF THE JONAH CRAB (CANCER BOREALIS):CORROBORATING GASTRIC MILL BAND COUNTS AS ADIRECTAGING METHODCarl Huntsberger1*, Richard Wahle1, Yong Chen2, and RaoufKilada3

1University of Maine, School of Marine Sciences, Darling Ma-rine Center, 193 Clarks Cove Road, Walpole, Maine 04573 USA

2University of Maine, School of Maine Sciences, 225 LibbyHall, Orono, Maine 04469 USA

3OceAge, 41 Stratford Way, B3S Halifax, Nova Scotia, [email protected] determination is essential to understanding key life histo-

ry parameters for fisheries management. Direct aging methods forfishes and mollusks typically rely on counting annual growth bandspreserved in calcified structures. Crustaceans pose a unique chal-lenge in this respect because all calcified structures are lost witheach molt. Recent evidence from several taxa of decapod crusta-ceans suggests that the bands present in histological sections ofthe gastric mill, a gizzard like structure of the foregut, may accu-mulate with age. The current project describes the application ofthis method to the Jonah crab (Cancer borealis), an ecologicallyimportant species and a newly managed fishery in New England,for which no direct aging method has been established.Gastric mill band counts have been collected from Jonah crabs

from two contrasting temperature regimes along the Maine coast.To date the gastric mill band counts correlate with size, suggestingthey may be a promising indicator of age. Existing growth dataare sparse and only available for larger, older crabs. To improveestimates of absolute age at size, and to corroborate the band countmethod, a laboratory growth study and a length frequency analysisof benthic survey data, including crabs collected in the earliest ju-venile stages is underway. The three independent aging methodswill be compared to determine if the use of gastric mill band countscan be corroborated by the indirect methods possibly providing thefirst direct method for aging Jonah crabs.


SPATIALLYEXPLICIT ESTIMATES OFTHE IMPACTS OFSEA LEVEL RISE AND EROSION ON RIBBED MUSSEL(GEUKENSIA DEMISSA) MEDIATED ECOSYSTEM FUNC-TIONSRobert E. Isdell*, Donna M. Bilkovic, and Carlton HershnerVirginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and

Mary, Center for Coastal Resources Management, 1375 GreateRd., Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 [email protected] mussels are a highly abundant yet undervalued resource

throughout the marshes of the USAtlantic coast. In the ChesapeakeBay, ribbed mussels are most abundant along the edges of marshesin more exposed creeks and rivers, and are least abundant in verynarrow, fringing marshes near the heads of tidal creeks. With anestimated population in excess of 1.3 billion, ribbed mussels inthe Chesapeake Bay also have an enormous potential to facilitatenitrogen removal; however, as sea level rises and marshes recede,both the mussels and their capacity to improve water quality are atrisk. To address this, we used spatially explicit estimates of ribbedmussel abundance and condition, paired with nitrogen removal andtransformation rates to project current and future ecosystem serviceprovision of ribbed mussels throughout Virginia given an expected0.6 m sea level rise. The results were placed within surrounding landuse context to identify where services were most likely to be lost.

USINGNOAAOBSERVATIONALANDMODELINGTOOLSTOADDRESS VIBRIO RISKJohn Jacobs1, Rohinee Paranjpye2, Clara Hard3, and Bob Dan-iels4

1NOAA/National Ocean Service, National Centers for CoastalOcean Science, Cooperative Oxford Lab, Oxford, Maryland 21654USA

2NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisher-ies Science Center, Seattle, Washington 98112 USA

3Washington Department of Health, Seattle, Washington 98501USA

4NOAA/NationalWeather Service/National Center for Environ-mental Prediction/Ocean Prediction Center, College Park, Mary-land 20740 [email protected] presence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters has been

a persistent issue for producers and consumers of raw oysters inthe United States, and necessarily, much effort has been directedtowards strategies for risk reduction. To date, most states use timeand temperature controls to minimize post - harvest growth, andseasonal temperature averages to initiate and end control strategies.In recent years, NOAA has embarked on an effort to work with theStates, FDA, and industry to apply NOAA forecast modeling andobservational assets to better inform harvest and control strategies.In this presentation, we will demonstrate: 1) how hydrodynamicmodels are being used to provide spatially explicit predictions ofVp concentration in oysters, 2) the use of weather models to pro-

THEMISSING LINK: TRANSMISSION OFAPICOMPLEX-AN INFECTION IN GRAY MEAT ATLANTIC SEA SCAL-LOPSSusan Inglis*1, Jennifer Koop2, Árni Kristmundsson3, Mark A.Freeman4, and Daniel Georgianna1

1University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, School for MarineScience and Technology, 706 South Rodney French Boulevard,New Bedford, Massachusetts USA

2University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Department of Biolo-gy, Dartmouth, Massaschusetts USA

3University of Iceland, Institute for Experimental Pathology atKeldur, Reykjavik, Iceland

4Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St.Kitts, West [email protected] with small, darkened and stringy adductor muscle

(gray meat) occur episodically along the eastern Atlantic seaboard.This condition is linked to a highly pathogenic apicomplexan par-asite that targets muscle tissue and is lethal to scallop hosts withsevere infections. A series of laboratory infection trials were con-ducted to test whether live gray meat scallops or freshly shuckedgray meat tissue were vectors for infection to naïve scallops.Experimental and control groups were monitored for number ofmortalities, clinical symptoms (meat color and weight/gonad con-dition) and the presence and intensity of apicomplexan infectionthrough molecular and histological analysis. Results from theseexperiments confirmed the parasite could be directly transmittedto scallops from freshly dead gray meat scallop tissue; however,infection trials conducted with live gray meat scallops as a vectordid not transmit the infection.Apicomplexan parasites have complex life histories that often

include both asexual and sexual reproduction. Histological analysisidentified all asexual reproductive forms, but no sexual gametesin scallop tissue. These findings are explained by the recent iden-tification of the definitive host for this parasite in Iceland waters;the common whelk (Buccinum undatum). Molecular analysis con-firmed that the apicomplexan infecting sea scallops is Merocystiskathae in common whelks.Sea scallops are thus the intermediate host for this parasite and

transmission can be direct from highly infected scallops when theydie, or from infected whelks in scallop populations. Current stud-ies focus on identifying the presence and range of the infection inwhelks associated with Atlantic sea scallops.


calcium activates protein kinase C (PKC). While high cytoplasmiccalcium slows GLC cilia beating, the role of PKC on GLC cilia hasnot been studied. It is hypothesized that PKC activation is involvedin the cilio-inhibitory response caused by dopamine in C. virginica.The PKC activator SC9 [N-(6-Phenylhexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphtha-lenesulfonamide] and PKC inhibitor rottlerin were tested. NeitherSC9 (10-6–10-3M) nor rottlerin (10-6–10-4M) applications to gill al-tered GLC cilia beating, nor did they alter cilio-excitatory actionsof serotonin; however, rottlerin treated gills did not respond to do-pamine, an SC9 did not alter the cilio-inhibitory effects of dopa-mine. These finding indicate PKC is involved in dopamine inducedslowing of GLC cilia in C. virginica. Inhibiting PKC prevents ac-tions of dopamine, while activating PKC by itself did not signifi-cantly alter cilia beating rates. The study suggests PKC plays a rolein cilio-inhibition caused by dopamine, but alone PKC activation isinsufficient to generate the cilio-inhibitory response and other as-pects of the D2DR signaling pathway also must be involved. Thesefindings are helpful in furthering the understanding of the D2DRmechanism of GLC and provides a foundation for further research.

ECOSYSTEm AND GENOmiC rESEArCh iN SUppOrTOFVIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS riSKmANAGEmENT:WhATArE ThE CriTiCALThEmES?Stephen H. Jones1*, Cheryl A. Whistler2, Meghan Hartwick2,Michael Taylor2, Ashley L. Marcinkiewicz2, Randi Foxall2, andW. Christopher Nash3

1University of New Hampshire, Department of Natural Re-sources and the Environment, 85 Adams Point Rd., Durham, NewHampshire 03824 USA

2University of New Hamphire, Department of Molecular, Cellu-lar and Biomedical Sciences, 46 College Rd., Durham, New Hamp-shire 03824 USA

3University of New Hampshire, Department of EnvironmentalServices, Shellfish Program, 222 International Drive, Suite 175,Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801 [email protected] shellfish industry of the Northeast US has recently faced

the challenge of significant increases in shellfish-borne Vibrioparahaemolyticus (Vp) illnesses. Several different factors havecontributed to this problem, and industry and regulators have re-sponded with an array of management strategies to reduce the risksof illness. Application of risk management strategies from otherregions have had mixed results, suggesting conditions are uniquelydifferent here. Introduced pathogenic strains and the warming ofregional coastal waters have required development and applicationof new and modified existing management strategies, all of whichbenefit from research support to gain accuracy and optimizationthat reduce unnecessary costs while minimalizing risks.Ecosystem and genomic research related to managing Vp risks

at UNH has focused on detection methods for pathogenic strains,

vide scaled projections of Vp growth under different control strat-egies, and 3) efforts underway in the Pacific Northwest to predictVp levels in intertidal oysters based on substrate type and modeledatmospheric data. These products are developed from stakeholderworkshops and requests, and are distributed via the web https://products.coastalscience.noaa.gov/vibrioforecast/.

USING ARCHAEOLOGICAL OYSTER SHELL TO INFERANCIENTMARICULTUREJessica A. JenkinsUniversity of Florida, Department of Anthropology, Turlington

Hall, PO Box 117305, Gainesville, Florida 32611 [email protected] is one of the most ubiquitous and enduring materials re-

covered from archaeological sites, demonstrating the importanceof shellfish in many aspects of ancient lifeways. Shellfish werenot only a source of food for coastal dwellers, but the shells werealso used as tools, jewelry, and building material. The challenge ofsustaining and intensifying marine resource production today wasshared by coastal dwellers of the ancient past. In order to explorehow large-scale oyster exploitation was sustained by indigenouscommunities thousands of years ago, methods for inferring oystermariculture using proxies on archaeological shell will be presented.These methods are then applied to oyster shells recovered from alarge feasting and ceremonial site, Shell Mound (8LV42), on theFlorida Gulf Coast, where approximately 1.2 billion oysters wereharvested from local reefs in less than two centuries. Results indi-cate that maricultural practices were likely used by ancient coast-al inhabitants when the scale and intensity of oyster procurementincreased during a time of ritualized feasting and mound-buildingduring the fifth and sixth centuries A.D.

A ROLE FOR PROTEIN KINASE C IN GILL LATERALCELLACTIVITYOF CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICAAlexcia Johnson1*, Krystle Ernest2, Margaret A. Carroll2, andEdward J. Catapane2

1Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Blvd.,Brooklyn, New York 11235 USA

2Medgar Evers College, 1638 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NewYork 11225 [email protected] lateral cell (GLC) cilia of Crassostrea virginica are con-

trolled by serotonergic-dopaminergic innervations. Dopaminecauses cilio-inhibition, serotonin cilio-excitation. GLC dopaminepostsynaptic receptors are D2-like (D2DR). The D2DR signalingpathway involves inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and activation ofphospholipase C (PLC). PLC generates second messengers dia-cylglycerol (DAG) and inositol trisphosphate (IP3). IP3 binds toIP3 receptors causing release of intracellular calcium. DAG with


VISUAL KEYS SUPPORT OYSTER HEALTH MONITOR-ING AS PART OF OYSTER REEF RESTORATION EF-FORTSAndy Kane1*, Ross Brooks1, Felipe Sanchez1, Shelby Thomas1,Karl Havens2, Jim Estes3, and Melanie Parker3

1University of Florida, Department of Environmental and Glob-al Health, Aquatic Pathobiology Laboratory, PO Box 110885,Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA

2Florida Sea Grant Program, Building 803 McCarty Drive, POBox 110400, Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA

3Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Divisionof Marine Fisheries Management, Fish andWildlife Research Insti-tute, 100 8th Ave SE, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 [email protected] observations are an integral component of monitoring

oyster reef restoration projects. This project developed and appliedvisual keys to facilitate consistency in ranking severity scores forstained Perkinsus marinus hypospores, empirical meat ranks (vol-ume within the left shell, plumpness, translucency), and severity ofboring shell parasites affecting eastern oyster, Crassostrea virgini-ca. Measurement of shell parasite prevalence and severity for Poly-dora websteri (polychaete), Diplothyra smithii (clam) and Clionacelata (sponge) is important since these organisms excavate shellmatrix throughout the life of the oyster (and in the case of Cliona,throughout the life of the shell). Further, these parasites reduceshell density and dramatically increase surface area of the shell ex-posed to the environment. Higher salinity conditions foster the se-verity of these shell parasites, and shells with extensive excavationand high surface area may dissolve more rapidly in saltwater, breakdown into shell fragments, and destabilize reef structure in the longterm. Visual keys that support these metrics will be demonstratedand their utility for training students and providing quality controlfor diagnostic health assessments will be discussed. Consistency inreporting health metrics as part of oyster resource monitoring willbecome increasingly important as restoration efforts with limitedresources focus more on sustainable, measureable outcomes. Thisproject was supported in part through the National Fish and Wild-life Foundation Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, Florida Fish andWildlife Conservation Commission, and Florida Sea Grant.

oyster relay, depuration and re-submergence, ecosystem model-ing of Vp populations, and the estuarine microbiome. Integrationof these topics is needed to provide the scientific foundation andunderstanding for developing more accurate and effective man-agement strategies. Recent progress will be discussed along withfuture research directions.

HABITAT CHARACERIZATION OF THE RIBBED MUS-SEL (GEUKENSIA DEMISSA) AND ITS RESPONSE TOHARVEST IN SOUTH CAROLINA, USAAsa Julien1, Andrew Tweel2, Nancy Hadley2, Dan McGlinn3,and Peter Kingsley-Smith2

1Graduate School at the University of Charleston South Caro-lina, Grice Program in Marine Biology, 205 Fort Johnson Road,Charleston, South Carolina, 29412 USA

2South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Re-sources Research Institute, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston,South Carolina, 29412 USA

3College of Charleston, Department of Biology, 66 GeorgeStreet, Charleston, South Carolina 29424 [email protected] ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa, is an ecosystem en-

gineer that promotes salt marsh functioning throughout its rangealong the eastern coast of North America. Over the past five years,commercial landings of G. demissa in South Carolina have in-creased considerably, yet the fishery lacks species-specific reg-ulations. While habitat characterization is commonly used as amanagement tool for other commercially important bivalves (e.g.,the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica), such information forG. demissa in South Carolina is currently lacking. As part of abroader study to improve understanding of the ecological role ofG. demissa in the salt marsh community, its elevational range andinundation period were characterized along a salinity gradient inCharleston, S.C. In spring 2017, transects were established at eightsites along theAshley River (8 – 24 ppt). Elevation was determinedusing survey-grade GNSS equipment, and inundation period wasdetermined by placing temperature sensors at several sites for amonth. A logistic regression model was developed to determine theprobability of G. demissa occurrence, which was greatest at eleva-tions slightly below mean high water and at intermediate salinities(18 ppt). The model is relevant to managing the emerging fishery,as it can be applied to improve mapping of G. demissa habitat, al-though the model has yet to be tested in systems outside of theAsh-ley River. In addition to the characterization of G. demissa habitat,results from a manipulative experiment looking at the effects ofharvesting practices on salt marsh health and G. demissa recoverywill be presented.


3University of Georgia, Odum School of Ecology, 140 E. GreenSt., Athens, Georgia 30602 USA

4Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal ResourcesDivision, 1 Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520 [email protected] shifts in environmental conditions are antici-

pated to increase the intensity of host-pathogen interactions, pos-ing substantial potential impacts to host population dynamics. Forcommercially important species, natural resource managers will re-quire a more comprehensive and predictive understanding of howchanging climate conditions relate to pathogen prevalence in orderto better manage these species. In the southeastern USA, recentincreases in the occurrence of shrimp black gill have coincidedwith declines in commercial white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus)landings in the region, suggesting that black gill may be contrib-uting to population declines in white shrimp. While black gill hasbeen associated with a number of different causative agents, re-cent outbreaks in the southeast have been attributed to infection byan apostome ciliate. The objective of this study was to assess therole of climate conditions in determining the prevalence of blackgill in white shrimp in South Carolina and Georgia estuaries. Datawere compiled for monthly black gill prevalence and white shrimpabundance data collected over the past 12-15 years from seven es-tuaries along the South Carolina and Georgia coasts. Phenologyof black gill was variable among years, but mean fall black gillprevalence was significantly correlated with climate indices includ-ing the El-Niño Southern Oscillation index (ENSO) and the Pa-cific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). These data suggest an importantrole of climate in determining black gill prevalence and provide animportant baseline for understanding how future climate changemight relate to the temporal and spatial dynamics of this conditionin white shrimp.

COMMUNITY-BASED MITIGATION OF HARMFUL AL-GALBLOOMSAND SHELLFISH POISONINGS IN SOUTH-EASTALASKAEsther Kennedy*, Kari Lanphier, and ChristopherWhiteheadSitka Tribe of Alaska Resource Protection Department, 429

Katlian Street, Sitka, Alaska 99835 [email protected] shellfish toxins have been known in Alaskan shellfish

for thousands of years and remain a present threat to all recreation-al and subsistence shellfish harvesters in the state. Limited Stateresources, dispersed and remote populations, and long coastlineshave precluded the development of a statewide monitoring pro-gram or testing facilities for wild shellfish. As climate change hasextended the HAB season in Alaska, traditional risk mitigationstrategies such as harvesting only during winter months have be-come increasingly unreliable, causing many would-be harvestersto forgo shellfish entirely. To reduce the threats of PSP and harmfulalgal blooms in Southeast Alaska, the Sitka Tribe of Alaska hastaken the lead in developing a community-based harmful algal

ISOLATIONAND CHARACTERIZATION OF FRANCISEL-LA HALIOTICIDA FROM ABSCESS LESIONS IN THE AD-DUCTOR MUSCLE OF THE YESSO SCALLOP, PATINO-PECTEN YESSOENSISMiku Kawahara1*, Makoto Kanamori2, Tomoyoshi Yoshinaga1,and Naoki Itoh1

1The University of Tokyo, Laboratory of Fish Diseases, Grad-uate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Tokyo 113-8657,Japan

2Hakodate Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research De-partment, Hokkaido Research Organization, Hakodate 040-0051,[email protected] of abscess lesions in the adductor muscle of Yesso

scallops, Patinopecten yessoensis, has been reported in northernJapan. In addition to loss of marketability in the diseased scallops,it is considered that this disease is associated with mortality andpoor growth of scallops. Analyses of bacterial 16S rRNA in the le-sions revealed that Francisella halioticida was the most dominantbacteria species in the abscess lesions. Moreover, F. halioticidawas detected from most of the abscess lesions by PCR, whereasvery rarely in healthy scallops. Based on these results, F. haliot-icida is considered as the causative agent of this disease. Later,isolation of this bacterium was conducted using modified Eugonagar plates supplemented with antibiotics, and 3 isolates were suc-cessfully established from the adductor muscle lesions. 16S rRNAsequence of these scallop isolates were identical to the type strainof F. halioticida isolated from the giant abalone Haliotis gigantea,however, there were slight differences in tpiA, rpoA and pgm genesbetween these scallop isolates and the abalone strain. Commercialbiochemical test kits showed that all of these scallop isolates lackproline arylamidase activity, and also growth rate of scallop iso-lates in modified Eugon broth was apparently slower than that ofthe abalone strain. These results clearly indicate that F. halioticidacausing the adductor muscle lesions of Yesso scallops is geneticallyand phenotypically different from the type strain from the giantabalone.

THE ROLE OF CLIMATE IN DRIVING DISEASE DY-NAMICS IN THE COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANTWHITESHRIMP, LITOPENAEUS SETIFERUSMichael R. Kendrick*1, Marc E. Frischer2, Jeff Brunson1, Eliz-abeth Gooding1, James E. Byers3, Pat Geer4, and Peter R. King-sley-Smith1

1South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Re-sources Research Institute, 217 Fort Johnson Road Charleston,South Carolina 29422 USA

2University of Georgia, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography,325 Sanford Drive Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 USA


A 72-HOUR GRAPHENE OXIDE NANOPARTICLE EXPO-SURE STUDYWITH EASTERN OYSTERSBushra Khan1*, Adeyemi Adeleye1, Stephen Russo2, Robert M.Burgess3, and Kay T. Ho3

1National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate,27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882 USA

2Oak Ridge Associated Universities Student Services Contrac-tor, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882 USA

3US Environmental Protection Agency, ORD-NHEERL, At-lantic Ecology Division, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RhodeIsland 02882 [email protected] family nanomaterials (GFN) are widely used in the

field of electronics and biomedicine. Gaps in our knowledge aboutfate and toxicity of GFN, such as graphene oxide (GO), raise con-cerns regarding their environmental impacts. Filter feeding bi-valves, such as Crassostrea virginica (eastern oysters), are goodmodels to study the effects of GO exposures. The goal of this pilotstudy is to evaluate effects of in vivo GO exposures on oysters us-ing a static renewal design. Oysters were exposed to 1 and 10 mg/LGO and fed a mixed algal diet. Each oyster was placed in a beakerwith 1 liter of 0.22 µm filtered natural seawater and three renewalswere performed daily. For every renewal, a GO suspension wasprepared and sonicated before addition to beakers. Water sampleswere analyzed for GO concentration and effective diameter. At theend of 72 hours, oysters were placed in clean seawater for threehours and gill and digestive gland tissues were harvested. Tissueswere analyzed for lipid peroxidation, a marker of oxidative dam-age, and for activity of glutathione-s-transferase (GST), a detoxifi-cation enzyme. Elevated lipid peroxidation in GO exposed oysterswas found. No significant changes in GST activity were observed,but reduced total protein levels were noted in exposed oysters. Re-sults indicate that short-term GO exposures can induce oxidativestress and adversely affect overall health in oysters. Evaluation ofsublethal effects of exposures to an emerging contaminant, such asGO, is critical to understanding the risks associated with increasingcommercial usage of nanoparticles.

SOUNDTOXINS: A PUGET SOUND HAB MONITORINGPARTNERSHIPTeri King1*, Lyndsey Claassen1, Jerry Borchert2, Vera Trainer3,and SoundToxins Partnership1

1Washington Sea Grant, P.O. Box 2347, Shelton, Washington98584 USA

2Washington Department of Health, 101 Israel Road SE, Tum-water, Washington 98501 USA

3NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 MontlakeBlvd E, Seattle, Washington 98112 [email protected] is a diverse partnership of aquaculture business-

es, federal, tribal, state, and local governments, education institu-

bloom monitoring and biotoxin testing program. The Sitka Tribe’spartners, fourteen tribal governments that comprise the SoutheastAlaska Tribal Ocean Research (SEATOR) group, each monitor oneor more local shellfish sites. Samplers collect and analyze week-ly phytoplankton samples at each site and ship bi-weekly shellfishsamples to the Sitka Tribe Environmental Lab for analysis usingthe Receptor Binding Assay. Results are available within one totwo business days and are immediately communicated to each lo-cal community. The Sitka Tribe and SEATOR group are building aregional database of shellfish toxins and phytoplankton abundanc-es to make shellfish available as a safe, reliable wild food source.The SEATOR group success has implications for all monitoringprograms that rely heavily on community participation as well asprograms that struggle to effectively serve remote sites.

MONITORING THE RECOVERY OF EAST SIDE COOKINLET RAZOR CLAMSCarol M. Kerkvliet1*, Michael D. Booz1, Timothy J. Blackmon1,and Patricia A. Hansen2

1Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish,3298 Douglas Place, Homer, Alaska 99603 USA

2Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish,333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99518 [email protected] Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport

Fish has assessed razor clam populations (Siliqua patula) along theeast side of Cook Inlet since 1964. This 81 km stretch of beachhas supported the largest razor clam sport fishery in Alaska. His-torically the population and fishery have been monitored using 4data sets: 1) periodic estimates of abundance of juvenile and maturesize razor clams since 1989; 2) annual estimates of age and lengthcomposition since 1985; 3) annual estimates of harvest and effortsince 1970; and 4) periodic estimates of harvest success since 1969.In the early 2000s, a downward trend in harvest combined with

shift towards younger razor clams with fewer age classes, suggest-ed decreased productivity. In 2011 even though, abundance of ma-ture razor clams at Ninilchik reached a record high and exploitationwas low (~6%), concerns ensued because most of the abundancewas composed of one age class. The fishery was progressively re-stricted, then closed in 2015 because of poor recruitment and highnatural mortality of mature size razor clams. The causes for poorrecruitment are unknown but thought to be related to poor spawn-ing and/or settling success. The causes for the high rate of naturalmortality may include winter storms, predation and other unknownfactors.Monitoring efforts have been refined to better assess recruit-

ment and natural mortality at Ninilchik and Clam Gulch. This pre-sentation will focus on recent razor clam studies and recent increas-es of juvenile size razor clams detected.


QUANTIFYING OYSTER REEF DEVELOPMENTAL TRA-JECTORIES FROM 16 YEARS OF LIVING SHORELINESRESEARCH IN SOUTH CAROLINA, USAPeterKingsley-Smith*,Michael Hodges, Benjamin Stone, GarySundin, Sharleen Johnson, Andrew Tweel, and Denise SangerSouth Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR),

217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina, 29412 [email protected] rates of recruitment in South Carolina, USA lead to the

rapid development of intertidal oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reefhabitat when suitable settlement substrate is provided. Utilizingthis “substrate limitation” phenomenon, the SCDNR has a long(>16 years) and productive history of oyster restoration. Recentfocus for these restoration efforts has centered on the ability of liv-ing shorelines to counteract saltmarsh (Spartina alterniflora) habi-tat loss, and to function as a viable or even preferred erosion controlalternative to bulkheads and seawalls.Through funding from the NOAA NERRS Science Collabora-

tive, SCDNR researchers are leading an effort to better understandthe performance of living shoreline approaches across a range ofestuarine environmental conditions. This project involves four com-plementary components: 1) monitoring previously created livingshorelines; 2) analyzing historical living shorelines data; 3) creatingnew living shorelines; and 4) gathering information on homeownerperspectives regarding adopting living shoreline approaches.This presentation will focus on the first of these components.

Through re-visiting reefs dating back to 2001, the project team isdetermining the temporal trajectories of living shorelines at time-points beyond those typically captured within individual projecttimelines. Data will be presented on temporal changes in surfaceelevation and marsh edge location as key determinants of the salt-marsh protection services offered by living shorelines. Ultimatelythe data gathered through this project will be incorporated into aguidance document provided to the state regulatory agency as partof the generation of state-level regulations for the permitting of liv-ing shorelines in South Carolina.

LINKING GENOTYPE TO PHENOTYPE IN A CHANGINGOCEAN: INFERRING THE GENOMIC ARCHITECTUREOFABLUE MUSSEL STRESS RESPONSESarah E. Kingston*1,2, Pieter Martino1,2, Marko Melendy2,Floyd A. Reed3, and David B. Carlon1,2

1Bowdoin College, Schiller Coastal Studies Center, 240 Bay-view Rd, Orrs Island, Maine 04066 USA

2Bowdoin College, Department of Biology, 6500 College Sta-tion, Brunswick, Maine 04011 USA

3University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Biology Department, 2538McCarthy Mall, Edmondson Hall 216, Honolulu, Hawai’i [email protected] key component to understanding the evolutionary response to

a changing climate is linking underlying genetic variation to phe-

tions, and Puget Sound residents that monitor for harmful algae inPuget Sound, managed by the NOAANorthwest Fisheries ScienceCenter and Washington Sea Grant. The intensively trained part-ners provide early warning of harmful algal bloom (HAB) eventsby evaluating water samples gathered weekly from 35 stationsthroughout Puget Sound looking specifically for Dinophysis, Al-exandrium, Pseudo-nitschia and Azadinium species, and alertinghealth and natural resource agencies of their presence. The onlinedatabase and mapping allows for near-real time viewing of data en-tered by SoundToxins partners and is reviewed daily by Sea Grantstaff for quality and accuracy. Participants have partnered on sev-eral research projects providing samples, data and endorsement ofscientist and their projects. The SoundToxins program has helpedto minimize the risks to human health and reducing the economiclosses to Puget Sound fisheries since its formation in 2006.

CHARACTERISATION OF THE PACIFIC OYSTER MI-CROBIOME DURINGA SUMMERMORTALITY EVENTWilliam L. King1,2*, Cheryl Jenkins3, Jeffrey Go3, Nachshon Si-boni2, Justin R. Seymour2, and Maurizio Labbate1

1University of Technology Sydney, The School of Life Scienc-es, Sydney, NSW, Australia

2University of Technology Sydney, Climate Change Cluster,Sydney, NSW, Australia

3NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth MacarthurAgricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW, [email protected] Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, is a key commercial spe-

cies that is cultivated globally. In recent years, disease outbreakshave heavily impacted C. gigas stocks worldwide, with many loss-es incurred during summer. A number of infectious agents havebeen associated with these summer mortality events, includingviruses (particularly Ostreid herpesvirus 1, OsHV-1) and bacteria,however, cases where no known aetiological agent can be identifiedare common. In this study, the microbiome of C. gigas was exam-ined during a 2013-2014 summer mortality event in Port Stephens(Australia) where OsHV-1 was not detected. The adductor musclemicrobiomes of 70 C. gigas samples across 12 study sites in thePort Stephens estuary were characterised using 16S rDNA (V1-V3 region) amplicon sequencing. The oyster microbiome compo-sition from disease-affected sites was significantly determined bylocation. Furthermore, a comparison of oyster microbiomes fromstocks affected or unaffected by the mortality event within the samesite identified rare OTUs belonging to Vibrio harveyi and an un-identified member of the Vibrionaceae, as significantly more abun-dant in the microbiomes from the disease-affected stock indicatinga potential role in disease and supporting a previously conductedculture-based study.


cies of oysters and for the selection of genetically resistant Pacificoyster lines will be reviewed.

MAPPING GENES CONFERRING RESISTANCE TOOSHV-1 IN THE PACIFIC OYSTERTevfik Hamdi Kitapci1*, Colleen Burge2, Collin Closek3, Caro-lyn Friedman4, and Dennis Hedgecock5

1,5University of Southern California, Department of BiologicalSciences, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA

2University of Maryland, Institute of Marine and EnvironmentalTechnology, 701 East Pratt St. Baltimore, Maryland 21202, USA

3Stanford University, Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford,California, USA

4School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Wash-ington, Box 355020, Seattle, Washington 98195, [email protected] the genetic basis of resistance to ostreid herpes

virus 1 (OsHV-1) by the Pacific oyster is important for the globaloyster industry. The virulent µVar forms of OsHV-1 have causeddevastating losses of farmed Pacific oysters in Western Europe,Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, and it is expected eventuallyto arrive on the U.S. West Coast. Since 1993, OsHV-1 has causedmass mortalities of seed and juvenile Pacific oysters in TomalesBay, CA, with losses ranging from 50% to 100% during the warm-est summer months. This project, therefore, was designed to gen-erate high-density linkage maps to detect QTL (quantitative traitloci) for resistance to OsHV-1 infection or mortality. Two full-sibfamilies (1252 and 5819) from four unrelated parents were pro-duced and planted in Tomales Bay before OsHV-1-caused massmortalities in late September 2015. Over a two-week period, family1252 experienced 55%, and family 5819, 16% mortality. Reducedrepresentational genomic libraries were constructed for pre- andpost-exposure samples (268 individuals from 1252 and 290 indi-viduals from 5819) as well as the parents of the two families. Indi-vidual libraries were bar-coded and sequenced in pools, using ge-notyping-by-synthesis methods. Changes in genotypic frequenciesparticular to the exposure period suggest that, 10 and 7 viabilityQTLs in families 5819 and 1252 respectively, are associated withresistance to OsHV-1 and survival. Although the current state ofthe assembly of the Pacific oyster genome impedes identificationof candidate genes, these findings strongly suggest that marker-as-sisted selection could be used to select oyster family resistant toOsHV-1 infection or mortality.

notypic variation in stress response. A genome-wide associationapproach (GWAS) and differential expression analysis were usedto understand the genetic architecture of calcification rates undersimulated climate stress. The genomic gradient across the bluemussel hybrid zone (Mytilus edulis and Mytilus trossulus) in theGulf of Maine was leveraged to link genomic and RNA expressionvariation with variance in calcification rates in response to simulat-ed climate change. Wild mussels were sampled and net calcifica-tion phenotype quantified after mussels were exposed to a “climatechange” common garden (+3°C, -0.2 pH units, and limited foodsupply compared to ambient GOM conditions in the summer). Thisclimate change exposure greatly increased phenotypic variationin net calcification rates compared to ambient conditions. Regres-sion models were used to link the phenotypic variation with over170,000 single nucleotide polymorphism loci (SNPs) generated bygenotype by sequencing to identify genomic locations associatedwith calcification phenotype, and estimate heritability and archi-tecture of the trait. Differential gene expression analysis on mRNAsequences revealed transcripts exhibiting perturbed expression, adynamic response to the simulated multivariate stressors of climatechange. At least one of potentially 2-10 genomic regions responsi-ble for 30% of the phenotypic variation in calcification rates thatare potential targets of natural selection by climate change wasidentified. Hundreds of potential expression quantitative trail loci,those significantly differentially expressed under climate stress,were elucidated.

EXPERIENCESWITH OSTREID HERPESVIRUS 1 (OSHV-1) IN AUSTRALIA—IMPACTS AND POSSIBLE SOLU-TIONSPeter D. Kirkland*, S. Gestier, and X. GuVirology Laboratory, Elizabeth Macarthur Agriculture Institute.

Woodbridge Rd, Menangle NSW, [email protected] variant strain of OsHV-1 (μvar) emerged in Pacific oysters

in Australia in November 2010 at Sydney, NSW in the GeorgesRiver estuary and has subsequently been detected at two other lo-cations in Australia, most recently in Tasmania in December 2015.When initially detected in a susceptible population, there has beenextensive and rapid spread with extremely high mortality rates inPacific oysters of most ages. Since the first detection through to thecurrent time, oyster producers have experienced devastating im-pacts – whether through direct losses from mortalities, movementrestrictions between affected and unaffected growing areas or froma shortage of seedstock for production in both affected and unaf-fected regions. Extensive research has been undertaken to identifymanagement strategies that may reduce losses and to commencebreeding of stock with resistance to OsHV-1 infection. This pre-sentation will compare the geographical spread of the outbreak inAustralia with the distribution of Pacific oyster production in theUSA. Studies to develop an experimental virus transmission modeland its application to assessment of the susceptibility of other spe-


SESTON FILTRATION AND RESTORATION POTENTIALOF RIBBED MUSSELS COMPARED WITH OTHER NA-TIVE BIVALVESDanielle Kreeger*, Josh Moody, and Kurt ChengPartnership for the Delaware Estuary, 110 S. Poplar Street, Suite

202, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 [email protected] the dozens of bivalve species native to the Delaware River

Basin, ribbed mussels (Geukensia demissa) are believed to filter themost particles from natural seston (>1,000 metric tons per hour).Although their clearance rates are on par with other species, typ-ical filtration rates are higher because they inhabit shoreline areashaving high seston concentrations. Ribbed mussel populations arealso still relatively abundant in the marsh-rich Delaware Estuary,whereas populations of many other native bivalves are far belowhistoric levels. Unfortunately, high rates of salt marsh loss areundermining ecosystem services provided by ribbed mussels. Toguide strategic investments aimed at promoting water quality, ses-ton filtration outcomes were predicted and compared among tacticsto enhance ribbed mussels, oysters (Crassostrea virginica), and ale-wife floaters (Anodonta implicata). Species-specific physiologicaland abundance data were integrated with seston data for sites whereprojects are being implemented to enhance ribbed mussels (livingshorelines), oysters (shellplanting), or alewife floaters (reseeding).All shellfish-based strategies were estimated to yield a high returnon investment (e.g., for particulate nitrogen filtration) comparedwith established nature-based investments. Since bivalves inhab-it diverse niches along the river-to-sea salinity gradient, there aremany opportunities to address water quality targets. These includeprojects to restore oyster and freshwater mussel beds as well as liv-ing shoreline tactics to stem the decline of ribbed mussels. Greatestimprovements in water quality will result from tactics tailored tothe unique life history needs of the target species and situated inareas with high particulate pollutant concentrations.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY INFORMS FISHERY MAN-AGEMENT OF SNOW (CHIONOECETES OPILIO) ANDTANNER CRABS (C. BAIRDI) IN THE EASTERN BERINGSEA, ALASKAGordon H. Kruse1*, April Rebert1,2, Jonathan I. Richar1,3, Lau-ra M. Slater1,4, and Joel B. Webb1,5

1University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries andOcean Sciences, Juneau, Alaska USA

2Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Mark, Tag, and AgeLaboratory, Juneau, Alaska USA

3National Marine Fisheries Service, Kodiak Fisheries ResearchCenter, Kodiak, Alaska USA

4Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of CommercialFisheries, Kodiak, Alaska USA

5Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of CommercialFisheries, Juneau, Alaska [email protected]

THE JAPANESEART OFGYOTAKU, THE INTERSECTINGOF SCIENCEANDARTBruce KoikeLittle Pond Nature Prints, 322 SE Harney St, Newport, Oregon

97365 [email protected] definitive knowledge of how and when Gyotaku (pro-

nounced Ghio-tah-ku) started is unknown, it is recognized that inthe 1800’s Lord Sakai was the driving patron of Gyotaku as art.This technique of nature printing requires the use of the actualspecimen in making the “impression”. Gyotaku was initially usedby fishermen to communicate to commoners the types of fish thatwere caught and available for purchase. Upon his death the pop-ularity of Gyotaku waned, but re-emerged decades later as a bonafide art form.Today fish printing has the potential to engage students, fulfill

Next Generation Science Standards, and promote science literacy.This presentation, accompanied by a short video, will detail themethodology and possibilities of using fish printing as an outreachelement for your research and institution.

EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION TOASSESS PATHOGENIC-ITY OF PERKINSUS BEIHAIENSIS AGAINST DOMESTICBIVALVE SPECIES IN JAPANYoshiki Komatsu, Tomoyoshi Yoshinaga, and Naoki Itoh*The University of Tokyo, Laboratory of Fish Diseases, Depart-

ment of Agricultural and Life Sciences, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo, 113-8657 Tokyo, [email protected] 2016, the presence of Perkinsus beihaiensis from the Medi-

terranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis was found in Japan byhistological, RFTM, and PCR assays. Field surveys in 2016 – 2017revealed that most of mussels in Tokyo Bay were infected withthis parasite, while mussels in the other examined areas were freefrom infection. This geographically limited distribution suggesteda possibility that P. beihaiensis invaded into Tokyo Bay recentlyand has not spread throughout the country, therefore, assessment ofits pathogenicity to domestic bivalve species in Japan is required.In this study, a primary isolate of P. beihaiensis was establishedfrom infected gill tissues of mussels using an in-vitro proliferationmedium JL-ODRP2-A and another cholesterol enriched medium,and then the proliferated cells (1.0 x 103 cells/individual) wereinjected into the adductor muscles of the Manila clam, Ruditapesphilippinarum, the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, the Pearl oys-ter, Pinctada fucata martensii, and the Mediterranean mussel. Twoweeks after the injection, P. beihaiensis was detected in Manilaclam, Pearl oyster and Mediterranean mussel, but not in Pacificoyster. During the experimental infection, there was no significantmortality in any challenged bivalves, suggesting that P. beihaiensisis able to infect the Manila clam, the Pearl oyster and the Mediter-ranean mussel, but may not cause lethal damage to these species.Additionally, it is likely that the Pacific oyster is highly resistant toP. beihaensis infection.


and adults (12 months old) over six genetically linked year classesusing approximately 125,000 animals from 395 families. Geneticvariation has been present in all trials and resistance is a trait understrong genetic control. In a combined analysis, the heritabilities ofspat and adult survival were 0.49 and 0.39, respectively.Operational breeding has progressed in parallel to the research

program to address the immediacy of the disease threat. Genet-ic gains have accumulated in each annual cycle of breeding, in-creasing the survival of one year old oysters by at least 10% peryear, and the economic benefits of resistance breeding are clearlyevident. Whilst ongoing breeding is still required to address thechallenges faced by industry, resistant oysters are now commer-cially available and resistance breeding has emerged as the centralelement of disease management.

RADULAR DEVELOPMENT AND LACK OF RADU-LAR PLASTICITY IN PINTO ABALONE (HALIOTISKAMTSCHATKANA) POSTLARVAE AND YOUNG JUVE-NILESLillian KuehlWestern Washington University, Department of Biology, 516

High Street, Bellingham, Washington 98225 [email protected] abalone (family Haliotidae) feed by using their radula

to rasp microalgae from the substratum. Radular development hasbeen characterized in several species of abalone, but never in pintoabalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana), the only abalone native to north-west North America. Other workers have shown that environmentand food type induce a plastic morphological response in radulaeof Littorinidae and other gastropod taxa, but such plasticity has notbeen studied in Haliotidae.In this study, radulae of pinto abalone postlarvae and young ju-

veniles, aged 12 days to 6 months, were examined using scanningelectron microscopy. Postlarvae were raised on one of six differentdiatom species until day 61 post-settlement. Juveniles were fed amixed diet of naturally occurring biofilm and macroalgae. Correla-tion was examined between age, shell length, and radular charac-teristics including radula length, radula width, row spacing, teethper row, rachidian tooth shape and dimensions, and lateral toothcusp shape. Traditional (linear) morphometrics, landmark analysis,and principal component analysis were used to assess changes overtime and between diets, using the R software packages “lme4”,“Momocs” and “geomorph”.As abalone grow, radula teeth become larger and more numer-

ous, and change shape. At 61 days post-settlement, there was nosign that the diatom species postlarvae were fed induced morpho-logical plasticity in the radula. Changes in radular morphologyas pinto abalone develop will be presented in detail and comparedwith reported development in other abalone species.

Snow (Chionoecetes opilio) and Tanner crab (C. bairdi) stockssupport boom-and-bust fisheries in the eastern Bering Sea. Man-agement of these male-only crab fisheries may be enhanced byimproved understanding of functional relationships between maleharvest and female reproductive potential. In the genus Chion-oecetes, females possess paired spermathecae, an organ for spermstorage from previous matings. For Tanner crab in Southeast Alas-ka, mean sperm cell counts of primiparous females by locationwere negatively correlated with an exploitation rate index, suggest-ing that male-only harvest decrease levels of stored sperm avail-able for fertilization of a subsequent clutch. For Tanner crab in theeastern Bering Sea, a 13-14 year cycle in recruitment and total pop-ulation size may indicate that long-term environmental variabilitymediates recruitment strength; however, this cycle is also approx-imately double the estimated mean age of maturity, suggesting thepossibility of an endogenous rhythm associated with a stock-recruitrelationship. For snow crab, fecundity increases with increasingfemale size and decreases for older multipara (age) likely due tosenescence. Attempts to improve upon estimates of reproductivepotential, which are affected by relationships with life history, fe-male size, shell condition, temperature during embryogenesis, andother factors, will be presented.Additionally, research is ongoing todetermine whether structures in Chionoecetes are retained throughmolting and whether band counts in these structures correspond toage. If so, results would provide a boon to estimates of age at matu-rity and rates of natural mortality and growth, which are critical forsustainable fishery management of these stocks.

GENETIC VARIATION IN PACIFIC OYSTERS (CRAS-SOSTREA GIGAS) FOR RESISTANCE TO OSTREID HER-PESVIRUS-1Peter D. Kube1*, Michael C. Dove2, and Matthew Cunningham3

1CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Castray Esplanade, Hobart,TAS, 7000, Australia

2New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, TaylorsBeach, NSW, 2316, Australia

3Australian Seafood Industries, Hobart, TAS, 7010, [email protected] Ostreid herpesvirus-1 (OsHV-1) is a causative agent of

mass mortalities of cultured Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) indifferent regions worldwide and has devastated farmed stocks inFrance, New Zealand, and Australia. Genetic selection for diseaseresistance is one potential management tool and research on theAustralian Pacific oyster population has provided knowledge ofthe genetic architecture of disease resistance. This knowledge hasbeen the basis for a resistance breeding strategy which has beenimplemented via the existing Australian Pacific oyster selectivebreeding program.Data were collected from a series of field trials in two regions

(New South Wales and Tasmania) where animals were exposed tonatural disease challenges. Trials tested both spat (6 months old)


ary response to the same type of pathogen. This has been demon-strated using a viral mimic (polyI:C) to elicit an antiviral responsein the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas against Ostreid herpesvirus.Improved survival following exposure to polyI:C was found laterin life (within generational immune priming) and in the next gen-eration (multi-generational immune priming). The mechanism thatthe oyster uses to transfer immunity to the next generation is notknown. Understanding this aspect of immunology in the oyster isof great importance to the aquaculture industry. Global oyster pro-duction from aquaculture has declined due to the worldwide emer-gence of Ostreid herpesvirus. These data show that C. gigas larvaehave higher survival to Ostreid herpesvirus when their mothersreceived an intramuscular injection of polyI:C prior to spawning,with a notable increase in the expression of antiviral effector genesin the unfertilised eggs; however, survival of larvae was not sig-nificantly improved when fathers were injected with polyI:C priorto spawning. RNAseq did not identify any differentially expressedmRNA transcripts between larvae produced from parents treatedwith polyI:C or seawater. These observations are consistent withthe hypothesis that the improved survival of larvae occurs frommaternal provisioning of antiviral compounds in the eggs.

UNSUSPECTED OSHV-1 GENOMIC DIVERSITY AT IN-TER- AND INTRA-HOST LEVELJean-Baptiste Lamy1, Tristan Renault2, Antoine Bietry1, Ni-cole Faury1, Steve Webb3, Jean-François Pepin4, and BenjaminMorga1*

1Ifremer, SG2M-LGPMM, Laboratoire de Génétique et Patho-logie des Mollusques Marins, Avenue de Mus de Loup, 17390 LaTremblade, France

2Ifremer, Département Ressources Biologiques et Environne-ment, Nantes, France

3Cawthon institute, 98 Halifax Street East, Nelson 7010, NewZealand

4Ifremer, Laboratoire Environnement Ressources des PertuisCharentais (LER PC), La Tremblade, [email protected] herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1) is a major pathogen affecting

Crassostrea gigas production, as well as some other edible mol-lusc species in France and in the world (Australia, New Zealand,Sweden, etc.).The aim of this study is to characterize the simple and complex

nucleotide polymorphisms of various OsHV-1 viral population oninfected individuals collected worldwide, in order to determine theexisting phylogeny (using genome-wide dataset) between OsHV-1specimens and to determine the inter and intra-host diversity to getbetter insights how disease is built during infection.First results show that OsHV-1 samples from France and New

Zealand infecting C. gigas did not cluster together, meaning that

THE ‘EAST OF NANTUCKET’ SURVEY: SURFCLAMS ONTHE MARCH OFFSHORE – MUSSELS BEWAREKelsey M. Kuykendall1*, Eric N. Powell1, Roger Mann2, M.Chase Long2, and Jeremy Timbs1

1Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 703 East Beach Drive, OceanSprings, Mississippi 39564 USA

2Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Rt. 1208 Greate Road,Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062-1346 [email protected] supporting an important part of the Atlantic surfclam

commercial fishery, the region between Nantucket and the GreatSouth Channel has never been comprehensively surveyed. The for-mation of a working group to redesign the federal surfclam surveyprovided impetus to survey this region. Large surfclams (>150 mm)were distributed inshore of smaller surfclams with very limitedoverlap. Recent recruitment is concentrated offshore. The patternis consistent with the observed movement of surfclams into deeperwater throughout the Delmarva to Georges Bank range. Large surf-clams (>150 mm) and surfclam shell overlap relatively consistent-ly. Surfclam shell is taphonomically robust – thus presence of shellis indicative of long-term habitation. Smaller surfclams and shelloverlap relatively poorly; this absence of shell is indicative of re-cent habitation. The abundance of surfclams >170 mm transcendsvalues in any other portion of the species’ range. Hydroids werevery common at many sites; they attached to any hard substrateincluding cobbles, rocks, boulders, and surfclam shell. Hydroidsare the only common epibiont in areas inhabited by large surfclamsand were found preferentially attached to surfclam shell suggest-ing that the fishery may be important in maintaining this epibiontin the community. Mussels (Mytilus sp. and Modiolus sp.) werevery common at a number of sites. These sites generally supportedsignificant numbers of crabs; sea urchins were frequently encoun-tered. The surveyed region has two primary community types: surf-clams and associated sandy biota; mussels and associated mobileepifauna. Both are likely in transition as surfclams invade deeperwater, potentially displacing mussels.

MULTI-GENERATIONAL PLASTICITY AND ANTIVIRALIMMUNITY IN THE OYSTERAGAINST OSHV-1Maxime Lafont1,2, Priscila Goncalves1,3, Ximing Guo4, CarolineMontagnani2, David Raftos1,3, and Timothy Green1,3*

1Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Chowder Bay, Sydney,Australia

2Ifremer, IHPE, UMR5244, University ofMontpellier, F-34095,Montpellier, France

3Macquarie University, Department of Biological Sciences,Sydney, Australia

4Rutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, PortNorris, New Jersey, [email protected] oyster immune system is capable of adapting upon primary

exposure to a pathogen or an antigen to have an enhanced second-


2Auckland University of Technology, Institute forApplied Ecolo-gy New Zealand, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand

3Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, Private Bag 2, Nel-son 7042, New [email protected] geoduck, Panopea zelandica, has been signaled as a new

emerging species for aquaculture in New Zealand. To pave the wayfor the establishment of a geoduck aquaculture industry, informa-tion on how to grow this species over its life cycle needs to bedetermined. The aim of this project was to identify conditions thatoptimize P. zelandica broodstock conditioning, fertilization, larvalgrowth and metamorphosis, and juvenile and young adult growth.Hence, the reproductive development and biochemical composi-tion of broodstock conditioned within different water temperatureand algal feeding rations were investigated. The embryogenesisand functional morphology of larvae were described. The practicalfertilization and larval rearing methods under hatchery conditionswere then developed. This project also determined the thermal win-dow for aerobic scope and clearance rates of juvenile and youngadults. In addition, the physiological responses of both two sizeclasses to hypoxia were examined. The achievements of this proj-ect not only provided some fundamental information for the indus-try application but also gained better understanding of the ontogenyand physiology of P. zelandica.

DEVELOPING A RESEARCH PROGRAM TO ADDRESSSHELLFISH GROWERS’ NEEDS: NINIGRET POND - ACASE STUDYDale Leavitt1*, Robert Rheault2, and Heather Kinney1

1Roger Williams University, Center for Economic and Envi-ronmental Development, 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island02809 USA

2East Coast Shellfish Growers Association, 1121 MooresfieldRd., Wakefield, Rhode Island 02879 [email protected], there has been a rapid and substantial increase in oys-

ter plantings on farms in a concentrated portion of Ninigret Pond(Charleston, RI). Since the initial development of Ninigret oysterfarms, farmers have noted decreasing growth rates and increasingmortality leading to speculation that the carrying capacity of thecoastal pond had been exceeded. A coalition of Ninigret farmersworked with local scientists to develop a study of the dynamicsof the pond to explain why their oyster production seemed to bedecreasing. The objectives were: 1) Monitor seasonal variation infood levels along a transect through the existing farms in NinigretPond; 2) Measure oyster survival and growth at various stockingdensities within the six participating farms; and 3) Evaluate thecondition of oysters growing at the various stocking densities.

New-Zealand OsHV1 viral population is another structural variantcompare to OsHV-1 µVar. In addition, results confirmed the prox-imity of AVNV to OsHV-1 µVar-like cluster that suggest a recenthost shift from C. gigas to C. farreri. The genome-wide study ofsimple and complex polymorphism suggests that some genomic re-gions are deleted in several specimens or accumulate a high levelof substitution. This nonrandom pattern of polymorphism suggeststhat some genomic regions are under selective process. Contraryto a common belief, variants within all infected individuals werefound. The biological interpretation of these observations is dis-cussed in detail.

SPAT ON SHELL AS A MEANS FOR STOCK ENHANCE-MENTOFPUBLIC REEFS INALABAMA,ANDTHE STAN-DARDIZATION OF SETTING EFFICIENCYASSESSMENTDavid Lappin*1, William Walton1, Scott Rikard1, and JasonHerrmann2

1Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory, Auburn UniversitySchool of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, 150 Agas-siz Street, Dauphin Island, Alabama, 36528 USA

2Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,Marine Resource Division, 2 Iberville Drive, Dauphin Island, Ala-bama 36528 [email protected] in the Gulf of Mexico region have significant environ-

mental and socioeconomic impacts. Variability in natural popula-tion reproductive success over time has stressed the need to investi-gate methods for stabilization and enhancement of existing stocks.Here, remote set of hatchery reared oyster larvae on shell cultchwas assessed as a potential method for the augmentation of exist-ing oyster populations in Alabama. Small-scale experimental trialswere conducted to assess site location, density of spat, and size ofspat at the time of the plantings. Quantification of both survival andgrowth for experimental sites, in comparison to large scale plantingsites, provides insight into the effectiveness of remote set plantingfor this region.In addition to the field based experimental trials, tank experi-

ments were conducted in an attempt to establish a standard methodof assessment for oysters set on shell. Given the high degree ofvariability in size, and in shape, between oyster shells, a standard-ized assessment for setting efficiency across tanks is a valuablemetric. The use of standard setting sticks provides insight into theefficiency of the setting process as well as the spatial distributionof spat across the tank.

CULTIVATION OF THE NEW ZEALAND GEODUCK,PANOPEA ZELANDICADung Viet Le12*, Andrea C. Alfaro2, Tim Young2, Nick King3,Norman L.C. Ragg3, and Zoë Hilton3

1Vietnam National University of Agriculture, College of Fisher-ies, Trau Quy, Gia Lam, Ha Noi, Vietnam


clam tissue weight increased markedly from 0.46 g to 1.51 g in thesuspended cage, while the tissue weight increase was substantiallylower (0.46 to 0.90 g) in the intertidal. Marteilia-like organismswere first observed in January from clams in the suspended cage(62.1 %) and the intertidal (16.7 %). PCR assay using Marteiliaspecies-specific markers confirmed that the pathogen wasM. gran-ula. In histology, M. granula was focalized in the digestive glandcausing digestive tubule tissue necrosis. Prevalence of M. granulain clams in the suspended cage increased dramatically from Janu-ary to February (100 %) and remained 100 % until May. Mortalityof clams in the suspended cage increased dramatically from March(3.3 %) to April (39.1 %) and May (67.4 %), which was coincid-ed with the rapid increase of M. granula infection. Histology alsoindicated that the gonad development of clams in the suspendedcage as well as in intertidal was retarded, possibly due to the heavyinfection with M. granula.

SURVEYING BENTHIC INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIESASSOCIATED WITH OYSTER AQUACULTURE SITES INMAINESara M. Lindsay, Hanna Deon, Samantha Holmes, Emily Mill-er, Samantha Silverbrand, and Paul D. Rawson*University of Maine, School of Marine Sciences, Orono, Maine

04469 [email protected] to finfish aquaculture, shellfish aquaculture is pre-

dicted to have less impact on benthic communities because organicenrichment and biodeposition rates are typically lower, but im-pacts are likely to vary with species cultured, site characteristics,and farming methods. Oyster aquaculture is a growing industry inMaine and little is known about its impacts on the benthos. Benthicbiodiversity was surveyed under and adjacent to suspended oystercages at three farms on different rivers in Maine during 2015 and2016. Sediment samples were collected using ponar grabs, sieved(0.5 mm mesh) and all retained material preserved for later identi-fication. Approximately 6000 individual invertebrates were sortedand identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible (i.e., species,genus or family). Annelids and molluscs were the most abundantfauna at all three farms. Taxonomic similarity (percentage similar-ity) of fauna collected under and adjacent to oyster cages differedby farm, ranging from ~43% to 79%. At two farms, Capitellidpolychaetes and Oligochaetes were most abundant under cages(dominance index=0.3-0.4), while Veneriid bivalves, Nereidid andSpionid polychaetes were most abundant in samples taken adjacentto cages at the same farms (dominance index=0.2-0.4). The spio-nid Streblospio benedicti was the most abundant taxon at the thirdfarm, regardless of sample location in the farm (dominance index~0.8). Sediment organic content was slightly enriched under cagesat only one site (12% vs. 10% organic carbon). The results of thisstudy suggest that the oyster farms are having relatively minor im-pacts on the benthic community at these sites.

The growers evaluated the effect of varying bag stocking den-sities on oyster growth and mortality while the research team mon-itored flow patterns and food supply in the vicinity of the farmson three separate occasions, representing three seasonal conditions.The results suggested that while food resources in the pond were

consistently adequate, a localized effect of growth depression wasnoted in bags as the stocking density increased. Growth depressionwith increasing stocking density was likely the result of a low rateof food flux through the bags, due to a low flow of water movingthrough the farms. Farmers must adjust their stocking density ormodify their growing methods to allow increased flow and foodflux through the culture system.

LUNG VOLUME IN THE APPLE SNAIL, POMACEA MAC-ULATAAndrea Lee and Lewis E. Deaton*University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Biology Department, La-

fayette, Louisiana 70504 [email protected] invasive apple snail, P. maculata, is a freshwater gastropod

that possesses both a functional gill and an air sac formed frommantle tissue that is used to breathe air. Rates of oxygen uptakein this species in air are higher than they are in water. The air saccan be inflated when the snails are in water and used as a flotationdevice. Floating snails of various sizes were weighed immersed inwater and then induced to empty the air sac and re-weighed. Thedifference in the two measures provides an estimate of the volumeof the air sac. The lung volume is about 0.2 mL/g live weight (in-cluding the shell).

HIGH MORTALITY, RETARDED REPRODUCTION, ANDPOOR GROWTH OF THE MANILA CLAM, RUDITAPESPHILIPPINARUM, CAUSED BY HIGH LEVELS OF THEPARAMYXEAN PARASITE, MARTEILIA GRANULA, IN-FECTION OBSERVED ON THE SOUTH COAST OF KO-REAHye-Mi Lee1*, Hyun-Sil Kang2, Young-Ghan Cho1, Hyun-KiHong1, Hee-Jung Lee2, and Kwang-Sik Choi1

1Jeju National University, School of Marine Biomedical Science(BK21 PLUS), 102 Jejudaehakno, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea

2Tidal Flat Research Institute, National Institute of FisheriesScience (NIFS), Kunsan 54014, Republic of [email protected] clam landings in Korea have been declined for the past

decades, while increase in parasitic diseases may responsible forthe decline. In this study, Manila clams were transplanted to anintertidal beach and subtidal cage to enhance the growth. Shell andtissue growth, reproduction and types of parasite were monitoredmonthly from October 2015 to May 2016. The SL of clams in theintertidal and subtidal cage increased from 23.1 mm to 25.9 mm and26.6 mm over 8 months, respectively. From October to February,


Eastern oyster predation is well understood, but little is knownabout oyster scavenging. It is assumed that oyster carrion is decom-posed or consumed by smaller organisms. Pathways of carrion wereexamined by attaching dead oysters to an artificial oyster reef on theYork River, Chesapeake Bay. The effect of treatment (gaping andcrushed oysters) and shell height (25 mm to 100 mm shell height)on scavenger behavior was tested. Underwater video was used toidentify species and record exact times to encounter, feeding, andtotal trial duration. The most common scavengers were mud crabs,the striped blenny (Hypsoblennius hentz), the naked goby (Gobioso-ma bosc), and mature blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). On average,gaping oysters took three times longer to be consumed than crushedoysters, but all trials were fully scavenged within a few hours. Bluecrabs acted as a facilitator by prying open gaping oysters and al-lowing smaller scavengers to enter and feed, but they acted as com-petitors to smaller scavengers for crushed oysters. Gobies opportu-nistically kleptoparasitized oysters that were opened by blue crabs.Short scavenging times suggests that most oyster carrion moves tohigher trophic levels rather than being decomposed, and food webpathways are influenced by the blue crab.

COMPARTMENTALIZATION OF HEMOCYTE FUNC-TIONS IN CONGENERS OFTWO OYSTERSNaoko Little-Jackson1, Dametria Faltz1, and Anna V. Ivanina2*

1Johnson C. Smith University, 100 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte,North Carolina 28216 USA

2University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 UniversityCity Blvd, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223 [email protected] hemocytes (HC) play an important role in immune ho-

meostasis while representing a diverse set of cell types that aremorphologically and functionally heterogeneous. Two congenersof oysters, Crassostrea gigas and Crassostrea virginica, differ intheir disease resistance. Although closely related, C. gigas canwithstand a wide variety of diseases compared with the more dis-ease-susceptible C. virginica, however, the physiological basis ofthis disparity to biotic stressors remains unknown. Four differentfractions of HC were isolated on a density gradient and mRNAtranscripts of pattern recognition molecules and stress response el-ements were compared between HC fractions of both species. InC. virginica pattern recognition genes (TLR3, TLR4 and MannoseRec2) were expressed in all HC subpopulations. In C. gigas ex-pression of TLR3 was similar in all HC fractions, whereas TLR4and Mannose Rec2 were overexpressed in the H1 fraction. Amongall HC, only the H2 and H1 fractions in C. virginica and C. gigas,respectively, played role in recognizing tissue damage (based onexpression of scavenger receptor cysteine rich). Expression of hu-moral and inflammatory genes were higher in the H1 fraction of C.gigas, and had similar expression patterns in all HC fractions of C.virginica. These results indicate considerable functional specializa-tion (revealed by the gene expression patterns) between differentsubpopulations of HC in both species, which may contribute to dif-ferences in biotic stress resistance.

PHYSIOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF THE BIOMEDICALBLEEDING PROCESS ON THE ATLANTIC HORSESHOECRAB, LIMULUS POLYPHEMUS, IN SOUTH CAROLINA,USAKristin Linesch1*, Louis Burnett2,3, Karen Burnett2,3, RachelKalisperis4, and Amy Fowler5

1South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Re-sources Research Institute, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston,South Carolina 29412 USA

2College of Charleston, Grice Marine Laboratory, 205 FortJohnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29412 USA

3Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charles-ton, South Carolina 29412 USA

4South Carolina Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston,South Carolina 29401 USA

5George Mason University, Potomac Environmental Researchand Education Center, 650 Mason Ferry Ave., Woodbridge, Virgin-ia 22191 [email protected] 550,000 horseshoe crabs (HSC) are harvested annually by

the biomedical industry in the United States to produce LimulusAmebocyte Lysate, a medical product used to detect endotoxins.The biomedical harvest is unique in South Carolina (SC) in thatHSC can be kept in holding ponds for the duration of the spawn-ing season (spanning 1 day to 8 weeks) before bleeding. In thisstudy, current SC biomedical bleeding practices were simulated byholding female HSC in experimental ponds for up to eight weeksbefore bleeding. A subset of individuals (n=24) was removedfrom ponds biweekly, of which half were bled immediately andhalf remained unbled. Hemocyanin concentration ([Hc]) and totalhemocyte counts (THC) were monitored 0, 2, 6, and 12 days afterbleeding as indicators of physiological health during recovery. Theamount of hemolymph biomedically extracted ranged from 3% to51% (average 33%) of the total hemolymph volume of individualHSC. HSC held in ponds for more than four weeks had lower THCand [Hc] prior to treatment, and those that were bled were not ableto return to baseline values as quickly as controls. Total mortali-ty in the ponds was 5% prior to bleeding, but after removal fromponds overall mortality was 11% for bled and control HSC up to 12days after being removed from the ponds and subjected to bleeding.Results from this study provide important information on harvestimpacts in SC and could contribute to best management practicesalong the east coast of the United States.

FOOD WEB OF THE EASTERN OYSTER AND BLUECRAB: SCAVENGERS, FACILITATION, COMPETITION,AND KLEPTOPARASITISMRomuald N. Lipcius1* and Emily Chei1,2

1Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William andMary, PO Box 1346, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 USA

2Present address: Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, [email protected]


RIA). The MARIA mission is to connect researchers and entre-preneurs, accelerate innovation and the translation of knowledge,and foster growth of a sustainable, ecologically sound and prof-itable algal value pyramid in Maine, the U.S. and internationally.This initiative leverages the NCMA collection and extensive algalgrowth expertise, the range of algae cultivation services offered bythe NCMA, and a state-of-the-art research greenhouse designed tosupport pilot-scale (versus bench scale) research and developmentactivities for both micro- and macroalgae. The overarching goal ofMARIA is to help provide a stabilization mechanism for the futuresuccess and growth of NCMA in the face of a rapidly changing anduncertain financial climate.

GROWTH RATE MEASUREMENTS IN SCALLOPS: RE-VISITINGMERRILLAFTER 50YEARS ONTHE LIBRARYSHELFMatthew C. Long1*, Roger Mann1, David Rudders1, Sally Ro-man1, Toni Chute2, Kelly Cronin3, and Sally Walker3

1Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, The College of Williamand Mary, Rt. 1208 Greate Road, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062USA

2Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, Massachu-setts, 02453 USA

3Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, Geor-gia, 30602 [email protected] are of both economic and ecological interest. In an ef-

fort to develop methods describing scallop growth as accuratelyand efficiently as possible from shell samples, a comparison wasmade between growth rate estimators (von Bertalanffy k and Linfvalues) generated using two different methods of measuring an-nual growth. The first method, which did not require ageing, usedthe distances between annual signatures on the external surface ofthe shell (a Ford-Walford approach). The second method relied onage estimates from hinge resilia to produce length-at-age points towhich a curve was fit. The latter approach was described over 50years ago by Merrill (Merrill et al. 1966. Fish Bull. 65:299–311),but has enjoyed little use since that time. Estimates based on exter-nal shell signatures are limited to larger shells with multiple annualsignatures, potentially compromised where erosion or infestationof the shell surface is significant. While a more comprehensivecomparison between the two methods is recommended, results todate suggest a general utility for the resilium approach. Examplesare provided for both P. magellanicus from the mid-Atlantic andthe Antarctic scallop Adamussium colbecki, a species living in thecoldest waters on Earth.

MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR VIBRIO PARAHAEMO-LYTICUS IN OYSTER SHELLSTOCK INTENDED FORRAWCONSUMPTIONChengchu Liu1* and Angela DePaola2

1University of Maryland Extension, 11868 College BackboneRd, Princess Anne, Maryland 21853 USA

2Angelo DePaola Consulting, 12719 Dauphin Island Parkway,Coden, Alabama 36523 [email protected] molluscan shellfish such as oysters, mussels, and clams,

are filter-feeders and can concentrate microbial contaminants fromgrowing waters through filtering large volumes of seawater. Themarine bacteria, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, naturally inhabit coastalwaters and shellfish and are most abundant during summer. It hasbeen a leading cause of human acute gastroenteritis associated withconsumption of raw oysters in the United States and throughoutthe world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)estimates that 45,000 cases of V. parahaemolyticus infection oc-cur each year in the U.S. Several post-harvest processes, such aslow-temperature pasteurization, flash-freezing followed by frozenstorage, and high pressure processing, have been developed forinactivating V. parahaemolyticus in raw oysters; however, thesetreatments require either significant amounts of initial investmentor operation costs and oysters are generally killed during process-ing. This presentation will provide an overview and discuss po-tential application of controlled wet-storage and other post-harvestpractices for purging V. parahaemolyticus from oysters.

THE FUTURE OFTHE PROVASOLI-GUILLARD NATION-ALCENTER FORMARINEALGAEAND MICROBIOTAMichael W. Lomas*, Julie Sexton, Mike Preston, Mark Hurd,

Joan Blanchette, and Rimar ReedBigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, 60 Bigelow Drive,

East Boothbay, Maine 04544 [email protected] global economy is actively undergoing a green revolution,

not just one based on biofuels and bioenergy, but one also based onbioproducts and sustainable food chains. Algae are at the heart ofthis multi-billion dollar industry sector that provides secure foodresources as well as a broad source of nutritional and pharmaceuti-cal supplements. The National Center for MarineAlgae and Micro-biota (NCMA), originally founded as the Culture Collection of Ma-rine Phytoplankton by Bob Guillard and Luigi Provasoli, has beenand continues to be a living library supporting this dizzying arrayof applied and basic research. For example, in the past six monthswe have distributed nearly 1000 strains of algae to researchers andcompanies in 26 countries around the world.This talk will present a new initiative spearheaded by the NCMA

called the Maine Algal Research and Innovation Accelerator (MA-


of the Upper Gulf of California. These two populations showedhigher values of observed (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He),inbreeding coefficients (Fis), and private alleles. The paired analy-sis of Fst indicated significant differences between all populations.Greater genetic differences were detected between Puerto Peñascoand Bahía Magdalena, while San Felipe and Bahía Magdalena hadthe lowest differentiation. Molecular variance analysis (P = 0.0001)showed that most of the observed variation in allele frequencieswas within populations (96%), followed by variation among pop-ulations (4%). Thirty-five outlier loci were detected and comparedwith the GenBank databases using BLAST. No significant similar-ity was found with any sequence reported at the time. Based on theanalysis of allele frequencies, a SET for molecular traceability ofPanopea globosa is being developed.

COLD CHAINS FOR FARMED OYSTERS PRODUCED INTHE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND MODELED VIBRIO PARA-HAEMOLYTICUS GROWTHDavid C. Love1,2, Robert M. Lane3, Kate Clancy1, BenjaminJ.K. Davis4, Jillian P. Fry1,2,5, Jamie Harding

1, and Bobbi Hud-son6*

1Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns HopkinsUniversity, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

2Johns Hopkins University, Department of EnvironmentalHealth and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Bal-timore, Maryland, USA

3Virginia Tech, Virginia Seafood Agriculture Research and Ex-tension Center, Hampton, Virginia, USA

4Johns Hopkins University, Department of Epidemiology,Bloomberg School of Public health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

5Johns Hopkins University, Department of Health, Behaviorand Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broad-way, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

6Pacific Shellfish Institute, Olympia, Washington, [email protected] controlled supply chains (cold chains) require an

unbroken chain of refrigeration to maintain product quality andsafety. This study assessed the performance of cold chains forfarmed oysters produced in the Chesapeake Bay and sold live to thehalf-shell market in surrounding states. A total of 156 temperaturesensors were added to oysters and oyster boxes on farms and re-moved once the products reached food retailer and restaurants. Thestudy ran from February to September 2017 and generated 5,250hours of temperature sensor data. Twenty-six interviews were per-formed with producers, freight carriers, wholesalers, food retailersand restaurants to further understand how cold chains function.Cold abuse was occasionally an issue for supply chains in coolermonths. In summer months, 5 of 25 shipments had internal oystertemperatures above 50 °F for over 1 hr. The highest internal oystertemperature recorded in any shipment was 54.5 °F.We modeled theeffects of temperature fluctuations on Vibrio parahaemolyticus and

THE SWINOMISH SHELLFISH PROGRAM: MANAGE-MENT, RESEARCH, AND RESTORATION EFFORTSLorraine Loomis, Julie S. Barber*, Courtney M. Greiner, andSarah K. GrossmanSwinomish Indian Tribal Community, Fisheries Department,

11426 Moorage Way, La Conner, Washington 98257 [email protected] Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (SITC) Fisheries De-

partment focuses much of its work on finfish and shellfish resourc-es. The Shellfish Program provides the Tribe with research, resto-ration, and technical assistance to achieve optimal benefits for itsmember fishers. Currently, the program supports numerous projectsincluding: shellfisheries management, bait clam fishery administra-tion, subtidal and intertidal shellfish surveys, native clam popula-tion variability research, intertidal ecological research, clam gardendevelopment, Olympia oyster restoration and research, aquacultureventures, and dive safety. Within the Shellfish Program, SITC alsosupports the Swinomish Fisheries Climate Change Program (SF-CCP), which works to (1) assess climate change risks and vulner-abilities for shellfisheries and (2) execute research efforts to fillknowledge gaps. The SFCCP is also in the process of developingan adaptation strategy for the Tribe and will work with tribal mem-bers to promote dynamic adaptive management practices. This talkwill include examples of ongoing and upcoming research projectsincluding the development of a clam garden site selection mod-el, evaluating juvenile Dungeness habitat limitations, and decadalchange in intertidal ecology.

POPULATION GENOMICS OF PANOPEA GLOBOSABASED ON ANALYSIS OF SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLY-MORPHISM OBTAINED BYDDRADVíctor López1*, Adrian Munguía2, and Pedro Cruz1

1Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste, S.C., Av.Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, La Paz, B.C.S., México, 23096

2University of Arizona, Conservation Genetics Laboratory,School of Natural Resources and the Environment, Tucson, Ari-zona 85721 [email protected] geoduck, Panopea globosa, is one of the most important

fishing resources in Northwestern Mexico, generating over 74Mdollars annually. This species shows a wide distribution and remotefishing sites complicate its management. As such, identifying alter-natives for the proper management is of great importance. Current-ly, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs or ‘snips’) are the mo-lecular markers with the greatest potential for genomic populationanalyzes. A total of 139,214 SNPs and 84,314 loci were obtainedfrom a pilot library of 33 geoduck clams from 3 locations (UpperGulf of California: San Felipe and Puerto Peñasco; Pacific Ocean:Bahia Magdalena) with three libraries of 8’949,334 paired read-ings (2x150bp). A deficit of heterozygotes was observed in all threepopulations. Higher allelic richness was observed in populations


4Hog Island Oyster Company, 20215 Shoreline Highway, Mar-shall, California 94940, [email protected] factor limiting the growth in areas of potential shellfish

aquaculture cultivation is a lack of understanding regarding the im-pacts of aquaculture operations on ecosystems. Eelgrass, protectedat both the state and federal level as essential fish habitat, is found inmany estuaries where aquaculture activities occur. These systemsare of particular concern due to their role as a habitat forming spe-cies and nursery for a wide array of fish and invertebrates; however,it is challenging to monitoring eelgrass systems, particularly at alandscape scale, which increases the difficulty of understanding theaffects of aquaculture activities on their overall extent and health.UC Santa Cruz, The Nature Conservancy, and Hog Island OysterCompany are developing new tools to monitor eelgrass-aquacul-ture interactions and better understand the extent of aquacultureimpacts on eelgrass ecosystems. The project includes two coreobjectives: 1) develop an accessible UAV-based methodology tomonitor eelgrass-aquaculture interactions; 2) experimentally testimpacts of oyster aquaculture on adjacent eelgrass communitiesand the local environment following a Before-After-Control-Im-pact (BACI) design in Tomales Bay California. Although thisstudy is ongoing, presented here are initial results and developedmonitoring methods. To ensure applicability and dissemination ofresults, the project is advised by staff from NOAA Fisheries WestCoast Region and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.Ultimately, this collaboration will contribute to both an improvedprocess-based understanding and novel monitoring tools.

BAY SCALLOP LARVAL SWIMMING BEHAVIOR IN RE-SPONSE TO TEMPERATURE, SALINITY, AND LIGHTSamantha G. Lynch1*and Joseph Caracappa2

1Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 14 College FarmRoad, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 USA

2Rutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory,7959 Miller Ave, Port Norris, New Jersey 08349 [email protected] scallops (Argopecten irradians) are a relatively short-

lived bivalve species historically found along the North Ameri-can eastern seaboard. A mesocosm study was conducted to betterunderstand how the swimming behavior of bay scallop larvae isinfluenced by environmental conditions. The swimming behaviorof bay scallop larvae was observed in response to light, tempera-ture, and salinity. Late-stage scallop veliger larvae (10 days old)were exposed to three temperature conditions: cold (15°C), tem-perate (23°C), and hot (30°C). To evaluate the effect of salinity onswimming behavior, temperature was held constant at 23°C andveligers were exposed to either varying salinities (20, 25, and 30).The effect of light on bay scallop swimming response was evalu-

found moderate bacterial growth before oysters were under tem-perature control, but cold chains prevented further growth and al-lowed for a moderate drop-off in abundance. The highest estimatedrisk of Vibriosis was 0.06 cases per 100,000 servings. The findingsimprove understanding of cold chain performance for shellfish, V.parahaemolyticus growth in supply chains, and can aid in industryand regulatory policy development.

OYSTERS SHOW ENHANCED GROWTH IN EELGRASS:DOES DIET EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE?Alexander T. Lowe1* and Micah Horwith2

1University of Washington, Department of Biology, 24 KincaidHall, Seattle, Washington 98195 USA

2Washington Department of Natural Resources, 1111 Washing-ton St., Olympia, Washington 98504 [email protected] anthropogenic effects on coastal estuaries, including

ocean acidification and productivity changes, have raised concernsover the future of seagrass and ecologically and economicallyimportant bivalves. The potential for phytoremediation of oceanacidification by seagrass has gained recent attention. Additionally,seagrass can alter sedimentation and food availability in ways thatinfluence suspension-feeding bivalves. Because these influencesare occurring simultaneously, studies are needed that evaluate therelative influence of these hypothesized mechanisms. Over twoyears, effects of eelgrass on two species of oysters were investi-gated through a coordinated field experiment that measured shelland soft tissue growth, stable isotope and fatty acid biomarkers offood availability, and sedimentation concomitant to monitoringof environmental conditions inside and outside of eelgrass beds.Hatchery-produced Olympia and Pacific oysters were deployedinto eelgrass and unvegetated habitats at five sites in Washingtonstate for periods ranging from 40 to 80 days in 2016 and 2017. BothOlympia and Pacific oysters repeatedly exhibited greater growth ineelgrass. Stable isotope and fatty acid biomarkers will be used toevaluate the relative influence of food availability on habitat-spe-cific growth differences.

MONITORING EELGRASS RESPONSES TO AQUACUL-TUREACTIVITIESAND DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVEDMONITORING TOOLSSarah Lummis1*, Kristy Kroeker1, Sarah Newkirk2, KirkKlausmeyer2, Serena Lomonico2, Robert Jones3, John Finger4,and Terry Sawyer4

1University California, Santa Cruz, Ecology and EvolutionaryBiology Department, Institute of Marine Sciences, 100 Shaffer Rd,Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA

2The Nature Conservancy, California Oceans Program, 201Mission Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, California 94105, USA

3The Nature Conservancy, Global Marine Program, 4245 NorthFairfax Drive Suite 100, Arlington, Virginia 22203, USA


UNDER THE RADAR: EMERGING HAPLOSPORIDIA SPP.IN WILD COMMON COCKLE, CERASTODERMA EDULE,AND MUSSELS, MYTILUS SPP., AT PACIFIC OYSTER,CRASSOSTREAGIGAS, CULTURE SITESSharon A. Lynch*, Sara Lepée Rivero, Richard Kelly, EmmaQuinn, Aoife Coughlan, and Sarah C. CullotyUniversity College Cork, School of Biological, Earth and Envi-

ronmental Sciences, Aquaculture & Fisheries Development Centreand Environmental Research Institute, [email protected] frequency of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in marine

ecosystems is increasing due to increasing rates of environmentalchange, caused by changing climates and anthropogenic activities.Such phenomena may provoke previously non-problematic marineparasites to emerge, which may appear for the first time or existedpreviously but have extended their geographical and host range.Haplosporidia single cell parasites are a major concern for aquaticanimal health, in particular in bivalve molluscs, as they have beenresponsible for some of the most significant marine epizootics onrecord. In this study, the common cockle Cerastoderma edule (C.edule), mussels Mytilus spp. and the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gi-gas (C. gigas) from three Irish locations (C. gigas culture and non-culture sites) were screened for Haplosporidia spp. by polymerasechain reaction (PCR) using multiple molecular markers. The DNAof three emerging Haplosporidia spp. was detected, isolated andconfirmed by Direct Sanger sequencing in surfaced C. edule whilea single species was detected in the blue musselMytilus edulis. Ofinterest, the Haplosporidia spp. were not detected in the cohab-iting C. gigas on oyster trestles. This finding may indicate thatthe Haplosporidia spp. are host specific and ‘host partitioning’wasoccurring. The effects of these Haplosporidia spp. on the C. eduleand Mytilus spp. populations is currently unknown. The findingsof this study highlight the diversity of emergingHaplosporidia spp.that may be present in coastal marine environments but remain un-detected, even in well-studied commercial shellfish species such ascockles and mussels.

ated under temperate conditions (23°C, salinity of 30) by exposinglarvae to either white or red light. High definition video cameraswith macro-lenses were used to record the swimming behaviors ofindividual larvae. These videos were digitized, and the swimmingtrajectories of individual larvae were mapped. Behavioral metricsquantified in this study include net vertical velocity, helical trajec-tories, and sinking rates. These data will be used to identify patternsin swimming responses under environmentally relevant conditions.Characterizing the swimming behavior of bay scallop veliger lar-vae is a fundamental step to inform future larval dispersal models,and ultimately to better understand population connectivity.

A LIFE IN FLUX: EFFECTS OF FLUCTUATING TEM-PERATURES, AIR EXPOSURE, SALINITY, SUSPENDEND-ED PARTICULATE MATTER (SPM), AND TURBIDITY ONOSTREIDHERPESVIRUS-1MICROVAREXPOSED CRAS-SOSTREAGIGAS (VIVALDI PROJECT)Sharon A. Lynch*, Erin Molloy, Ciara Mcdonald, KathrynCox, and Sarah C. CullotyUniversity College Cork, School of Biological, Earth and Envi-

ronmental Sciences, Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Cen-tre and Environmental Research Institute, [email protected] Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) is commonly cultured

in the intertidal zone and is tolerant of a range of environmentalconditions, which makes this species an ideal candidate for cul-ture; however, daily fluctuating temperatures, salinity, suspendedparticulate matter (SPM) and turbidity imposed by tidal exchange,in particular in spring and autumn months when sudden and dra-matic increases or decreases in air temperature and precipitationevents can occur, may catch the C. gigas “off-guard” thus makingthem more susceptible to pathogens and disease. The objectives ofthis study were to investigate the effects of fluctuating temperature,air exposure, reduced salinity, suspended particulate matter (SPM),and turbidity on oyster performance, immune response and ostreidherpesvirus-1 microVar (OsHV-1 µVar) development in C. gigas.Laboratory trials to simulate potential conditions at Irish culturesites were carried out. In one trial, two extreme temperature treat-ments were conducted over three days to simulate the effects of asudden heat wave (30°C air temperature) in late spring and a polarsnap (0°C air temperature) in late autumn, while the seawater tem-perature would be at 15°C. In a second simulation, a sudden heavyprecipitation event with land run off from the surrounding catch-ment area, with different turbidity levels (“low”, “medium” and“high”), was carried out. Results indicate that C. gigas do respondat an individual and cellular level to sudden short-term fluctuations,with some conditions having a greater impact on C. gigas and itsrecovery and on viral development, more than others.


Seawater temperature rise and increased input of freshwaterinto the oceans, resulting from atmospheric carbon dioxide build-up, are among the most important climate change related factorsaffecting costal marine ecosystems. These changes are likely to im-pact many biotic interactions, including host–parasite interactionswhich are particularly dependent on temperature conditions.For the Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon (Portugal), by the end of

the century, projections describe an increase of water temperatureby 2°C and a decrease of precipitation and average water discharg-es. In this way, in the present study we tested the hypothesis thatCerastoderma edule exposure to different pH, salinity and tem-perature levels, as proxy for climate change, modified the infectionsuccess of the trematode parasite Himasthla elongata. According-ly, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted by exposingcockles to H. elongata cercariae, in distinct experimental condi-tions, differing in terms of seawater pH, salinity and temperature,during 96 h. At experiment completion, success of infection andbiochemical responses of cockles were analysed.The results showed that 1) the cercariae infection success in-

creased with water acidification and higher temperature, whiledifferent salinities showed no influence and 2) cockles biochem-ical responses differed when each stressor (parasitism or climatechange variables) was acting alone in comparison to the combina-tion of parasitism with each of the three variables tested. The pres-ent findings emphasize the increased impact of parasites on cocklepopulations in a global warming scenario.

PREDICTING ADAPTIVE RESPONSES TO OCEANCHANGE: IMPLICATIONS FORAQUACULTUREDonal T. ManahanUniversity of Southern California, Department of Biological

Sciences, Los Angeles, California 90089-0371 [email protected] this presentation, approaches to improve predictions of

adaptive responses and resiliency limits to ocean change will bediscussed in the context of marine aquaculture. Predicting howmarine organisms may respond to rapid anthropogenic change is amajor challenge in environmental science. Given the near-infinitecombinatorial possibilities and interactions of biotic and abioticprocesses, it remains difficult to design biological experiments topredict adaptive responses and potential resiliency to environmen-tal change. Bioenergetic modeling, based on analyses of biochem-ical strategies that maintain homeostatic stability, provides a use-ful framework for assessing the capacity of organisms to respondto compounding stressors. Since genetic variance in response toenvironmental change is clearly evident, any predictive analysisrequires a merging of experimental approaches from environmen-tal science, genetics, and physiology. Specifically, this integrativeapproach requires an understanding of the capacity for trade-offsin allocation of cellular energy to support specific homeostatic re-sponses, the mechanisms underlying metabolic limits of biologi-

BACTERIOPHAGES SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE LARVALOYSTER MORTALITY CAUSED BY VIBRIO CORALLII-LYTICUSDavid Madison1*, Chris Langdon1, Claudia Hase1, Gary Rich-ards2, MichaelWatson2, Nitzan Soffer3, Manrong Li3, andAlex-ander Sulakvelidze3

1Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030SE Marine Science Dr., Newport Oregon 97365 USA

2Oregon State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, 700SW 30th Street Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA

3USDA Agricultural Research Service, USDA, ARS JamesBaker Center, Rooms 28-31 Dover, Deleware 19901 USA

4Intralytix, Inc., The Columbus Center, 701 E. Pratt Street, Bal-timore, Maryland 21202 [email protected] pathogenic bacterium, Vibrio coralliilyticus (Vcor), has

plagued Pacific North West (PNW) shellfish hatcheries, causingunpredictable and severe mortalities of larval Pacific oysters Cras-sostrea gigas. Outbreaks can dramatically reduce seed availabil-ity for farmers. Bacteriophages (phages) are being studied as anenvironmentally friendly means of increasing larval survival bycontrolling Vcor populations. Phages are viruses that selectivelyattack and destroy bacteria. They are believed to be the main reg-ulators of bacterial populations in nature. Phages are very specificand each phage will only attack and lyse specific strains of a singlebacterial species or a small number of very closely related species.The USDAARS has isolated several phages that attack either VcorRE98 or Vcor RE22 - two strains of Vcor that are known larvalpathogens in PNW hatcheries.Experiments carried out by Oregon State University have

shown that approximately 99% of Pacific oyster larvae die within48 hours of exposure to a concentration of 104 Vcor RE98 cells permL; however, addition of a cocktail of RE98-specific phages at aconcentration of 107 plaque-forming units (PFU) per ml eliminatedmortality of 2-day old larvae exposed to those same Vcor condi-tions and even increased the number of larvae that metamorphosedand settled compared to the larvae only controls. These results indi-cate that phages have the potential to be used as a powerful tool forreducing larval oyster mortality due to Vcor infections.

AN INTERTIDAL HOST-PARASITE SYSTEM: PREDICT-ING SOME OFTHE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGELuísa Magalhães1,2*, Xavier de Montaudouin2, Etelvina Figue-ira1, and Rosa Freitas1

1Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Avei-ro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

2Université de Bordeaux, EPOC, UMR 5805 CNRS, 2, rue duPr Jolyet, F-33120 Arcachon, [email protected]


OYSTER SHELLBUDGETS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY:ASUMMARY FROM LONG-TERM SURVEYDATARoger Mann1*, Melissa Southworth1, James E. Wesson2, MitchTarnowski3, and John Thomas1

1Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, The College of Williamand Mary, P.O. Box 1346, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 USA

2Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Newport News, Vir-ginia 23607 USA

3Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 580 Taylor Ave-nue, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 [email protected] oyster management plans must be sensitive to the

dynamics of both live oysters and the underlying shell that formsreef habitat. The dynamics over time of oyster and shell differ inthat shell degradation continues in the absence of live oysters. Lo-cal variations in recruitment, growth and mortality rates, and sizeand shape of oysters all contribute to estimation of shell additionto the benthos. Taphonomic and burial processes contribute to shellloss. A review of oyster survey data for both Maryland and Virginiafrom 2006-2016 presented the opportunity to estimate spatial andtemporal variation in shell budgets at a riverine or regional level,and thereby assess which regions are self-maintaining and whichrequire regular repletion to maintain oyster populations.

LACCASE-SILICA NANOPARTICLE CONJUGATES CANEFFICIENTLY REDUCE THE EARLY MATURATIONRISK DUE TO BISPHENOL A (BPA) IN FEMALE OREO-CHROMIS MOSSAMBICUS AND ITS TOXIC LOAD FROMTHE CONTAMINATED EFFLUENTAbhijit Manna1* and Chinnaiah Amutha2

1Madurai Kamaraj University, Department ofAnimal Behaviourand Physiology, Madurai 625 021, India

2Madurai Kamaraj University, School of Biological Sciences,Madurai 625 021, [email protected] intracellular laccase from Trametes versicolorwas con-

jugated with synthesized silica nanoparticles (200 nm). The dataobtained from isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) indicated thatthe exothermic nature of conjugation was stable due to moderatepositive and negative values of entropy and enthalpy, respective-ly. The in-silico approach (molecular docking) revealed that BPAcan be attached to the laccase enzyme at a specific binding pocket,along with similar types of moderate thermodynamic parametersobtained from ITC. Histopathology and ESI-MS analysis clearlyindicate that early maturation of the fingerling (Oreochromis mos-sambicus) ovary, along with the necrosis of hepatocytes and theBPA deposition in the liver can be significantly reduced by the im-mobilization of laccase on silica nanoparticles, compared to freelaccase. A significant reduction of vitellogenin protein expressionlevels (an ovary maturation factor) in fingerling stages, due to im-mobilized laccase was determined using FPLC and ELISA. The

cal resilience, and the identification of “tipping point” biomarkers.Such analyses offer new insights to assess the ability of organismsto cope with environmental stress under defined (laboratory) andunknown (field) conditions. Identifying the biological bases of su-perior fitness has obvious practical implications for future breedingprograms in aquaculture to improve stress resistance and yield.

THE CASE OF THE “MISSING” ARCTIC BIVALVES ANDTHE WALRUS, THE BIGGEST [IGNORED] CLAM FISH-ERYON THE PLANETRoger Mann1*, Eric N. Powell2, andDaphne M. Munroe3

1Virginia Institute of Marine Science, The College of Williamand Mary, P.O. Box 1346, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 USA

2University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Lab-oratory, 703 East Beach Drive Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564USA

3Rutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory,6959 Miller Ave., Port Norris, New Jersey 08349 [email protected] the Arctic marine ecosystem is recognized as rich in

benthos, quantitative records of the biomass of long-lived, large,sedentary infaunal bivalves on the Arctic shelf are rare. Bivalvesare pivotal to both benthic-pelagic coupling and carbonate cycling.The latter is of particular relevance in a period of seasonal ice re-treat, fresh water release into associated surface waters, decreasingwater pH, and possible undersaturation of Arctic waters with ara-gonite. Employing population estimates and predation rates for theAtlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus), annual consump-tion of bivalves in the region of active foraging is conservativelyestimated at 2 x 106 tonnes. Predation loss to other apex predatorssuch as bearded seals is discounted. This is a “fishery” that exceedsby nearly two orders of magnitude the collected annual harvestsof clam species in US federal waters. Assuming values of clamnatural mortality comparable to that of Atlantic surf clams and aP:B ratio of 0.1, the standing stock and “live” carbonate reservoirrepresented on the Arctic shelf is estimated at 2 x 107 tonnes. Thissubstantial biomass is subject to significant underestimation usingcommon benthic biomass sampling tools and protocols. Accurateestimates of the biomass and thereby, the carbonate budget, of largeArctic shelf clam species is critical to understanding the stability ofassociated shelf communities with warming of these high latitudesystems and their associated tendency towards aragonite undersat-uration.


ments around the world ranging from isolated islands to populat-ed estuaries are exposed to plastic contaminants. Over time, someof these plastics break into smaller pieces, or microplastics (< 5mm). These particles can float in the ocean, flow through riversand accumulate in sand. Washington State is home to Puget Sound,the second largest estuary in the United States. Puget Sound sup-ports populations of filter feeders such as oysters, which can easilycapture and accumulate microplastics from the surrounding water.Previous studies have shown that microplastics are present in PugetSound beaches, suggesting that shellfish may also be exposed tothese contaminants. In this research, the abundance and type of mi-croplastics in Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas (n = 240) from 12wild populations in Puget Sound was quantified. Bivalve tissue wasdigested with hydrogen peroxide, and the resulting solution wasfiltered with a 5µm membrane. The filter membrane was examinedunder a microscope to count and visually identify the microplasticsretained. Microplastics were also analyzed with a Scanning Elec-tron Microscope, and with a micro-Fourier transformed infraredspectroscope to detect microplastic composition and determinepossible sources. The findings from this study will help to betterunderstand the abundance and distribution of microplastics in eco-logical and commercial important species in Washington State andintroduce mitigation strategies to ensure shellfish health for currentand future generations.

DEVELOPMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC PCR ASSAY TO DE-TECT APICOMPLEXAN PARASITE IN ATLANTIC SEASCALLOPS (PLACEOPECTEN MAGELLANICUS) WITHGRAYMEAT DISEASEAva A. Mastrostefano*, Abigail Scro, Kiserian Jackson, andRoxanna SmolowitzRoger Williams University, Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory, 1

Old Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island 02809 [email protected] 2004, gray meat disease was found in Atlantic sea scallops

(Placopecten magellanicus) in the Nantucket Lightship closedarea, just south of Georges Bank. Previously seen in Nova Scotiaand mid-Atlantic areas, the disease is characterized by weak, grayadductor muscles instead of the firm, white muscle found in healthyscallops. The adductor muscle is harvested and marketed as a highvalue, edible product. Adductor muscles with gray meat disease areof poor quality and cannot be sold, resulting in a biomass loss ofnearly US$100 million ex–vessel in 2007 (Levesque et al., 2016).The cause of the disease is currently unknown, but previous re-search suggests that an apicomplexan parasite, found in Icelandicscallops (Chlamys islandica) exhibiting gray meat disease, has amajor role in the disease seen in P. magellanicus.Scallop adductor muscle samples were collected from areas just

south of George’s Bank from 2015 to 2017. These samples are be-

decreasing vitellogenin gene expression level was also determinedusing q-PCR, which was correlated with the significant reductionof early maturation in the ovaries (fingerling stage) using laccase–nanoparticle conjugates. ESI-MS and fluorescence quenching as-says using rhodamine-B were used to ascertain the effective reduc-tion of BPA concentration from the industrial effluent.

CONSERVATION PALEOBIOLOGY AS A TOOL TO SUP-PORT OLYMPIAOYSTER RESTORATIONJulieta C. Martinelli1,2* and Jaqueline L. Padilla-Gamiño1

1University of Washington, School ofAquatic Fishery Sciences,Seattle, Washington 98105 USA

2Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Aridas, CEAZA, Co-quimbo, [email protected] baselines are fundamental to inform and monitor res-

toration efforts, and to interpret long-term changes in marine eco-systems; however, the validity and reliability of historical baselinescan be compromised if the ecosystem has already been degradedand/or modified by anthropogenic activities. In Washington State,restoration of native oysters is limited by shifting baselines andthe lack of information of Olympia oyster populations before theycollapsed in the late 1800s due to over-exploitation. ConservationPaleobiology is an emerging multidisciplinary field that aims to userecent fossil and archeological records to develop historical base-lines and support conservation and restoration strategies. This pre-sentation will explain that data obtained from Quaternary assem-blages can be used to increase our understanding on what healthyoyster beds looked like in the past. Preserved oyster beds can helpus learn more about community-level processes such as biotic in-teractions and habitat provision to other organisms. Furthermore,important metrics for oyster restoration such as reef height, oys-ter density, and size frequency distributions can also be quantifiedfrom preserved oyster beds. At the individual level, oyster shellsfunction as archives of water temperature, salinity, and pH at thetime organisms were alive and depositing their shells. Better in-tegration of historical ecological baselines and increased collabo-ration between paleobiologists, ecologists and managers will helpto improve the planning, design and implementation of biologicalconservation and restoration efforts of Olympia oysters.

DETERMINING PRESENCE OF MICROPLASTICS INSHELLFISH FROM PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON, USAJulieta C. Martinelli1,2* and Jaqueline L. Padilla-Gamiño1

1University of Washington, School ofAquatic Fishery Sciences,Seattle, Washington 98105 USA

2Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Aridas, CEAZA, Co-quimbo, [email protected] plastic pollution is a serious threat to marine life with

long term impacts to ecosystems and organisms. Marine environ-


OBSERVATIONS OF GAMETOGENESIS IN CRASSOST-REA VIRGINICA ASSOCIATED WITH TRIPLOID-SPECIF-IC SPRINGMORTALITIES ON COMMERCIALFARMS INTHE CHESAPEAKE BAYJoseph L. Matt*, Eric Guévélou, and Standish K. Allen, Jr.Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Aquaculture Genetics and

Breeding Technology Center, 1375 Greate Road, Gloucester Point,Virginia 23062 [email protected] spikes in mortalities of cultured Crassostrea virginica

in late spring have been reported from farms in the Chesapeake Bayover the last several years. None of the usual suspects (i.e. disease,poor husbandry) seem responsible, and empirical evidence suggeststhat triploids are more susceptible. Both the timing of the mortal-ities and recent observations of relatively high fecundity in sometriploids grown on commercial farms have made gametogenic pro-cesses in triploids a suspect. To investigate the role of gametogen-esis in spring mortality of triploids, various strains of triploids anddiploid controls were deployed to previously affected commercialfarms as well as to a control site with no history of spring mortality,and sampled regularly from February to August of 2016. Triploidand diploid samples were examined using histology from a sitewhere triploid-specific spring mortality occurred, as well as fromthe control site where there was little mortality. Diploids at the af-fected site had accelerated gametogenic development compared todiploids at the control site, reaching spawning condition weeks ear-lier. Gametogenesis in triploids was abnormal and variable. No ob-vious difference was observed in gametogenesis between triploidsregularly sampled at the two sites, however a higher percentage offemale triploids with elevated fecundity were found in moribundtriploids sampled during the mortality event (26%) compared to livetriploids sampled at the same time (8%). Gametogenenic processesmay be important in triploid spring mortalities, as unusual physio-logical manifestations may occur while triploids are in the processof producing a significant amount of eggs.

ART, SCIENCE,ANDHUMOR: THE IMPORTANCEOFEF-FECTIVE COMMUNICATIONJason McDermottComputational Biology and Bioinformatics Group, Pacific

Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352 [email protected] results are too often poorly communicated in the sci-

entific literature and at conferences; however, it is essential thatscience is communicated in an effective and engaging way to thelay public as well as to other scientists. The addition of art andhumor to science can be an effective method for communicationof complex ideas. Through framing complex ideas as approachablemetaphors a broader audience can be reached at a deeper level.Dr. Jason McDermott is a computational biologist who also is

the artist behind RedPen/BlackPen, a webcomic that addresses thetriumphs and tribulations of scientific and academic life. He will

ing used to develop a successful diagnostic method to detect theapicomplexan parasite in P. magellanicus. Because the organism isnot in culture, positive controls will be verified using histologicalexamination. Homogenization methods were established to preparethe samples for DNA extraction. A PCR assay is being developedusing previously published primers to detect the apicomplexan par-asite. The PCR data will be cross referenced with histological ex-amination from all collected animals to understand the relationshipbetween the presence and abundance of the parasite in the adductormuscle samples and the grossly observable gray appearance of themuscle.

QUANTITATIVEMETHODSFORMEASURINGMITOTIC,MEIOTIC, AND DIFFERENTIATION ACTIVITY WITHINGAMETOGENESIS OF TRIPLOID CRASSOSTREA VIRGI-NICAJoseph L. Matt* and Standish K. Allen, Jr.Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Aquaculture Genetics and

Breeding Technology Center, 1375 Greate Road, Gloucester Point,Virginia 23062 [email protected] reduces, but does not completely arrest, gametogene-

sis in many species of shellfish, including the commercially import-ant oyster species Crassostrea virginica. Compared to the uniformnature of gametogenesis in diploids, gametogenesis in triploid C.virginica is abnormal and highly variable among individuals, bothin the extent of follicle development and the production of gam-etes. Significant detail is therefore likely lost when stages of ga-metogenic development in triploids are classified using traditionalcriteria for diploid oysters, as has been done in early observationsof triploid C. gigas. Even triploid-specific qualitative classifica-tions likely have major limitations in detailing the true nature oftriploid gametogenesis. To capture the full extent of the variationin gametogenesis of triploid C. virginica, methods for collectingquantitative data from histological cross sections were developed.The methods, which differed based on sex, separately quantifiedtwo aspects of gametogenic development suspected to be actingindependently in triploid oysters: gonia proliferation, controlled bymitotic activity, and gamete production, a result of successful mei-otic divisions and/or differentiation. Mitotic activity was measuredin both sexes as the extent of gonia proliferation in relation to theincipient gonad area. In males, meiotic activity was determined inindividual follicles as the proportion of successful meiotic divisionsout of the total possible. Differentiation in females was determinedas the proportion of gonia that developed into oocytes. The meth-ods are expected to yield novel insight into triploid gametogenesis,including the expected indiscrete variation in development and lackof relationship between follicle coverage and gamete development.


Dungeness crabs (Cancer [Metacarcinus] magister) are cultur-ally and economically important in Washington State. Yet there ex-ists little information that could be used to assess potential climateeffects on populations. For one thing increasing water temperaturesassociated with climate change might impact crab distribution.Dungeness crabs are most abundant in coastal waters and deeper,cooler areas of central and northern Puget Sound. In contrast, acongener, the graceful crab (C. [M.] gracilis), is abundant in rela-tively shallow, warm waters of South Puget Sound and some em-bayments. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectof temperature on crab bioenergetics. Feeding trials were conduct-ed using crabs of roughly equal size fed known quantities of preyacross a range of temperatures. Similarly, in order to determinesize-specific consumption rates, feeding trials were conducted atthe optimal foraging temperature for a wide size range of crabs.Consumption rates from feeding trials were fit to size- and tempera-ture- specific algorithms using maximum likelihood estimates thatalso incorporate previous data. Consumption estimates were com-pared for the species and the impact on crab bioenergetics and im-plications for management was considered. While Dungeness crabpresently outgrow and possibly outcompete graceful crab, as wa-ter temperatures increase the latter may expand their distribution,potentially occupying areas presently used by the former. Such ashift may have management implications, as well as widespreadeconomic and ecological impacts.

MENTAL MODELING AND PARTICIPATORY SCIENCETO INVESTIGATE PRIBILOF ISLAND BLUE KING CRABP. Sean McDonald1*, Jonathan Reum2,3, Kirstin K. Holsman2,William Christopher Long4, David A. Armstrong3, Janet Arm-strong3, and Matt Sedlacek1

1University of Washington, Program on the Environment, BOX355679, Seattle, Washington 98195 USA

2National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries ScienceCenter, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Building 4, Seattle,Washington 98115 USA

3University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ence, BOX 355020, Seattle, Washington 98195 USA

4National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries ScienceCenter, NOAA, Kodiak Fisheries Research Center, 301 ResearchCourt, Kodiak, Alaska 99615 [email protected] management can be both complex and contentious,

particularly for data-poor stocks. A mental modeling approach canbe applied where quantitative data are scarce and/or interdisci-plinary questions require input of disparate information sources.Moreover, mental models are well suited for collaborative sciencebecause expert opinion and local and traditional ecological knowl-edge can be integrated and visualized. In the present study, stake-

talk about his experience in merging more art and humor with hisscience and outline some methods for expanding the use of art andhumor in your own work.

COMPARINGPREDATION IMPACTSOFNATIVEAND IN-VASIVE CRABS USINGABIOENERGETICSAPPROACHP. Sean McDonald1*, Kirstin K. Holsman2, and David A. Arm-strong3


2National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries ScienceCenter, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Building 4, Seattle,Washington 98115 USA

3University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ence, BOX 355020, Seattle, Washington 98195 [email protected] the potential impacts of invasive species is difficult

without extensive empirical studies, thus researchers frequentlymake qualitative predictions based on impacts observed elsewhere.Such speculation has been rampant as invasive European greencrab, Carcinus maenas, has spread northward along the Pacificcoast of North America. In some areas green crabs have becomeabundant but impacts have not been fully addressed. The aim of thepresent work was to examine the potential predation impact of greencrab relative to native crabs under observed conditions in Salish Seaestuaries using bioenergetics models. These models, which consid-er consumption, metabolic costs, and growth, were parameterizedthrough a combination of existing data from published studies, labo-ratory feeding trials, and field studies. In particular, model estimateswere compared for green crab, Dungeness crab (Cancer [Metacar-cinus] magister), and graceful crab (C. [M.] gracilis). Model sce-narios provide a range of relative prey consumption rates, whichmay be useful to managers when evaluating interventions. Resultsindicate that shifts in composition and abundance of crab predatorsin susceptible habitats may alter pressure on prey populations. Im-plications for Salish Sea pocket estuaries are discussed.

TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON THE BIOENERGETICS OFDUNGENESS AND GRACEFUL CRABS, WITH IMPLICA-TIONS FOR MANAGEMENTP. Sean McDonald1*, Kirstin K. Holsman2, Grace Workman3,and David A. Armstrong3


2National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries ScienceCenter, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Building 4, Seattle,Washington 98115, USA

3University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ence, BOX 355020, Seattle, Washington 98195 [email protected]


showed consistent differences between wild and aquaculture co-horts, which further points to physiological differences underlyingvariation in starvation tolerance. Ongoing work will assess tran-scriptomic differences between cohorts and treatments using RNA-seq to determine genetic effects of domestication selection.

BIVALVE—SEAGRASS INTERACTIONS: AN INTRODUC-TION TO THE SESSIONKatherine A. McGraw1*and Brett R. Dumbauld2

1NOAA Restoration Division, 1315 East West Hwy, SilverSpring, Maryland 20910 USA

2USDA-ARS, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE MarineScience Dr, Newport, Oregon 97365 [email protected] and bivalves are found on all U.S. coasts and pro-

vide many ecosystem benefits where they exist, including nutrientrecycling, habitat (e.g., for salmon and other fish) and food provi-sion for numerous species; however, they have also been depletedbecause of environmental degradation, development, eutrophica-tion, fishing gear, and diseases. Bivalves and seagrasses also inter-act in a mutualistic way in many cases. For example, oyster reefsmay enhance seagrass cover in some areas by reducing turbidityand providing nutrients for the seagrasses via benthic-pelagic cou-pling; thus oyster reefs are being incorporated into some “livingshorelines” projects to enhance seagrass growth. Some musselspecies have also been shown to have beneficial effects on seagrasscommunity development. Shellfish aquaculture also interacts withseagrass resulting in competing interests between the shellfish in-dustry and managers who seek to expand seafood production andregulators who seek to protect and conserve seagrasses. Theseand other related topics will be covered in presentations in the Sea-grass-Bivalve session.

OLYMPIAOYSTERS—PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTUREKatherine A. McGraw1* and Betsy Peabody2

NOAA Restoration Division, 1315 East West Hwy., SilverSpring, Maryland 20910 USAPuget Sound Restoration Fund, 382 Wyatt Way NE, Bainbridge

Island, Washington 98110 [email protected] Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida Carpenter, 1864) is the only

native oyster on the west coast of the United States, with a rangefrom Baja, California to British Columbia, Canada. Once plentifulthroughout this range, the species was harvested by Native Ameri-can tribes for thousands of years; but, subsequent to European set-tlement, it was overexploited to almost commercial extinction bythe 1920s. Cultivation of Olympia oysters in dikes by shellfishgrowers in south Puget Sound during the early 1900s was success-ful until the establishment of pulp mills in that area. Effluent fromthe mills further decimated populations there. Following introduc-tion of the non-native Pacific (Japanese) oyster, Crassostrea gigas

holder meetings were used and mental models were formalized toexplore issues in a coupled human-marine ecosystem involvingPribilof Island blue king crab (PIBKC). In the Pribilof Islands, pro-tections for overfished PIBKC impact management of other fish-eries and consequently human use of the nearshore environment.Meeting participants were asked to construct mental models of thePIBKC human-ecological system to understand how stakeholders’perceptions of key ecological, human, and environmental vari-ables influencing the lack of PIBKC stock recovery. Additionally,pre- and post-meeting surveys of the participants were conducted.Results show some similarities in the way stakeholders perceivethe ecosystem but the number of linkages differs widely amongindividuals. Surveys indicate that stakeholders responded positive-ly when contributing toward group dynamics and felt a strongerpersonal connection to the issue. Overall, the integration of par-ticipatory science in the PIBKC discussion can provide positivebenefits to management and help guide future research to supportrecovery of the species.

TESTING FITNESS CONSEQUENCES OF DOMESTICA-TION SELECTIONAT THE LARVAL STAGE IN EASTERNOYSTERSKatherineMcFarland*1,2, Louis Plough1, Michelle Nguyen1, andMatthew Hare2

1University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science,Cambridge, Maryland 21613 USA

2Cornell University, Department of Natural Resources, Ithaca,New York 14850 [email protected] breeding of oysters in the aquaculture industry has

succeeded at improving the product, increasing profits, and boost-ing economies where the industry is growing. Because some artifi-cially selected traits seem desirable in restoration contexts, selectivebreeding continues to be suggested in the literature as a potentiallyefficacious approach to population supplementation. One concernis that many unintended traits can change quickly during artificialselection simply due to inadvertent domestication, and little is un-derstood about the fitness effects of these changes in the wild. Forexample, hatchery produced oysters are fed ad libitum during larvalculture, potentially selecting for larval traits that reduce starvationresistance. To test this hypothesis, larvae were produced from wildChoptank River, MD broodstock and from a cross between twolongstanding selected lines (CROSSbreed x DEBY; to reduce po-tential inbreeding effects). At day 7, a 10-day starvation treatmentwas imposed followed by a recovery period in which ad libitumfeeding was resumed, all compared to a consistently ad libitum setof controls. Following starvation, wild larvae had higher survivor-ship than aquaculture larvae (21 ± 2% and 8 ± 3%, respectively),suggesting that domestication selection may reduce the ability oflarvae to withstand periods of starvation. Preliminary measure-ments of larval respiration at the end of the starvation period also


current velocity, and larval size) impacted both larval abundanceand the weighted mean depth at which the larvae resided. Resultsfrom this study can be used to inform a biophysical model to sim-ulate larval transport and dispersal patterns from the Fidalgo Bayrestoration site to aid restoration efforts.

COMPARING NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE ESTUARINESPECIES: DO MORE TOLERANT SPECIES HARBORMOREGENESTOCOMBATCLIMATECHANGESTRESS?Stacey L. McIntyre*, Joshua P. Der, Danielle C. Zacherl, andRyan P. WalterCalifornia State University, Fullerton, Department of Biological

Science, 800 N State College Blvd., Fullerton, California [email protected] genetic basis of organismal stress tolerance remains poorly

understood but is an important consideration for effective speciesconservation and management. In Southern California, restorationefforts aimed at increasing the abundance of native Olympia oys-ters (Ostrea lurida) are challenged by the presence of an introducednon-native, the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). Establishing a re-cord of molecular responses to environmental stress in both speciesmay prove valuable in developing effective restoration strategiesthat maximize native oyster recovery while controlling non-nativeexpansion. Using RNA-sequencing, gene expression profiles oftemperature and salinity stressed oysters were compared. Overall,the non-native oyster exhibited a three-fold greater number of dif-ferentially expressed genes than the native oyster (104 forO. luridaand 350 for C. gigas; FDR<0.001) representing a more complexphysiological response and possibly a “more equipped species” forcoping with changing environmental conditions. The results fromthis study will further the understanding of molecular mechanismsunderlying genomic adaptation between co-occurring native andintroduced species.

FRESHWATER MUSSEL SHELLFISHING AS EVIDENCEOF CULTURAL CONTINUITY AND DIVERGENCEDURING THE LATE PREHISTORIC INWISCONSINRachel C. McTavishUniversity of Wiscosin-Milwaukee, Department ofAnthropolo-

gy, 3413 N, Downer Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211 [email protected] role of shellfish for Late Prehistoric Oneota groups in

Wisconsin has previously been extrapolated from the La Crosselocality, in western Wisconsin, owing to the substantial amount ofpublished data on the topic (e.g., Theler 1985, 1993, 1994). Newdata from the southeastern region of Wisconsin, in the Lake Kos-hkonong locality allows for the examination of the differential roleof shellfishing as it relates Oneota subsistence-settlement and di-etary patterns, particularly as the use of freshwater mussel shells

(Thunberg, 1793) in the 1930s, it supplanted the Olympia oyster asthe primary commercial species. In addition, several non-nativeoyster predators and parasites were imported with the C. gigas oys-ter seed from Japan. Thereafter, interest in research and cultivationof Olympia oysters waned for several decades; however, efforts torestore this species have increased dramatically in the last 20 years,accompanied by more research and peer-reviewed publications,state shellfish initiatives, monitoring guides, restoration projects,and shellfish hatcheries designated for restoration efforts. Growingrecognition that Olympia oysters are still present throughout theirhistoric range has also helped expand restoration. Now people inall west coast states and British Columbia are involved in resto-ration and research efforts involving Ostrea lurida, and plans arebeing formulated to develop a coast-wide network of restorationpractitioners, shellfish scientists, aquaculturists, and educators.This session will include a brief historical perspective of Olympiaoysters, presentations about restoration techniques, genetics, ecolo-gy, hatchery production, and an update on the formation of the Bajato B.C. Olympia oyster network.

FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE VERTICAL DISTRIBU-TION OF OLYMPIA OYSTER LARVAE IN FIDALGO BAY,WASHINGTON, USABrooke A. McIntyre1*, Erika McPhee-Shaw2, Marco Hatch2,and Shawn M. Arellano1

1WesternWashington University, Shannon Point Marine Center,1900 Shannon Point Rd., Anacortes, Washington, 98221 USA

2Western Washington University, Department of EnvironmentalScience, 516 High Street, Bellingham, Washington 98225 [email protected] restoration efforts for the native Olympia oyster,

Ostrea lurida, are underway in the Salish Sea because restoringviable, self-sustaining populations has high ecological and socialvalue. Olympia oysters rely on their free-swimming planktoniclarvae to disperse between sites. Larvae actively control their ver-tical position in the water column with swimming and sinking be-haviors, affecting which current regimes carry them and ultimate-ly determine dispersal patterns and population connectivity. Thisstudy investigates the effects of several abiotic and biotic factorsthat influence the vertical distribution of Olympia oyster larvae inFidalgo Bay, a Washington state priority restoration site. On fourconsecutive days in July 2017, larvae were pumped, counted, andmeasured from several depths over ebb and flood tides in combina-tion with temperature and chlorophyll measurements. In addition,an upward-facing Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler was deployednear the sampling location to measure current velocities in the mainchannel of the Bay. Generalized linear mixed modeling was used todetermine which factors (temperature, chlorophyll concentration,


COMPARATIVE HABITAT USE OF ESTUARINE HABI-TATS WITH AND WITHOUT OYSTER AQUACULTURE:CHALLENGES, PARTNERSHIPS, AND INITIAL LESSONSMarlene Meaders*, Phil Bloch, and Chris CzieslaConfluence Environmental Company, 146 N Canal St, Seattle,

Washington 98103 [email protected] aquaculture, native eelgrass, and mudflat habitats have

co-existed in Humboldt Bay, California, for at least the last 60 yearsof commercial shellfish production, and for more than 100 yearssince the first attempts to introduce shellfish in 1896. The goal ofthe project is to provide research on the environmental impactsof aquaculture facilities by furthering the understanding of howfish and invertebrate communities are affected by the presence ofcultch-on-longline oyster aquaculture in comparison to areas with-out oyster aquaculture in Humboldt Bay. The first year of samplinghas brought together challenges with effectively sampling habitatin situ but within a set unit area. Paired habitats were sampled usingmodified fyke net enclosures that are 30 feet by 30 feet (or 0.02acres). In addition, important benthic invertebrate prey resourcesshow wide variability throughout Humboldt Bay, depending onhabitat type, geographic location in the bay, and shellfish aquacul-ture presence or absence. Lessons learned include how to deployenclosures in a dynamic environment, the best ways to sample bot-tom fish that burrow into soft sediment, how to get meaningful datato address changes in the benthic community, and how to bringtogether a diverse group of individuals. The lessons learned from2017 were used to improve upon the sampling methods for the finalevents in 2018. The presentation will be sure to display the range ofenvironmental conditions during the field sampling portions of thestudy, including the joys of sampling in the Humboldt mud.

ENGAGING FISHERMEN TOADDRESS DATAGAPS ANDEVOLVE MANAGEMENT OF THE QUAHOG (MERCE-NARIAMERCENARIA) IN NARRAGANSETT BAYAnna Malek Mercer1, Dale Leavitt2, Conor McManus3, andThomas Heimann1*

1Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, 61B East FarmRoad, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 USA

2Roger Williams University, Department of Biology, MarineBiology and Environmental Science, 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol,Rhode Island 02809 USA

3Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Ma-rine Fisheries, 3 Fort Wetherill Road, Jamestown, Rhode Island02835 [email protected] quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria) fishery is the most valu-

able fishery in Narragansett Bay, with a dockside value over $5million. The complex population and fishery dynamics of this spe-cies in combination with aggregated distribution patterns make

provides evidence of differential cultural practices and influencesby contemporaneous groups.The presented comparative analysis is an integral step towards

understanding Western and Eastern Wisconsin Oneota groups useof shell as a raw material for tool manufacture and its dietary con-tributions. This presentation aims for the integration of freshwatermussel data to connect to larger anthropological themes. As such,data are discussed in the context of environmental adaptations andvarying degrees of documented socio-political conflict in the re-gion.

ASSESSMENT OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SALMONHABITAT RESTORATION ACTIONS AND SHELLFISHRESOURCESMarlene Meaders* and Paul SchlengerConfluence Environmental Company, 146 N Canal St, Seattle,

Washington 98103 [email protected] deltas and marine nearshore environments are important

habitats for salmon and shellfish. Given the overlapping locationsof these economically and culturally important resources, changesmade to improve conditions for salmon can positively or negativelyaffect growing conditions for shellfish, such as oysters and clams.The potential interactions between salmon habitat restoration ef-forts and shellfish resources in Hood Canal have emerged as akey consideration for salmon restoration planning. As projects getlarger, and include more of a habitat mosaic, potential conflictsbetween user groups in the nearshore are becoming evident. Toimprove our understanding of the potential interactions, and iden-tify ways to reduce the potential for conflict, the Hood Canal Co-ordinating Council assessed how salmon habitat projects may beaffecting tribal, state, private commercial, and native shellfish re-sources. The assessment included a literature review and interviewswith representatives from a diverse range of interests on this topic.The assessment report provided a state of the knowledge on thepotential interactions, guidance for salmon habitat project devel-opment in areas with shellfish resources, and recommendations ofmonitoring parameters to fill data gaps and/or inform discussionsduring project planning. This is the initial effort in understandingthis issue, which will hopefully develop and evolve along withsalmon restoration activities. The presentation will also include anindication of whether this effort has been helpful for current salmonrestoration planning in Hood Canal.


ative bacterium, Francisella halioticida, was identified as the puta-tive cause for disease and mortality affecting up to 40% of the scal-lops from one location during the fall of 2015. In situ hybridizationassays conducted on archived samples from 3 different locationsdating back to 1995 also indicated that F. halioticida was the mostprobable cause of the lesions observed in these cases. During recenttesting of scallops collected from three locations the prevalence oflesions and infection with F. halioticida has ranged from 0 to 10%.Characterization of isolates obtained from these scallops and resultsfrom a laboratory challenge designed to assess the transmission andpathogenicity of F. halioticida will be discussed.

LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AND IMPLICATIONSIN EXTENSION PLANNINGAdriane K. Michaelis1*, Donald W. Webster2, and L. Jen Shaf-fer1

1University of Maryland, Department of Anthropology, 1111Woods Hall, 4302 Chapel Lane, College Park, Maryland 20742USA

2University of Maryland Extension, Wye Research & EducationCenter, 124Wye Narrows Dr., Queenstown, Maryland, 21658 [email protected] aquaculture extension programs target current and

potential shellfish growers to strengthen the state’s expandingindustry. It is important in program planning to understand howgrowers incorporate aquaculture into existing livelihood strategies.Patterns of livelihood diversification -- wherein an individual par-ticipates in multiple income-generating activities -- are present insmall-scale inshore fisheries worldwide and are an integral part ofthe Maryland seafood industry.This study details livelihood diversification in Maryland oyster

aquaculture, with emphasis on whether aquaculture has replaced aprevious source of income, and if so, what that might mean for thestate’s public fisheries. Outcomes are the goal of extension plan-ning, particularly as programs attempt to integrate commercial wa-termen into aquaculture. Understanding how aquaculture is likelyto fit into watermen’s existing livelihood strategies yields more ef-fective programming as well as greater participation.Results indicate that patterns of incorporation exist relative to

aquaculture lease type; water column leases tend to be replacementincome, whereas submerged land or bottom leases are additionalincome and are taken on largely by commercial watermen. Forwatermen who have replaced activity in other fisheries, many havereduced or eliminated participation in the crab fishery but are stillactive in the wild harvest oyster fishery. These patterns may im-ply challenges associated with each type of lease, particularly forwatermen, as well as suggesting that growth of oyster aquaculturein Maryland has not yet led to reduced fishing pressure in the wildoyster harvest.

it difficult to accurately assess the population and thus, properlymanage the resource. This work pilots a novel technique that in-volves commercial shellfishermen using a tablet app to collect qua-hog data via bullrake sampling year-round, focusing on regions ofNarragansett Bay not assessed by the Rhode Island Department ofEnvironmental Management (RI DEM) hydraulic dredge survey.The catch efficiency of bullrake sampling and the RI DEM hydrau-lic dredge survey are calibrated via in-situ SCUBA observations,enabling integration of project data with the existing dredge surveytime series. Preliminary results suggest that quahog density variesat a suite of spatial scales as a result of complex environmental con-ditions. Furthermore, bullrake sampling appears to document high-er quahog densities than the hydraulic dredge survey by accessingdifferent areas and habitats within Narragansett Bay. A variety ofalternative stock assessment approaches that incorporate the spatialand seasonal dynamics of the quahog resource are currently beingexplored. Results of these alternative models will be compared tothe traditional quahog stock assessment and used to refine referencepoints and management measures. Ultimately, this work fosters atransparent and accurate quahog management system by providingcommercial shellfishermen an opportunity to actively participate inthe scientific and management process.

UPDATE ON TWO ENIGMATIC DISEASES (PERKINSUSQUGWADI AND FRANCISCELLA HALIOTICIDA) AFFECT-ING THE HEALTH OF CULTURED YESSO SCALLOPS(PATINOPECTEN YESSOENSIS) IN BRITISH COLUMBIA,CANADAGary R. Meyer1*, Naoki Itoh2, Geoff Lowe1, and Eliah Kim1

1Pacific Biological Station, Department of Fisheries andOceans, 3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, British ColumbiaV9T 6N7, Canada

2The University of Tokyo, Laboratory of Fish Diseases, Grad-uate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Tokyo 113-8657,[email protected] Perkinsus qugwadi (SPX) and Francisella halioticida have

sporadically caused disease and mortality among cultured Yessoscallops in British Columbia, Canada. The protozoan parasite, P.qugwadi caused significant mortalities during the late 1980s andearly 1990s; however, the prevalence of infection decreased dramat-ically following 1995 and was not problematic again until the fallof 2011 when it was again detected in association with mortalities.To gain a better understanding of the biology of this parasite andto obtain material for development of in-vitro culture techniques,experimental stocks of scallops were out-planted in 2016 and 2017at Kanish Bay, the location where P. qugwadi has historically beenmost problematic; however, to date P. qugwadi has not been detect-ed in the sentinel scallops nor from eDNA samples, further addingto the enigmatic nature of this parasite. The intracellular Gram-neg-


POPULATION GENETICS, BIOGEOGRAPHY, AND PHY-LOGENETICS OF VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS FROMNORTHAMERICAUSINGWHOLE GENOME SEQUENCEDATAJohn J. Miller1,2, Catharina H. M. Lüdeke3,4, Bart C. Weimer5,and Jessica L. Jones3*

1FDA, Division of Mathematics, College Park, Maryland, USA2Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge,

Tennessee, USA3FDA, Division of Seafood Science and Technology, Gulf Coast

Seafood Laboratory, Dauphin Island, Alabama, USA4University of Hamburg, Hamburg School of Food Science,

Hamburg, Germany5University of California of Davis, Institute for Veterinary Med-

icine, Davis, California, [email protected] caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) are the most

common seafood-borne illnesses reported in the United States andare frequently associated with consumption of shellfish. To inves-tigate differences in Vp populations, draft genomes of 132 clinicaland oyster Vp isolates from across North America were sequenced.Population genomics and biogeography analysis demonstrated thatthe majority of oyster isolate sequence types (STs) were identifiedfrom a single harvest location; however, four STs were identified inmultiple harvest locations. STRUCTURE identified three clusterscontaining multiple STs with Fst values above 0.2, implying somelevel of population structure along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts,with Gulf Coast sites generally having a greater diversity of Vpthan other locations. When examining the isolates’ phylogeneticrelationship, 12 large strongly supported clades (bootstrap ≥70)were identified. Of those, six were comprised of either clinical oroyster isolates, while six were composed of a mix of the two isolatesources. In addition, three STs (3, 36, 65) were identified in clini-cal isolates, most likely from northern latitudes, but not represent-ed by any oyster isolates in this collection. These results supportthe previously documented genomic diversity of Vp, but indicategeographical specificity and clinical predominance which may beinformative to risk modeling efforts.

ALIGNING BIOLOGY, ASSESSMENT, AND MANAGE-MENT OF BLUE CRAB IN CHESAPEAKE BAYThomas J. Miller*, Michael J. Wilberg, Dong Liang, and Gen-eviève M. NesslageChesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland

Center for Environmental Science, 146 Williams Street, Box 0038,Solomons, Maryland, [email protected] crab (Callinectes sapidus) supports an iconic and valuable

fishery in the Chesapeake Bay. Over the last 25 years efforts toalign biological knowledge with stock assessment and management

UNDERSTANDING THEMOLECULAR BASIS OF PATHO-GENESIS OF WHITE SPOT SYNDROME VIRUS (WSSV)USING COMPARATIVE TRANSCRIPTOMICS IN THE PA-CIFIC WHITELEG SHRIMP (PENAEUS VANNAMEI) ANDEUROPEAN SHORE CRAB (CARCINUS MAENAS)Rebecca S. Millard1*, Bas Verbruggen1, Lisa K. Bickley1, KellyS. Bateman2, Grant D. Stentiford2, Charles R. Tyler1, Ronnyvan Aerle2, and Eduarda M. Santos1

1Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences,Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Exeter, UnitedKingdom, EX4 4QD

2European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for CrustaceanDiseases, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sci-ences (Cefas), Barrack Road, The Nothe, Weymouth, Dorset, Unit-ed Kingdom, DT4 [email protected] spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is the major pathogen

of shrimp culture, causing global annual losses in the region of$1B USD. Understanding host-pathogen interactions is crucial forthe development of disease treatments and sequencing techniquesare increasingly being employed to address this challenge.This study aims to identify the molecular pathways associated

with susceptibility to WSSV in the Pacific whiteleg shrimp (Pe-naeus vannamei). To do so, the temporal transcriptional changes inresponse to WSSV infection, and the role of microRNAs in regu-lating host and pathogen gene expression will be established. Thesedata will be compared with an existing dataset on the temporaltranscriptional and microRNA expression changes in a crustacean(European shore crab, Carcinus maenas) infected with WSSV thatis highly resistant to the disease. In this way, the ability to identifyindividual genes and pathways associated with susceptibility andresistance to WSSV is expected.To address this objective, shrimp were divided into two treat-

ment groups and injected with either SPF- (specific pathogenfree) or WSSV-shrimp homogenates. The gills from four shrimpfrom each treatment were sampled from 3-36h post-injection.Total RNA was extracted (n=48) and mRNA libraries (Illumina)and small RNA libraries (Nextflex) were prepared and sequenced.These datasets are currently being analysed to identify individu-al genes, miRNAs and pathways that are modified as a result ofWSSV infection. Through comparison with the resistant shore crabdataset, mechanisms of susceptibility and resistance, and potentialgene targets for disease prophylactics in the future are hoped to beidentified.


EFFECTS OFPREDATIONAND SUBSTRATE CHOICE ONRIBBED MUSSEL RECRUITMENT FOR LIVING SHORE-LINEAPPLICATIONSJoshua A. Moody* and Danielle KreegerPartnership for the Delaware Estuary, 110 S. Poplar St. Ste 202,

Wilmington, Delaware 19801 [email protected] mussels are one of the functional dominant species in

eastern USAsalt marshes, providing many ecosystem services suchas stabilizing substrates and enhancing vegetative growth. As of2012, the Delaware Estuary was losing approximately one acre perday of coastal wetlands, resulting in reduced ribbed mussel pop-ulations along the shoreline. There is growing interest in livingshorelines to protect and restore coastal marshes, and since 2008,the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary has implemented and sus-tained 14 active treatments. Ribbed mussel recruitment into theseprojects has been variable across space and time. The goal of thisstudy was to test whether mussel recruitment in living shorelinescan be enhanced by substrate choice and/or predator exclusion.Twomulti-factor experiments were conducted in triplicate at two

locations in two representative rivers of the Delaware Bay, New Jer-sey, USA. The first experiment evaluated the effects of predationat three positions relative to the vegetated marsh edge. The secondexperiment assessed interactive effects between predatory exclusionand various substrates including: oyster shell; oyster castles; Sparti-na alterniflora plugs; and coir fiber. Recruitment of ribbed musselswas significantly lower along surfaces exposed to predation thanalong surfaces where predation was inhibited, independent of po-sition. Additionally, materials that did not provide interstitial re-cruitment space had significantly higher recruitment rates when pre-dation was inhibited, whereas materials with interstitial space sawno difference in recruitment rates across predation levels. Theseresults indicate that material selection and predator exclusion canaffect ribbed mussel colonization in living shorelines projects.

TRIBAL SHELLFISH HARVEST MANAGEMENT ON PRI-VATELYOWNED TIDELANDS INWASHINGTON STATEJeff Moore*, Viviane Barry, and Elizabeth UnsellSuquamish Tribe, Fisheries Department, 18490 Suquamish

Way, Suquamish, Washington 98392 [email protected] are a valuable resource for many tribal communities

in western Washington, both economically and culturally. Treatytribes are guaranteed a 50% share of naturally occurring shellfishon tidelands located within their Usual and Accustomed fishinggrounds and stations. The shorelines of Puget Sound are a mosa-ic of mostly relatively small (less than one acre) tideland parcels.Unlike the shorelines of most states, the majority of these tidelandsare privately owned.Successful management of Treaty shellfish on private tidelands

presents many challenges. Water quality issues, harvest practices,

approaches have resulted in improved stock conditions. These ef-forts have sought to recognize and include the importance of sal-tatory growth, sex-specific life history variation and reproductiveecology, and have resulted in transition from simply yield per anal-yses to sophisticated sex-specific, stage based assessment modelsand the adoption of female-based conservation management. Thechanges that have occurred are reviewed, but the focus will be oncurrent research to improve reliability of survey indices, evaluatethe importance of sperm limitation, and understand drivers of re-cruitment variability. This presentation will show how (i) geosta-tistical approaches can provide robust estimates of uncertainty ofpopulation abundance, (ii) life table analysis indicates little con-cern over sperm limitation and (iii) probability network models canevaluate the importance of drivers of recruitment variation.

IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF CRASSOSTREA VIR-GINICA LARVAE TO PROBIOTIC BACILLUS PUMILUSRI06-95Tejashree Modak*, David Nelson, David Rowley, and MartaGomez-ChiarriUniversity of Rhode Island, 120 Flagg Rd, Kingston, Rhode Is-

land 02881 [email protected] eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is an ecologically

and economically important species. The rearing of oyster larvaein hatcheries can be impacted by mortalities caused by bacterialpathogens such as Vibrio. Probiotics are an inexpensive, practical,and natural method of disease control. Pretreatment of larval oys-ters in hatcheries with probiotic Bacillus pumilus RI06-95 has beenshown to significantly decrease mortality caused by experimentalchallenge with Vibrio coralliilyticus RE22. The aim of this study isto understand the mechanism of action of the probiotic leading toimproved larval survival and how pre-exposure to a probiotic maychange larval immune responses to a pathogen. Larval Crassostreavirginica were exposed to the probiotic daily for 16 days post fer-tilization in a hatchery setting. To test the efficacy of probiotic, alaboratory pathogen challenge assay was performed on day eight.Transcriptomes from samples collected on days 5, 12 and 16 werecompared to understand the effect of probiotic treatment on larvalgene expression. Probiotic treated larvae on day eight showed anincrease in percent survival (28 ± 6 %) as compared to untreat-ed larvae after a challenge with V. coralliilyticus RE22. A PCAanalysis of the transcriptomes showed an effect of treatment andtime. Comparison of gene expression between control and treat-ment showed some differentially expressed immune related genes(CLEC4E, caspase 7, TNFAIP3) along with several uncharacter-ized genes. Gene enrichment shows enrichment in oxidation-re-duction processes. These transcriptomic comparisons provide anevidence of gene modulation by probiotic treatment as a potentialmechanism to provide protection.


haemocytes maintained in vitro. These in vitro trials were also usedto carry out a dual transcriptomic study. Additionally, transmissionelectron microscopy examination was carried out and did not al-low the detection of viral particles. The expression of some hostimmune genes and 15 viral genes were concomitantly analyzed.Results showed an up regulation of oyster genes currently studiedduring OsHV-1 infection. All the results suggested that the in vitromodel based on the use of haemocytes can be a valuable modelopening new perspectives in terms of better understanding host –pathogen interactions.

DOES FIRST BARRIER PASSAGE SHUNT MATTER INDISEASE REPRODUCTION? UPDATE FROM OSHV-1 –CRASSOSTREAGIGASMODELBenjamin Morga*1, Sandy Picot1, Nicole Faury1, Lionel Dégre-mont1, Tristan Renault2, Coralie Lupo1, and Marie-Agnès Tra-vers1

1IFREMER, SG2M-LGPMM, Laboratoire de Génétique et Pa-thologie des Mollusques Marins, Avenue de Mus de Loup, 17390La Tremblade, France

2Ifremer, Département Ressources Biologiques et Environne-ment, Nantes, [email protected] 2008, mass mortality outbreaks associated with the de-

tection of particular variants of Ostreid herpesvirus type 1 (OsHV-1) are reported in Crassostrea gigas spat and juveniles in severalcountries. This disease has become a major threat for a sustainableoyster industry. Ostreid herpesvirus type 1 (OsHV-1), the causativeagent of major economic losses in the Pacific oyster industry, is amember of the family Malacoherpesviridae from the order Herpes-virales.Many research groups initiated studies to decipher the interac-

tion mechanisms between the virus and the oyster. The major lim-itation of this model is the absence of virus cultivation protocols,mostly linked to the absence of cellular culture model in mollusc;however, through partial “purification” the infectivity of variantswas demonstrated in oysters by intramuscular injection. The firstinvestigation on the direct transmission through seawater has beendone before 2008 in larval stage. Based on this, an experimentallaboratory-based infection protocol has been developed at juvenilestage to better understand the transmission routes and the infec-tion kinetics of the herpesviruses OsHV-1. Cohabitation of naïvejuvenile oysters with injected oysters with a viral suspension hasdemonstrated that seawater can act as a medium in the horizontaltransmission of OsHV-1. Although this protocol reproduces betterthe natural way of infection, the viral exposure dose of the naïveoysters cannot be controlled.

and differing perspectives, interests, and perceptions among tribes,shellfish companies, growers, local and state government agencies,and individual tideland owners all converge on these small tide-lands. These factors, and more, must be considered and a harvestmanagement plan developed for each private tideland.The Suquamish Tribe is committed to providing opportunities

for its tribal members to exercise their Treaty harvest rights now,and in the future. With this goal in mind, the Tribe has developedharvest management strategies that are both dynamic and robust inaddressing the many challenges associated with Treaty harvest onprivate tidelands. The Tribe has also partnered with various agen-cies and individuals to protect and enhance shellfish resources. Asa result, tribal members have experienced increased cultural, cer-emonial, subsistence, and commercial harvest opportunities. Thecommunity has also benefited from improvements to water quality,increased shellfish productivity, and a growing positive relation-ship with the Tribe.

HAEMOCYTES FROM CRASSOSTREAGIGASAND OSHV-1: APROMISING IN VITRO SYSTEMTO STUDYHOST-VI-RUS INTERACTIONSBenjamin Morga*1, Nicole Faury1, Stéphane Guesdon1, BrunoChollet1, and Tristan Renault2

1IFREMER, Laboratoire de Génétique et Pathologie des Mol-lusques Marins, Avenue de Mus de Loup, 17390 La Tremblade,France

2Ifremer, Département Ressources Biologiques et Environne-ment, Nantes, [email protected] 2008, mass mortality outbreaks associated with the detec-

tion of particular variants of OsHV-1 are reported in Crassostreagigas spat and juveniles in several countries. Some recent studiesreported information on viral replication during an experimen-tal infection. Viral RNA detection was noticed in spat mantle 4hpost-virus suspension injection. Moreover, an in situ hybridizationapproach showed that OsHV-1 mRNAs were mainly present in theconnective tissue of gills, mantle, adductor muscle, digestive gland,and gonads following the injection of the virus suspension in thehemolymphatic sinus of the adductor muscle. Viral DNA and RNAwere also detected in the haemolymph and hemocytes suggestingthat the virus could circulate through the circulatory system; how-ever, it is unknown if the virus is free in the haemolymph, passivelyassociated at the surface of hemocytes or if it is able to replicateinside these cells inducing or not virion production.In the present study, haemocytes from the hemolymphatic sinus

of the adductor muscle of healthy C. gigas spat were collected andput in vitro in contact with a viral suspension. Results showed thatviral RNAs were detectable one hour after contact and the num-ber of virus transcripts increased across the time of contact in as-sociation with an increase of viral DNA detection. These resultssuggested that the virus is able to initiate replication rapidly inside


AQUACULTURE IN SHARED WATERS - AN AQUACUL-TURE TRAINING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO EXPLORETHE INTEGRATION OF FISHING AND FARMING INMAINEDana L. Morse1*, Chris Bartlett2, Nick Battista3, SebastianBelle4, Caitlin Cleaver5, Hugh S. Cowperthwaite6, Chris Davis7,Teresa Johnson8, and Natalie Springuel9

1Maine Sea Grant and University of Maine Cooperative Ex-tension, Darling Marine Center, 193 Clark’s Cove Road, Walpole,Maine 04573 USA

2Maine Sea Grant/University of Maine Cooperative Exten-sion, P.O. Box 278, 141 Water St., Eastport, Maine 04631 USA

3Island Institute, 386 Main Street, Rockland, Maine 04841 USA4Maine Aquaculture Association, 103 Water Street #2, Hallow-

ell, Maine 04347 USA5University of Maine, School of Marine Sciences, 360 Aubert

Hall, Orono, Maine 04469 USA6Coastal Enterprises, Inc., 30 Federal St., Brunswick, Maine

04011 USA7Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, Darling Marine Center,

193 Clark’s Cove Road, Walpole, Maine 04573 USA8University of Maine, School of Marine Sciences, 200 Libby

Hall, Orono, Maine 04469 USA9Maine Sea Grant, College of the Atlantic, 105 Eden St., Bar

Harbor, Maine 04609 [email protected] increase of marine aquaculture is not unique to Maine,

but given the state’s high dependence on commercial fishing, andthe deep connection between coastal life and commercial fishing,changes to the fishing industry here especially strong implications;the fishery for lobster (Homarus americanus) is the most valuablein the nation, and Maine lands 80% of the lobster in the US. Fur-ther, lobsters make up ~75% of the value of all marine landings inMaine. Increasingly over the last 5-8 years, more Maine fishermenare considering aquaculture as a way to maintain income diversity.Aquaculture in Shared Waters is an education/training program

targeting fishing families, to advance working waterfront diversi-fication, and minimize user conflicts. The program provides class-room teaching, applied educational materials, and extended tech-nical support to participants, and begins to build the professionalnetwork that every new producer needs for business success. Since2013, there have been five rounds of training, with two emergingfor 2018. Approximately 100 individuals have completed thecourse, with about 30 now engaged in aquaculture or new seafoodbusiness. The program is tightly tied to social science research, tolearn more about course delivery, changes in knowledge and per-ception, and effectiveness of materials. AQSW has inspired similarefforts in the state, and has been a venue to increase the integrationbetween fishing and farming. Research to date indicates that par-ticipants value the training, they find it helpful in preparing themfor an aquaculture business, and that applied, hands-on learningopportunities are most effective.

Thus, a new infection protocol based on immersion into titrat-ed contaminated seawater was developed. This new protocol wascompared with usual protocol consisting in injecting oysters witha viral suspension. Using different oyster families, it was demon-strated that both protocols revealed similar contrasted phenotypeswith high virus loads; however, a dose effect was only visible inimmersion protocol. This methodological update gives further un-derstanding of the transmission dynamics of OsHV-1 among oys-ters, in prospects for its spread control.

GROWTH, MORTALITY, AND YIELD OF FARMED SEASCALLOPS (PLACOPECTEN MAGELLANICUS) IN MAINEUSING THE EAR-HANGING METHOD, AND INFLUENC-ES OF SUBSTRATEAND DEPTH ONYIELD OF SCALLOPSPAT COLLECTORSDana L. Morse1*, Melissa Britsch2, Nathaniel Perry3, and HughS. Cowperthwaite4

1Maine Sea Grant and University of Maine Cooperative Ex-tension, Darling Marine Center, 193 Clark’s Cove Road, Walpole,Maine 04573 USA

2Darling Marine Center, 193 Clark’s Cove Road, Walpole,Maine 04573 USA

3Pine Point Oyster Company, 10 Pine Ridge Road, Cape Eliza-beth, Maine 04107 USA

4Coastal Enterprises, Inc., 30 Federal St., Brunswick, Maine04011 USAThe ear-hanging method for scallop production has produced

positive early results in coastal Maine waters, with reasonablegrowth rates and survival. This developing industry sector is de-pendent on wild spat collection for the source of seed, using Japa-nese-style spat collectors. Yields for spat collectors have are alsoencouraging, but materials costs are high, with producers conse-quently seeking equally-effective, cheaper options. This ongoingexperiment examines: growth, survival and yield of ear-hung scal-lops on six sites in coastal Maine; the use of alternate materialsas settlement substrate in scallop spat collectors; and the influenceof depth on spat bag returns. The experiment also investigates theeffect of different drilling locations near the hinge, on subsequentgrowth and survival. To date, standard agricultural nettings are aseffective as the more-costly industry standard (“Netron”) in termsof spat collection production, and that mid-depth in the water col-umn produces the highest yields. Collectors set highest in the wa-ter column collected sufficient numbers of scallops, but also hadthe highest number of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), which candamage post-set scallops through byssal attachment and smoth-ering, and which complicate the spat-sorting process that beginsnursery-phase culture. Growth rates for shell heights range from0.05mm/day (0.7”/year) to over 0.12mm/day (1.7”/year), analysesfor meat yields by shell height are ongoing.


are caused by ingestion of toxins produced by the dinoflagellatesAlexandrium and Dinophysis. This study evaluates approaches formonitoring toxins associated with recurrent toxin-producing Alex-andrium and Dinophysis blooms on Long Island, NY, USA. Withincontrasting locations, the dynamics of Alexandrium and Dinophy-sis cell densities, toxins in plankton, and toxins in deployed bluemussels (Mytilus edulis) were compared with passive solid-phaseadsorption toxin tracking (SPATT) samplers filled with two typesof resin. Multiple species of wild shellfish were collected duringDinophysis blooms and used to compare toxin content using twodifferent toxin analysis assays. DSP toxins measured in the shell-fish proxy were significantly correlated with total DSP toxins inwild shellfish. Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and ribbed mussels(Geukensia demissa) were found to accumulate DSP toxins abovefederal and international standards (160 ng g-1) during Dinophysisblooms while Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and soft shellclams (Mya arenaria) did not. This study demonstrated that SPATTsamplers coupled with PP2A technology could be used to provideearly warning of DSP, but not PSP, events for shellfish management.

IMPLEMENTING A SIZE RESTRICTION TO OFFSET IM-PACTS FROM SIZE-SELECTIVE HARVESTING OF GI-ANT RED SEACUCUMBERSKarl W. MuellerLummi Natural Resources Department, LIBC, 2665 Kwina

Road, Bellingham, Washington 98226 [email protected] harvesting of the giant red sea cucumber (Para-

stichopus californicus) in the San Juan Islands, Washington hasled to a change in body size of P. californicus, both landed andin the wild, since commercial fisheries (trawl and diver-harvested)for the species began in the 1970s. While it is possible that recentfishery-dependent data reflect the size, distribution, and abundanceof small animals within easy grasp of commercial harvest divers,the preponderance of fishery-independent data supports the prem-ise of a 20–30% reduction in size of P. californicus over the years.Harvesting increasingly smaller individuals has long-term conse-quences for the giant red sea cucumber population in the San JuanIslands. Evolutionary changes in growth, size at maturity, and re-productive capacity are all documented outcomes of size-selectiveharvesting. Moving forward, treaty tribal and non-tribal naturalresource authorities, i.e., the co-managers of P. californicus fisher-ies in Washington State, must consider the potentially detrimentalconsequences of not taking action on this management issue. Onesimple, intuitive management tool to offset the effects of size-se-lective harvesting would be to implement a size restriction for thegiant red sea cucumber. This presentation introduces a novel wayto implement a minimum size limit for the species and provides theproof of principle that underwater harvesters could comply withthe restriction. Implementing the restriction will minimize evo-lutionary changes to growth and size at maturity, and will reducethe possibility of harvesting a giant red sea cucumber before it hasspawned at least once during its lifetime.

DENSITY-DEPENDENT CAPTURE EFFICIENCY OF ASURVEYDREDGEAND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE STOCKASSESSMENT OF EASTERN OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICA) IN DELAWARE BAYJason M. Morson1*, Daphne M. Munroe1, Kathy A. Ashton-Al-cox1, Eric N. Powell2, David Bushek1, and Jennifer Gius1


2University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Lab-oratory, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, Mississippi [email protected] reliable measure of gear capture efficiency is required to cal-

culate unbiased estimates of population size and fishing mortalityfrom survey data in a stock assessment; however, capture efficien-cy can vary spatially and temporally due to changes in abundance,stock area, the environment, and the sampling gear itself. There-fore, periodic reassessment of this parameter is necessary to ensurethat the catchability coefficients being applied accurately reflectthe capture efficiency of the survey sampling gear, especially whencatchability is being estimated outside of the stock assessmentmodel. Using data from field experiments conducted in 1999,2000, 2003, and 2013, spatial and temporal variability in captureefficiency was evaluated for a commercial dredge used to conducta fishery-independent survey of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea vir-ginica) population in Delaware Bay, USA. A spatial gradient incapture efficiency was detected, but no temporal trend. Captureefficiency was a function of the density of oysters in the sampledarea. This is likely the first time density-dependent capture effi-ciency has been identified for a sessile invertebrate stock survey.Since density dependence in capture efficiency leads to hyperstablecatch-per-unit-effort, caution is advised when deriving oyster abun-dance from dredge survey catch-per-effort data, especially at lowoyster density and when high spatial resolution estimates of surveydredge capture efficiency are not available.

MONITORING HAB TOXINS USING SPATT PROXY FORSHELLFISH MANAGEMENTSteve L. Morton*1, Bennie Haynes1, Zhihong Wang1, TheresaHattenrath2, Christopher Gobler2, and Tod Leighfield1

1NOAA/NOS/NCCOS, HAB Monitoring and ReferenceBranch, 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, South Carolina 20412USA

2Stony Brook University, School of Marine and AtmosphericSciences, Southampton, New York 11968 [email protected] range, frequency, and intensity of harmful algal blooms

have increased in recent decades. HAB species that produce bio-toxins are a growing societal concern in many coastal regions dueto their impacts on human health and the economy of shellfisheries.Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and diarrhetic shellfish poison-ing (DSP) are globally significant human health syndromes that


grounds, and surveyed distribution of dislodged eggs upon whichmany shorebirds feed. Experiments included (1) testing rackheights for impairment of crab passage, (2) repeated crab censuson paired farm/control sites, (3) assessing distribution and strand-ing of crabs on nesting beaches with and without farms, and (4) aspatial survey of dislodged eggs along the wrack zone. All crabs,regardless of size, passed beneath racks 10 cm (4 inches) tall ormore, indicating that the regulated rack height of 30.5 cm (12”)is abundantly precautious to allow crab movement beneath racks.Farm/control census of crabs remaining on farms during low tideobserved 853 crabs total, with no evidence of differing crab num-bers among farmed and control transects. Only two of 853 (<0.5%)crabs were obstructed by farm gear, and more crabs were presenton nesting beaches inshore of farms compared to adjacent farm-free areas. The proportion of crabs flipped (stranded) at low tidewithin nesting habitats was constant regardless of farm presence.Dislodged eggs in the wrack zone were observed most frequently inthe center of the survey area, and were not concentrated near farmssuggesting that in 2016, shorebird foraging opportunities were notcoincident with farm locations.

LEVELS OF VIBRIO SPP. AFTER DESICCATION ANDRE-SUBMERGENCE OF OYSTERS STORED IN THREECOMMON GEAR TYPES INALABAMAWhitney A. Neil1*, Victoria L. Pruente2, ByronWebb3, WilliamC. Walton2, and Jessica L. Jones1

1Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Admin-istration, 1 Iberville Drive, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528 USA

2Auburn University Shellfish Lab, 150 Agassiz St., Dauphin Is-land, Alabama 36528 USA

3Alabama Department of Public Health, 250 N. Water Street,Mobile, Alabama 36602 [email protected] marine bacteria, Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) and Vibrio

vulnificus (Vv), can cause gastrointestinal illness in humans afterconsumption of raw or undercooked shellfish. Both Vp and Vvgrow quickly in warm temperatures, so oyster farmers must consid-er the effect that routine handling practices, such as desiccation toreduce biofouling, have on Vibrio levels.A recent study inAlabama(AL) indicated that elevated Vibrio levels from desiccation of oys-ters in an Adjustable Longline System (ALS) returned to baselineafter a seven day re-submergence. The current goal was to deter-mine if a seven day submergence time is suitable for oysters des-iccated in OysterGro (OG) floating cages and bottom cages (BC).Four trials were conducted inAL during the fall of 2017. Oyster

samples from each gear type (ALS, OG, and BC) were collectedprior to desiccation, after a 24 hour desiccation, and after a sevenday re-submergence in their respective gear. Control samples werecollected from each gear type. Duplicate samples were analyzedusing MPN-Real-time PCR.After a seven day re-submergence, mean Vibrio levels in control

and desiccated oysters, respectively, were 3.3 and 4.1 log MPN/g

COMPARING FISH AND CRAB USE OF THE BOUNDARYBETWEEN TWO TYPES OF PACIFIC OYSTER AQUA-CULTUREAND EELGRASS INWILLAPABAY,WASHING-TON, USAKelly Muething1* and Brett Dumbauld2

1Oregon State University, StrandAgriculture Hall, 170 SWWal-do Pl, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA

2Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Dr,Newport, Oregon 97365 [email protected] provide productive habitat but are also subject to a

variety of human pressures, making them highly-contested space.Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) aquaculture has been practicedfor almost 100 years and commonly occurs in intertidal areas inUS West Coast estuaries where native eelgrass (Zostera marina) isalso present. Seagrasses provide valuable nursery habitat for manycommercially-harvested species (e.g. salmonids, English sole, andDungeness crab) and have recently garnered more conservationinterest because they are declining in many locations. To help in-form management decisions, questions were addressed regardingthe use of both aquaculture and eelgrass beds as habitat. Specifi-cally, there was interest in quantifying and distinguishing whetherthe edge between these two habitats functioned differently. Due toa recent shift towards off-bottom culture methods, in part to pro-tect seagrasses, this comparison was made in both long-line andon-bottom aquaculture. Both direct (underwater video) and indirect(e.g. predation tethering units) measures of fish and invertebratecommunity composition and behavior were used to quantify effectsalong a transect that ran between the two habitats in each type ofaquaculture. Preliminary results suggest that most species use long-line oyster and eelgrass habitats similarly with minimal edge effectwhile habitat use was more distinct between on-bottom oyster andeelgrass habitats. This is consistent with an expected increase infish and crab abundance with the amount of vertical structure with-in a habitat. This work could provide valuable insight to managersand permitting agencies as they consider requests to expand cultureoperations.

HORSESHOE CRAB PASSAGE THROUGH RACK-AND-BAG OYSTER FARMSDaphne Munroe, David Bushek*, Patricia Woodruff, and LisaCalvoRutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, 6959

Miller Avenue, Port Norris, New Jersey 08349 [email protected] has been raised about the ability of horseshoe crabs

(Limulus polyphemus) to traverse intertidal rack-and-bag oysterfarms, and how farms may change shorebird foraging activity.During the 2016 horseshoe crab spawning season, experimentsconducted in Delaware Bay (New Jersey, USA) assessed crabability to move among oyster farms and access landward nesting


tury. Following a severe oxygen depletion event and fish kill, theclapper valves in the drainage pipe were opened in 2002, allowinglimited tidal exchange with Cape Cod Bay. Since the restoration oftidal flow, native fauna have reestablished in East Harbor, includ-ing horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) and several species ofbivalves, notably the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria), northern qua-hog (Mercenaria mercenaria), and blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). Toevaluate the degree to which East Harbor maintains self-sustainingmarine benthic invertebrate populations and supplies larvae to ad-jacent coastal waters, a pilot study of planktonic larval dynamicswas begun in 2016. Comparison of plankton samples collected atthe drainage pipe during ebb and flood tides can be used to deter-mine the amount and direction of net larval flux between the EastHarbor system and Cape Cod Bay; however, zooplankton samplingin shallow, turbulent, ‘dirty’ environments is fraught with chal-lenges, rendering quantitative sampling using traditional methodsdifficult. A novel low-volume portable pump sampler was devel-oped and tested for this application in summer 2017. Preliminarycomparisons indicated that samples obtained with the pump systemwere similar in species composition and size frequency to thoseobtained with a traditional conical net.

BABYSITTING BABY SQUID: IN SITU MONITORING OFLONGFIN INSHORE SQUID EGG DEPOSITION AND EM-BRYONIC DEVELOPMENTOwen C. Nichols1,2*, Katie Groglio3, and Ernie Eldredge4

1Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown,Massachusetts 02657 USA

2University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, School for MarineScience and Technology, 836 South Rodney French Boulevard,New Bedford, Massachusetts 02744 USA

3Harvard University, Northwest Building, Room B239, 52 Ox-ford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 USA

4Chatham FishWeirs Enterprises, 3 Champlain Road, Chatham,Massachusetts 02633 [email protected] of squid early life history is relatively poor despite

its importance for fisheries management. The longfin inshore squid(Doryteuthis pealeii) is a commercially important species harvest-ed extensively along the northeastern U.S. continental shelf. In or-der to understand the effects of fishing and environmental variabil-ity on D. pealeii in an inshore spawning ground (Nantucket Sound,MA), egg deposition and embryonic development were monitoredin situ at commercial fish weirs in spring and summer 2008-2016.Logbooks were maintained in which catch (including the presenceof egg masses) and effort data for each weir were recorded dai-ly. Seawater temperature was recorded using data loggers affixedto the weirs. Newly deposited egg masses were transferred to amesh enclosure on an opportunistic basis and placed immediatelyadjacent to the weir to permit semiweekly retrieval and sampling.Samples (five randomly chosen ‘fingers’ excised from a mass) were

(Vp) and 4.2 and 3.7 log MPN/g (Vv) in ALS; 3.3 and 4.0 log MP-N/g (Vp) and 4.1 and 3.6 log MPN/g (Vv) in OG; and 4.3 and 4.1log MPN/g (Vp) and 4.2 and 4.0 log MPN/g (Vv) for BC. None ofthese differences were statistically significant. These preliminarydata suggest that a seven day re-submergence time may be suitablefor desiccated oysters in multiple gear types.

NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITY OF AQUACULTUREPERMITTING: UNDERSTANDING HOWTHE PIECES FITTOGETHER THROUGH TWO CASE STUDIESAmanda Nichols* and Catherine JanasieUniversity of Mississippi, National Sea Grant Law Center, P.O.

Box 1848, University, Mississippi 38677 [email protected] permitting issues often pose problems for shellfish

aquaculturists in coastal areas. Navigating these difficulties is com-plicated and oftentimes requires specialized expertise to achievesuccess. This presentation will provide an overview of two casestudies examining the intersection of federal law and aquaculturepermitting.The first case study focuses on the Endangered Species Act

(ESA). Passed by Congress in 1973, the ESA is a broad mandatefor species and habitat protection, and the statute’s provisions couldhave major implications for aquaculture operations. This presenta-tion will provide an overview of the Red Knot listing to illustratehow a threatened bird species impacted the federal permitting ofaquaculture operations on the New Jersey coastline. Both Section 7consultation, which applies to the actions of federal agencies, andSection 9 take, which applies to the actions of any person, cameinto play.The second case study examines the impact of Nationwide

Permit 48, reauthorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in2017. NWP 48 permits commercial shellfish aquaculture activitiespredicted to have minimum individual and cumulative impacts.However, regions and states can control the extent to which theNWP is implemented in particular geographic areas—allowing forindividualization that can make aquaculture permitting confusingand complicated from place to place.

A NOVEL LOW-VOLUME PORTABLE PUMP SYSTEMFOR SAMPLING LARVAL SHELLFISH IN SHALLOW,TURBULENT, ‘DIRTY’ ENVIRONMENTSOwen C. Nichols* and Christine A. HudakCenter for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown,

Massachusetts 02657 [email protected] East Harbor coastal lagoon system in Truro, Massachusetts

(MA), has been artificially isolated from Cape Cod Bay since 1868,when its inlet was filled by a causeway. A drainage system wasinstalled in 1894 to allow rainwater to escape. The lack of tidalflow caused salinity and water quality to decline over the last cen-


PUBLIC HEALTH AND PERSONAL LIVELIHOODS: ACASE STUDY OF OYSTERS AND NOROVIRUS IN HAM-MERSLEY INLET, PUGET SOUNDMarisa R. NixonWashington State Department of Health, 243 Israel Road SE,

Tumwater, Washington, 98501 [email protected] Inlet in Washington State is a highly productive

growing area for oysters that provide an important source of in-come, employment and recreation in the region. In late winter andearly spring 2017, Hammersley Inlet was implicated in a shell-fish-transmitted norovirus outbreak that resulted in growing areaclosures and recalls, significantly impacting small, local shellfishfarmers.The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) undertook

a multi-faceted investigation to examine the event and its impacts.From a technical perspective, in order to better understand localdilution rates and the accumulation of viral pathogens in shellfish,DOH and several partners completed a hydrographic dye study ofwaste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluent in Hammersley Inletin November 2017. Shellfish staged in the study area also had theirtissue tested for several pathogens, including norovirus.This technical study was augmented by interviews with local

shellfish farmers to inform an economic impact assessment and live-lihood characterization of the shellfish industry in the area affectedby the outbreak, closures and recalls. Moving forward, increasingpressure from human development and changing environmentalconditions may affect the likelihood of norovirus infection in shell-fish, which could prove detrimental to the local economy. This re-search has implications for shellfish sanitation policy as it pertainsto norovirus, and for the way that local communities may need toadapt their livelihoods around long-term public health concerns.

A TOOL FOR SEED STOCK MANAGEMENT IN COM-MERCIALOYSTER NURSERIESAna Nobre1*, Filipe Soares2, João G. Ferreira2, François Hu-bert3, and Luisa M.P. Valente1,4

1CIMAR/CIIMAR—Centro Interdisciplinar de InvestigaçãoMarinha e Ambiental, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões,Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos,Portugal

2DCEA, Fac. Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lis-boa, Qta Torre, 2829-516 Monte de Caparica, Portugal

3Bivalvia-Mariscos da Formosa, Lda. Piscicultura da Meia-Légua. Cova da Onça - Caixa Postal 491ª, 8700-177 Olhão, Por-tugal

4ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar,Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313Porto, [email protected]; [email protected]

chilled and transported to a nearby wetlab for microscopic exam-ination to determine embryonic development stage. Hatch timingwas determined via direct observation of paralarvae emerging fromegg masses and development time was calculated as the number ofdays between egg mass deposition and hatching. The timing andduration of egg mass deposition varied between years. Embryonicdevelopment time of 15 egg masses ranged from 12-34 days andgenerally decreased at warmer temperatures. In situ observationswere consistent with the findings of laboratory studies of D. pealeiiand other loliginid squids.

CHAIN REACTION? DEVELOPMENT AND TESTINGOF A MODIFIED SEA SCALLOP DREDGE TO REDUCEFLATFISH BYCATCHOwen C. Nichols1*, Michael V. Pol2, David M. Chosid2, andBeau Gribbin3

1Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown,Massachusetts 02657 USA

2Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, 1213 PurchaseStreet, New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740 USA

3High Pressure Fisheries, PO Box 1851, Provincetown, Massa-chusetts 02657 [email protected] of heavily exploited flatfish stocks, particularly yellow-

tail flounder (Limanda ferruginea), threatens access to the northeastU.S. sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) fishery by triggeringaccountability measures such as area closures if annual catch limitsare exceeded. Due to the variable nature and small scale of the Gulfof Maine scallop fishery, a simple, easily-applied dredge modifica-tion holds promise as a flatfish bycatch reduction measure. Basedon underwater observations of flounder behavior by local (Prov-incetown, MA) fishermen, a sea scallop dredge was modified witheasily removable ‘tickler’ chains to stimulate flatfish to swim outof the dredge’s path. This simple ‘TickleDredge’ design was devel-oped and tested on board a commercial scallop fishing vessel in thesouthern Gulf of Maine during 2016 and 2017. Both real-time andrecorded underwater video proved particularly valuable for refiningthe size and arrangement of the tickler chains as well as optimaltowing speed and scope for testing. Comparisons of paired towsindicated slight increases in catch of scallops as well as some flat-fish and non-target species with the TickleDredge modification, butno significant differences in catch between modified and standarddredges were observed. Overall rates of bycatch were low.


each site the density, length frequency and calculation of bed areahave been completed. Relative densities ranged from 507 ± 74.1oysters m-2 at Port Eliza Beach 3 in 2013 to 0.6 ± 0.4 at BacchanteBay in 2012. Densities varied across sites and years, but in mostcases differences in survey design preclude meaningful discussionof differences or trends in density. These surveys will serve as base-line information in future examination of variability and trends indensity at Olympia oyster index sites in British Columbia.

A HIERARCHICAL BAYESIAN SURPLUS PRODUCTIONMODEL FOR BLUE CRAB (CALLINECTES SAPIDUS) INTHE NORTHERN GULFOFMEXICOMegumi Oshima* and Robert LeafThe University of Southern Mississippi, Division of Coastal

Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Technology, Mississippi,[email protected] of stocks such as blue crab (Callinectes sapidus)

in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) can be challenging be-cause age structured approaches cannot be used. To overcome thisand data availability challenges, a surplus production model wasconstructed for the gulf-wide stock evaluated in a HierarchicalBayesian (HB) framework which provides a way to incorporateabundance dynamics from data rich regions. The HB frameworkallows the inclusion of prior information and hyperparameters tofacilitate estimation of parameters to explicitly model uncertainty.The objectives of this study were to develop a HB surplus produc-tion model for assessing the nGOM blue crab stock, evaluate thesensitivity of the model to the inclusion of fishery independent indi-ces of abundance, and determine harvest strategies consistent withproposed fishery reference points. Commercial landings and fish-ery-independent survey data from the five Gulf States were incor-porated. State-specific hyperparameters - population growth rate,carrying capacity, and catchability - were estimated and medianvalues were used to determine fishery reference points, maximumsustainable yield (MSY), and associated biomass (BMSY) and fish-ing mortality rate (FMSY). Alternative model runs were conducted toevaluate the sensitivity of parameter estimates to the inclusion ofindices of abundance. Lastly, model predictive power was assessedby projecting stock abundances under a suite of catch scenarios.Overall, this model can be used to assess the blue crab populationat state and Gulf-wide scale, as well as inform future managementdecisions by identifying areas of greater uncertainty and evaluatingthe impact of including particular survey data.

Models designed to provide practical guidance about food lim-itation in oyster nurseries can support seed stock management;however, most of the available shellfish models are developed foradult oysters and seldom target farmer, the end-users of these mod-els. The goal of this work is to present a nursery model applicationfor seed stock management, which is available online for wide-spread use at http://seaplusplus4.com/oysterspatbud.html. This ap-proach applies to nurseries, including floating upwelling systems(FLUPSY) or land-based tanks, and is implemented for the Pacificoyster (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg). The model was evaluatedwith published experimental dataset and was further tested to sim-ulate the application of a general rule of thumb regarding spat hold-ing capacity for a given nursery. The model can be used by Pacificoyster farmers to improve the application of general rules of thumband estimate stock biomass to hold in their nursery as a functionof typical external food concentrations. Herein is illustrated theapplication of this model to a nursery located in a SouthwesternEuropean coastal lagoon.

INDEX SITE SURVEYS FOR OLYMPIA OYSTERS (OST-REA LURIDA) IN BRITISH COLUMBIA—2009 TO 2017T.C. Norgard1, M.I. Bigg2*, S.E.M. MacConnachie3, J.L. Fin-ney4, and G.E. Gillespie5

1Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Offshore Marine Protected Ar-eas, Marine Spatial Ecology andAnalysis Section, 3190 HammondBay, Road, Nanaimo, B.C. Canada, V9T 6N7

2Fisheries and Oceans Canada,Aquatic Resources Research andAssessment Division, 3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, B.C.Canada, V9T 6N7

3Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Aquatic Ecosystem and MarineMammal Science, 3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, B.C. Can-ada, V9T 6N7

4Fisheries and Oceans Canada, GIS Data Program, 3190 Ham-mond Bay Road, Nanaimo, B.C. Canada, V9T 6N7

5Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Retired), 3190 Hammond BayRoad, Nanaimo, B.C. Canada, V9T [email protected] Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida Carpenter, 1864) was desig-

nated a species of Special Concern by the Committee on the Sta-tus of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in 2000 andlisted as Special Concern under the Canadian Species at Risk Act(SARA) in 2003. A management plan was developed and postedto the SARA Public Registry in 2009; one of the objectives was toensure maintenance of the relative abundance (density) of Olympiaoyster at index sites between 2008 and 2013. In 2009 a ScienceAd-visory Report was completed on the establishment of index sites.Fourteen index sites were chosen to monitor changes in relativeabundance spanning the majority of the Olympia oyster range inCanadian waters. All fourteen sites have been surveyed at leasttwice and most have been surveyed three times since 2009. At


Recent information suggests that bivalve molluscs are particu-larly sensitive to the impacts of ocean acidification (OA); howev-er, it is not known whether differences among local environmentalconditions has selected for animals with different sensitivities tostressors, or whether responses to environmental stressors are phe-notypically plastic, allowing animals with broad physiological toler-ances to be robust to environmental stress. Traditional metrics of theeffects of stress integrate over long periods of time (e.g., growth),are a snapshot of animal state (e.g., condition index), or require iso-lation of animals from their environment (respiration rate); how-ever, infrared and Hall-Effect sensors allow monitoring heartbeatand valve gaping (time spent filtering) with high temporal resolu-tion over extended periods of time, allowing detection of immediatemetabolic and behavioral responses to changes in environmentalconditions. Blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, were collected from sitesaround Long Island Sound (LIS) with different water quality con-ditions to test whether mussels from more stressful environmentsare more resilient to the impacts of OA. Mussels from differentpopulations showed different stress responses to OA (manipulatingaragonite saturation). Mussels from eastern and western LIS had el-evated heartbeat rates in response to OA, while animals from centralLIS showed no response to even extreme OAconditions, suggestingsite-specific resilience to the environmental stress of OA.

THE EFFECTOFHIGH SALINITYON THEABUNDANCE,ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE, AND GENETIC DIVERSITYOF VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS INAN OYSTER RELAYSTUDYSalina Parveen1*, Sara Elmahdi1,2, Michael Jahncke3, John Ja-cobs4, and John Bowers5

1University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Department of Agricul-ture, Food and Resource Sciences, Princess Anne, Maryland 21853USA

2University of Hail, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Hail,KSA 2440 Saudia Arabia

3Virginia Tech., Virginia SeafoodAgricultural Research and Ex-tension Center, Hampton, Virginia 23669 USA

4National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NationalCenters for Coastal Ocean Science, Cooperative Oxford Lab, Ox-ford, Maryland 21654 USA

5U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland20740 [email protected] estuarine bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp), is nat-

urally occurring and the leading cause of seafood-associated infec-tions in the USA. Though multiple-antibiotic resistant Vp has beenreported, resistance patterns in Vibrios are not as well documentedas other food-borne bacterial pathogens. Salinity relaying (SR) isa Post-Harvest Processing treatment to reduce the abundance ofVp in shellfish harvested during warmer months. The purpose of

CRACKINGTHE SHELL:AN INVESTIGATIONOFSHELLREPAIR IN THE OYSTER, CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICAAlyssa Outhwaite1*, Douglas C. Hansen2, and KarolynM. Han-sen1

1University of Dayton, Department of Biology, 300 CollegePark, Dayton, Ohio 45469 USA

2University of Dayton, Research Institute, 300 College Park,Dayton, Ohio 45469 [email protected] shell formation has been an intriguing phenomenon

for decades and current research efforts represent a paradigm shiftin how oyster shell formation occurs. The matrix mediated modelrelies on bulk secretion of organic and mineral precursor compo-nents into the extrapallial space, while the cellular mediated mod-el includes cells and vesicles as transport vectors for organic andmineral components. The current research focuses on the poten-tial role of hemocytes in moving organic and mineral componentsto the shell formation front. A protein biomarker, the amino acidL-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), is unique to the proteinsinvolved in insoluble organic matrix formation. Tracking the lo-cation and temporal occurrence of L-DOPA-containing proteinsreveals the potential role in shell repair.Three notch-repair experiments were conducted: a short-term

36 hour notch-repair study, a mid-term seven day notch-repairstudy, and a long-term eight week notch-repair study. At discretetime intervals, selected oyster compartments of hemocytes, mantletissues, hemolymph, and nascent shell were sampled to determinethe spatial and temporal distributions of the DOPA biomarker. Pre-liminary results show an increase in DOPA concentration in hemo-lymph from 0 to 48 hours. Conversely, hemocytes show a decreasein DOPA over time, with the greatest amount of DOPA present at0 hours and a subsequent decrease over the course of repair. Theseresults suggest that hemocytes are selectively shuttling and releas-ing protein resources to areas of shell repair and provide addition-al support for the cellular mediated shell formation model, wherehemocytes play an active role in materials transport.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: POPULATION DIF-FERENCES IN RESPONSE TO OCEAN ACIDIFICATIONIN BLUE MUSSELSDianna K. Padilla1*, Nils Volkenborn2, Samuel Gurr2, Lisa Mil-ke3, Shannon Meseck3, Allison Rugila1, Dylan Redman3, MarkDixon3, David Veilleux3, Alyssa Liguori1, and Maria Rosa1

1Stony Brook University, Department of Ecology and Evolu-tion, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5245 USA

2Stony Brook University, School of Marine and AtmosphericSciences, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5000 USA

3NOAA/NMFS, 212 Rogers Ave., Milford, Connecticut, [email protected]


UNUSUAL 2017 MICROALGAL BLOOM HAS RIPPLE EF-FECTS ON THE BIVALVES OFHOOD CANALBlair M. Paul* and Seth K. BooksSkokomish Nation, Department of Natural Resources, N. 541

Tribal Center Road, Skokomish, Washington 98584 [email protected] to the Hood Canal during the summer of 2017 saw an

unusual sight, turquoise water that looked more tropical in colorthan those typically seen in a temperate water body. Even life-longresidents of the area do not remember ever seeing the canal lookso striking. It was clear something was happening in the waterthat was different. By taking water samples and identifying whatalgae was growing, a reason for the color was determined, but whateffect would it have on the shellfish resources so many depend onfor sustenance and income? All anyone could do was watch as theimpacts unfold in whatever way they would play out. This sessionwill chronicle the events that were observed in 2017 in the HoodCanal related to the Coccolithophore bloom and observations fromresearchers, biologists, tribal fishermen, shellfish growers, and cit-izens who participated in the observation systems in place. Theseobservations will be framed in relation to whether the microalgaewere good, bad, or indifferent to the food web that feeds the abun-dant shellfish of the Hood Canal.

OYSTER RESTORATION IN HARRIS CREEK, MARY-LAND: A PROGRESS REPORTKennedy T. Paynter, Drew Needham, and Audrey McDowellUniversity of Maryland, Marine Estuarine Environmental Sci-

ences, College Park, Maryland 20742 [email protected] large-scale oyster reef restoration effort was undertaken in

Harris Creek, a small tributary in the mesohaline region of Chesa-peake Bay in 2011. After an initial population survey, a plan for re-construction of historic oyster reefs in Harris Creek was developedand has been implemented over the last six years. Juvenile oysters(spat) settled on shell in the University of Maryland oyster hatcherywere used to “plant” oysters in high densities on various histori-cal reef locations. In some areas, where sediment had covered theoriginal benthic shell substrate, alternate substrates such as graniterubble were used to stabilize the bottom. Between 2011 and 2016,2.334 billion spat on shell were planted on 90 unique sites across 13historic oyster bars covering approximately 140.9 hectares. For the2012 year class, 2.13% of the oyster spat planted were still alive in2015, were 99 mm in shell height, and present on restored reefs atdensities of 35 oysters/m2. A robust natural spat set was detectedin 2016 at densities upwards of 10/m2. It is unknown if these spatwere the product of restored broodstocks in the Creek, settled fromnative broodstocks in the area as a result of restoration or are sim-ply part of a natural cycle. In addition, a robust benthic communityof oyster reef related species recruited to the restored sites.

this study was to evaluate the abundance, antimicrobial susceptibil-ity (AMS), and genetic diversity of Vp in oysters during an oysterrelay study. Several SR trials (salinity ranging from 29-34 ppt.)were carried out in on-shore closed recirculating tanks and in theChesapeake Bay. After 7, 14 and 21 days of relaying, oysters wereanalyzed for Vp using Multiplex Real Time PCR. A total of 296isolates recovered from oysters before and during the 21 day re-laying study were tested for AMS to 20 different antibiotics usingmicro broth dilution and Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE)was used to study the genetic profiles of Vp. The initial levels of Vpranged from 3.70 to 5.64 log MPN/g with 1-3 log reductions afterrelaying. More than 30% and 8% of Vp isolates were resistant toat least one and multiple antimicrobials, respectively. All isolatesdemonstrated high genetic diversity, even among those isolatedfrom the same site and having a similar AMS profile. No signifi-cant effect of the high salinity on AMS or PFGE profiles of Vp wasobserved.

EFFECTS OF CONTROLLED, LARGE-SCALE REMOVALOF ZOSTERA JAPONICA ON ESTUARINE FAUNAKim Patten* and Scott NoreliusWashington State University, Long Beach Research and Ex-

tension Unit, 2907 Pioneer Road, Long Beach, Washington [email protected] experiments were done to evaluate the ecologi-

cal impacts of large-scale removal of Japanese eelgrass (Zosterajaponica) from tideflats of Willapa Bay, Washington. Complete-ly randomized replicated paired plots (0.2 to 2.0 ha in size) wereestablished using herbicide to remove Z. japonica. Treated anduntreated tideflats were compared over three years for differencesin populations of ichnyofauna, avifauna, and macrofauna. Plotswhere Z. japonica had been removed had seven times the densi-ty of ESA-listed green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) foragingpits compared to plots with Z. japonica. Based on kick net tran-sect surveys, there were no consistent differences between pairedsites with and without Z. japonica for small bottom-feeding foragefish, shrimp (Crangon septemspinosa), or Dungeness crab (Cancermagister). Avifauna were assessed by bird, fecal droppings and/orfeeding pit density. Dabbling ducks tended to forage more in Z.japonica plots than on plots where it was removed, but there wasno trend for shorebird usage. There were no treatment effects onthe populations of Mollusca and Arthropoda; however, Annelidabenthic fauna counts were higher in sediment with Z. japonica thanwhere it was removed. Greater than 90% of the annelid populationin Z. japonica sites consisted of the invasive Japanese polydoridtube worm, Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata. Removal of Z. ja-ponica did not affect Manila clam (Venerupis philippinarum) re-cruitment, but increased total clam yield and size at harvest.


and non-outbreak sites in 12 Philippine provinces. A total of 2,333core genes encoded in 2.30 Mb of sequence are conserved in allten reference whole genomes of the species. In silico subtractivehybridization of the core genes on the draft genomes of the 137isolates and 10 additional shrimp-associated V. parahaemolyticusstrains reveal a large collection of 31,000 protein-coding accessorygenes (present in 5% - 95% of the isolates). Obtained genomic in-formation was compounded with epidemiological data to generateknowledge on the occurrence, and regional and local transmissionpatterns of shrimp-isolated V. parahaemolyticus. A thorough un-derstanding of the nature of the genome of V. parahaemolyticuswill pave the way for the establishment of effective shrimp diseasemanagement interventions, such as the development of fast and af-fordable detection tools, which can preclude further severe lossesin shrimp production.

AREVIEWOF RECENT FISHERY-INDEPENDENTMONI-TORINGDATAFORBLUECRABS INTHEGULFOFMEX-ICO: THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN SETTLEMENT ANDSUBSEQUENT JUVENILEABUNDANCEHarriet Perry1*, Lillian Collins1, John Anderson1, DonaldJohnson1, Guillermo Sanchez-Rubio1, Rick Burris2, and TomWagner3

1Gulf Coast Laboratory, Research 703 East Beach, OceanSprings, Mississippi 39564 USA

2Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, 1141 BayviewAvenue, Biloxi, Mississippi 39530 USA

3Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 702 Navigation Circle,Rockport, Texas 78382 [email protected] from a fishery-independent study of blue crab (Callinectes

sapidus) settlement are reviewed to examine the relationship be-tween recruitment, measured as settlement, and subsequent abun-dances of juvenile blue crabs. Megalopal settlement data are de-rived from a series of collections taken in the years 1991-2001,2010, 2012, and 2014-2016 in the Biloxi and Belle Fountaine areasof Mississippi Sound. Published data attribute fluctuations in num-bers of settling megalopae to variations in seasonal wind forcingor basin-scale events associated with Loop Current (LC) intrusionsand spin-off of warm core eddies. Huge increases in settlementoccurred in the fall of 2016. Average daily settlement in October ofthat year exceeded 1,500 megalopae per day with a yearly averageof 652 per collector. Next highest yearly averages occurred in 1991with 655 megalopae/collector in August and a yearly average of295. In all other years, average annual catch was below 55 mega-lopae/collector. The large settlement events in 2016 did not resultin increased numbers of juvenile crabs in fishery-independent seineand trawl monitoring samples.

RECRUITMENT PATTERNS OF OLYMPIA OYSTER, OS-TREA LURIDA (CARPENTER 1864), IN THE GORGE WA-TERWAY—ENHANCEMENT FROM NEW BRIDGE PIL-INGSBen Pearse*, Laura Kravac, Sarah Schroeder, HeatherWright,Joachim Carolsfeld, and Louise Page434 Russel Street, Victoria, BC V9A 3X3, [email protected] Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida, is the only native oyster in

British Columbia and is listed as a species of Special Concern un-der the Species At Risk Act. Historically, Olympia oysters wereused as a food source for First Nations, but were virtually wiped outby 1920 due to their popularity during the gold rush and the intro-duction of other oyster species. The GorgeWaterway is a restrictedflow tidal inlet in Victoria, British Columbia, with a resilient nativeoyster population. Despite being at the centre of the oyster market,the Gorge Waterway has retained an anomalously large populationof Olympia oysters. Spat recruitment dynamics have been mon-itored for the last four years, including during construction of abridge with textured concrete pilings to foster oyster settlement.Significant settlement of oysters on these pilings since 2014 of upto 1,100 adult oysters per m² and an estimated 150,000 total oys-ters, has led to peak spatfalls in 2015, 2016, and 2017 of up to46,000 spat per m² – comparable to the highest on the Pacific Coast.Nevertheless, long-term survival is low, with nearly 80% of oysterson the bridge now deceased. The Gorge Waterway is potentially asubstantial natural hatchery of native oysters. We are seeding reef-balls to transfer to outer harbor locations for a pilot transfer.

THE CORE ANDACCESSORY GENOME OF VIBRIO PAR-AHAEMOLYTICUS, A PATHOGEN OF PENAEID SHRIMPSarah Mae U. Penir1,2,*and Cynthia P. Saloma1,2

1National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology,University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

2Philippine Genome Center, University of the Philippines Sys-tem, Quezon City, [email protected]/prawn are among the major export commodities of the

Philippines. One well-documented pathogen of penaeid shrimp isVibrio parahaemolyticus, a Gram-negative, halophilic bacteriumwith a single polar flagellum. Most environmental or seafood-iso-lated strains of V. parahaemolyticus are not pathogenic, but somestrains become capable of causing diseases due to the presenceof certain virulence factors. In order to gain insight on the patho-genicity of the strains of the bacterium, pangenome analysis wasimplemented on the assembled whole-genome sequences of 137V. parahaemolyticus isolates collected from the hepatopancreas ofpenaeid shrimp obtained from both outbreak (AHPND, lumines-cent vibriosis, WSSV-positive, outbreaks of unknown etiology)


sure to anoxia or bacterial stress alone. Concomitant anoxia andpathogen stress resulted in a significant increase in the hypoxia in-ducible factor-1α, lectin, and key antioxidant enzymes in oyster im-mune cells. In V. coralliilyticus, anoxia exposure led to a significantincrease of the expression of multiple virulence factors includingzinc-metalloprotease, type-two and type-six secretion systems, andgenes involved in bothAI-2 andAI-3 pathways of quorum sensing.Other putative virulence factors (hemolysin and flagella biosynthe-sis) were increased under normoxia. This indicates that differentvirulence factors are activated in normoxia and anoxia possiblycontributing to differential mortality of the hosts. Overall, we haveshown the importance of V. coralliilyticus as a potential pathogenfor adult oysters and indicate that anoxia may increase virulenceof this bacterium via increased intracellular signaling, thereby en-hancing host morbidity and mortality.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF WATER-FRONT INFRASTRUCTURE BY SHELLFISH GROWERSIN RHODE ISLAND: CHALLENGES FOR INDUSTRY SUS-TAINABILITYRead PorterRoger Williams University School of Law, Marine Affairs In-

stitute / Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program, 10 MetacomAve.,Bristol, Rhode Island 02809 [email protected] growers require waterfront infrastructure for a variety

of reasons, including for launching vessels, preparing and storinggear, loading and unloading product, and growing seed to a sizesuitable for growout. Inability to access this infrastructure poses areal threat to the economic sustainability of existing farms as wellas to the expansion of aquaculture in Rhode Island.This presentation will consider two ways in which laws and

regulations may impede shellfish grower access to waterfront in-frastructure. First, it will present research on restrictions on the useof public boat launches for commercial use. Imposition of such re-strictions, which are common in other coastal states, could leavesome Rhode Island growers without the ability to access their sitesor require substantially longer transit times. This study will presenta multi-state review of state laws on use of public boat launches toinform Rhode Island policy development.Second, the presentation will consider the impact of state and

local land use law on the availability of shellfish nursery facilities(notably FLUPSYs) in marinas. Nursery structures are a criticalresource for growers and in Rhode Island are often located in ma-rinas or dock complexes; however, these facilities may not wishto remain open to use by growers. This case study will discussstate coastal zone regulations and local ordinances that may affectwhether and how growers can use these areas.

FILTER-FEEDING BIVALVES CAN ENHANCE ZOSTERAMARINA REPRODUCTIVE OUTPUTBradley J. Peterson*, Lisa J. Jackson, and Bradley T. FurmanSchool of Marine andAtmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook Uni-

versity, New York 11790 [email protected] presence of suspension-feeding bivalves associated with

seagrass beds are known to increase porewater nutrients, which canbe used by seagrass to enhance vegetative leaf growth. To test for amorphological response of seagrass reproductive shoots to bivalvepresence, five small patch replicates (<2.0 m2) were selected withina developing Zostera marina meadow for each of six treatmentsincluding fertilizer addition, live hard clams, clam shell, clam shelland fertilizer, mussels, and ambient. Fertilizer stakes consisted ofa nutrient N:P:K ratio of 15:3:3 and were placed in the sediment inthe late fall 2013, early spring, and mid-summer. Live hard clamsand shells were placed in the patches at four times the density of thefertilizer in late fall. Mussel spat naturally settled in the patches inspring 2013, grew to adult sizes and migrated to sediment by latefall that year. In June 2014, at three consecutive week time-points,ten flowers per patch were collected and morphometrics analyzedas well as the stage of ovary development. Flower morphologyinfluencing seed output was altered, indicating bivalves’ naturalpresence in seagrass meadows could result in hot spots of reproduc-tive success with important ecological consequences for meadowdevelopment, maintenance and stability.

EFFECT OF ANOXIA ON THE VIRULENCE OF VIBRIOCORALLIILYTICUS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE MORTAL-ITY AND IMMUNE FUNCTION OF THE EASTERN OYS-TER, CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICABritney L. Phippen1*, Anna V. Ivanina1, Inna M. Sokolova2, andJames D. Oliver1

1University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Bio-logical Sciences, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, North Car-olina, 28223 USA

2University of Rostock, Department of Marine Biology, Press-estelle 18051 Rostock, [email protected] extent of the coastal dead zones is increasing with glob-

al warming which can increase oyster vulnerability to potentialpathogens. An important coral pathogen, Vibrio coralliilyticus hasrecently been shown to also cause infection of fish and shellfish,including eastern and Pacific oyster larvae. Thus, its effects onadult oysters under anoxic conditions was examined including hostmortality, immune response, and expression of genes involved invirulence and intracellular signaling by the pathogen. The combi-nation of V. coralliilyticus and anoxia resulted in 100% mortalityafter six days of exposure, with the first deaths occurring after justthree days. In contrast, 100% of oysters survived 18 days of expo-


ic DNA for expressed exon sequences. The new method eliminatesthe need for costly probe design and synthesis. Four adult easternoysters (Crassostrea virginica) were heat shocked at 36°C for onehour and four control oysters kept at ambient temperature. Strand-ed mRNA libraries were prepared for two exposed and two controlindividuals and pooled. Half of the combined library was used forprobe synthesis and half was sequenced to evaluate the efficiencyof capture. Genomic DNA from all eight individuals was enrichedvia captured probes, and sequenced directly. EecSeq had an aver-age capture sensitivity of 86.8% across all known exons and over99.4% sensitivity for expressed exons (i.e. exons with detectablelevels of mRNA expression). For all mapped reads, over 47.9%mapped to exons and 37.0% mapped to expressed targets, whichis similar to the success of capture in other species where probeswere designed from genomic resources. EecSeq displayed evencoverage within exons (i.e. no “edge effects”) and coverage uni-formly distributed across exon GC content. Across six replicatepools, 5,951 SNPs with a minimum average coverage of 80X werediscovered, with 3,508 SNPs appearing in exonic regions. EecSeqprovides comparable, if not superior, performance compared tocostly, traditional methods.

TRANSCRIPTOMIC RESPONSES TO DERMO DISEASEIN SUSCEPTIBLEAND RESISTANT EASTERN OYSTERSDina A. Proestou1*, Kathryn Markey Lundgren1, Jessica MossSmall2, and Standish K. Allen Jr.2

1USDAARS National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center,Shellfish Genetics Laboratory, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 USA

2Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Aquaculture Genetics andBreeding Technology Center, Gloucester Point, Virginia [email protected] resistance has long been a priority for eastern oyster

breeding programs, yet the lack of simple methods to directly mea-sure resistance limits genetic improvement of the trait. Laboratorychallenge experiments were conducted to identify Dermo-resistantand -susceptible phenotypes among selectively-bred oyster fami-lies. Five oysters per treatment from each of three phenotypicallydivergent families were sampled at multiple time points over thecourse of the experiment to characterize parasite load trajectoriesand gene expression profiles. Indexed TruSeq libraries were con-structed, pooled, and sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq, resultingin between 20 and 30 million reads per individual. Following QC,transcript abundances were quantified by mapping reads to thereference eastern oyster genome. Differences in gene expressionbetween families, among treatments within a family, and withinexposed treatments over time were evaluated using DESeq2. Thelargest number of differentially expressed genes (>2000) was de-tected in unexposed oysters from the different families. Four timesmore genes responded to exposure in the most resistant family

THE WARMING OF THE NORTHWEST ATLANTIC ASRECORDED BY THE OCEAN QUAHOG, ARCTICA IS-LANDICA,WITHANOTE ON CLIMATE CYCLESEric N. Powell1*, Sara Pace1, Roger Mann2, and J.M. Klinck3


2Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Rt. 1208 Greate Road,Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 USA

3Old Dominion University, Center for Coastal Physical Ocean-ography, Norfolk, Virginia 23529 [email protected] quahogs, the longest-lived, common non-colonial ma-

rine animal, support an important commercial fishery on the north-eastern continental shelf. Both geographic and temporal differenc-es (on a scale of decadal or longer) in growth rates exist throughoutthe range of the stock. Average growth rates increased significantlywith birth year at a New Jersey and a Long Island site, both locatedin the southwestern portion of the stock, since initial colonizationin the late 1700s, likely in response to increasing bottom watertemperatures. That is, growth rates vary temporally with birth date,with younger animals growing over twice as fast in recent decadesthan those born decades previously, whereas at more northern sitesoff southern New England and on Georges Bank, changes in growthrates through time are limited. The fact that ocean quahogs recordthe rise in ocean temperatures after the Little Ice Age southeastof southern New England, yet demonstrate no evidence of such arise in the southern New England and Georges Bank region, wouldsuggest a differential response of ocean circulation and its controlof bottom water temperature between the northern and southernportions of the Mid-Atlantic Bight over the last 200+ years. Be-sides a long-term rise in temperature, ocean quahogs record cyclicvariations related to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and theNorth Atlantic Oscillation, suggesting that these animals are a re-pository of information on the evolution of oceanic bottom watertemperatures on the Mid-Atlantic continental shelf since the end ofthe Little Ice Age.

EXPRESSED EXOME CAPTURE SEQUENCING(EECSEQ): A METHOD FOR COST-EFFECTIVE EXOMESEQUENCING OF NON-MODELORGANISMSJonathan B. Puritz1,2* and Kathleen E. Lotterhos1

1Northeastern University, Marine Science Center, 430 NahantRD. Nahant, Massachusetts 01908 USA

2University of Rhode Island, Department of Biological Scienc-es, 120 Flagg RD, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 [email protected] capture is an effective tool for surveying the genome for

loci under selection; however, traditional methods require a prioriknowledge of exon sequences from an annotated genome and/ortranscriptome. Here, a new method that creates cDNAprobes fromexpressed mRNA is presented, which is then used to enrich genom-


Marine polychaetes in several genera, including Polydora,Pseudopolydora, and Boccardia, are known to excavate burrowsin the shells of bivalves and other molluscs. While fascinating tonatural historians because of their unique burrowing habits, wormsthat inhabit the shells of commercially important shellfish are con-sidered pest species because their burrowing activity can negative-ly impact shellfish appearance, and severe infestations can lead toshellfish mortality. Using a combination of morphological analysesand sequencing of mitochondrial COX1 and nuclear 18S rRNAgenes, the taxonomic affinity of polydorids sampled from the shellsof scallops and oysters cultured at five shellfish farms located fromAlabama to Maine were examined. It was found that the most com-mon polydroid from these five farms was Polydora websteri andit was nearly identical at both genetic markers to P. websteri fromAsia and Australia. Samples of worms fitting the description of P.neocaeca were obtained from both scallops and oysters at one sitein Massachusetts. Morphological and molecular analyses suggestthat P. neoceaca from this site is identical to P. haswelli, a speciespreviously described from Japan. These same analyses provide evi-dence that worms sampled from one farm in Maine are identical toP. onagawaensis, another species first described from northeasternJapan. Taken together, the results of this study support the conclu-sions of Sato-Okoshi and others that shell-boring polychaetes in thegenus Polydora have been inadvertently transported worldwide asa consequence of the movement of non-native commercially im-portant shellfish.

IMPACTS OF TWO HARMFULALGAL BLOOM SPECIESON DIPLOID AND TRIPLOID LARVAL AND JUVENILEOYSTERSKimberly S. Reece1*, Patrice L.M. Hobbs1, William M. JonesIII1, Gail P. Scott1, Thomas M. Harris1,2 and Wolfgang K. Vo-gelbein1

1Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Department of AquaticHealth Sciences, The College of William and Mary, 1375 GreateRoad, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 USA

2Vanderbilt University, Chemistry Department, 7330 StevensonCenter, Nashville, Tennessee 37235 [email protected] summer blooms of Alexandrium monilatum and Margale-

fidinium (formerly Cochlodinium) polykrikoides have been partic-ularly intense and widespread throughout lower Chesapeake Bayin recent years. Reports of oyster mortalities, particularly of younganimals, from local aquaculturists during and immediately follow-ing these blooms have prompted laboratory studies with diploidand triploid C. virginica larvae and spat. Laboratory bioassays havedemonstrated acute dose dependent toxicity of York River A. moni-latum to both larvae and spat, and of M. polykrikoides to larvae.Diploid and triploid animals responded similarly to both HAB spe-

compared to the most susceptible family, with the most significant-ly differentially expressed transcripts associated with the negativeregulation of peptidase activity and proteolysis. In addition, dif-ferences in gene expression profiles between exposed and controltreatments were most pronounced at seven days post exposure. Us-ing transcriptome data to further characterize Dermo-resistant and–susceptible phenotypes will be discussed.

EFFECTS OF TUMBLING AND REFRIGERATION ONTHEABUNDANCE OF VIBRIO VULNIFICUS AND VIBRIOPARAHAEMOLYTICUS IN CULTURED OYSTERS (CRAS-SOSTREAVIRGINICA)Victoria L. Pruente1,2*, William C. Walton1, Jessica L. Jones2

1Auburn University, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, andAquatic Sciences, 203 Swingle Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849 USA

2Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Admin-istration, 1 Iberville Drive, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528 [email protected] oyster aquaculture involves routine handling that

exposes oysters to elevated temperatures. This can cause growth ofVibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) and V. vulnificus (Vv), which are bac-teria that are a public health concern when oysters are consumedraw. In this study, the effects of two common types of handling(tumbling and refrigeration) were examined on Vibrio levels inoysters both initially and after resubmersion. Both tumbling (tum-bled, T; or not, NT) and refrigeration (refrigerated overnight, R; ornot, NR) for four different experimental treatment combinations(TR, TNR, NTR, NTNR) were tested during a 24-hr removal fromthe water. Then, the recovery of Vp and Vv levels during a 14 dayresubmersion period was examined. A set of non-treated oystersthat remained submerged throughout the study was tested to mon-itor ambient Vibrio levels. Preliminary data revealed that Vp andVv levels in non-refrigerated oysters (TNR, NTNR) significantlyincreased from ambient levels (4.0 and 4.1 log MPN/g respective-ly) immediately post-treatment (Vp: 5.4 and 5.3 log MPN/g, Vv:5.1 and 5.5 log MPN/g respectively), while levels in refrigeratedoysters (TR, NTR) significantly increased after one day of re-sub-mersion (Vp: 5.2 and 5.5 log MPN/g, Vv: 5.2 and 5.5 log MPN/g,respectively). These data indicate that Vibrio levels in the treatedoysters recovered to levels similar to ambient (Vp: 4.4 log MPN/gram, Vv: 4.8 log MPN/g) after 4 days of re-submersion. Theseresults could help regulators make informed public health decisionsregarding farmed oysters.

MOLECULAR AND MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OFBIVALVE SHELL BORERS OF THE GENUS POLYDORAFROM THE EASTERN UNITED STATESPaul D. Rawson*, Lauren Rice, and Sara M. LindsayUnivesity of Maine, School of Marine Sciences, Orono, Maine

04469 [email protected]


concerns, oversights, weaknesses and alternatives. Presenters alsoseek to gauge the overall acceptance of implementing such a pro-gram from regulatory, industry and academic perspectives.

MAINTAINING LIVELIHOODSAND CULTURAL IDENTI-TYTHROUGH TRIBAL SHELLFISHAQUACULTURERalph Riccio*, Kelly Toy, Jim Parsons, and Kurt GrinnellJamestown S’Klallam Tribe, 1033 Old Blyn Highway, Sequim

Washington 98382 [email protected] and shellfish have been a mainstay of the Pacific North-

west Tribes for thousands of years and continue to be a crucial partof Tribal culture and economy. Obstructed water ways, degradedwater quality, increased harvest pressure and poaching have sub-stantially reduced fishery resources available to Pacific NorthwestTribes. While wild harvest opportunity continues to decline, aqua-culture provides a way for Tribes to maintain their livelihood andcultural identity. Supplementation of wild salmon runs and en-hancement of wild shellfish populations with hatchery producedoffspring have become standard practices to provide consistent op-portunities for both tribal and state harvesters alike; however, en-hancement of wild populations alone is not economically feasibleto sustain tribes, motivating many tribes to put effort into seafoodfarming. The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe has been involved withmodern aquaculture since 1990 and has steadily grown to includeoyster and geoduck farms as well as the establishment of shellfishhatcheries in Washington and Hawaii. The hatcheries produce oys-ter seed to stock the Tribal oyster farm in Sequim Bay, as well asfor commercial sale to tribal and non-tribal shellfish growers. TheJamestown S’Klallam Tribe is producing two premium oysters onthe farm for local and national markets, while also prioritizing en-hancement of tribal tidelands by out-planting clam and oyster seedfor commercial tribal harvest. The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’sunwavering focus on shellfish aquaculture is bolstering opportunityfor the Tribe and its citizens.

USINGNEXTGENERATION SEQUENCINGTO IDENTIFYPOTENTIALLOCALADAPTATION TO SALINITY IN THEEASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA, ALONGTHE LOUISIANAGULF COASTScott M. Riley1, Morgan W. Kelly1, Jerome F. La Peyre2, andMegan K. La Peyre3

1Louisiana State University, Department of Biological Sciences,Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 USA

2Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, School of Ani-mal Sciences, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 USA

3U.S. Geological Survey, Louisiana Fish and Wildlife Cooper-ative Research Unit, 124 School of Renewable Natural Resources,Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Lou-isiana 70803 [email protected]

cies. In all laboratory bioassays control mortality was less than 3%.Exposure to M. polykrikoides concentrations >1,000 cells/mL re-sulted in 80-100% larval mortality after 72-96 hr, while no mortali-ty was observed in spat after 96 hr of exposure toM. polykrikoidesat concentrations up to ~5,000 cells/mL. Exposure to A. monilatumat concentrations >1,000 cells/mL caused 80-100% larval mortalityafter 48 hr and 100% mortality at all concentrations after 72 hr.Oyster spat exposed to A. monilatum concentrations >800 cells/mL suffered 80-100% mortality after 72 hr. The toxin goniodominA, produced by A. monilatum, was isolated from York River wa-ter samples collected during blooms and was found to cause rapidmortality (i.e. within 24 hours) in larval oysters at a concentrationof 1 µg/mL. At a concentration of 0.1 µg/mL 100 % mortality wasobserved after 72 hr. Controlled laboratory and field studies arebeing done with juvenile and adult oysters to complement thesesmall-scale bioassays.

INTERACTIVE TALK: DEVELOPING A SHELLFISHHATCHERY BIOSECURITYCERTIFICATION PROGRAMRobert Rheault1*, David Bushek2, Lisa Calvo2, Ryan Carne-gie3, Karen Hudson3, and Lori Gustafson4

1East Coast Shellfish Growers Association, 1623 WhitesvilleRd., Toms River, New Jersey 08755 USA


3Virginia Institute of Marine Science, P.O. Box 1346, Glouces-ter Point, Virginia 23062 USA

4Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, USDAAPHISVeterinary Services, 2150 Centre Ave, Building B, Mail Stop2E6, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526 [email protected] series of facilitated workshops supported by National Sea

Grant, several state Sea Grant offices and the USDA APHIS Vet-erinary Services identified the development of a hatchery certifica-tion program as a key need to facilitate transfers of shellfish seed.Hatchery certification is a strategic action that can reduce the needfor expensive surveillance and costly batch certifications while pro-viding the biosecurity necessary to minimize disease transfer risk.Developing a viable hatchery certification system will increase reg-ulatory confidence and promote industry growth. The concept ofconvening a Hatchery Certification Working Group to develop ahatchery certification program was universally accepted by indus-try and regulators alike. The goal is to develop protocols that areboth protective of resources (cultured and wild stocks) and practi-cal for both users and regulators. To that end, a working group wascreated and the group seeks input to identify needs and concernsas they work to create a viable program for implementation in thenear future. In this interactive session, supported by NOAA SeaGrant 2017 Aquaculture Initiative, attendees will be introducedto the problem and the progress to date, then surveyed to identify


analysis on publically available transcriptomes of oysters chal-lenged with a variety of stimuli, including Oyster HerpesvirusOsHV-1, several Vibrio spp., Micrococcus luteus, Alliroseovariuscrassostreae CV919-312 (cause of Roseovarius Oyster Disease),and the probiotic bacterium Bacillus pumilus RI-695. Intra-speciesanalysis reveals unique apoptosis pathway responses between chal-lenges, and changes in functionally enriched pathways identifiedby Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. Bacterial challenge significant-ly enriched metabolic processes and chromosomal maintenancegenes. Viral challenge significantly enriched signal transductionand apoptosis inhibitors, with Inhibitor of Apoptosis 2 (IAP2) andsuppressor of cytokine signaling two most significantly differen-tially expressed. Transcripts from the expanded families IAP andGTPase of the Immune Associated Proteins (GIMAP) show dis-tinct patterns of expression depending on the nature of the immunechallenge. Cross-species comparison of apoptosis pathway expres-sion indicates promising genetic targets for pathway manipulationunder disease challenge and potential candidates for disease resis-tance markers.

IMPACTS OF TWO HARMFULALGAL BLOOM SPECIESONOYSTERSCULTURED INLOWERCHESAPEAKEBAYClara L. Robison*, Wolfgang K. Vogelbein, William G. Reay,Ryan B. Carnegie, Juliette L. Smith, and Kimberly S. ReeceVirginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and

Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 [email protected] impacts of harmful algal blooms (HAB) is cru-

cial for managing important resource species such as the easternoyster, Crassostrea virginica, in Chesapeake Bay (CB). Besidespotential toxic effects, blooms may incur physiological challeng-es associated with reduced feeding, or with bloom-associated hy-poxia. Two toxigenic dinoflagellates, Margalefidinium (formerlyCochlodinium) polykrikoides and Alexandrium monilatum, bloomsequentially most summers in lower CB. These blooms have in-creased in density and distribution in recent years, raising con-cerns particularly about effects on shellfish aquaculture. Previousresearch indicated that oysters may close and cease feeding toavoid exposure to A. monilatum; however, it is unknown whetherintertidal oysters, particularly juveniles with more limited energyreserves, are being forced to filter during blooms due to increasedrespiratory and nutritional demands during their more limited pe-riods of immersion, and whether these factors make oysters moresusceptible to detrimental effects. To address these questions, twosize classes of juvenile oysters were deployed subtidally and inter-tidally in 2017 at two HAB-endemic sites in lower CB and a third,reference site seldom impacted. Oyster growth rate, mortality, con-dition index, and histopathology were monitored throughout thebloom season, and oysters were sampled for quantification of phy-

Salinity plays a key role in controlling the distribution of east-ern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, a keystone species that providesfood, shelter, and nursery habitat for numerous species in Louisianaestuaries. Climate change induced precipitation patterns along withhuman freshwater diversion processes alter the frequency, location,and volume of freshwater inflow to estuaries, impacting salinityregimes where oysters thrive. To improve accuracy of predictedresponses of C. virginica to altered salinity regimes, oyster popula-tions were tested to see whether they are locally adapted to salinity.First, restriction site associated DNA sequencing was used to iden-tify potential genetic variants, single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs), in four populations of oysters with varying salinity: Ver-milion Bay (low salinity), Sister Lake (mid-salinity), Lake Fortuna(mid-salinity), and Calcasieu Lake (high salinity). Second, localadaptation to salinity was tested in a one-year reciprocal trans-plant experiment (three populations at three field sites) of juvenileoysters. Mortality data show definite differences as a function oftransplant site. After seven months of deployment, the Grand Isle(high salinity) deployment site shows the highest mortality acrossall three source populations, whereas the Sister Lake (mid-salinity)deployment site showed the lowest mortality. Preliminary sequencedata show outlier loci between two populations. It is expected tosee additional differences in SNP frequencies among the popula-tions with additional sequencing. A lab experiment showed thatoysters from a high salinity died faster at high salinity exposure(without acclimation). Identifying markers associated with salinitytolerance will assist in the selection of breeding stocks for use inrestoration or aquaculture.

DIFFERENTIALEXPRESSION OFAPOPTOSIS PATHWAYGENE FAMILIES IN RESPONSE TO IMMUNE CHAL-LENGE IN CRASSOSTREA GIGAS AND CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICAErin M. Roberts* and Marta Gomez-ChiarriUniversity of Rhode Island, Department of Fisheries, Animal,

and Veterinary Science, 120 Flagg Rd., Kingston, Rhode Island,02881 [email protected] eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, and Pacific oyster, C.

gigas, are affected by disease outbreaks which threaten industrysustainability and ecosystem function. Oysters rely on a complexinnate immune system characterized by several significantly ex-panded innate immune gene families. The genetically controlledpathway of programmed cell death, apoptosis, plays significantroles in immunity. Expansion of gene families involved in apopto-sis is confirmed in C. gigas and supported by C. virginica de novotranscriptomic studies. The role of apoptosis in disease resistancein these species is unknown. This study utilized the recently avail-able C. virginica genome to perform differential gene expression


AN ‘OMICS’APPROACH TO UNDERSTAND OYSTER-OS-HV-1 INTERACTIONSUmberto Rosani1*, Miriam Abbadi2, Stefania Domeneghetti1,and Paola Venier1

1University of Padova, Department of Biology, 35121 Padua,Italy

2Istituto Zooprofilattico Delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, [email protected] family of double-stranded DNA, Malacoherpesviridae, in-

cludes viruses able to infect marine molluscs, detrimental for theaquaculture production worldwide. Due to the uniqueness of theevolutionary race between these viruses and their mollusc hosts,little is known about the origin of Malacoherpesviridae, their bi-ology, and molecular steps crucial for pathogenicity. Therefore, in-novative research approaches are urgently needed in support to theaquaculture expectations.An omics approach has the potential to finely resolve

host-pathogen interactions, especially when new data derive fromcomplementary technologies and targeted functional testing.Transcriptomics, in particular dual RNA-seq of OsHV-1-infectedoysters, has revealed common virus expression patterns denotingthe burst of viral proteins in the lytic phase as well as the oystercountermeasures to the viral infection. For instance, the expressionpatterns of viral ORF107 and ORF104, still functionally unknown,candidate them as key viral proteins for additional studies. Refine-ments of RNA library preparations further support the OsHV-1genome annotation and also the search of small RNAs. Comple-mentary to transcriptomics, shotgun DNA sequencing of infectedoysters farmed in Italy allowed the whole-genome resolution of anew OsHV-1 variant. Among other genome features, the presenceof several single nucleotide polymorphisms suggest them as driv-ing factors of the differential pathogenicity of OsHV-1 strains.

DISCARD MORTALITY OF SEA SCALLOPS (PLACO-PECTEN MAGELLANICUS) FOLLOWING CAPTURE ANDHANDLING IN THE SEA SCALLOPDREDGE FISHERYDavid B. Rudders1, SallyA. Roman1*, Ryan J. Knotek2,5, JamesA. Sulikowski3, John A. Mandleman2, and Hugues T. Benoît4

1Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 1375 Greate RoadGloucester Point, Virginia, USA

2John H. Prescott Marine Laboratory, New England Aquarium,Central Wharf, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

3University of New England, Marine Science Center, 11 HillsRoad, Biddeford, Maine, USA

4Gulf Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Moncton,NB E1C 9B6, Canada

5University of Massachusetts Boston, School for the Environ-ment, Boston, Massachusetts, [email protected] of sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) in the

Northeast U.S. sea scallop fishery occurs during the capture han-dling process (CHP). The study provides an estimate of short-term

cotoxin concentration in tissues. Algal concentrations in the waterwere monitored, and temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygenwere measured continuously. Although significant oyster mortalitywas not observed, results indicated reduced growth of experimentalanimals during the bloom period. Further analyses are underwayto help resolve whether other sub-lethal bloom impacts on oystersmay have occurred.

EFFECTS OF SURFACE SURFACTANTS ON PARTICLECAPTURE, EFFICIENCY, AND CLEARANCE RATES OFTHE BLUE MUSSEL (MYTILUS EDULIS)Maria Rosa*1, J. Evan Ward2, Yoselin Flores3, Katie Sierra4,and Brian Torres5

1Stony Brook University, Department of Ecology and Evolu-tion, Stony Brook, New York 11794 USA

2University of Connecticut, Marine Sciences Department, Gro-ton, Connecticut 06340 USA

3University of Illinois, Department of Biological Sciences, Chi-cago, Illinois 60607 USA

4Northport Senior High School, Northport, New York 11768USA

5Brentwood High School, Brentwood, New York 11717 [email protected] capture of particles by bivalve molluscs is dependent on

particle encounter and retention on the gill filaments, with severalfactors influencing this process. Generally, smaller particles (i.e.,0.1 to 4 µm) are more difficult for most bivalves to capture, butspecies-specific differences in gill structures can mediate captureefficiencies. Over the past 30 years, different types of microsphereshave been used to examine aspects of particle capture and inges-tion by bivalves. Critics have posited that manufactured particlesmay contain surfactants, chemicals commonly used in the manu-facturing of plastics to reduce surface tension, which could producespurious capture and ingestion rates. The goal of this work was toexperimentally assess whether the presence of different types ofsurfactants on manufactured polystyrene particles can result in al-tered capture efficiencies (CE) and clearance rates (CR) in the bluemussel Mytilus edulis. The effects of three different types of com-mon surfactants (Sodium dodecyl sulfate, Benzalkonium chloride,and Triton-x) and a control (no surfactant) were tested. Polystyrenemicrospheres were incubated at a saturating solution (0.2 mg/ml) ofeach surfactant prior to use. There was no effect of surfactant treat-ment on CR. Treatment with Triton-X significantly lowered CE forall microspheres tested (3, 6, 10 µm), but there were no significantdifferences in CE for the other types of surfactants tested comparedto the control treatment. These data add to our understanding aboutparticle handling by bivalves, and suggest that residual amountsof surfactants found on commercially available microspheres havelittle effect on feeding processes.


PRESENT STATUS OF MANGROVE ECOSYSTEMS INMEXICO, WITH NOTES ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE ANDCONSERVATION CHALLENGES, REGARDING NATU-RALANDANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTSArturo Ruiz-Luna* and CésarA. Berlanga-RoblesLaboratorio de Manejo Ambiental, Centro de Investigación en

Alimentación y Desarrollo (CIAD),A.C. Mazatlán, Sinaloa, [email protected] are present in all the seventeen Mexican coast-

al states, ranging from 30 to almost 200,000 hectares by state,amounting together >775 000 hectares, that make Mexico one ofthe top five countries in mangrove extent. There have been a lotof irregularities in the historic mangrove cover assessment, but theuse of remote sensing and GIS techniques in recent dates, situatesMexican mangroves as some of the less deteriorated, with losses of0.26% by year since 1980, compared with the world rate (1.38%since 2000). Official data also reveal that only 2.4% of the currentextent is seen as deteriorated. Despite this, there is a generalizedconcern on mangrove conservation, and public and private agen-cies to give support to research projects, mostly focused on inven-torying and monitoring issues. It has been documented that globalchange and some economic activities are endangering the man-grove cover, but unlike many other regions in the world, shrimpaquaculture is not the main cause of mangrove deforestation inMexico, while agriculture and extensive cattle breeding, as well asurban growth, together with the sea rise level, have been signaledas the main menaces for this cover. Unfortunately, mangrove refor-estation and restoration practices have failed or succeeded only atvery low-scale, maintaining mangrove protection plans as the mosteffective conservation strategy.

OLYMPIA OYSTER PRODUCTION AND RESEARCH ATTHE KENNETH K. CHEWCENTER FOR SHELLFISH RE-SEARCHAND RESTORATIONStuart K. Ryan*1,2, Ryan N. Crim1,2, Brian Allen1,2, and BetsyPeabody1,2

1Puget Sound Restoration Fund, 382WyattWay NE, BainbridgeIsland, Washington 98110 USA

2Kenneth K. Chew Center for Shellfish Research and Resto-ration, 7305 Beach Dr. E., Port Orchard, Washington 98366 [email protected] May of 2014, The Kenneth K. Chew Center for Shellfish

Research and Restoration was dedicated at the NOAAManchesterResearch Station. Operated by the Puget Sound Restoration Fund(PSRF), the facility was built as a joint venture between the PSRFand NOAA. Since then, PSRF has produced over 8 million geneti-cally diverse Olympia oyster seed and spat-on-shell for restoration.Additionally, PSRF, University of Washington, NOAA and otherpartners have studied the effects of ocean acidification, genetic di-versity, broodstock conditioning, and grow-out methods for Olym-pia oysters. This presentation will cover the methods, successes,failures and lessons learned from 4 years of growing Olympia oys-ters and the results of some of these studies.

discard mortality (DM) for scallops. Sea trials were completed in2015 onboard commercial fishing vessels in the Mid-Atlantic andGeorges Bank. A subset of scallops was monitored in a deck tanksystem to determine time of mortality. A vitality assessment con-sisting of assessing shell damage (SD) and response to stimuli wascompleted after the CHP to determine the health/vigor of scallops.SD and stimuli responses were grouped into health indicator classi-fications (HIC). Kaplan-Meier analysis and survival mixture mod-els (SMM) were used to estimate survival and the effects of othervariables on survival. The estimated survival rate was 81 percent,although survival varied significantly among HIC groups. SMMsindicated HIC, SD, exposure time and bottom type contributed toincreased DM.

INVESTIGATION OF THE SCALLOP NEMATODE, SUL-CASCARIS SULCATA: DISTRIBUTION, SEASONALITY,SHEDDING, TRANSMISSION, THERMAL TOLERANCE,AND HOST IMPACTDavid B. Rudders1*, Sally Roman1, Robert Fisher1, DavidBushek2, Daphne Munroe2, Eleanor Bochenek2, and Emily Mc-Gurk2

1Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William andMary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, USA

2Rutgers University, Haskins Shellfish Laboratory, Port Norris,New Jersey, [email protected] Atlantic sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, is one of

the most valuable fisheries along the east coast of the United States.In spring 2015, a high frequency of scallops landed from recentlyopened mid-Atlantic management areas exhibited exterior adduc-tor muscle lesions. Similar reports occurred in May 2003, but thosequickly waned whereas the 2015 reports expanded. Morphologicaland molecular evidence identified an ascarid nematode worm (Sul-cascaris sulcata) as the cause; a species that utilizes benthic mol-luscs as intermediate hosts and marine turtles (loggerhead (Carret-ta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas)) as definitive hosts.During 2016 and 2017, the basic biology and ecology of the

parasite was investigated using a region-wide resource assessmentsurvey as a research platform. Results support the life cycle report-ed in the literature with approximately 29% of lesions containinga larval nematode. Larger scallops were more likely to have morelesions and more nematodes. Ancillary observations indicated in-fected scallops had a higher mortality rate that increased with thenumber of lesions observed. Direct transmission was not observedamong live scallops nor from shucked meats even though nema-todes extracted from lesions survived for weeks at ambient collec-tion site temperatures up to room temperature. Nematodes diedwithin a few hours at 37oC and within seconds above 50oC. Overthe two-year study period, the parasite continues to be observedwith a moderate spatial expansion. While many questions remainunanswered, biological and environmental conditions appear tohave created a situation that supports the persistence of S. sulcatain the mid-Atlantic Bight.


THE EFFECTS OFTAURINE ONMANGANESEACCUMU-LATIONS IN GILL OF THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRAS-SOSTREAVIRGINICARafael Santos1*, Emmanuel Agyei2, Elvin Griffith, Jr.3, Marga-ret A. Carroll2, and Edward J. Catapane2

1Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Blvd.,Brooklyn, New Yorik 11235 USA


3Notre Dame High School, 1 Notre Dame Way, West Haven,Connecticut 06516 [email protected] is a neuroprotective against some neurodegenerative

diseases. Manganese causes Manganism, which often is confusedwith Parkinson’s disease. Manganism has no effective treatment.The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, has a serotonergic-do-paminergic innervation of gill lateral cells (GLC). Manganese dis-rupts the dopaminergic innervation and taurine protects against thisdisruption. We hypothesize taurine reduces manganese accumula-tions in gill or enhances manganese removal from gill. This wastested by treating gills 2 days with taurine, manganese, or taurineand manganese (500 µM each) and analyzing samples by Atom-ic Absorption Spectroscopy. Manganese treatments caused highermanganese accumulations compared to controls or taurine treat-ments. Co-treated with taurine and manganese had no significantdifference in manganese accumulations compared to manganesetreatments alone suggesting taurine does not block manganese ac-cumulation into gill. To determine if taurine removes manganesefrom gill, gills were treated 2 days with manganese (500 µM),rinsed, then treated 2 days with taurine or EDTA (0.5 to 2.5 mMeach). EDTAwas effective at removing manganese from gill (80%compared to controls). Taurine treatments were effective to a lesserdegree, removing 25%. The study shows while taurine did not pre-vent manganese accumulations, it did remove manganese, similarto how chelating agents treat metal toxicity. Considering taurine isa natural biological component and shows success as a protectiveagent in other neurodegenerative diseases, more studies are neededto determine if taurine would be an effective and safer therapeuticagent for clinical treatment of Manganism.

APRELIMINARYASSESSMENTOFTHE ECONOMIC IM-PACT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECREATIONAL SCAL-LOP SEASON IN HERNANDO COUNTY, FLORIDABrittany J. Scharf1*, Charles Adams2, and Stephen P. Geiger3

1University of Florida, Florida Sea Grant, 16110 Aviation LoopDrive, Brooksville, Florida 34604 USA

2University of Florida, Florida Sea Grant, Building 803 McCa-rty Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA

3Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and WildlifeConservation Commission, 100 8thAve SE, St. Petersburg, Florida33701 [email protected]

EVALUATION OFMARINE BACTERIA THROUGH IN VI-TROAND IN VIVO ASSAYS AND THEIR POTENTIAL USEAS FEED ADDITIVE AND PROBIOTIC AGENT AGAINSTPATHOGENIC VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS (AHPND)INWHITE SHRIMP, LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEIRicardo Sánchez-Díaz1,2*, Rosa A. Ocampo-Ayala1, Diana P.Herrera-Patiño1, Zinnia J. Molina-Garza2, Lucía E. Crúz-Suárez3, Bruno Gómez-Gil4, Lucio Galavíz Silva2, and José C.Ibarra-Gámez1

1Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, Departamento de CienciasAgronómicas y Veterinarias; 5 de Febrero # 818 Sur Col. CentroCP 85000, Cd. Obregón Sonora, México

2Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de CienciasBiológicas, Laboratorio de Patología Molecular; Pedro de Alba,San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México

3Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de CienciasBiológicas, Programa Maricultura; Pedro de Alba, San Nicolás delos Garza, Nuevo León, México

4CIAD, Mazatlán Unit for Aquaculture and EnvironmentalManagement, AP 711, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mé[email protected], Asian and Mexican shrimp farming are facing the

acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), which causes80-100% mortality in shrimp, resulting in large economic losses.The potential of marine bacteria as bioactive producers or probi-otics is an alternative to control aquatic diseases. The aim of thisstudy was to evaluate antagonistic activity of marine bacteria, anddetermine the survival of shrimp L. vannamei fed with a diet cov-ered with bacteria, prior to challenge with AHPND pathogenic V.parahaemolyticus.Marine heterotrophic bacteria were collected from the coast of

Sonora, Mexico. In vitro antagonism was evaluated by cross streak,double layer and broth co-culture, with AHPND pathogenic V. par-ahaemolyticus strains MC32, B25, E14V2; and ATCC 17802. Fiveisolates were selected, characterized and identified (16S rRNA) as:36R, 42 and 13L, Gram (+) spore forming rods, belonging to Ba-cillus genus; 36Y and 02Y, Gram (–) rods, related to Pseudoaltero-monas. None of them produced chitinases. During 21 days shrimpwere fed with bacterial covered diet, in six treatments by triplicatewith eight shrimp (1.6 g) in 30 L aquaria. Pathogenic strain MC32was used for immersion challenge (1.4 x 108 UFC/mL). The cu-mulative mortality was recorded: T1-36R (45%), T2-13L (54%),T3-36Y (54%), T4-Mix 136R-13L (25%), C+ (88%), C- (4%);statistically significant differences were found between treatments(ANOVA, p<0.05). The pathogen was confirmed by real-time PCRand histopathology. Shrimp fed with bacteria demonstrated im-provement in survival compared with control.This Bacillus and Pseudoalteromonas could be an effective

probiotic or biocontrol agent against harmful bacteria in shrimpculture.


nationwide permits, the Endangered Species Act, public access,managing use conflicts, and the challenges of operating in federalwaters; and 3) a roundtable discussion where participants will beable to ask panel members questions, provide feedback, and identi-fy potential interest areas that may warrant further attention.The goal of this project is to equip scientists, management

officials, industry members, and other interested parties with theknowledge needed to anticipate and overcome regulatory barriersto shellfish aquaculture. Participation in this session will help pre-senters create a “toolbox” of resources identifying common issuesand solutions that those parties can utilize—advancing aquacultureon the state and local levels as a result.

VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS MANAGEMENT FOROYSTERS IN MASSACHUSETTSChristopher A. Schillaci1,2, Stephen Jones1, Cheryl Whistler3,and Diane Regan2

1University of New Hampshire, Department of Natural Re-sources and the Environment, 46 College Rd, 208 Rudman HallnDurham New Hampshire, USA

2Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, 251 Causeway StBoston, Massachusetts, USA

3University of New Hampshire, Department of Molecular, Cel-lular, and Biomedical Sciences, 46 College Rd, 208 Rudman Hall,Durham, New Hampshire, [email protected] meet National Shellfish Sanitation Program and federal Food

and Drug Administration standards pertaining to the harvest andhandling of oysters and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp.) the Massa-chusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and MassachusettsDepartment of Public Health (DPH) adopted control measures in2012 intended to deter the post- harvest growth of Vp. in oysters.Historically Vp. cases in Massachusetts (MA) have been rare andthe relatively cool waters and high salinities in MA harvest areashave not been considered particularly conducive to high levels ofVp. in shellfish. As a result of increased oyster production, warm-ing air and water temperatures, and the introduction of a highlypathogenic strain of Vp. into MAwaters this is no longer true. Since2011 MA has experienced a significant increase in the occurrenceof Vp. illness related to the consumption of raw oysters resultingin harvest area closures, recalls and considerable economic loss tothe oyster industry. Field studies were conducted to validate exist-ing Vp. control measures and aquaculture industry practices in MAto determine their impact on Vp. levels in oysters. Environmen-tal conditions were also reviewed, background Vp. levels, harvestpractices, and production levels in areas implicated in Vp. cases inefforts to develop proactive management strategies for Vp in Mas-sachusetts.

Recreational scalloping has become an increasingly popularactivity within the Big Bend region and Hernando County is thesouthern extent of healthy, harvestable bay scallop populations. Aprevious study found that the recreational scallop fishery gener-ated numerous jobs and $1.6 million in economic impact to theeconomy of neighboring Citrus County. State resource managersand County administrators expressed a need to know how the rec-reational scallop fishery impacts local economies. Surveys weredeveloped by Florida Sea Grant to estimate the expenditures asso-ciated with a recreational scallop fishing trip. These surveys wereadministered either by in-person interviews at boating ramps, viaon-line completion, or by postal mail-back. A total of 264 surveyswere completed. The surveys collected information on numbers ofharvesters, resident vs non-resident status, expenditures and wherethose expenditures occurred, week-day vs weekend activity. TheFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission simultane-ously collected information on recreational effort via flyovers andadditional ramp surveys. The data sets provide an estimate of thetotal number of recreational scallop trips that launched from Her-nando County, as well as the total amount of associated expendi-tures. That information was entered into the University of FloridaIMPLAN model, which provided an estimate of the economic im-pact to the Hernando County economy associated with recreationalscalloping. Such information will help managers better understandthe benefits this popular activity generates on a local and state ba-sis. Data will also aid estimates of mortality, which will be usefulin managing harvest.

SHELLFISH LEASING AND PERMITTING WORKSHOP:CASE STUDIES FOR OVERCOMING COMMON LEGALBARRIERSLisa SchiavinatoCalifornia Sea Grant, UC San Diego, Scripps Institution of

Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC #0232, La Jolla, Califor-nia 92093-0232 [email protected] and permitting issues are consistently ranked as a critical

impediment to domestic aquaculture development. The shellfish in-dustry is growing in coastal areas, which are home to more than halfof the population of the continental United States. A variety of legalconflicts can arise as states seek to encourage the development andexpansion of shellfish aquaculture. The regulatory landscape facingthe aquaculture industry can also be confusing and complicated.In 2017, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

funded a multi-institutional, national collaboration to examine im-pediments to shellfish aquaculture across the United States. In thissession, project partners will share preliminary research findingsand facilitate a dialogue to inform research and outreach efforts.Specifically, this session will include: 1) a general overview of le-gal challenges to shellfish aquaculture operations; 2) presentationsof multiple national and state case studies covering topics such as


ters to further minimize the threat to human health. Rhode Islandoyster aquaculture is predominated by subtidal culture; however,the depth of the water column over the oyster cultured on the bot-tom varies not only with the tidal cycle, but with the location of thefarm. Many farms are also using floating bags as a culture method,but oysters in floating bags experience a different environment thanoysters grown just off the sediment. This project aimed to deter-mine the differences between Vp/Vv abundance and occurrence incultured oysters grown in intertidal, shallow and deep water en-vironments, as well as in surface bags over the same sample sitesduring the course of two years (2016-2017) in five locations inRhode Island. Preliminary findings from this study will be pre-sented.

HABITAT COMPLEXITY MEDIATES PREDATOR-BI-VALVE INTERACTIONS IN CHESAPEAKE BAYRochelle D. Seitz1* and Cassandra N. Glaspie2

1Virginia Institute of Marine Science, The College ofWilliam &Mary, PO Box 1346, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062, USA

2Oregon State University, 104 Nash Hall, Corvallis, Oregon97331, [email protected] Chesapeake Bay, the soft shell clam Mya arenaria exhibits

population declines when predators are active, and it can persist atlow densities. In contrast, the hard clam Mercenaria mercenariahas a stable population and age distribution. The potential for habi-tat and predators to drive densities and distributions of bivalves wasexamined in field caging and laboratory mesocosm experiments.In the field, clams exposed to predators experienced 76.3% greatermortality as compared to caged individuals, and blue crabs werelikely responsible for most of the mortality of juvenileM. arenaria.In mesocosm experiments, M. arenaria had lower survival in sandand seagrass than in shell hash or oyster shell habitats. Crabs oftenfailed to consume one or more prey items in seagrass, shell, andoyster shell habitats, suggesting that more-complex habitat such asseagrass may serve as a low-density refuge for M. arenaria. Pred-ator search times and encounter rates declined when prey were atlow densities, likely due to the added cost of inefficient foragingcausing crabs to give up; this effect was more pronounced for M.arenaria than for M. mercenaria. Higher survival rates were ob-served for M. mercenaria than M. arenaria in mesocosm experi-ments, likely because predators feeding on M. mercenaria spentless time foraging than those feeding onM. arenaria. The soft shellclam may retain a low-density refuge from predation even with theloss of structurally complex habitats, though a loss of habitat ref-uge may result in clam densities that are not sustainable. A betterunderstanding of density-dependent predator-prey interactions isnecessary to conserve marine resources.

PACIFIC RAZOR CLAM AND DUNGENESS CRAB FISH-ERYMANAGEMENT CHALLENGES ON THE WASHING-TON COASTErvin Joe SchumackerQuinault Department of Fisheries, Quinault Indian Nation, P.O.

Box 189, Taholah, Washington 98587 [email protected] Quinault Indian Nation, located on the coast of Washington

State, manages and co-manages shellfish resources including eco-nomically and culturally important fisheries for Pacific razor clams(Siliqua patula) and Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister). Thefisheries for both of these species are dependent on natural spawnsand survival and recruitment of young animals into the fishery.Recent changes in environmental conditions including large stormevents, seasonal hypoxia and ocean acidification combined with in-creasing predation by sea otters (Enhydra lutis) and, most recently,gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) are impacting populations ofboth species and challenging biologists to better understand sourc-es of mortality at an ecosystem level. A large area of the Washing-ton coast, once highly productive Dungeness crab habitat, is nowconsidered a “crab desert” by fishermen and razor clam populationsin the same area have recently suffered extremely large juvenilemortality events.Information on tribal fishery management, recent population

data and environmental conditions will be presented. Ongoingprojects including seasonal hypoxia research, ocean acidificationresearch and predator observations will also be discussed. The pre-sentation is meant to encourage discussion of current and potentialfuture challenges to west coast shellfish management.

THE ABUNDANCE AND OCCURRENCE OF VIBRIO INCULTURED OYSTERS GROWN AT VARIOUS DEPTHSWITHIN THEWATER COLUMNAbigail K. Scro*, M. Victoria Agnew, and Roxanna SmolowitzRoger Williams University, Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory, 1

Old Ferry Rd, Bristol, Rhode Island 02809 [email protected] warming is quickly increasing the average water tem-

peratures of Narragansett Bay and coastal ponds of Rhode Island(RI). As the RI estuary and marine waters continue to warm overthe coming years, it is probable that the abundance of Vibrio par-ahaemolyticus (Vp) and Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) will also increase.Vibrio are gram-negative, halophilic bacteria that are found natu-rally in the marine environment. While Vp and Vv are not patho-genic for oysters, they can affect humans who consume raw or un-dercooked oysters. Although methods are currently in use in RI tomanage Vibrio levels, it is probable that other types of managementmethods can be developed and used in aquacultured and fished oys-


as 15 individuals from the sister species, O. conchaphila. DNAfrom these samples were used to construct reduced representationGenotype-by-Sequencing libraries (GBS) and genotype thousandsof single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). Principal componentanalysis, model-based approaches (e.g. Structure), and TreeMixindicate significant population structure at a regional level, as wellas evidence for “human-assisted” migration. Using EEMS (Esti-mated Effective Migration Surfaces) to visualize spatial populationstructure, we have identified geographic regions with reduced geneflow. Although this method cannot distinguish between differentscenarios that could produce the observed spatial structure, it sup-ports the rejection of both a continuous IBD model and the nullmodel of no significant genetic structure.

VARIATION IN RESPONSE TO OCEAN ACIDIFICATIONAMONGOLYMPIAOYSTERS FROMCALIFORNIA, ORE-GON, AND BRITISH COLUMBIAKatherine Silliman1*, Sean Bennett2, and Steven B. Roberts3

1University of Chicago, Committee on Evolutionary Biology,1025 E. 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637 USA

2Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer ResearchCenter, Seattle, Washington 98105 USA

3University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ences, 1122 Boat Street, Seattle, Washington 98105 [email protected] the next century, rapid environmental change due to an-

thropogenic stressors is likely to be a serious concern for manymarine species. Calcifying invertebrates in particular are expectedto be impacted by ocean acidification- the reduction in ocean pHdue to the uptake of anthropogenic CO2. The Olympia oyster (Os-trea lurida) is patchily distributed from California to the centralcoast of Canada, extending over an environmental “mosaic” of pHregimes. Whether this tolerance is primarily due to plasticity, localadaptation, or balanced polymorphism is largely unknown. Previ-ous work on O. lurida in California and Puget Sound has indicatedthat populations can diverge in heritable fitness-related traits onspatial scales as small as 20 km. Genomic data suggests that thedemographic population structure of Olympia oysters consists ofseven broad geographic regions. In order to better understand thespatial scale of adaptation in this species and characterize varia-tion in response to ocean acidification, oysters from three differentregions were brought together for a common garden experiment(San Francisco, CA, Coos Bay, OR, and Ladysmith Harbour, BC).After acclimating to common conditions for nine months, oystersfrom each population were exposed to two different pH levels (7.4and 7.8) for seven weeks in the fall of 2016. Tissue samples (gills,mantle, and adductor muscle) were taken from oysters prior to re-ducing the pH, after 36 hours, and after seven weeks in order tocompare gene expression responses from both an acute and a pro-longed acidification stress.

THE COSTS OF REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ONWESTCOAST SHELLFISH FARMS: EFFECTS AND IMPACTSON PRODUCERSJonathan van Senten* and Carole R. EngleVirginia Tech Seafood AREC, 102 S. King St., Hampton, Vir-

ginia 23669 [email protected] the end of 2016, a survey to assess the costs and im-

pacts of regulations affecting shellfish aquaculture on the westcoast was conducted. While producers widely acknowledged theimportance of regulations, specifically with regards to environmen-tal protection and food safety; many also reported indirect costs ofregulatory compliance in their business. Results from the study arenow available, and there are several economic effects that were ob-served during interviews and from data analysis that are worthy ofnote. These included significant impacts to business developmentand planning resulting from permit and licensing delays, with 25%of respondents reporting to wait a year or more for a permit to beapproved or processed; some delays lasting up to 20 years. Cashflow interruptions from missed planting or harvest windows; withsmall scale producers being particularly vulnerable to cash flowinterruptions. Increased legal fees and administrative costs, andlost sales or missed opportunities for expansion and diversification;40% of respondents indicated they were unable to expand theiroperations, despite increased demand for shellfish. In addition tothese impacts, some producers also reported lost investment capitaldue to regulatory uncertainty, and the labor challenges of ensuringregulatory compliance as a small business.

POPULATION GENOMICSAND PHYLOGEOGRAPHYOFTHE OLYMPIAOYSTERKatherine Silliman1*and Doug Eernisse2

1University of Chicago, Committee on Evolutionary Biology,1025 E. 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637 USA

2California State University, Department of Biological Scienc-es, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, California [email protected] the evolutionary processes that cause popula-

tions to diverge genetically and phenotypically is crucial to predict-ing how species will respond to rapid global environmental change.The Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida, is patchily distributed fromCalifornia to the central coast of Canada, extending over strongenvironmental clines and mosaics that are typically considered nec-essary for local adaptation to occur. Before testing hypotheses ofadaptation, however, the underlying demographic population struc-ture must be described. This pattern could be consistent with a nullmodel of no significant population structure, a continuous isola-tion-by-distance (IBD) model, or contain regional blocks of geneticsimilarity separated by barriers to gene flow. Adult Olympia oys-ters were sampled across 20 sites from Klaskino Inlet, VancouverIsland (50° 17’ 55”) to San Diego Bay, CA (32° 361’ 9”), as well


provide useful information to farmers or aquaculture consultants,namely: (i) oyster spat growth and body weight evolution overtime, (ii) food availability within the farming system over time,and (iii) stock biomass over time.All the model developments werebased on scientific knowledge, and validation was carried out withthree experimental data sets from the literature, showing significant(p<0.05) agreements (r = 0.895, n = 7; r = 0.997, n = 6; r = 0.976,n = 4) between the simulated and observed oyster biomass. Hereinthe authors illustrate the model application in a commercial nurs-ery. A set of what-if scenarios relevant to the farm were run withthe model. The model outputs supported the quantification of theimpact of key-factors for the production optimization, guiding theoperational management.

DIFFERENCES IN MITOTIC INSTABILITY BETWEENCHEMICAL AND MATED TETRAPLOID LINES OF THEEASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICAJoana Teixeira de Sousa*and Standish K. Allen Jr.Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Aquaculture Genetics and

Breeding Technology Center, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062,[email protected] creation of tetraploid brood stock to support the commercial

production of triploids has become a successful technique in aqua-culture of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica. It is well knownthat triploid oysters have several advantages for oyster culture,such as reduced gonadal development, allowing for higher growthrates and superior market quality during the reproductive season.In order to produce tetraploids, chemical triploids are grown for2-3 years in order to obtain exceptional triploids that produce eggs,which will be used to induce “chemical” tetraploids (4C). Thesetetraploids grow for 1-2 years and can be bred to themselves, cre-ating mated tetraploids (4M). As novel genetic constructs, tetra-ploids undergo chromosome loss. This chromosome loss seems tobe of little consequence to commercial triploids but for propagationof tetraploid lines over time, chromosome loss is problematic. Theobjective of this study was to document differences in chromo-some loss between 4C and 4M tetraploids available in the breedingprogram of Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Cen-ter. The 4C line (4C XBSL is a founder tetraploid line (F0) from2013 and the 4M – a tenth generation line, 4MGEN from 2014(F10). Levels of aneuploidy were significantly different betweenthe two lines, with the chemical tetraploids having the highest lev-els (58.5%) compared to the mated ones (39.5%). Moreover, 4Cindividuals tended to have more chromosome clumps in their cells,which is compatible with the hypothesis of ongoing chromosomeloss. Understanding the nature of chromosome loss is essential forthe ABC tetraploid breeding strategy.

SHELLFISH DISEASE WORKSHOP – MANAGING YOURFARM TO REDUCE THE RISKRoxanna Smolowitz and Dale LeavittRoger Williams University, Center for Economic and Envi-

ronmental Development, 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island02809 [email protected] of disease is a constant threat to shellfish farmers across

the industry. This workshop will provide growers with informationto aid in their defense against losing shellfish to disease. Materialcovered during the workshop will include the anatomy/physiologyof bivalves, some of the more important diseases of oysters andclams found in the U.S., what to do if a disease is suspected, andmeans of biosecurity to reduce the risk of disease initiating. Partic-ipants will learn basic anatomy and physiology of bivalve througha hands-on dissection of clams and oysters. After dissection, therewill be an introduction to important diseases of bivalves, includingdermo and associated diseases (Perkinsus marinus and P. olseni),Multinucleated Sphere Unknown (MSX – Haplosporidium nel-son), Ostreid Herpes Virus 1 (OsHV-1), Quahog Parasite Unknown(QPX) and Transmissible Tumor. The workshop will conclude witha discussion of how to respond should one suspect a disease is de-veloping on their farm; the timing of monitoring, sample collectionand shipping; testing methods for disease diagnosis; and biosecuri-ty practices for the farm.

A DYNAMIC MODEL FOR MANAGEMENT OF OYSTERNURSERIESFilipe M. Soares1*, Ana M. Nobre2, and François Hubert3

1Universidade Nova de Lisboa, DCEA, Faculdade de Ciênciase Tecnologia, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516 Monte de Caparica, Por-tugal

2CIMAR/CIIMAR — Centro Interdisciplinar de InvestigaçãoMarinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzei-ros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N,4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal

3Bivalvia-Mariscos da Formosa, Lda. Piscicultura da Meia-Lé-gua. Cova da Onça - Caixa Postal 491ª, 8700-177 Olhão, [email protected] models have been used for shellfish aquaculture

management (e.g. site selection, production optimization, amongothers), either at the ecosystem (bay, estuary, or related sub-units)or local scale (farm), and have proven to be powerful tools to beused by farmers and aquaculture consultants. Those models focuson the grow-out phase, lacking modelling approaches applicableat nurseries.Herein, a dynamic model for management of oyster commer-

cial nurseries is presented. The model main outputs are targeted to


population enhancement with hatchery-produced seed. Recentgenotype-by-sequencing data suggest genetically distinct popula-tions between sub-basins, and very high allelic diversity, with over10,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci. In an effort tominimize genetic selection within the hatchery, current practicesinclude collecting broodstock annually, breeding via mass spawnwithin genetically distinct populations, collecting brooded larvaeover an extended period of time, and measuring genetic diversi-ty. Results from 2010 and 2011 microsatellite data informed thesehatchery practices. This project examines new data from 2014 and2015 cohorts, focusing on patterns of allelic diversity betweenwild broodstock and the hatchery-produced F1 individuals. Theseresults and future annual genetic testing will continue to informhatchery practices for restoration groups and commercial aquacul-ture facilities that produce this native oyster.

DUNGENESS CRAB TRAP CATCH EFFICIENCY RELAT-ED TO ESCAPE RING LOCATIONAND SIZEGeorge Stearns1*, Robert Conrad2, David Winfrey1, NancyShippentower-Games1, and Deanna Finley1

1Puyallup Tribe of Indians, 3009 East PortlandAvenue, Tacoma,Washington 98404

2Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, 6730 Martin WayEast, Olympia, Washington [email protected] Dungeness crab Metacarcinus magister (Cancer magister)

supports a commercially important fishery along the West Coast ofthe United States. Only male crabs above a certain size limit maybe retained (i.e., legal-size males). Escape rings are used in traps tocreate circular holes that facilitate the release of both females andundersized males (sublegal crabs). Sublegal crabs that are retainedin a trap can suffer stress, injury, and mortality. In this experiment,both the location and size of the escape ring were modified in aneffort to reduce retention rates of sublegal crabs. Four different trapconfigurations were used: (1) a standard trap without escape rings(control configuration); (2) an unmodified trap with two 4.25-in-di-ameter escape rings on top (standard configuration); (3) a standardtrap with one 4.25-indiameter escape ring placed in each corner ad-jacent with the bottom (modified 4.25-in configuration); and (4) atrap with two 4.5-in-diameter escape rings on top and one 4.5-in-di-ameter escape ring placed in each corner adjacent with the bottom(modified 4.5-in configuration). Two different catch statistics werecompared among trap configurations: catch of legal-size= malesand catch of sublegal crabs. No statistical difference was observedin the catch of legal-sized males in any trap configuration. Com-pared with the standard configuration, the two modified configura-tions caught significantly fewer sublegal crabs. Catches of sublegalcrabs were not statistically different between the modified 4.25-inand modified 4.5-in configurations.

PROTEOMICS REVEALS GEODUCK PHYSIOLOGICALRESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTALCHANGELaura H. Spencer*1, Micah Horwith2, Alex Lowe3, Emma Tim-mins-Schiffman4, Brook L. Nunn4, and Steven Roberts1

1University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ences, 1122 NE Boat St, Seattle, Washington 98105 USA

2Washington State Department of Natural Resources AquaticsProgram, 1111 Washington St., SE Olympia, Washington 98504USA

3University of Washington, Department of Biology, 24 KincaidHall Seattle, Washington 98195 USA

4University of Washington, Department of Genome Sciences3720, 15th Ave NE Seattle Washington 98195-5065 [email protected] Pacific geoduck (Panopea generosa) is the largest clam

native to the Pacific Northwest and is a burgeoning aquaculturespecies due to growing export demands from Asia. In WashingtonState, geoduck support important commercial fisheries via farmedand wild populations in Puget Sound and Willapa Bay. As a seden-tary, calcifying bivalve occupying mostly subtidal sediment, geo-duck are likely to be impacted by climate stressors, which havealready been documented as trending towards warmer, more acidicmarine conditions. In summer 2016 we outplanted sibling juvenilegeoduck in four sites throughout Washington State, each site con-taining cohorts placed inside and outside eelgrass beds. Geoduckwere enclosed to minimize predation, water chemistry was contin-uously monitored, and after four weeks of exposure geoduck gilltissue was taken for protein analysis. Specifically, shotgun then tar-geted proteomic analyses were performed and revealed expressionpattern associated with local conditions and growth patterns. To-gether these results demonstrate protein profiles can provide valu-able information on local conditions including how environmentalchange can influence bivalve physiology.

GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OFWILDAND HATCH-ERY-PRODUCED OSTREA LURIDA IN PUGET SOUND,WASHINGTON, USALaura H. Spencer*1, Brent Vadopalas1, Crystal Simchick2,Ryan Crim3, Frederick W. Goetz2, and Steven Roberts1

1University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ences, Seattle, Washington USA

2Environmental and Fisheries Sciences Division, NorthwestFisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service,NOAA, Port Orchard, Washington, USA

3Puget Sound Restoration Fund, Bainbridge Island, Washing-ton, [email protected] to restore the Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) along its

historic distribution in the Puget Sound, Washington (WA) include


3University of Rhode Island, Department of Cell and MolecularBiology, 120 Flagg Rd, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 USA

4University of Rhode Island, College of Pharmacy, 120 FlaggRd, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 USA

5Roger Williams University, Feinstein School of Social andNatural Sciences, 1 Old Ferry Rd, Bristol, RI 02809 USA

6Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic In-stitute, 5600 US-1, Fort Pierce, FL 34946 [email protected] oysters in hatcheries are susceptible to diseases caused

by marine bacterial pathogens, including Vibrio spp. The daily ad-dition of probiotic Bacillus pumilus RI06-95 to water in rearingtanks leads to increased larval survival to challenge with Vibriocoralliilyticus. It was proposed that the presence of probiotics maychange how the larvae respond to pathogens, regulate their envi-ronment, and recruit beneficial microbes. During three separate tri-als spanning the 2012-2015 growing seasons, larvae, tank biofilm,and rearing water samples were collected from control and probi-otic-treated tanks in an oyster hatchery at timepoints between Day0 (spawning) and Day 12. DNAwas extracted from 0.22 μm waterfilters, larvae, and biofilm swabs, and then prepared for sequenc-ing. All samples were analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing of theV3-V4 or V6 regions and direct taxonomic classification, in orderto determine the microbial community. There were significant dif-ferences in microbial composition over time and between samplesources, but no major effect of probiotics on the overall rearingwater bacterial communities (Bray-Curtis k=2, 95% confidence);however, probiotics increased niche selection of certain bacteriafrom the water in the oyster larvae, and a significantly higher pro-portion of Oceanospirillales spp. and Bacillus spp. was detected inthe treated rearing water. Co-occurrence network analysis suggeststhat the overall probiotic effect on the rearing water is mediatedthrough select associated taxa. This research reveals interactionsbetween probiont and microbial communities in oyster hatcheries,and how new probiotic formulations may be designed.

ESTIMATING SEASONAL GROWTH IN SEA SCALLOPSUSING ISOTOPIC DATA IN A CHANGING ENVIRON-MENTKevin D.E. Stokesbury* and Susan InglisUniversity of Massachusetts Dartmouth, School for Marine Sci-

ence and Technology, 706 South Rodney French Boulevard, NewBedford, Massachusetts, USA [email protected] North Atlantic marine environment in changing rapidly,

raising concerns about the negative effects on the sea scallop (Pla-copecten magellanicus) fishery, which has recently experiencedunprecedented rebuilding. Through the use of spatial and tem-poral management strategies, large recruitment events have beenprotected until the scallops reach a harvestable size contributing

TRENDS IN OYSTER-ASSOCIATED MICROBIAL TRAN-SCRIPTOMESRebecca J. Stevick1*, Anton F. Post2, and Marta Gómez-Chi-arri3

1University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanogra-phy, 220 S Ferry Rd, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882 USA

2Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic In-stitute, 5600 US-1, Fort Pierce, Florida 34946 USA

3University of Rhode Island, Department of Fisheries, Animaland Veterinary Sciences, 120 Flagg Rd, Kingston, Rhode Island02881 [email protected] analysis is often used to determine an organ-

ism’s genetic response to varying environmental conditions. Al-though trends are seen in the oyster’s response to environmentalcues, there is also an abundance of sequencing reads in oyster tran-scriptomes derived from oyster-associated microbes, including par-asites, bacteria, and viruses. These “un-mapped” reads have beenlargely ignored, but acclimation in the oyster microbiome mayultimately benefit the host. These microbial reads, combined withspecific gene expression patterns in host transcriptomes, could alsoserve as markers of the health status of the host. In order to deter-mine the suitability of mining short read archive (SRA) sequencesfrom oyster transcriptomes to explore the responses of oyster-asso-ciated microbial communities, ~15,000 bacterial and viral genomeswere indexed and used as a reference for the assembly of quali-ty-controlled transcriptomes present in the oyster SRAs. The cov-erage and expression of these bacterial genomes was calculated andcompared between samples. Preliminary analysis of 16 transcrip-tomes from two separate experiments (larval and juvenile easternoysters Crassostrea virginica exposed or not to bacterial challeng-es) shows that bacterial reads account for 30-70% of the raw reads.Within these transcriptomes, there are distinct differences betweenlife stage (larvae versus juveniles) and treatment (control versusbacterial challenge). Specific pathways related to denitrification,metabolism, and virulence will be queried within these microbi-al reads. This early-stage project will determine the suitability ofmining host SRAs to elucidate the function of the oyster core mi-crobiome and microbes specific to age, tissue type, disease status,and environmental parameters, among others.

BACTERIAL COMMUNITY DYNAMICS IN AN OYSTERHATCHERY IN RESPONSE TO PROBIOTIC TREATMENTRebecca J. Stevick1*, Saebom Sohn2, Tejashree Modak2, DavidNelson3, David Rowley4, Roxanna Smolowitz5, Anton F. Post6,and Marta Gómez-Chiarri3

1University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanogra-phy, 220 S Ferry Rd, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882 USA

2University of Rhode Island, Department of Fisheries, Animaland Veterinary Sciences, 120 Flagg Rd, Kingston, Rhode Island02881 USA


ward. Here the shifts in abundance and biomass of sea scallopswithin the access and closed areas, the occurrence of grey meats,and the impacts it has had on the economics and management ofthe sea scallop fishery are examined to determine the ramificationof this bureaucratic delay.

DEVELOPING RESILIENCE TO OCEANACIDIFICATIONIN REDABALONEAQUACULTUREDaniel S. Swezey1,3*, Sara E. Boles1, 2, Kristin M. Aquilino1,Haley K. Stott3, Doug Bush3, Tessa M. Hill1,5, Brian Gaylord1,7,Cynthia A. Catton1,4, Laura Rogers-Bennett4,6, Andrew White-head2, and Eric Sanford1,7

1University of California, Davis, Bodega Marine Laboratory,2099 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay, California, 94923, USA

2University of California, Davis, Department of EnvironmentalToxicology, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, California 95616, USA

3The Cultured Abalone Farm, 9580 Dos Pueblos Canyon Road,Goleta, Califorina 93117, USA

4California Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Region,Bodega Marine Laboratory, 2099 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay,California 94923 USA

5University of California, Davis, Department of Earth and Plan-etary Sciences, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, California 95616, USA

6University of California Davis, Karen C. Drayer WildlifeHealth Center and Bodega Marine Laboratory, Bodega Bay, Cal-ifornia 94923, USA

7University of California, Davis, Department of Evolution andEcology, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, California 95616, [email protected] pH of the global ocean is decreasing due to absorption of

anthropogenic CO2 emissions, a process termed ocean acidification(OA). Recent research has demonstrated that most commerciallyharvested shellfish are sensitive to OA, with consequences includ-ing reductions in growth, calcification, reproduction and survival.The hypothesis that differences in regional oceanography could se-lect for variation in OA tolerance among populations of red abalo-ne (Haliotis rufescens) was examined, and laboratory experimentswere conducted to investigate the sensitivity of red abalone to OA.Offspring used in experiments were derived from broodstock

sourced from two populations; the Mendocino coast, a region ofCalifornia that experiences low ocean pH values and high levels ofupwelling activity, and The Cultured Abalone Farm, a commercialaquaculture venture located near Santa Barbara, California whosebroodstock animals are sourced from various coastal locales inSouthern California. Offspring from both populations were rearedfrom embryos to post-settlement juveniles under both contempo-rary ocean pH values (8.1 pH, 400 μatm CO2) and low-pH condi-tions predicted for the future (7.6 pH, 1200 μatm CO2), which alsooccur currently during episodic upwelling in northern California.

to the rebuilding of these stocks; however, growth and mortalityrates for these recruitment events are not well defined, occurringfrom several sources and vary spatially. In support of this spatialmanagement plan a large experiment was conducted from 2001to 2007 in which 130,000 scallops were, measured, individuallytagged and release at specific locations correlating with manage-ment access areas on Georges Bank and in the Mid-Atlantic. Thefishing industry recapture and returned about 10% of the scallopshells along with the vessel position. Several of the returned scal-lops were at large for more than two years. These 52 scallop shellsprovide a unique opportunity for isotopic analysis as two specificssites on the shell have known dates, the release and return. Shellcarbonate powder was collected every 0.5-1.0 mm along the shell.These 2,763 carbonate samples were processed by the Universi-ty of Michigan Isotope Laboratory and reported depletion of 18O(parts per thousand ‰) relative to the Peedee belemnite carbonatestandard. Using available oceanographic data, the seasonal growthpatterns were determined by area. This growth information may beused as a baseline to understand variations on scallop growth as themarine environment changes.

THE RAMIFICATIONS OF MISMATCHING SPATIAL RO-TATIONAL MANAGEMENT WITH LIFE HISTORY ANDPOPULATIONTRAITS:AN EXAMPLE IN THE SEASCAL-LOP FISHERYKevin D.E. Stokesbury*, Emily Keiley, Daniel Georgianna, N.David Bethoney, and Susan InglisUniversity of Massachusetts Dartmouth, School for Marine Sci-

ence and Technology, 706 South Rodney French Boulevard, NewBedford, Massachusetts, USA [email protected] spatial rotational management with life history

and population traits of the target species can have long reachingeconomic consequences. An example of this occurred in the seascallop (Placopecten magellanicus) fishery of the eastern UnitedStates. In this fishery there are several large Marine Protected Ar-eas, including Closed Area I, which contain portions of the historicscallop fishing ground. Closed Area I was intensely surveyed in1999 and a triangular area, covering about 700 km2, was incorpo-rated into the Amendment 10 rotational plan allowing the scallopfishery limited access, depending on exploitable biomass. A pro-posal to expand this access area in 2004 to include a large portionof the fishing grounds to the south of the original boundary wasdenied due to process by a Federal court decision; the change need-ed to be made in a full rule rather than a framework. As a result thearea expansion was delayed until 2011. When the area opened theexpected harvest was not achieved, and fishermen reported largeamounts of “grey meat” scallops. Many vessels were unable tocomplete their allotted trips and these continue to be carried for-


ASSESSMENT OF THE DISTRIBUTION SHIFT ANDRANGE EXPANSION OF THE ATLANTIC SURFCLAM,SPISULA SOLIDISSIMA, USING A SPATIAL DISTRIBU-TION FUNCTION MODELJeremy Timbs1*, Roger Mann2, and Eric Powell1

1University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Lab-oratory, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564USA

2Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William &Mary, 1208 Greate Road, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 [email protected] Atlantic surfclam (Spisula solidissima) is a commercially

important species whose population has progressively moved off-shore since the early 1970s. This movement has been documentedin the literature but not approached through modeling the move-ment spatially over time. A Spatial Distribution Function (SDF)model-based approach was used to evaluate the Atlantic surfclamdistribution over the course of the ~30 years of assessment data.The data were divided into size classes (lower boundary: 64, 80,93, 104, 120) and by region (Delmarva, New Jersey, Long Island,Southern New England, Georges Bank) to evaluate temporal shiftsin the center of gravity and range expansion of surfclams. NewJersey and Long Island showed a range expansion while the otherregions remained fairly constant over time. The total area occupiedby the surfclams in Delmarva has remained constant by a rangeshift occurring with a loss of surfclams nearshore and an increasein surfclams offshore. The Delmarva and New Jersey regions haveshifted northeast while the Long Island, Southern New England,and Georges Bank regions have shifted south and southwest overthe course of the stock assessment surveys. These results furthersupport the movement of Atlantic surfclams offshore. This move-ment offshore could be attributed to the rise in bottom water tem-peratures especially in the Delmarva region which has seen a largereduction in nearshore surfclams.

IDENTIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL DRIVERS OF ALEX-ANDRIUM HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS IN SOUTHEASTALASKAElizabeth D. Tobin1,3*, Cody Crumpton2, Chelsea Wallace2 andGinny L. Eckert1

1University ofAlaska Fairbanks, College of Fisheries and OceanScience, 17101 Point Lena Loop Rd, Juneau, Alaska 99801 USA

2University of Southeast Alaska, Department of Biology andMarine Biology, 11066 Auke Lake Way, Juneau, Alaska 99801USA

3Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Natural Resources, 1033 OldBlyn Hwy, Sequim, Washington 98382 [email protected] Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) in Alaska is a persistent

problem that threatens human health and the availability of com-mercially and culturally important shellfish resources. Regular out-

Under low-pH conditions, significant increases in mortalitywere observed in the Santa Barbara population, but not inoffspringsourced from Mendocino. Within the vulnerable Santa Barbarapopulation, certain maternal lineages were more resilient to low-pH stress than others. The heritability of these differences is nowbeing investigated through trials on second generation offspring,with the goal of identifying adaptive genetic variation for use infuture abalone aquaculture.

EUROPEAN GREEN CRAB IN BRITISH COLUMBIA:TRACKING THE SPREAD OFAHIGH-RISK INVADERThomas W. Therriault*, Vanessa Hodes, Tammy Norgard, Ly-anne J.F. Curtis, and Graham E. GillespieFisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Nanai-

mo, British Columbia, [email protected] European green crab, Carcinus maenas, is a high-risk glob-

al invader that arrived in British Columbia (BC) in the late-1990s.Since the early 2000s the Department of Fisheries and OceansCanada (DFO) has been tracking the occurrence and changingdistribution of this species throughout BC’s coastal waters. Thestandardized monitoring program uses Fukui traps deployed in theintertidal zone where green crab in BC are known to preferential-ly inhabit. Since the start of this program, approximately 18,000traps have been deployed at almost 3,000 locations throughout theprovince. In general, most established populations are restrictedto inlets/sounds on the West Coast of Vancouver Island; however,significant range extensions were noted for emerging green crabpopulations in the Central Coast (2011 in Gale Passage and 2016 inHiggins Passage) and the Salish Sea (2012 in Sooke Basin). Thenorthward spread of green crab is consistent with natural dispersalfrom southern populations while the movement into the Salish Seaappears to have been human-mediated. Following initial reportsof green crab in Puget Sound, intensive fall trapping surveys wereinitiated in 2016 to better understand the unique invasion dynamicsassociated with this incursion into the Salish Sea. The first Canadi-an detection of green crab outside of Sooke Basin within the SalishSea was in 2017 at Becher Bay (10 km south of Sooke). Sincegreen crab may not be established broadly within the Salish Seacontinued monitoring and intervention is suggested and potentialcontrol options will be discussed briefly.


Sound. This small dinoflagellate, in particular A. poporum, A.spinosum, and A. dexteroporum, have been shown in other partsof the world to produce azaspiracids, lipophilic toxins which canproduce DSP-like symptoms. The presence of the genus Azadini-um was confirmed in whole water samples collected from severalSound Toxins sites in Puget Sound based on the use of molecularprobes. The establishment of Azadinium cultures from sedimentsamples from Puget Sound including A. obesum, A. cuneatum, A.poporum, and A. dalianense will be reported. The production of anew azaspiracid, namedAZA-59, was confirmed by liquid chroma-tography mass spectroscopy in several isolates of A. poporum. Thisfirst confirmation of the presence of the genus Azadinium in PugetSound and the first report of azaspiracid on west coast of the U.S.,underlining the potential risk of azaspiracid shellfish poisoning inthis region.

PSEUDO-NITZSCHIA EARLY WARNING BULLETIN IN-CREASES CLAMMING OPPORTUNITIES ON PACIFICNORTHWEST OUTER COAST BEACHESVera L. Trainer1, Ryan M. McCabe2, Barbara M. Hickey3,Parker MacCready3, Matthew Hunter4, Stephanie Moore5,Gregory J. Doucette6, Neil S. Banas7, and Zach Forster8*

1NOAA, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, Washing-ton USA

2University of Washington, Joint Institute for the Study of At-mosphere and Ocean, Seattle, Washington, USA

3University of Washington, School of Oceanography, Seattle,Washington, USA

4Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife5University Corporation for Atmospheric Research6National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, NOAA/NOS,

Charleston, South Carolina, USA7Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland8Washington Department of Fish andWildlife, Nahcotta, Wash-

ington, [email protected] 2015 coastwide bloom of toxic Pseudo-nitzschia resulted in

over $125 million losses to shellfish harvesters and contributed tothe deaths of marine mammals. With little warning, an emergencyclosure of the recreational razor clam fishery in Washington Stateresulted in the destruction of toxic razor clams dug earlier that day.This event reinforced the need for shellfish managers to receivetimely information to conduct safe and efficient fisheries. Towardthis end, a Pacific Northwest Harmful Algal Bloom (PNW HAB)Bulletin provides forecasts intended to help resource managersfrom Neah Bay to Newport target beachside monitoring of toxicitylevels in shellfish and fine-tune decisions regarding beach closures.This forecast system will include sampling by the Makah Tribe ina documented offshore HAB hotspot at two-week intervals. Theseoffshore HAB data will be combined with other information sourc-

breaks of PSP caused by the saxitoxin-producing marine alga, Al-exandrium sp., make recreational and subsistence shellfish harvestunsafe and impose economic hardships. Despite these long-recog-nized impacts, limited research has been done to understand theecological mechanisms that drive toxic Alexandrium blooms inAlaska.The objectives of this study were to identify Alexandrium bloom

initiation sites and environmental factors that support toxic bloomsin Southeast Alaska. To accomplish this, an intensive benthic sur-vey was completed in regions of northern Southeast Alaska withhistorically high levels of PSP. High abundances of overwinteringAlexandrium cysts (“seed beds”) were found throughout the regionand in close proximity to well-known shellfish harvest areas. Envi-ronmental time series data collected fromAuke Bay in Juneau, AKfrom 2008-2016 was analyzed to identify bloom-supporting condi-tions. Alexandrium cells were present across a range of sea surfacetemperatures (7-15°C) and salinities (7-30 psu), yet accelerated cellgrowth (“bloom”) occurred within an optimal temperature/salini-ty window. Alexandrium cell abundance and particulate saxitoxinconcentrations were strongly correlated, indicating that cells con-sistently produce toxins under growth-supporting conditions. Nosingle environmental factor was identified in driving bloom events,rather several interacting conditions appear to support the devel-opment of toxin-producing Alexandrium blooms. Improved under-standing of these environmental drivers of Alexandrium harmfulalgal blooms can help build predictive capacity in the timing, dis-tribution and impacts of PSP in Alaska.

FIRST RECORDS OF THE GENUS AZADINIUM (DINO-PHYCEAE) FROM PUGET SOUND,WASHINGTON STATEVera L. Trainer1*, Joo-Hwan Kim2, Brian D. Bill1, Nicolaus Ad-ams1, Urban Tillmann3, Bernd Krock3, and Neil Harrington4

1NOAA, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, Washing-ton 98112 USA

2Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea3Alfred Wegener Institute, Am Handelshafen 12, D-27570

Bremerhaven, Germany4Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, 1033 Old Blyn Hwy, Sequim,

Washington 98368 [email protected] toxins, in particular those associated with diarrhetic

shellfish poisoning (DSP), are an emerging threat to shellfish har-vesting in Washington State (WA). While Washington was the firststate to implement the routine testing of shellfish for DSP toxins in2012 after the occurrence DSP in Sequim Bay, WA in 2011, therecontinue to be occasional reports of DSP-like illnesses likely tiedto the consumption of shellfish from Puget Sound. To address theseillnesses of unknown etiology, a Monitoring and Event Responseto Harmful Algal Blooms project was begun in 2015 to identifywhether species of the genus Azadinium were present in Puget


Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, B.C.S., Mé[email protected] individual growth modeling of long lived geoducks has

been changed since the use of a single von Bertalanffy growthmodel to multimodel inference (MMI) approach as a method to im-prove the descriptions of growth patterns; however, a sampling biastowards larger size classes could affect the model estimations. Herethe individual growth for the geoduck, Panopea globosa, in twopopulations from the upper Gulf of California region, San Felipe (n=148) and Puerto Peñasco (n= 123), was modeled using three dif-ferent data sources: individual growth profiles (IGP), juvenile data,and terminal length-at-age data. The integrated information wasused in six growth models -Von Bertalanffy, Generalized Von Ber-talanffy (GVB), Gompertz, Logistic, Johnson and Richards- usinga MMI and fitted with a maximum likelihood function. A modelselection throughAkaike information criterion selected the GVB asthe best candidate growth model, showing that the asymptotic shelllength estimated for San Felipe was 144.99 mm meanwhile forPuerto Peñasco it was 159.83 mm. These values are different fromprevious estimates, especially for San Felipe population, wherethe reported asymptotic length was 60.2 mm higher. These resultsshowed that the integration of IGP and juvenile data improved thegrowth modeling and allow describing the whole ontogenic growthpattern in P. globosa populations. Finally, the age structure (uni-modal structure for San Felipe and multimodal structure for Puer-to Peñasco) suggest different recruitments patterns, thus differentmanagement policies should be applied.

EFFECT OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ON PACIFIC OYS-TER (CRASSOSTREAGIGAS) REPRODUCTIONYaamini R. Venkataraman* and Steven B. RobertsUniversity of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-

ences, 1122 NE Boat St, Seattle, Washington 98105 [email protected] is crucial to consider multigenerational impacts of ocean acid-

ification and how this will affect ecologically and commerciallyrelevant species like the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). To as-sess how ocean acidification affects adult and larval C. gigas, adultoysters were first exposed to either ambient or low pH conditionsfor seven weeks. Gonad maturation at was assessed using histolo-gy. Oyster were then conditioned and spawned to create four larvalfamilies based on parental exposure: low-low, low-ambient, ambi-ent-low, and ambient-ambient. Differential mortality was assessedover the course of a 17-day larval period. In addition, global DNAmethylation analysis and gene expression analysis was performed.There was a substantial influence of acidification on gametogene-sis. A sex-specific broodstock response was also observed, wherefemales exposed to low pH conditions produced fewer larvae.These combined data suggest there is an impact of ocean acidifi-cation on reproductive development and larval output, potentially

es: beachside monitoring by Olympic Region HAB partners andOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the LiveOcean forecastmodel, and near real-time data from an offshore biological sensor(the Environmental Sample Processor). The first PNW HAB Bul-letin in May 2017, gave Washington State shellfish managers theconfidence to increase the daily limit from 15 to 25 razor clams totake advantage of record numbers of clams available for harvest.This increased limit resulted in record number of one-day diggertrips and over $5.3 million injected into the local economy. FuturePNW HAB Bulletins will help coastal managers make rapid, in-formed decisions about seafood safety and is planned to transitionto operations starting in 2019.

COMPARISON OFGENETIC VARIATIONAND INBREED-ING AMONG THREE LINES OF HATCHERY-REAREDCRASSOSTREAVIRGINICA BROODSTOCKRobin L. Varney* and Ami E. WilburUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington, Shellfish Research

Hatchery, CREST Research Park, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane,Wilmington, North Carolina 28409 [email protected] eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is an ecologically

and economically important marine bivalve along the east coastof North America. Severe declines in natural populations of C. vir-ginica due to overfishing, habitat loss and disease have led to in-creased restoration efforts. Expansion of the oyster aquacultureindustry has enhanced efforts to restore natural populations, as wellas produced genetically improved oyster lines through hatcheryproduction. Loss of genetic diversity and inbreeding depression arepotential negative effects of using hatchery-reared lines as brood-stock in oyster aquaculture. This study assessed the genetic effectsof breeding practices on three lines of hatchery-reared C. virgini-ca, derived from wild North Carolina oyster populations. Utilizing22 microsatellite loci, the genetic properties of 15 breeding popu-lations from three generations of broodstock were estimated andcompared. Parentage assignment was performed on each popula-tion of hatchery-reared progeny to evaluate reproductive successof mating pairs and inbreeding between siblings. Although fewinstances of direct inbreeding occurred between siblings, a trend ofincreasing genetic relatedness was observed with decreasing allelicrichness over subsequent generations.

GROWTH MODELING IN TWO POPULATIONS OF P.GLOBOSA FROM THE UPPER GULF OF CALIFORNIA:INTEGRATION OF INDIVIDUAL GROWTH PROFILESAND JUVENILE DATATO TERMINAL SIZE-AT-AGEKarla Daniela Vega-Collazo*, Sergio Scarry González-Peláez,José Angel Hidalgo-de-la-Toba, J. Jesús Bautista-Romero, andDaniel B. Lluch-CotaCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste. Av. Instituto

Politécnico Nacional 195.


3Lycée Vauban, Rue de Kerichen, 29200 Brest, France4Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Environnement Marin (UMR

6539, LEMAR), IUEM/UBO, Technopole Brest Iroise, Plouzané,[email protected] is a polyfluorinated compound that was created by Du-

Pont to make Teflon. GenX, a polyflourinated compound (PFC)was created to replace the more toxic perfluorooctanoic acid,(PFOA). Recent results suggest that GenX has been contaminatingwater supply in the rivers and estuaries in southeastern North Car-olina for over 20 years. PFOA and PFC have been shown to havenegative impacts on humans as well as marine organisms. Thisproject examined the effects of GenX on the filtration, growth, andmortality of juvenile oysters (18-27 mm). Juvenile oysters wereexposed to 0, 1, 10, and 100 parts per billion (ppb) for four weeksand length of the oysters and clearance rates measured after twoand four weeks of exposure. While there was no effect of GenX onthe growth or mortality of oysters, oysters exposed to 100 ppb hadsignificantly lower clearance rates compared to controls and otherconcentrations. Investigations of the bioaccumulation of GenX aswell as examining the cellular responses of GenX oysters in oystersare underway.

SUMMER MORTALITY IN FARMED TRIPLOID ANDDIPLOID OYSTERS, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA, IN THENORTHERN GULFOFMEXICOPandora C. Wadsworth* and William C. WaltonAuburn University School of Fisheries, Aquaculture andAquat-

ic Sciences, Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory, 150 AgassizStreet, Dauphin Island, Alabama, 36528 [email protected] unusually high mortality of farmed oysters at commercial

farms in Alabama during the summer of 2016, this study was start-ed to determine whether summer mortality was site-specific anddependent on ploidy. Growth and survival were evaluated in pairedtriploid and diploid Crassostrea virginica deployed for 11 monthsat four sites adjacent to commercial oyster farms in Alabama. Theresults were supplemented with growth and mortality rates of trip-loid oysters at four commercial farms along the northern Gulf ofMexico (LA,AL, FL). Similar to 2016, mortality at the experimen-tal sites peaked during the summer and triploid oysters experiencedsignificantly higher mortality than diploid oysters at three of foursites (site x ploidy, p < 0.05). Cumulative mortality reached 100%for triploid baskets (n = 4 ploidy/site) at two experimental sites andreached 90-100% at two commercial farms. Shell height, wholewet weight, dry tissue weight and dry shell weight were signifi-cantly different across sites and ploidy (p < 0.05), but not site xploidy (p > 0.05). The presence and intensity of Perkinsus marinuswas consistent with past studies in Alabama and was significantlydifferent across sites and ploidy (p < 0.05), but not site x ploidy (p

explained by differential gene methylation patterns. This study willalso provide information necessary for understanding how larval C.gigas can inherit methylation patterns, and how these patterns canaffect performance at developmental bottlenecks.

OLIGOMERIZATION PATTERNS OF PIRA AND PIRBCAUSING ACUTE HEPATOPANCREATIC NECROSISDISEASE (AHPND) AND ITS INTERACTION WITH THEMEMBRANE COMPONENTS OF THE EPITHELIALCELLS OFTHE SHRIMPHEPATOPANCREASMarcelo Victorio-De Los Santos1*, Alejandra Hernández-San-toyo2, and Sonia Soto-Rodriguez1

1Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, Av.Sábalo Cerritos S/N A.P. 711Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México2Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de

Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mé[email protected] Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) is an

emerging infectious disease of shrimp caused by specific strains ofVibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp AHPND+), which contains PirA andPirB toxins encoded in the pVA1 plasmid. PirA and PirB have beenshown to cause the typical histological lesion of AHPND in in-fected shrimp. Presently, it is unknown how the intoxication takesplace and what are the toxins role during the disease. Do they actin a complexA/B form or in a protein-protein polymerization way?Given what little information exists about this, it is important tostudy the interaction between the PirA and PirB toxins and the epi-thelial cells of the hepatopancreas, which, once elucidated, alterna-tives ways to control the shrimp intoxication could be developed.The interaction between individual toxins (PirA-PirA, PirB-

PirB and PirA-PirB) was investigated, as well as the potentialbinding site to a receptor on the membrane of the epithelial cellsin Litopenaeus vannamei hepatopancreas. In vitro assays showeddifferent oligomerization patterns of the toxins, generating up totetramers of both the PirA/PirB complex and PirB/PirB. It suggeststhat the mechanism of infection may include the oligomerization ofthe complex or PirB oligomerization alone. Efforts are underwayto identify the membrane receptor, trying to understand the molec-ular mechanism used by the toxins.

LETHAL AND SUB-LETHAL EFFECTS OF THE POLY-FLUORINATED COMPOUND, GENX, ON THE EASTERNOYSTER, CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICAUma Volety1, Ai Ning Loh2, Leo Soudant3, Melissa Lenentine2,Cailin Harell2, Philippe Soudant4, and Aswani Volety2*

1Roland-Grise Middle School, 4412 Lake Ave, Wilmington,North Carolina 28403 USA

2University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 S. College Rd,Wilmington, North Carolina 28409 USA


fishery-independent and fishery-dependent data are evaluated inlight of current management strategies.

THE GULF OF MEXICO SHELLFISH INITIATIVE: A RE-GIONALAPPROACHBethany A. Walton1*, LaDon Swann2, and William C. Walton3

1University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi-Alabama SeaGrant Consortium, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, Missis-sippi 39564 USA

2Auburn University Marine Extension and Research Center, 118North Royal Street, Suite 800, Mobile, Alabama 36602 USA

3Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory, 150 Agassiz Street,Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528 [email protected] intention of the Gulf of Mexico Shellfish Initiative (Go-

MexSI) is to protect and enhance shellfish resources in a way thatcreates sustainable water-dependent jobs while improving the wa-ter quality of numerous US Gulf of Mexico estuaries, through long-term regional planning for the wise and sustainable use of shellfishresources. To accomplish this, a planning team has gathered inputfrom stakeholders from across the US Gulf of Mexico to identifycommon goals among the states, as well as those which are uniqueto each state. Within each state, shellfish stakeholders are beingengaged to determine state-specific action items (objectives) to ac-complish the goals of GoMexSI.Over the last year, at least one stakeholder meeting per state in

the region was held, with multiple meetings in Florida and Texasduring the summer and fall of 2017. These meetings, coordinatedwith local Sea Grant and Extension personnel, were facilitated tomaximize input from stakeholders. In addition to these meetings,an online survey was distributed to the public in summer 2017 andhas obtained over 100 responses so far. Stakeholder meeting feed-back and survey responses are being analyzed and summaries willbe presented.

MOLECULAR EVOLUTION OF I84 PROTEASE INHIB-ITOR FAMILY IN CHINESE RAZOR CLAMS AND PHY-LUMMOLLUSCAXiarong Wang1,2, Qinggang Xue*2, Xiaowei Mao1,2, YinghuiDong2, Chenhua Li1, Zhihua Lin2

1Ningbo University, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo, Zhe-jiang 315010, China

2Zhejiang Wanli University, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Germ-plasm Resource of Zhejiang, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, [email protected] I84 protease inhibitor family in the MEROPS classification

system consists of novel proteins that inhibit certain serine proteas-es and are believed to play a role in mollusk host defense. Five fam-ily members, 3 (cvSI-1, cvSI-2 and cvSI-3) from the eastern oysterCrassotrea virgincia and 2 (scSI-1 and scSI-2) from the Chinese

> 0.05). While prolonged low salinity and high water temperatureshelp explain mortality at two of the sites, these factors alone do notexplain the differences at all sites. The results draw attention to theneed for a better understanding of the triggers of summer mortalityin triploids.

A REVIEW OF RECENT FISHERY-INDEPENDENT ANDFISHERY-DEPENDENT MONITORING DATA FOR BLUECRABS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO SPECIFIC TO MAN-AGEMENT OFTHE RESOURCETom Wagner1*, Harriet Perry2, Lillian Collins2, John Ander-son2, Rick Burris3, Joel Anderson4, Zachary Olsen5, Carey Gel-pi6, and Darin Topping7

1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 702 Navigation Circle,Rockport, Texas 78382 USA

2Gulf Coast Laboratory, Research 703 East Beach, OceanSprings, Mississippi 39564 USA

3Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, 1141 BayviewAvenue, Biloxi, Mississippi 39530 USA

4Texas Parks &Wildlife Department, Perry R Bass Marine Fish-eries Research Station, 3864 FM 3280, Palacios, Texas 77465 USA

5Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit5845, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412 USA

6Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 601 Channelview, PortArthur, Texas 77640 USA

7Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 702 Navigation Circle,Rockport, Texas 78382 [email protected] data from a variety of fishery-independent studies sug-

gest further examination of the impact of current managementstrategies on the blue crab resource. The 2015 Blue Crab FisheryManagement Plan (BCFMP) and the 2013 Gulf Data, Assessment,and Review (GDAR) provide comprehensive assessments of thefishery and serve as a framework for re-interpretation of historicdata in light of current research and the integration of new studies.Information from the BCFMP and GDAR documents are summa-rized and relevant new data presented. Fishery-independent andfishery-dependent data for the Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)from long-term and recent monitoring programs conducted by Gulfof Mexico state management agencies and scientific laboratoriesare summarized, with the specific goal of comparing long-termchanges in the fishery across the Gulf of Mexico. Fishery-indepen-dent data from 1984 through 2016 from the five Gulf States werecollected using trawls in state inshore waters. Fishery-dependentdata include commercial hard crab landings and ex-vessel value re-ported to the National Marine Fisheries Service, and catch-per-uniteffort (CPUE) data collected by the states through their respectiveTrip Ticket Programs. Data from a 2007-2016 fishery-dependentsurvey of Mississippi commercial blue crab fishermen were sum-marized to determine CPUE. Blue crab fishery management reg-ulations are presented for each of the five Gulf States. Trends in


ed eggs and untreated sperm. Transfection success was determinedby observing GFP expression or green fluorescence under a fluores-cence microscope at 30 and 72 hours post-fertilization. Successfultransfection of GFP was observed in groups 1 (40%) and 2 (22%)but not in groups 3 and 4, suggesting that treating eggs is moreeffective than treating sperm. Dead larvae exhibited the strongestfluorescence signals, indicating that over-expression of GFP maybe toxic to oyster larvae. This study provides a simple and effec-tive transfection protocol which paves the way for gene editing byCRISPR/Cas9 in oysters and other bivalve molluscs.

CAPTURE AND INGESTION OF NANOPARTICLES BYBIVALVES: IMPLICATIONS FOR BIOACCUMULATIONAND TOXICITYJ. Evan Ward1*, John Doyle2, Vena Haynes1, and Bridget Ho-lohan1

1University of Connecticut, Department of Marine Sciences,Groton, Connecticut 06340 USA

2Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, 6 Rowe Square,Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 [email protected] ingestion is a direct route for uptake of anthropogenic

contaminants by bivalves. The feeding processes of these animalsare constrained by functional mechanisms, and most bivalves cap-ture particles <1 µm at efficiencies of < 25%. Such limitationshave implications for ingestion of nanoparticles (NP) which are op-erationally defined as <0.1 µm. In aquatic environments, however,most particles are not monodispersed but form homo-agglomera-tions and hetero-aggregations (i.e, marine snow) that are microme-ters in size. Determining the tendency of NP to form homo-agglom-erates and be incorporated into marine snow is important for anunderstanding of NP ingestion and bioaccumulation. In the labora-tory, four different types of NP were delivered to two species of bi-valves: the mussel, Mytilus edulis, and oyster, Crassostrea virgini-ca. NP differed in composition and size, and included two types ofnano-titania (n-TiO2) and two types of nano-polystyrene (n-Poly).NP were delivered to bivalves either incorporated in marine snow(laboratory generated) or freely suspended at a concentration of 1mg/L. The lowest incorporation efficiency was found for n-Poly(16% - 58%), whereas n-TiO2 was incorporated in marine snow athigher efficiencies (70% - 97%). When delivered n-TiO2 and 50-nm n-Poly, the percentage of NP ingested per hour by both specieswas independent of form of delivery (NP in marine snow = freelysuspended). For 100-nm polystyrene, both species ingested signifi-cantly more NP when particles were incorporated in marine snow.Results demonstrate that for some NP, formation of homo-agglom-erations produce masses large enough to be captured and ingestedby bivalves.

razor clam Sinonovacula constricta, have been identified. In thepresent research, we studied the gene structure and genetic poly-morphisms of scSI-1 and scSI-2. Our results showed that both scSI-1 and scSI-2 genes had 2 exons and 1 intron, but the length of exonsand introns differed between the 2 genes. Resequencing the codingregions of the 2 genes in 100 clam individuals from 2 geograph-ic populations identified 9 and 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) respectively in scSI-1 and scSI-2. Seven of the scSI-1 SNPsand all the scSI-2 SNPs were nonsynonymous, suggesting that thegenes have been evolving under positive selection. We also mea-sured using real-time PCR the expression of scSI-1 and scSI-2genes during Sinonovacula constricta larva development. It wasfound that the expression of both genes elevated significantly inD-stage larvae, but the expression level of scSI-1 decreased whilethat of scSI-2 continued to increase in juvenile clams. In addition,we searched the sequenced genome of mollusk species and ESTsequence databases and phylogenetically analyzed the homologoussequences of the I84 family. This research provided valuable in-sight into the molecular evolution of the novel protease inhibitorfamily in Sinonovacula constricta and the Phylum Mollusca.

DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE TRANSFECTION PRO-TOCOL FOR GENE EDITING IN THE PACIFIC OYSTER,CRASSOSTREAGIGASZhenwei Wang1,2* and Ximing Guo1

1Rutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, In-stitute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, 6959 Miller Avenue, PortNorris, New Jersey, 08349 USA

2Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nan-hai Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, [email protected] improvement of oysters has so far relied on selective

breeding, polyploidization or marker-assisted selection. With theadvent of genomics, functional genes underlying economically im-portant traits are being identified, which opens the door to geneticimprovement by gene editing. Clustered Regularly InterspersedShort Palindromic Repeats-Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9) can provide ef-fective gene editing and create heritable changes without introduc-ing foreign genes as in recombinant-DNA based genetic modifi-cations. Gene editing by CRISPR/Cas9 requires efficient plasmidtransfection, which remains a challenge in many invertebrates. Theobjective of this study is to develop an effective transfection pro-tocol for gene editing by CRISPR/Cas9. The transfection reagentSuperfect (Sigma) is used to treat sperm, eggs or both for trans-fecting a green fluorescence protein (GFP) plasmid. After treatingthe sperm and/or eggs, fertilization was conducted to create fourgroups: 1) treated eggs and untreated sperm; 2) treated eggs andtreated sperm; 3) untreated eggs and treated sperm; and 4) untreat-


On behalf of a 15-person Steering Committee with representativesacross the range of the species, the results of first steps that havebeen taken to develop a coast-wide Olympia oyster network willbe shared.In Fall 2017, a survey of 37 people working with Olympia

oysters was conducted. One objective was to begin to develop adatabase of information about where monitoring, restoration, andaquaculture are occurring along the coast. Highlights of this newdatabase will be shared, and further participation invited.A second objective of the survey was to obtain feedback on the

concept of developing a coast-wide network, and to identify prior-ity activities and who would want to work on them. A summary ofthe feedback received and the ranking of priorities will be present-ed, and potential next steps proposed.The rationale behind this coast-wide network is that local work

on Olympia oysters can be strengthened by sharing informationacross sites and jointly raising the profile of Olympia oyster con-servation and restoration on the Pacific coast. Participants hope toexchange lessons learned from restoration, develop shared mon-itoring protocols and databases, and produce outreach materialstogether. Anyone interested in this topic is invited to join the work-shop discussion held later on this day.

WORKSHOP: BUILDINGACOAST-WIDE OLYMPIAOYS-TER NETWORKKerstin Wasson1,2, Chela J. Zabin3,4, Danielle C. Zacherl5, Ed-win D. Grosholz4, Betsy Peabody6, and Kay McGraw7


2University of California, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, California 95060 USA


4University of California, Davis, Department of EnvironmentalScience and Policy, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, California 95616 USA

5California State University, Department of Biological Science,Fullerton, California 92834 USA


7Office of Aquaculture, NOAA, Rm 12317, 1315 East WestHwy, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 [email protected] purpose of this workshop is to foster increased collabora-

tion among scientists, educators, shellfish growers and restorationpractitioners to support conservation and restoration of Olympiaoysters across the range of the species from Baja California, Mex-ico to British Columbia, Canada. This workshop complements theOlympia oyster presentation session and is organized with sup-port of a 15-person steering committee dedicated to developing anOlympia oyster network.

INGESTION, BIOACCUMULATION, AND DEPURATIONOF MICRO- AND NANO-PLASTIC PARTICLES BY MA-RINE BIVALVESJ. Evan Ward*, Vena Haynes, Bridget Holohan, and KaylaMladinichUniversity of Connecticut, Department of Marine Sciences,

1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, Connecticut 06340 [email protected] debris is introduced into the oceans through anthropo-

genic waste. Larger plastics are broken down into microplastic(MPP) and nanoplastic particles (NPP) via weathering and UVdegradation, thus exposing coastal organisms to these pollutants.Studies have shown that MPP and NPP negatively affect marineanimals on an organ and cellular level. Despite the potential forexposure and toxicological effects, the uptake and accumulationof MPP and NPP by benthic animals, such as suspension-feedingbivalves, is largely unexplored. This study examined the ingestionand depuration of fluorescent polystyrene MPP and NPP by theblue mussel,Mytilus edulis. Particles were aged in filtered seawaterfor three days prior to use in exposure experiments. Mussels wereexposed to a 0.1 mg/L/hr concentration of either MPP or NPP fortwo weeks and then allowed to depurate for one week in filteredseawater. Mussels were fed a standard microalgal diet throughoutthe three-week experiment. Feces were collected daily and repli-cate mussels sampled and frozen at the end of each week for lateranalysis. Tissue and feces samples were analyzed via a scanningfluorescence spectrophotometer and concentration of plastic quan-tified. Results from this study will allow us to develop biokineticmodels of uptake and accumulation of MPP and NPP in bivalves,and help elucidate the potential for these materials to be passed tohigher trophic levels including humans.

COAST-WIDE OLYMPIA OYSTER NETWORK: RESIL-IENT NATIVE OYSTERS FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA,CANADATO BAJACALIFORNIA, MEXICOKerstin Wasson1*, Danielle Zacherl2, and Chela Zabin3

1Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, 1700Elkhorn Road, Royal Oaks, California 95076 USA

2California State University Fullerton, Box 6850, Departmentof Biological Science, Fullerton, California 92834 USA

3Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 3152 ParadiseDrive, Tiburon California 95050 [email protected] oyster conservation and restoration practitioners, sci-

entists, aquaculturists, and other stakeholders are coming togetherto develop a shared vision of resilient Olympia oyster populations,performing key ecosystem functions, in bays and estuaries stretch-ing from British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico.


10University of Washington, Department of Biology, Seattle,Washington 98195 USA

11The Nature Conservancy, 821 SE 14th Avenue, Portland, Ore-gon 97214 [email protected] recruitment failure of Olympia oysters at one Califor-

nia estuary, Elkhorn Slough, motivated a coast-wide investigationof recruitment dynamics, to determine whether failure is commonand whether it occurs synchronously among estuaries. Recruitmentdynamics were investigated at 37 sites in eight estuaries along 2500km of Pacific North American coastline. There was little evidenceof synchrony among estuaries, and only limited synchrony of siteswithin estuaries, although some correlation with local upwellingstrength. Recruitment was uncorrelated with oceanographic driversincluding ENSO or PDO, which together suggests that recruitmentrates are influenced by local oceanographic dynamics and estuarineprocesses, and not forces operating at broader regional scales. Thishighlights the importance of local wetland and watershed manage-ment for the demography of oysters. Estuaries with more homoge-neous environmental conditions had greater synchrony among sites,which created potential failure estuary-wide when all sites had norecruitment in the same year. Environmental heterogeneity withinestuaries may prevent estuary-wide recruitment failure, analogousto the portfolio effect for diversity. Recruitment failure was correlat-ed with lower summer water temperature, higher winter salinity, andshorter residence time, indicative of stronger marine influence onestuaries. Recruitment failure was also more common in estuarieswith where adult oysters occupied only small portions of the es-tuary. Thus, large networks of oyster populations have high con-servation value, while estuaries without them would benefit fromrestoration efforts to increase the extent and connectivity of sitessupporting oysters. This study is an example of the value of coast-wide collaborations to inform Olympia oyster restoration.

IF YOU BUILD IT, WHY DO THEY COME? AN INVES-TIGATION INTO THE MOTIVATIONS OF VOLUNTEEROYSTER GARDENERSPhillip “P.J.” L.Waters, Jr.1,2,3*,William C.Walton1,2, Daniel R.Petrolia4, David L. Swann1,3 and James E. Witte5

1Auburn University, Marine Extension and Research Center,118 North Royal Street, Suite 800, Mobile, Alabama 36602 USA

2Alabama Cooperative Extension System, 118 North RoyalStreet, Suite 800, Mobile, Alabama 36602 USA

3Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, 118 North RoyalStreet, Suite 800, Mobile, Alabama 36602 USA

4Mississippi State University, Department of Agricultural Eco-nomics, Box 5187, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 USA

5Auburn University, Educational Foundations, Leadership,and Technology, 3006 Haley Center Auburn University, Alabama36849 [email protected]

The majority of the session will be spent in groups, organizedby topic areas, with participants choosing which to join. Groupswill exchange information, brainstorm priorities for the future, andidentify action items for the coming year. At the end, we will cometogether to share results. Tentative topic areas and potential discus-sion questions include the following, but are open to modificationby participants:• Community engagement: How can we better educate thepublic about Olympia oysters in the context of healthy coast-lines, and involve them in restoration efforts and communityscience?

• Restoration/conservation: How can we support and expandexisting efforts to protect and bring back sustainable oysterpopulations along the species range? Would shared protocols,photoguides or databases be helpful?

• Aquaculture: Can commercial production be integrated witha sustainable restoration and conservation approach?

• Science: What are the critical gaps in our understanding ofthe conditions that limit oyster populations? Which environ-mental stressors, including those related to climate change,pose the greatest threat? How can we identify the most appro-priate sites and methods for restoring oysters and their func-tions in coastal ecosystems?

OLYMPIA OYSTER RECRUITMENT DYNAMICS FROMSOUTHERN CALIFORNIATO BRITISH COLUMBIAKerstin Wasson1,2*, Brent B. Hughes2, John S. Berriman3, An-drew L. Chang4,5,8, Anna K. Deck5, Paul A. Dinnel6, Charlie En-dris1, Michael Espinoza3, Sarah Dudas7, Matthew C. Ferner5,Edwin D. Grosholz8, David Kimbro9, Jennifer L. Ruesink10,Alan C. Trimble10, Dick Vander Schaaf11, Chela J. Zabin4,8, andDanielle C. Zacherl3


2University of California, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, California 95060 USA

3California State University, Department of Biological Science,Fullerton, California 92834 USA


5San Francisco State University, San Francisco Bay NERR,3150 Paradise Drive, Tiburon, California 94920 USA

6Skagit County Marine Resources Committee, 1800 Continen-tal Pl., Mount Vernon, Washington 98273 USA

7Vancouver Island University, 900 Fifth St., Nanaimo, BC, V9R5S5 Canada

8University of California, Davis, Department of EnvironmentalScience and Policy, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, California 95616 USA

9Northeastern University, Department of Marine and Environ-mental Sciences, Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts01908 USA


been made, there remains the need for evaluation of developedstrains at different locations along the NC coast.In 2016, a 12-month trial was initiated to compare four oyster

culture gear types (floating bags, off-bottom cages, long-line bas-kets, floating cages) and four regional oyster strains on the basis ofoyster survival and production indices. Gear units were stockedwith seed (25-mm shell length) at approx. 25% of volume. Oystersfrom each gear unit at each site were counted quarterly to deter-mine percent survival and a random sample of 20 individuals fromeach unit was obtained to assess growth, shell morphology, andcondition. At the conclusion of the trial, the percentage of market(> 76-mm shell length) and sub-market size oysters present in eachgear unit was also determined at each site. Final results of the trialwill be presented. In addition, regional differences in oyster pro-duction with respect to culture gear and strain will be discussed.

EVERYTHING FROM SHELLS: GENETICS OF SHELLSHAPE AND COLOR IN THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRAS-SOSTREAVIRGINICAMichael Whiteside*and Ximing GuoRutgers University, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, In-

stitute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, 6959 Miller Avenue, PortNorris, New Jersey, 08349 [email protected] the commercial production of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea

virginica, increases, emphasis on characteristics desirable to bothconsumers and growers, such as external appearance, may becomemore important. Some oysters exhibit a hooked hinge area thatbinds to the left side, making them difficult to shuck and sell. Oys-ter seeds of a certain color can be used as markers for selectedstocks. To determine if there is a genetic basis for shell shape andcolor, crosses were conducted using oysters with flat and hookedhinges, and, as a separate experiment, using oysters with differingpigmentation patterns.For hooked crosses, two cohorts of oysters were selected and

crossed amongst each other: one group with hooked hinges andone normal. The progeny from each cross were grown separately,and in the following year, the crosses were repeated using selectedF1s, resulting in two generations of selection for normal and forhooked oysters. Four-month-old F2s were subsequently cut ven-tro-dorsally and the relative curvature of the right and left valveswere measured using a computer program. Initial analyses indicatethat hooked hinges have a strong genetic component.For shell-color crosses, four shell-pigmentation types were

described: fully pigmented, lightly pigmented, positively striped,and negatively striped; and crosses between each of the types wereperformed. The pigmentation types used to describe parents werethen assigned to >100 of the progeny. The proportions of the pig-mentation types in the progeny suggest types are under genetic con-trol, with some following simple Mendelian inheritance and othersappearing more complicated.

Volunteer Oyster Gardening Programs (OGP) work tocombat habitat loss and provide experiential educational opportu-nities focused on the ecological and economical attributes of oys-ters. Across different states and regions, OGPs have three sharedtraits; (1) a goal of seeing local oyster populations returned to somehealthier state; (2) heavy participation by volunteers and (3) lim-ited resources, with a tremendous percentage of spent capital andtemporal investment dedicated to identifying, training and main-taining their volunteer base to continue to support their objectives.For OGPmanagers, there is a need to identify the factors that attractand retain volunteers to an OGP program. A volunteer must per-ceive a value on a personal level and identify meaning behind theirefforts to select joining or continuing in an OGP over alternativeleisure time activities. To quantify volunteer motivation(s) to joinand remain in their OGP, a survey was designed and administeredto current and former OGP volunteers (n=237) of 10 programs inthe United States during the Fall of 2017. Programs included five inthe Gulf of Mexico (Texas, Mississippi, Alabama (2) and Florida)and five on the Atlantic Coast (Florida, Virginia (2) and Maryland(2)). The analysis will provide insight that programs can utilizeto improve recruitment efficiencies and retention success, therebyreducing the time and capital requirements currently devoted tothese critical aspects of OGP management. Further, the analysismay identify variations among OGPs and common themes betweenthem related to influences on volunteer decision making. Data arecurrently being analyzed.

COMMERCIAL SCALE COMPARISON OF SELECTEDWATER COLUMN OYSTER CULTURE GEAR TYPESAND NATIVE OYSTER STRAINS DEVELOPED FOR THENORTH CAROLINA INDUSTRYChuck Weirich1*, Ami Wilbur2, and Dave Cerino3

1North Carolina Sea Grant, NCSU Center for Marine Sciencesand Technology, 303 College Circle, Morehead City, North Caro-lina 28557 USA

2University of North Carolina-Wilmington Shellfish ResearchHatchery, 5606 Marvin K. Moss Lane,Wilmington, North Carolina28409 USA

3Carteret Community College Aquaculture Technology Pro-gram, 301 College Circle, Morehead City, North Carolina [email protected] Carolina (NC) is currently experiencing rapid develop-

ment of its oyster farming industry, primarily due to expansion ofwater column production of single oysters for the half-shell mar-ket using containerized gear. While there are a number of gearsystems available, limited research has been conducted to comparegear types as a means of improving efficiencies and profitability ofcommercial operations. Another means to optimize production isvia genetic improvement. In 2012, the UNCW Shellfish ResearchHatchery initiated a breeding program aimed at developing select-ed strains of oysters native to NC. While significant progress has


phytoplankton strains, develop protocols for microalgal culture andlarval rearing and feeding, and resolve many paradoxes, e.g., howto compare algae with different cell sizes, makes it all the moreamazing that they found many of the microalgal strains still in use.The next generation of researchers in several institutions took cuesfrom agricultural animal science and investigated the biochem-ical basis of bivalve nutrition. We were hampered in followingstandard agricultural practice by the lack of a defined, non-algaldiet in which specific biochemical components could be includedor excluded. Accordingly, statistical methods, adding non-livingcomponents to microalgae, and culturing microalgae under dif-ferent conditions to modify biochemical composition were em-ployed. In Milford, these methods, breakthrough insights fromothers, and collaborations with biochemists and physiologists ledto biochemical nutritional profiles for oysters and clams. Exper-iments comparing rations and regimes of high-quality microalgaeled to feeding standards for hatchery and nursery culture that havebeen communicated to practitioners in annual Milford MicroalgalCulture Workshops. While further scientific breakthroughs in bi-valve nutrition are likely, implementation of existing knowledge inhatcheries continues.

“THE MILFORD METHOD”: ORIGINS, EVOLUTION,ANDAPPLICATIONSGary H. WikforsNOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Milford

Laboratory, 212 Rogers Avenue, Milford, Connecticut 06460 [email protected]“The Milford Method,” is a phrase that came into being in the

early 1960s to discriminate the use of selected microalgal strains tofeed shellfish larvae from the previously-employed “Wells-GlancyMethod,” which was fertilization and blooming of natural planktonas feed. It is not possible to attribute the idea to one individual, butthe “Lennon and McCartney” of bivalve aquaculture, “Loosanoffand Davis,” in 1955 hired Robert R.L. Guillard, the first microalgalspecialist to work in the Milford Laboratory, so the decision hadbeen made to seek nutritionally superior microalgae. After Guil-lard confirmed that some microalgae were better feeds than others,he moved on and was replaced by Ravenna Ukeles, who oversawnearly 30 years of research and development of the Milford Methodin the institution for which it is named. Ukeles collected microal-gal isolates from sources near and far, developed methods for theaseptic mass-culture of microalgae, conducted countless feedingexperiments with shellfish larvae and juveniles, and developed aprofile of a superior microalgal feed. When I arrived in Milford,“The Doc’s” research had advanced to biochemical profiling of mi-croalgae, and I was given this assignment. Details about the trajec-tory of shellfish nutrition research in Milford and other institutions

FORECASTING VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS IN LONGISLAND SOUND OYSTERS AND MANAGEMENT STRAT-EGIES FORAQUACULTUREMichael M.Whitney1*, Kristin DeRosia-Banick2, and Steven R.Deignan-Schmidt1

1University of Connecticut, Department of Marine Sciences,1080 Shennecossett Rd., Groton, Connecticut 06340 USA

2Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquacul-ture, P.O. Box 97, 190 Rogers Ave., Milford, Connecticut [email protected] marine bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp), occurs

naturally in brackish and saltwater environments, and tends to bemore prevalent as water temperatures rise. Consumption of shellfishwith high Vp levels can result in gastrointestinal human illnesses.Management response to Vp-related illness outbreaks includes clo-sure of shellfish growing areas. Additional management strategiesare informed by Vp forecasting systems and improved understand-ing of environmental conditions that are linked to human illnesses.Water quality observations, Vp measurements, and model forecastsare key components to effective management of shellfish growingareas. There remains a clear need for observational systems withinthe growing area themselves. These areas are offshore of coastalstations and typically inshore of the observing system moorings.New field observations in Long Island Sound (LIS) shellfish grow-ing areas are described and their agreement with high-resolutionsatellite sea surface temperature data is discussed. A new datasetof Vp concentrations in shellfish tissue is used to determine theLIS-specific Vp vs. temperature relationship following methods inthe FDA pre-harvest Vp risk model. This information is combinedwith output from a high-resolution hydrodynamic model of LISto make daily forecasts of Vp levels. Past Vp-related illnesses arelinked to the corresponding conditions at harvest to establish envi-ronmental triggers for post-harvest rapid cooling of oysters. FewerVp-related illnesses in recent years point to the success of thesenew management strategies that can increase the resilience of LISaquaculture in a warming climate.

MICROALGAL BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND BI-VALVE NUTRITION: HOWWEKNOWWHATWE KNOWGary H. WikforsNOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Milford

Laboratory, 212 Rogers Avenue, Milford, Connecitcut 06460 [email protected] year I turned one, Bob Guillard was hired by Victor Loo-

sanoff in the Milford Lab and assigned the job of finding suitablemicroalgae for feeding larval shellfish. Several publications result-ed showing that some microalgae supported higher survival andgrowth of larvae than others. The search for superior algal dietscontinued in Milford by Ravenna Ukeles and in Conwy, U.K. byP.R. Walne. The realization that these pioneers needed to isolate


natural processes such as upwelling, freshwater inputs, and highrespiration/decomposition rates. High rates of production and longresidence times in Puget Sound can also lead to low dissolved ox-ygen (DO) levels (hypoxia) in some areas. Studies have shown thenegative effects of these stressors on marine organisms, particular-ly calcifiers. In this study, changes in pH and oxygen in seawater af-fect adult fecundity and larval survival of the native Olympia oyster(Ostrea lurida) were examined. Through three discrete trials, thefollowing trends were observed: Adult oysters conditioned at ~400µatm released significantly more larvae than those conditioned athigher pCO2 levels ranging from 1000 to 2475 µatm pCO2. Lar-val survival decreased in two multi-stressor treatments when chal-lenged with varying combinations of pCO2 and DO. Offspring ofparents conditioned under high pCO2 experienced reduced survivalwhen exposed to both high pCO2 and low DO (14.7% survival).In addition, progeny of adults conditioned under low pCO2 diedwhen exposed to high pCO2 and high DO (22% survival). Theseresults suggest that elevated pCO2 negatively affects fecundity inO. lurida but that the synergistic effects of high CO2and lowDO onlarval survival is more complicated than previously reported. Mul-tigenerational, multi-stressor studies such as this are important indetermining how species will respond to an environmental changein the ocean.

MOLECULAR CLONING, EXPRESSION PATTERNANAL-YSIS, AND IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION OF A DMRT11EGENE IN THE ORIENTAL FRESHWATER PRAWN, MAC-ROBRACHIUM NIPPONENSEWang Yabing, Fu Hongtuo1,2, Qiao Hui2, Sun Shengming2,Zhang Wenyi2, Jin Shubo*2, Gong Yongsheng2, Jiang Sufei2,Xiong Yiwei2, and Wu Yan2

1Wuxi Fisheries College, NanjingAgricultural University, Wuxi214081, PR China

2Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Re-sources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater FisheriesResearch Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi214081, PR [email protected] Dmrt (doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor)

gene family is widely conserved for its involvement in sex devel-opment from invertebrates to humans. This study isolated a full-length cDNA sequence encoding a DM-domain gene from theMacrobrachium nipponense, which was named MnDmrt11E ac-cording to the high similarities and close evolutionary divergencewith arthropod Dmrt11E, and investigated its gene function. Thefull-length cDNA of MnDmrt11E was 2258 bp, consisting of a5’ UTR of 200 bp, a 3’ UTR of 756 bp, and an ORF of 1629 bpencoding 542 amino acids. Amino acid alignments and structuralprediction uncovered conservation and putative active sites of theDM domain. QPCR analysis showed the MnDmrt11E was highlyexpressed in the gonad in both males and females. Further in situ

are presented in the special session at this conference honoring thememory of R.R.L. Guillard. Beyond the original impetus to feedshellfish larvae in a hatchery, The Milford Method continues tohave wide application in crustacean and fish aquaculture, biofuels,and nutriceuticals, with microalgal strain selection a key element.

COLOURFUL SHELLS: THE EVOLUTION OF COLOURIN MOLLUSCASuzanne T. WilliamsNatural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, Crom-

well Rd, London SW7 5BD, United [email protected] order to understand how shell colour can drive evolution in

molluscs, we first need to 1) know more about how shell colouris distributed across taxonomic groups, 2) identify shell pigmentsand 3) link pigments to biochemical pathways. To address the firstquestion, a total of 24 characters related to shell colour were re-corded for the entire NHM dry bivalve collection and plotted ontoa molecular phylogeny and analysed to determine whether phylog-eny effects the taxonomic distribution of colour. To address the sec-ond question, high performance liquid chromatography was used toidentify two pigments in the shell and coloured foot tissue of ma-rine snails Clanculus pharaonius and C. margaritarius. Evidencefrom confocal microscopy analyses shows that the distributionof porphyrin pigments corresponds to the striking pink-red of C.pharaonius shells, and both pink-red and yellow-brown color of C.margaritarius shells. Porphyrin pigments were not found in a thirdspecies, Calliostoma zizyphinum, even though its shell colour wassimilar to the Clanculus species. In order to determine whether thesnails are capable of producing the porphyrin pigments de novo,transcriptomes of the two Clanculus species and Calliostoma zi-zyphinum, as a negative control, were sequenced to identify genesassociated with their synthesis and qPCR was used to compare ex-pression levels of those genes. Genes necessary for the productionof porphyrins were found in all three species, but gene expressionlevels results were consistent with synthesis of porphyrin pigmentsin mantle and coloured foot tissue only in Clanculus species.

POTENTIAL TRANSGENERATIONAL EFFECTS OFOCEAN ACIDIFICATION ON THE OLYMPIA OYSTER,OSTREA LURIDA: A THREE-PART EXPERIMENTALSTUDYBryanda J.T. Wippel*1, Carolyn S. Friedman1, Lisa Crosson1,Molly Roberts2, Robyn Strenge1, Matt George2, Emily Car-rington2, and SamWhite1

1University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ences, Box 355020, Seattle Washington, 98195 USA

2University of Washington, Department of Biology, Box351800, Seattle Washington, 98195 [email protected] acidification (OA) is decreasing the pH of surface waters

in Puget Sound, Washington, an area already prone to low pH from


BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL OCEAN INDICATORSPREDICT THE SUCCESS OF THE INVASIVE EUROPEANGREEN CRAB, CARCINUS MAENASSylvia B. Yamada1*, Joel Prickett2, Bree Yednock3, ChristinaGeierman3, Julia Indivero3, Collin Williams3, Andrea Randall4,Bill Peterson5, Jennifer Fisher5, and Mike Kosro6

1Oregon State University, Integrative Biology, Corvallis, Ore-gon USA

2Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 4907 3rd St. Tilla-mook, Oregon USA

3South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Charles-ton, Oregon USA

4P.O. Box 6, Chinook, Washington USA5NOOA-Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, New-

port, Oregon USA6Oregon State University, College of Earth, Ocean and Atmo-

spheric Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon [email protected] introduced population of European green crabs was es-

tablished in San Francisco Bay prior to 1989. Subsequently, theirlarvae were carried northward to Oregon, Washington, and BritishColumbia by the unusually strong Davidson Current during thewinter of the 1997/1998 El Niño. After the arrival of the strongfounding year-class of 1998, green crabs persisted in Oregon andWashington coastal estuaries at low densities, but only recruitedsignificantly during 2005, 2006, 2015, 2016 and 2017.It is hypothesized that larvae are delivered to Oregon andWash-

ington estuaries during winters when (1) there is strong northwardflow of coastal waters (2) the water is relatively warm (sea sur-face temperature >10°C), enabling larvae to complete their devel-opment, and (3) when coastal circulation patterns favor nearshoreretention where larvae can then be carried by tidal currents intoestuaries to settle. Indeed, strong year-classes of green crabs arecorrelated with anomalously warm winter water temperatures, pos-itive Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) andMultivariate ENSO (ElNiño Southern Oscillation) indices, weak equatorward shelf cur-rents during March andApril, a late, delayed biological spring tran-sition, and increased biomass anomalies of subtropical copepod.These conditions would also favor local larval production. Duringthe persistent unprecedented warming that occurred from 2015through 2017, green crab recruitment was the highest observedsince 1998. Recently catches of adult crabs, in some sites, exceed-ed 10 per trap, a threshold at which they start exerting measurabledamage to shellfish beds. Careful monitoring will continue to dis-cern crab survival and whether ecological impacts occur.

hybridization analysis showed that Dmrt11E was mainly located inthe oocytes of the ovary, and the spermatocyte of the testis. Duringembryogenesis, the mRNA expression of MnDmrt11E was higherat the cleavage stage than those of other stages. During the differentstages of ovarian reproductive cycle, the MnDmrt11E expressionreached the peak at OvaryIII and decreased to the lowest level atOvaryIV. These results indicating that MnDmrt11E probably playsimportant roles in embryonic development and sex maturity of M.nipponense. The complicated expression profiles of Dmrt familygenes may provide clues of their rapid evolution and multi-func-tionality. This study will contribute to understanding mechanisticand evolutionary dynamics of Dmrt family genes in sex differenti-ation and embryogenesis.

EVAULATION OF SHORT-TERM REMOVAL EFFORT TOCONTROL THE EUROPEAN GREEN CRAB, CARCINUSMAENAS, POPULATION IN THE BROKEN GROUP IS-LANDS, BRITISH COLUMBIAJennifer Yakimishyn* and Yuri ZharikovPacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada, Parks Canada,

P.O. Box 280, Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada V0R [email protected] invasive European green crab, Carcinus maenas, was first

detected in Barkly Sound, British Columbia in 1998. Since then,green crabs have expanded throughout Barkley Sound, includingthe Broken Group Islands (BGI) unit of Pacific Rim National ParkReserve (PRNPR). Green crab invasions in eastern Canada haveresulted in losses of eelgrass habitat and clam fisheries. The expan-sion of green crab populations throughout the BGI, into sensitiveeelgrass habitats, triggered a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI)green crab removal study in three eelgrass meadows, monitoredby Parks Canada. Two control sites, without crab removal, werecompared to a single impact site with green crabs removed over sixtrapping days. Short- and long-term trapping effects were evaluat-ed, a few days and then a month following the removal. Overall,there was no effect detected on green crab abundance at the remov-al site. Smaller green crabs were caught in the short-term, but thesize effect was not apparent in the month following the removalefforts. The number of male green crabs decreased after removalefforts compared to control sites. Fukui traps were more effectiveat trapping green crabs than minnow traps, although minnow trapscaught smaller crabs. Future efforts will explore trapping duringmonths, and in areas, with higher green crab catch. Continued mon-itoring of eelgrass extent will also ensure early detection of habitatloss and trigger additional management actions.


Abalone is one of the most economically important marine gas-tropod species in the world. The temperate Pacific abalone, Hal-iotis discus hannai, is successfully domesticated on a large-scaleand adapted to the subtropical area, spanning thermally divergentlocations separated by 15° of latitude. The de novo whole-genomesequence of H. discus hannai and recognized lineage-specific char-acterization of abalone in the naturally extreme coastal water en-vironment via comparative genomic analyses is reported. Notably,macrosynteny analysis reveals a striking result that 18-chosomo-some karyotype of H. discus hannai was significantly conservedand presumed to be close to the ancient karyotype of Haliotidae.Whole-genome resequencing of 71 individuals from five repre-sentative populations uncovers population structure and providessupport of the abalone “Pacific Rim” origin hypothesis. Selectivesweep analysis identified candidate genes involved in importantbiological progress including calcification, apoptotic process andresponse to stimulus, which are implicated in thermal adaptationof abalone.

TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL VARIABILITY IN OYSTERPERFORMANCE IN RESTORATION PROJECTS IN SANFRANCISCO BAY, USAChela J. Zabin1,2 *, Geana Ayala1, Stephanie Kiriakopolos1,Marilyn Latta3, and Edwin D. Grosholz1

1University of California, Davis, Environmental Science andPolicy Department, 1023 Wickson Hall, One Shields Way, DavisCalifornia 95616 USA

2Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 3152 ParadiseDrive, Tiburon California 94920 USA

3California State Coastal Conservancy, 1515 Clay St., OaklandCalifornia 94612 [email protected] oysters (Ostrea lurida) are an important foundation

species in estuaries on the west coast of North America, but sincethe mid-1800s populations have declined precipitously. Restorationefforts are increasing in California, but relatively little is knownabout factors that currently limit this species, how best to approachrestoration in estuaries that have been highly modified, and howclimate change may affect oysters. Data gathered from five yearsof monitoring two sites in the San Francisco Bay Living Shore-lines Project suggest that factors that affect adult oyster populationdensities and distribution vary by site and time. In the first yearsof these projects, overall adult oyster densities were high at Site 1and low at Site 2, mirroring differences in recruitment rates at thesesites. At Site 1, initial oyster abundance was highest at lower tidalelevations, on north vs. south sides of structures, and on verticalvs. horizontal substrates, suggesting that heat stress, sedimentationand settlement patterns affected distribution.At Site 2, oysters weremore abundant at higher tidal elevations, where they appear to havea partial refuge from predation from Atlantic oyster drills (Urosal-pinx cinerea), which are not present at Site 1. In subsequent years,differences between tidal elevations disappeared at Site 1, possibly

UNCOVERING THE GENETIC BASES OFGROWTH HET-EROSIS IN THE PACIFIC OYSTER, CRASSOSTREAGIGASXiaoshen Yin* and Dennis HedgecockUniversity of Southern California, Department of Biological

Sciences, 3616 Trousdale Pkwy, Los Angeles, California 90089-0371 [email protected] (hybrid vigor) has been widely observed in plants and

animals, but debate over its genetic causes has lasted for more thana hundred years without resolution. Previous analyses of experi-mental crosses of inbred lines demonstrated growth heterosis inthe Pacific oyster (Hedgecock & Davis, 2007 Aquaculture), but didnot resolve long-standing alternative genetic hypotheses for it. Toelucidate the genetic mechanisms of growth heterosis, QuantitativeTrait Locus (QTL) mapping is conducted on six, inter-related F2families of Pacific oysters, using single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) detected by Illumina sequencing of reduced-representationgenomic libraries (genotyping-by-sequencing, GBS). High-densitylinkage maps with an average interval between SNP of 0.65 cMprovide frameworks for QTL mapping within each family. Thegrowth phenotypes mapped are five live weights measured monthlyover the second summer post-fertilization, the four growth incre-ments between adjacent live weights, and deviations in interceptsand slopes of growth curves fitted to logarithm-transformed liveweights. Twenty-eight minor and 16 major growth QTL mappingscontribute to individual variation in single and multiple growthtraits, respectively. Growth QTL mappings show overdominant,dominant, underdominant, and additive gene effects, but onlynon-additive effects can explain growth heterosis. Results simul-taneously support alternative hypotheses for heterosis. In additionto genetic effects, environmental factors also play a role. The rateof logarithm-transformed live-weight increase from September toOctober is smaller than that from June to September, indicating thatgrowth slows in response to lower fall temperatures. Interestingly,genotypes of superior individuals differ under low and high tem-peratures, suggesting genotype-by-environment interaction.

GENOME SEQUENCING AND POPULATION GENOMICANALYSES PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO THERMALADAP-TATION OF PACIFICABALONEWeiwei You1,2,3*, Zekun Huang1,2,3, Xuan Luo1,2,3, and CaihuanKe1,2,3

1State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xia-men University, Xiamen 361102, China

2College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xia-men 361102, China

3Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation andUtilization of Marine Biological Resources, Xiamen University,Xiamen 361102, [email protected]


MOLECULAR MODELING AND CHARACTERIZATIONOFAMUSSELADHESIVE PROTEIN (MEFP-5)Kathryn Zimlich1*, Douglas C. Hansen2, and Karolyn M. Han-sen1


2University of Dayton Research Institute, 1700 South PattersonBlvd., Dayton, Ohio 45409 [email protected] blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, secretes adhesive proteins to

facilitate adhesion to a variety of substrates. SeveralMytilus edulisfoot proteins (MeFP) have been isolated and characterized. MeFP-5 is said to be the most adhesive of these proteins, and has a com-paratively large molecular percentage of L-Dopa when examinedagainst MeFP proteins 1-4 at over 25% L-Dopa, if full conversionfrom tyrosine occurs. The catechol functional group of L-Dopacomplexes with Fe3+ to form organometallic linkages, but howL-Dopa in MeFP-5 is interacting with an iron oxide surface, andif the lysine amino acids adjacent to L-Dopa help to facilitate for-mation of the epoxy-like barrier on iron oxides, is unknown. Thisproject focuses on evaluating the orientation of the catechol groupsin L-Dopa through molecular modeling, generating a 3D model ofmagnetite as an example of an iron oxide surface, characterizingregions of MeFP-5 which are most likely to complex with Fe3+,and altering the amino acid composition of MeFP-5 to attempt tomaximize adhesive properties and explore possibilities for creatinga synthetic analog. Modeling is done in the programs ChemDraw®and Chem3D® (PerkinElmer) to analyze protein structure and thecatechol positioning of L-Dopa within the protein MeFP-5. To val-idate and refine the model, experimental data of MeFP-5 adsorbedonto HY80 steel using Raman infrared spectroscopy have beenused to determine what interaction the lysine and L-Dopa function-al groups in MeFP-5 have on the steel surface. These data havebeen incorporated into the 3-dimensional model of the protein-met-al interface.

due to competition for space with other species, and low recruit-ment appeared to be a major driving factor for an overall declinein adult densities there as well as at Site 2. Extreme low salinity inYear 5 also impacted both sites.

HOW LOW CAN THEY GO? DISTRIBUTIONS OF THEOLYMPIA OYSTER (OSTREA LURIDA) AND THE PACIF-IC OYSTER (CRASSOSTREA GIGAS) AS A FUNCTION OFTIDAL ELEVATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR RESTO-RATIONDanielle C. Zacherl1*, Richard A. Torres, Jr.1, Thomas A. Park-er1, Holly Henderson2, and Nicole Tronske3

1California State University Fullerton, Box 6850, Departmentof Biological Science, Fullerton, California 92834 USA

2Merkel & Associates, Inc., 5434 Ruffin Road, San Diego, Cal-ifornia 92123 USA

3California State Polytechnic University Pomona, Departmentof Biological Sciences, 3801 W. Temple Avenue, Pomona, Califor-nia 91768 [email protected] of seawalls, fences, mudflats, and cobble fields through-

out southern California (CA) bays confirmed the establishment offeral aggregates of non-indigenous Pacific oysters (Crassostreagigas), which occur in zonation with native Olympia oysters (Os-trea lurida). It was observed that C. gigas achieved its maximumdensity above + 1.5 ft MLLW versus O. lurida at or below +0.5ft MLLW. The mechanism generating this zonation pattern mightbe explained through differences in settlement, recruitment, and/or growth and survival across species. On a mudflat and a chain-link fence in San Diego Bay, and across tidal elevations from -1to +3 ft. MLLW, settlement and recruitment for three consecutivereproductive seasons (2015-2017), and, survival and growth duringsummer 2015 was observed. Settlement of both species paralleledadult distributions. Recruitment, growth and survival patterns ap-pear to simply reinforce the distributional pattern set at settlement.Recruitment onto restoration beds constructed across various tidalelevations in Alamitos Bay, CA and Newport Bay, CAmirrors pre-dictions based upon zonation. It is predicted that constructing oys-ter beds at tidal elevations below +1 MLLW will maximize nativeperformance and minimize non-indigenous oyster performance.These data establish a critical baseline for evaluating future chang-es in oyster density.


of mangrove habitats. The final protocol to collect 1m sedimentcores, administrative responsibilities and shipment of samples tothe EDC-testing laboratories will be reviewed.

WHAT IS VIVALDI? A 4-YEAR EUROPEAN PROJECTAIMING AT PREVENTING AND MITIGATING FARMEDBIVALVE DISEASESIsabelle Arzul1*, Steve Feist2, Antonio Figueras3, SylvieLapègue1, Christine Paillard4, and Dolors Furones5

1Ifremer, SG2M-LGPMM, av de Mus de Loup, 17390 La Trem-blade, France

2Cefas, Weymouth Laboratory, Barrack Road, The Nothe,Wey-mouth, Dorset. DT4 8UB, United Kingdom

3Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) Insti-tuto de Investigaciones Marinas, Rúa de Eduardo Cabello, 6, 36208Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain

4Institut Universitaire Européen de laMer, LEMAR,TechnopôleBrest-Iroise - rue Dumont d’Urville - 29280 Plouzané France

5Investigacion y Technologia Agroalimentarias (IRTA), Crta.Poble Nou, km. 5’5 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita, [email protected] shellfish farming enjoys a prominent position on a

global scale. European production of shellfish relies mostly onmussels, oysters, and clams. In the last few years, the industry hasbeen weakened by mortality events linked with various viruses(e.g. OsHV-1), bacteria (e.g. Vibrio aestuarianus) and parasites(e.g. Marteilia cochillia), which lead to great economic losses. Itis in this context that the H2020-European VIVALDI project aimsto improve the sustainability and competitiveness of the Europeanshellfish industry by developing tools and approaches to preventand mitigate bivalve diseases.Started in April 2016, this 4-year project involves 21 partners.

First results have been achieved in understanding the diversity ofpathogens in bivalve populations and in their detection thanks tothe elaboration of passive sensors. Mathematical models for thetransmission of diseases and risk levels for farming are currentlydeveloped and will be helpful to better anticipate the emergenceof disease.Studies on the response of bivalves against diseases have con-

tributed to identify key pathways (e.g. Warburg metabolism andautophagy) and novel important protein families. Microbiome isalso deeply investigated during disease development mostly inCrassostrea gigas andMytilus spp. Field experiments and monitor-ing are on going in different key sites on the EuropeanAtlantic andMediterranean coasts and allow identifying biosecurity measurescontributing to avoid disease and to decrease mortality outbreaks.Finally, in order to improve the dialogue among the parties affectedby shellfish diseases and to disseminate results of the project, amapping of stakeholders is currently under way.

MANGROVEENCODE (2017-2027: DEVELOPING TECH-NOLOGIES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF CO2, MICROBI-OME, ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS (GLY-PHOSATE, METALS), AND MICROBIAL TRANSGENEBACILLUS THURINGIENSIS INMANGROVES SEDIMENTANDAGRICULTURAL SOILOF SELECTED COUNTRIESLiliana Zuniga1*, Daniela Espinoza1, Arturo Ruiz-Luna2, CesarA. Berlanga-Robles2, Bruno Gómez-Gil2, Mira Maude Choui-nard3, Dina Morell3, Modesto Ochoa3, Miriam Alcívar-Artea-ga1, GoberAsunción1, Mayra Galindo1, Christian Saltos1, SofíaFigueroa Zambrano1, Johanna Alcivar Parrales1, Acacia Alci-var-Warren1,4, Jorge Echevarria5, and Chika F. Ikeogu6

1The Mangrove Epigenome (mangroveENCODE) Project, Fun-dación para la Conservación de la BiodiversidadAcuática y Terres-tre de Ecuador (FUCOBI), Quito, Ecuador

2Centro de Alimentacion y Desarrollo (CIAD), A.C., UnidadMazatlan en Acuicultura y Manejo Ambiental, AP.711, Mazatlan,Sinaloa, Mexico 82000

3CODDEFAGOLF, Honduras4ONE HEALTH Epigenomics Educational Initiative, Environ-

mental Genomics Inc., P.O. Box 196, Southborough Massachusetts01772 USA

5Universidad de Tumbes, Tumbes, Peru6Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Department of Fisheries and

Aquaculture, Awka, [email protected] long-term goal of The Mangroves Epigenome (man-

groveENCODE) Project is to study the interactions of greenhousegas fluxes, carbon sequestration and microbial communities in lightof climate change and environmental degradation-related health is-sues. The plan is to obtain baseline information for future studiesto test mechanism-driven hypotheses to examine the epigeneticmechanisms involved in the interactions of CO2 with endocrinedisrupting chemicals (EDC) and the microbiome of mangrove sed-iments and agricultural soil, using computational ecology tools.The genetic and epigenetic modifications such as DNA (CpG)

methylation in mangroves species from Brazil (Laguncularia rac-emosa) and China (Ceriops tagal) using Methyl-Sensitive Ampli-fied Polymorphism (MSAP) and Illumina RNA-seq technologies,respectively, will be reviewed. Within-population diversity wassignificantly greater for epigenetic than genetic data in Brazil sam-ples. Individuals with similar genetic profiles presented divergentepigenetic profiles that were characteristic of the population in aparticular environment, suggesting that CpG-methylation chang-es may be associated with environmental heterogeneity. RNA-seqdata from C. tagal plants suggest they could survive salt stressthrough biochemical modification.A 2018 pilot study will be discussed to determine best technol-

ogies for epigenetic studies and for the assessment of the microbi-ome, CO2, EDC (glyphosate, metals) and microbial transgene Ba-cillus thuringiensis in agricultural soil and sediment of mangrovesand adjacent shrimp ponds of selected countries, for conservation


prudent to examine Crassostrea virginica and other related species(e.g., Ostrea equestris and Isognomon sp.) periodically from dif-ferent Texas bays for the presence of the causative agents of thesediseases, i.e., Bonamia and Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX). Thecausative agent of Dermo, Perkinsus marinus, is endemic in Texasand was also measured. One-hundred-fifty American oysters werecollected during October to December 2016 from Copano Bay, SanAntonio Bay, Matagorda Bay, Galveston Bay, and Sabine Lake.PCR analysis of tissues found no Bonamia in these oysters, but anaverage prevalence of 4.67% for MSX and 14.67% for Dermo. Inaddition, 89 historical eastern oyster tissue samples from 2010 and2011 were assessed by PCR. Again, no Bonamia was found, butthere was a 6.74% MSX prevalence and a 28.09% Dermo preva-lence. MSX is endemic to the Northeastern U.S. seaboard and upuntil this point, the Gulf of Mexico has been considered free of thispathogen. Further research to confirm the MSX findings is neces-sary and will be completed using histological examination of oystertissue and Sanger sequencing of isolated DNA.

REDUCING THE IMPACTOF PATHOGENS IN THE IRISHOYSTER INDUSTRY TO SUPPORT THE SUSTAINABILI-TYAND GROWTH OFTHE SECTORB.E. Bookelaar1*, C.O’Toole2, D. Cheslett2, S.A. Lynch1, andS.C. Culloty1

1Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Centre, School of Bi-ological, Earth and Environmental Sciences & Environmental Re-search Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

2Marine Institute, Oranmore, [email protected] oysters, Crassostrea gigas, have been farmed in Ireland

since 1970s and are of commercial importance; however, signifi-cant summer mortalities in Pacific oysters have been observed, as-sociated with a complex aetiology, including interactions betweenthe physical status of the host, environmental parameters and patho-gens like OsHV-1 microVar (OsHV-1 μVar) and/or Vibrio aestur-ianus (V. aes). This research is part of the project, REPOSUS, acollaborative three-year project between University College Corkand the Marine Institute started in April 2015. The objectives areto acquire more knowledge how pathogens affect the Irish PacificOyster industry and to come up with new practical measures to sup-port the sector. Field and laboratory trials were conducted to reveala better understanding of “pathogen-host-environment interplay”of Irish Pacific oysters. Field trials took place at two main Irishoyster culture sites, both with history of OsHV-1 μVar and/or Vib-rio spp. The role of other marine invertebrates found around oys-ter culture sites as a potential carrier, reservoir or alternative hostof OsHV-1 μVar and the spread of diseases in marine invertebratespecies within different ranges of oyster culture sites were studied.

GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF HATCHERY PRODUCEDEASTERN OYSTER (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA) SPAT INBOTTOM CAGES IN COATALGEORGIAThomas H. Bliss*, Justin P. Manley, and Robert E. HeinUniversity of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea

Grant, Shellfish Research Laboratory, 20 Ocean Science Circle,Savannah, Georgia 31411 [email protected] development of oyster aquaculture within Georgia is nec-

essary to increase oyster production. Single oysters grown usingaquaculture methods are in high demand, bring a better price thanbulk oysters, are much easier to distribute, but current aquaculturemethodology is not permitted in Georgia. To offer a consistent sup-ply of single oysters from Georgia, there are two criteria that mustbe met; 1) access to hatchery produced oyster spat and 2) success-ful grow out methodology. In 2015, an instate oyster hatchery wasset up at the University of Georgia Marine Extension and GeorgiaSea Grant Shellfish Research Laboratory and 860,000 spat (6 mm)were distributed to commercial growers along the Georgia coast.An experimental grow-out trial was conducted using hatchery pro-duced spat on commercial leases using bottom cages (ChesapeakeBay Oyster Company) to evaluate the growth, survival, and fanand cup ratios from March 2016-March 2017. In terms of growth,it was observed that oysters reached legal market size (50.8 mm)within one year of spawn and ideal market size of > 65 mm with-in 18 months. Oysters had an excellent cup ratio > 0.25, and hada survival rate of 57%. No difference was found in growth ratebetween different test sites. Therefore, oyster farmers can consis-tently produce single oysters from hatchery spat in bottom cages.Evaluation of triploid and diploid oysters in floating gear is current-ly underway, and we feel that once regulations change that oysteraquaculture will be quickly established.

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OFA SURVEY FOR THE OYS-TER PARASITES BONAMIAANDMSX IN TEXAS BAYSHailey M. Boeck*1, Susan E. Laramore2, David S. Portnoy1,and John Scarpa1

1Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive,Corpus Christi, Texas 78412 USA

2Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic In-stitute, 5600 US 1, Fort Pierce, Florida 34946 [email protected] Texas Parks andWildlife Department restricts movement of

eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from one Texas bay systemto another because of potential disease transfer and genetic differ-ences in natural oyster stocks. Oyster diseases, such as Bonamio-sis, which was found serendipitously in 2007 in Florida waters, andMSX have not been characterized in Texas bays. Therefore, it is


CONTAMINANTS OF EMERGING CONCERN IN WILDEASTERN OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA) ANDENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES FROM ESTUARIES INGEORGIA, USADavid W. Brew* and Marsha C. BlackUniversity of Georgia, Department of Environmental Health

Science, Athens, Georgia, [email protected] coastal zone populations continue to increase, contaminants

of emerging concern (CEC) in estuarine environments will be anincreasingly complex problem facing estuarine organisms, includ-ing many economically important bivalve species. CEC can elicita biological response at low ng/L - μg/L concentrations, puttingorganisms in these sensitive estuarine areas at risk to toxic effectsfrom increased or prolonged exposures. CEC were quantified intissue from wild eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica), water,and sediment samples near Brunswick and Sapelo Island, Geor-gia. Sites were selected to provide a gradient of presumed expo-sures based on septic tank densities. Samples were analyzed for30 CEC including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI),hormones, anti-epileptics, stimulants, antihistamines, analgesics,heart/cholesterol medication, personal care products, herbicides,and pesticides. Oyster samples were collected bimonthly fromOctober 2013 - October 2015 and environmental samples werecollected October 2014 - October 2015. Oyster tissue concentra-tions displayed strong seasonal trends. The highest mean tissueconcentrations [± 95% confidence intervals] and highest frequencyof chemical classes detected was during warmer months (October2013, April, June, August, October 2014/2015). SSRI, analgesics,cholesterol medication, personal care products and hormones hadthe highest mean tissue concentrations (32.8, 30.4, 16.5, 15.2 and9.5 ng/g, respectively). Water and sediment samples had generallylower mean concentrations (low ng concentrations) than oysters,with stimulants, analgesics, anti-epileptics, antihistamines, person-al care products and herbicides being the chemical classes mostfrequently detected. Surprisingly, there were few statistical differ-ences (based on 95% CI) among CEC concentrations between theBrunswick and the Sapelo Island samples.

IS NEGATIVE SENESCENCEATACTIC IN THE LIFE HIS-TORYOF PANOPEAGLOBOSA? ACASE STUDY IN TROP-ICAL POPULATIONSLiliana Carvalho-Saucedo*, Nurenskaya Vélez-Arellano, Ser-gio Scarry González-Peláez, and Daniel B. Lluch-CotaCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste.Av. Instituto

Politécnico Nacional 195 Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur. LaPaz, Mé[email protected] has been suggested that in bivalves, senescence begins im-

mediately after reproductive maturation-i.e., “the earlier this point

Also, the effects of air exposure on performance and disease de-velopment of C. gigas were investigated. Laboratory experimentswere performed to study viral transmission between species andto reveal the effects of seaweed species on pathology and immu-nology of naïve and pathogen exposed Pacific oysters. Moleculardiagnostic screening was performed by standard (cPCR) and quan-titative (qPCR) poly chain reaction, in situ hybridization (ISH) anddirect sequencing.

HEALTH EVALUATION OF TRIPLOID AND DIPLOIDEASTERNOYSTERS (CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICA) UNDERVARIOUS CULTURE CONDITIONSNicholas Brandimarte1*, Susan Laramore1, and Leslie N. Stur-mer2

1Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic In-stitute, Center for Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement, 5600 USHighway 1 North, Fort Pierce, Florida 34946 USA

2University of Florida/IFAS, Shellfish Aquaculture ExtensionProgram, Senator Kirkpatrick Marine Lab, 11350 SW 153rd Court,Cedar Key, Florida 32625 [email protected] study assessed the health of naturally mated triploid (Lou-

isiana tetraploid, Florida diploid) and Florida diploid eastern oys-ters, Crassostrea virginica, reared under commercial conditions(on-bottom, off-bottom) along the west coast of Florida. A total of623 triploid and diploid oysters were examined from eight com-mercial sites (n = 60-105) in four west coast counties from oystersplanted July 2016 and harvestedApril 2017. Collected oysters wereweighed, measured and the presence of shell pests (i.e. Polydo-ra websteri), and abnormalities noted. The presence of Perkinsusmarinus was evaluated. Samples were examined histologically forthe presence of other parasites (i.e. Tylocephalum sp.) and repro-ductive status.Triploid oysters were larger (72.5-98.78 mm SH) than diploids

(64.1-88.62 mm SH) at all sites. Triploid wet meat weights (7.63-14.72 g) were also greater than that of diploids (4.63-11.29 g) atall sites. Digestive tubule atrophy was higher for diploids (1.7-3.24) than triploids (1.5-2.48) at six of eight sites. Prevalence of P.marinus was generally low, but higher for triploid oysters (19.5%)than diploid oysters (12.2%) at six of eight sites. Infestation of themudworm, P. websteri and boring sponge, Cliona sp., were morepronounced in triploids and diploids reared using on bottom culturetechniques. Seasonal health differences are currently being evalu-ated for triploid and diploid oyster seed planted in March 2017 andharvested in November 2017.


underway to address regional, industry driven questions. These in-clude 1) an investigation into solutions for specific larval shellfishpathogens in Tampa Bay, 2) extension efforts to assist industry withharmful algal bloom impacts upon shellfish production in south-west Florida, and 3) quantification of the economic impact harmfulalgal bloom related industry closures.Extension partnerships allow for collaboration between scien-

tists, managers and industry representatives to positively impactthe growth of the industry and maximize environmental and eco-nomic benefits of shellfish production.

DEVELOPING AQUACULTURE TECHNIQUES FOR GI-ANT RED SEACUCUMBERS IN PUGET SOUND: BROOD-STOCK, LARVAEAND JUVENILE CULTURERyan N. Crim1,2*, Stuart K. Ryan1,2, Kendra Baird3, AndySuhrbier4, and Paul Williams5


2Kenneth K. Chew Center for Shellfish Research and Resto-ration, 7305 Beach Dr. E., Port Orchard, Washington 98366 USA

3Evergreen State University, 2700 Evergreen Park Way NW,Olympia, Washington 98505 USA

4Pacific Shellfish Institute, 509 12th Ave SE #14, Olympia,Washington 98501 USA

5Suquamish Tribe, 18490 Suquamish Way, Suquamish, Wash-ington 98392 [email protected] giant red sea cucumber, Parastichopus californicus, is an

emerging aquaculture species with significant economic and eco-logical value for the North American west coast. In WashingtonState, P. californicus wild stocks have continually declined sincetheir peak in 1991, despite reduced fishing pressures. Decliningwild stocks and high commercial value make P. californicus anexcellent candidate for aquaculture. In addition, sea cucumbersare detritivores and are thus of high interest for use in IntegratedMulti-Trophic Aquaculture systems. Sea cucumber aquaculturehas the potential to ameliorate negative environmental effects ofexisting aquaculture systems and reduce heavy fishing pressure onwild populations while providing an economic resource to coastalcommunities. Aquaculture research and development for this spe-cies has been in progress at the NOAA Kenneth K. Chew Centerfor Shellfish Research and Restoration since 2016. Research hasfocused on larval and early juvenile development. Several experi-ments have been conducted looking at optimizing temperature forlarval and juvenile culture and effects of various microalgal dietson larval and juvenile development. The results of these experi-ments along with anecdotal information on broodstock handlingand spawning techniques will be discussed.

is reached, the sooner the senescence will begin”, so that the age abivalve will live after its first maturation should be directly propor-tional to the time it took to reach maturity. Regarding this, Pano-pea globosa, is a particularly long-lived species, which others havesuggested as an indication of possible negative senescence. Thispossibility was evaluated in a sample of 30 organisms, in a popu-lation from Bahía Magdalena, B.C.S., Mexico located at the limitof temperate distribution of the species. While no relationship wasfound between female fecundity and age, an inverse relation wasevident regarding Fulton’s condition factor (K) as well as mantlecontents of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. It was observed inthe mantle that as age increases, there was a potential decrease of:condition factor (r = 0.6532), content of proteins, carbohydratesand total lipids (r = 0.6780, 0.5814 and 0.6620, respectively). Onthe contrary, in the male mantle, an increase in (K) and in lipids wasobserved in individuals up to 20 years old, and later a decrease withage occurred, which suggests the non-senescence in males in thefirst years. Despite these results, what is found in temperate popu-lations (case study II), points out the need to analyze whether thepresence or absence of senescence in P. globosa is not associatedwith environmental differences in each region.

COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIPS TO MAXIMIZE COM-MERCIAL SHELLFISH PRODUCTION IN SOUTHWESTFLORIDAAngela B. Collins1*, Bruce Barber2, Barry Hurt3, Chuck Ad-ams4, Curt Hemmel2, and Aaron Welch III2

1University of Florida/IFAS Extension, Florida Sea Grant, Man-atee County, 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto, Florida 34221 USA

2Gulf Shellfish Institute, 1905 Intermodal Circle, Suite 330, Pal-metto, Florida 34221 USA

3Placida GoldAquafarms, 144 Lake Sears Drive,Winter Haven,Florida 33880 USA

4University of Florida/IFAS Extension, Food and ResourceEconomics Department, PO Box 110240, Gainesville, Florida32611 [email protected] aquaculture ranks 7th in total domestic production, with

annual sales exceeding $70 million. Southwest Florida is an im-portant producer of farmed bivalves, and is also home to one ofthe most successful shellfish hatcheries in the southeast. The en-vironmental benefits of farmed bivalves have been proven, andthe economic impact of shellfish aquaculture continues to grow asseafood consumption increases and demand strains natural wildpopulations. Industry efforts to expand production can be enhancedby partnerships with Extension, who can assist with grant applica-tions, research and the transfer of academic information.In collaboration with the Southwest Florida Shellfish Associa-

tion and the Gulf Shellfish Institute, multiple projects are currently


Due to the unsightly nature and foul taste of the mud blisters ifpunctured, Polydora sp. potentially reduces the half-shell marketvalue of farm-raised oysters.As part of a larger study evaluating the effect of gear type on

the growth, survival, and disease prevalence of oysters, we eval-uated the degree of parasitic Polydora sp. infestation of oysters infour different shellfish aquaculture gear types (floating cages, flipbags, longline system and bottom cages) on two farms in southeast-ern North Carolina (UNCW’s Aquaculture demonstration site andChadwick Creek Oyster Co.). The prevalence and degree of infes-tation were determined using photo analyses. Percent coverage ofmud blisters was quantified at the time of deployment (November,oysters 6 months old) as well as during the winter (three monthspost-deployment) and following fall (nine months post-deploy-ment) seasons.Prevalence was high (100%) at the start of the experiment. At

three months, the infestations showed little change, but substantialincreases were noted at nine months. Both gear type and locationhad effects on the degree on infection. The results of these analyseswill be presented.

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL PATTERNS OF NATURALMORTALITY OF EASTERN OYSTER IN CHESAPEAKEBAY, MARYLAND DURING 1990-2015Kathryn Doering1*, MichaelWilberg1, Dong Liang1, andMitch-ell Tarnowski2

1University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science,Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, P.O. Box 38, Solomons, Mary-land 20688 USA

2Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 580 Taylor Ave.B-2, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 [email protected] natural mortality rates is important for fisheries

management because accurate estimates are required to developreference points. One method for estimating the natural mortali-ty rate of bivalves uses the number of articulated shells (shells at-tached by the hinge ligament) relative to the sum of live individualsand articulated shells; however, this approach relies on the assump-tions that 1) articulated shells only persist in the environment forone year and 2) live individuals and articulated shells are equal-ly vulnerable to the survey gear. These assumptions likely do nothold for eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, in Chesapeake Bay.Furthermore, the standard method only provides point estimates ofnatural mortality. The objective of this research was to use a newmethod of estimating natural mortality to investigate spatial andtemporal patterns of natural mortality of eastern oysters in upperChesapeake Bay. The new method corrects for assumptions of thestandard method and estimates uncertainty in the natural mortalityrates using a Bayesian approach. The new estimator was applied to

RUDITAPES DECUSSATUS POPULATIONS IN EUROPE:EVIDENCE OF DIFFERENT INFECTION LEVELS OFPERKINSUS SP.WITHIN THE SAME POPULATION ANDMORPHOLOGICALCHARACTERIZATIONAndreia Cruz*, Ana Cerviño, Oscar Iglesias, Fiz da Costa, andBernardo CarvalhoOceano Fresco Lda, Edifício Mira Center, Centro de Ciência e

Iniciativas Empresariais de Mira, Rua do Matadouro, 2º Piso, Lab.B2., Valeirinha, 3070-436 Mira, [email protected] European native clam species, Ruditapes decussatus, has

high economical and gastronomic value. Populations of this spe-cies are being drastically reduced mainly due to over-explorationof natural clam beds, habitat contamination, significant tempera-ture and salinity variations and pathologies caused by bacteria, vi-rus and protozoa. The protistan parasites, Perkinsus marinus andP. olseni can infect bivalves worldwide. Infections with either P.marinus or P. olseni is frequently lethal, though an infected animalmay live for several years before showing clinical signs of diseaseor abrupt mortality.The aim of this study was to have knowledge of susceptible/

resistance individuals within infected locations, by using a standardmethod – using Ray’s fluid thioglycollate medium (FTM). Addi-tionally, the morphology of the shell and of the siphons was evalu-ated in comparison to Ruditapes philippinarum species.It was observed that: i) from the same location, different levels

of Perkinsus sp. infection were detected in clams with similar size/age, what indicates that within the same population, there are in-dividuals with different susceptibility/resistance for Perkinsus; ii)there are individuals that possess morphologic characteristics of theother species, i.e., individual characteristics of R. decussatus withR. philippinarum, and vice-versa, being an indication of hybrid-ization between both species. This work can be a base for furtherstudies to support Ruditapes decussatus breeding programs.

EFFECTS OFCAGE TYPE ON PARASITIC POLYDORA SP.INFESTATION OF THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOST-REAVIRGINICAGrant A. Diedrich* and Ami E. WilburUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington, Shellfish Research

Hatchery, Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center forMarine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, NorthCarolina, 28409 [email protected] worms are well-known parasites of marine bivalves

that chemically bore into the calcium carbonate shells of theirhosts, forming burrows. The oysters respond by covering theseburrows with additional nacre, creating the signature mud blister.


THE DISTRIBUTION OF OCEAN QUAHOGS, ATLANTICSURFCLAMS,ANDTHEIR SHELLSONTHEMID-ATLAN-TIC BIGHT CONTINENTAL SHELFAnja Ewing1*, Eric N. Powell2, and Kelsey Kuykendall2

1University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Park Campus, LongBeach, Mississippi 39560 USA

2Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 703 East Beach Drive, OceanSprings, Mississippi 39564 [email protected] Atlantic surfclam, Spisula solidissima, and the ocean qua-

hog, Arctica islandica, are commercially important bivalves in theMid-Atlantic Bight. As a result of rising bottom water tempera-tures, the range of the surfclam has contracted offshore and towardsthe northeast. A range shift for the ocean quahog has not been doc-umented by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) survey,which began in 1978; however, a recent analysis of ancillary surveydata on Georges Bank suggests an offshore shift in range prior toinitiation of this survey. Ancillary data collected from 1978-2011by the NMFS include shells of both species. Death assemblages arerepositories of information on the community history of site; theiruse in understanding community change unrecorded by survey is agrowing research emphasis. The distributions of shells of these twospecies mark their historical footprint in the Mid-Atlantic Bight:comparison to their present distribution maps the degree to whichtheir range has shifted over time. In particular, regions where clamshell is found without living clams mark earlier occupations nowabandoned whereas regions where living clams are found withoutshells mark the regions of most recent colonization. The objectiveof this project is to combine information on the living clams andtheir death assemblages to track the shift in range in both speciesfrom the Chesapeake Bay to Georges Bank.

IS NEGATIVE SENESCENCEATACTIC IN THE LIFE HIS-TORY OF PANOPEA GLOBOSA? ACASE STUDY IN TEM-PERATE POPULATIONSAlejandro Tomás Hernández-Muñoz, Daniel B. Lluch-Cota*,Liliana Carvalho-Saucedo, Nurenskaya Vélez-Arellano, SergioScarry González-Peláez, Fabiola Arcos-OrtegaCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste. Av. Instituto

Politécnico Nacional 195 Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur. LaPaz, Mé[email protected] has been suggested that in bivalves, senescence begins im-

mediately after reproductive maturation-i.e., “the earlier this pointis reached, the sooner the senescence will begin”: so that the age abivalve will live after its first maturation should be directly propor-tional to the time it took to reach maturity. Regarding this, Pano-pea globosa is a particularly long-lived species, which others have

data collected during 1990-2015 by the Maryland Department ofNatural Resources fall oyster survey for several regions. Regionshad similar temporal trends, with variable mortality at the begin-ning of the time series and lower, more consistent natural mortalityrates since 2003. The high mortality events coincided with highlevels of disease. The use of this new method may provide moreaccurate estimates of natural mortality of eastern oysters in Chesa-peake Bay and could be adapted to other bivalve populations withsimilar data availability.

IMMUNOHISTOFLUORESCENCE STUDY OF THE AC-TIONS OF MANGANESE ON THE PHOSPHOLIPASE CAND IP3 RECEPTOR MECHANISMS OF DOPAMINE D2-LIKE POST-SYNAPTIC RECEPTORS IN CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICAMohamed Eid1*, Peter Amoako1, Delilah Cummings1, MaxineJacobs2,Margaret A. Carroll1, and Edward J. Catapane1


2Kingsborough Community College, 2001 OrientalAve, Brook-lyn, New York 11235 [email protected] causes Manganism a Parkinson’s-like disease. Re-

ports postulate the neurotoxic mechanism is related to dopamineneuron dysfunction, not degeneration. Gill lateral cell (GLC) ciliaof Crassostrea virginica are controlled by serotonergic-dopami-nergic innervations. Dopamine is cilio-inhibitory. Previous workshowed the dopamine receptors are D2 type (D2DR) and manga-nese disrupts the cilio-inhibition of GLC cilia, suggesting D2DRis a site of action in manganese neurotoxicity. The D2DR pathwayinvolves inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and activation of phospholi-pase C (PLC). PLC synthesizes inositol trisphosphate (IP3), whichactivates IP3 receptors (IP3R) increasing intracellular Ca2+. PLChas not been well studied in bivalves, nor have effects of manga-nese on PLC or IP3R. It is hypothesized that PLC and IP3R arepresent in GLC, and if so, any effects of manganese will be deter-mined. Gill sections were prepared with PLC and IP3R antibodiesand viewed on a Leica microscope.All sections were photographedwith the same camera setting. It was found that GLC displayedgreen fluorescence in cytoplasm and along cell membranes indi-cating the presence of PLC and IP3R. Gills threated with manga-nese had reduced PLC and reduced IP3R fluorescence comparedto untreated cells. Zinc treated gills showed no differences. Thestudy shows PLC and IP3R presence in GLC and that manganesedid cause a small, significant reduction in PLC and IP3R fluores-cence. This study provides new knowledge of manganese actionson D2DR pathway in bivalve gill. Future experiments will test ifmanganese negatively effects physiological actions of PLC andIP3R on GLC cilia activity.


IS THE RNA BINDING PROTEIN CSDE1 REGULATINGTRANSLATION DURING HYPOXIA IN MOLLUSCS?Brandon Hsieh*, Carol Habib, and Maureen K. KrauseHofstra University, Department of Biology, Hempstead, New

York 11549-1140 [email protected] has major detrimental effects on marine bivalves, al-

though individual species exhibit variability in their response tohypoxia. Within cells, the energetic crisis caused by reduced ATPproduction under hypoxia triggers translation repression, althougha small number of critical mRNAs continue to be translated. RNAbinding proteins including Cold Shock Domain Containing ProteinE1 (CSDE1) are increasingly appreciated as regulators of transla-tion during exposure to hypoxia and thermal stress. CSDE1 is acytoplasmic RNA-binding protein known to play roles in the reg-ulation of mRNA stability and translation, although its function inmolluscs has not been explored. Here, bioinformatic and molecu-lar biological approaches were used to examine the role of CSDE1in translation regulation under hypoxia in scallops. Bioinformaticsanalyses of the newly published Mizuhopecten yessoensis scallopgenome identified putative CSDE1 binding sites on target mRNAsassociated with innate immunity, environmental stress, metal bind-ing, cell cycle control and development. Many targets are homo-logs of established CSDE1 targets in vertebrates and some are up-regulated in response to hypoxic stress. Quantitative PCR analysesreveal a significant increase in CSDE1 expression under hypoxiain bay scallops. In addition, Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assaysand RNA-pull down experiments were used to directly test whetherrecombinant affinity-tagged CSDE1 protein from Argopecten irra-dians binds to predicted target mRNAs. Collectively, these studiesindicated that CSDE1 may be an important component of transla-tion regulation during cellular stress such as hypoxia, and suggestthe need for a comparative study of its role in bivalves with differ-ent hypoxia responses.

COCULTURE OF PROBIOTIC BACTERIA IN ALGALFEEDSTOCKS FOR DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN BI-VALVE HATCHERIESSamuel Hughes1*, David Rowley1, David Nelson1, and MartaGomez-Chiarri1

University of Rhode Island, Department of Fisheries, AnimalVeterinary Sciences, 9 East Alumni Avenue, Kingston, Rhode Is-land 02881 [email protected] use of probiotics for disease management in shellfish aqua-

culture shows great promise, based on their demonstrated effec-tiveness in reducing larval shellfish mortality in culture operationswhile providing a relatively inexpensive, easy to administer, andenvironmentally safe alternative to antibiotic usage.A current road-block in the commercial implementation of probiotics in hatcher-ies is the cost of repeated (daily) additions of bacteria, which arenecessary for larval mortality reduction. Bivalve hatcheries in-

suggested as an indication of possible negative senescence. Thispossibility was analyzed in a sample of 30 organisms, in a popula-tion from Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, located at the limit oftemperate distribution of the species. In both sexes, an increase inlipid and protein in the gonad with age was found. In females theFulton’s condition factor (K) remains constant, suggesting a pos-sible absence of senescence. While in males the (K) increases asthe age elapses from 5 to 16 years, suggesting a period of negativesenescence. Despite these results, what is found in tropical popu-lations (case study I), points out the need to analyze whether thepresence or absence of senescence in P. globosa is not associatedwith environmental differences in each region.

IMPACTS OFPAIRED OLYMPIAOYSTER (OSTREALURI-DA) AND EELGRASS (ZOSTERAMARINA) RESTORATIONON FISHAND INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES IN NEW-PORT BAY, CALIFORNIAMarjorie Howard1*, Christine Whitcraft1, and Danielle C.Zacherl2

1California State University at Long Beach, Department of Bi-ological Sciences, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, Cali-fornia 90840 USA

2California State University Fullerton, Box 6850, Departmentof Biological Science, Fullerton, California 92834 [email protected] to restore the Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) are of high

importance due to the substantial decline of the species as well asits ecological and economic importance. The construction of O. lu-rida beds may provide complex habitat for many species of fishand invertebrates, and enhance water clarity via filtration; however,previous studies have observed significant declines in abundanceand diversity of benthic infauna immediately beneath restored bedsdue to an altered sediment-water interface. This loss has the po-tential to be counterbalanced by planting seagrass beds adjacent toconstructed oyster beds, as the additional complex habitat provid-ed by seagrass root systems is expected to increase infaunal abun-dance and diversity. Pairing oyster and seagrass restoration mightcreate more diverse habitats for fish, also enhancing their abun-dance and diversity. Olympia oyster and eelgrass (Zostera marina)restoration were conducted, both paired and separately, at four siteswithin Upper Newport Bay, California. Each treatment plot wasassessed both pre- and post-restoration for fish and infaunal com-munity composition. Infauna were sampled by collecting sedimentcores from both intertidal (oyster or control) and subtidal (eelgrassor control) plots of each treatment. Fish were monitored via a bait-ed GoPro placed in subtidal plots of each treatment. Preliminaryresults show that the infaunal community exhibits site-specificchanges in response to restoration, which will provide insight intothe ideal conditions and locations for oyster and eelgrass resto-ration. The fish community was observed to utilize both complexhabitats. Observed patterns of community change will be useful ininforming future restoration efforts.


obtained. However, gastropod distribution varied significantlyamong habitats and most species were closely associated with onehabitat type. Although regional gastropod densities did not varyamong years, there were significant and consistent differences indensities among regions. Although this study helped fill data gapsto provide managers with a more detailed status of large, predatorymarine snails on the West Florida Shelf, future studies should in-vestigate life history parameters of these organisms because gastro-pod age and size at maturity are not well understood.

MONITORING THE DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCEOF INVASIVE EUROPEAN GREEN CRABS (CARCINUSMAENAS) IN THE SOUTH SLOUGH OFTHE COOS ESTU-ARY, OREGON, USAJulia Indivero1,2*, Bree Yednock1, and Christina Geierman2,3

1South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, P.O. Box5417, Charleston, Oregon 97420 USA

2Oregon Sea Grant, 1600 SWWestern Blvd, Suite 350, Corval-lis, Oregon 97333 USA

3North Bend High School, 2323 Pacific Street, North Bend, Or-egon 97459 [email protected] green crabs (Carcinus maenas) have been found in

the Coos Estuary in Oregon since 1998 and have consistently per-sisted at low levels. An estuary-wide survey during the summerof 2016 found the highest green crab abundance since their initialestablishment in 1998. During the summer of 2017, sites withinthe South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve were sam-pled as a follow-up to the 2016 survey. The aims of the study wereto investigate: 1) the distribution and abundance of green crabs inSouth Slough compared to 2016 and to the rest of the Coos Estuary,2) the size and age structure of the green crab population, and 3)the relative effectiveness of the two main types of traps (Fukui andminnow) used in green crab monitoring.Green crab abundance in the Coos Estuary was four times

greater than in 2016, with the increase predominantly located inthe Upper Bay region. The population primarily consisted of thestrong 2015 and 2016 classes, and the presence of 2017 young-of-the year crabs indicated that 2017 may additionally be a strongrecruitment year. In our study, Fukui traps were significantly moreeffective than minnow traps, suggesting that they should be the pri-mary method for eradication. Because of the successive strength ofgreen crab recruitment over the past few years, eradication in theCoos Estuary may be necessary to prevent further establishment ofgreen crabs in the system. Continued monitoring will further helpassess ecological impacts on native shellfisheries and the largerecosystem.

clude microalgal culture operations as a food source for shellfishstocks. The objective of this project is to determine if a probioticcan grow and/or maintain a steady population size when grownin co-culture with microalgae with no negative impacts on algalgrowth. It is hypothesized that: 1) microalgal cultures can serveas an economical delivery vehicle of probiotics to bivalve stock;and 2) probiotics will prevent pathogen growth in algal culture.Co-incubation experiments of the microalgae Pavlova pinguis withthe probiotic Phaeobacter inhibens S4 showed that, regardless ofinoculation density, the probiotic maintained a density of about 105

colony-forming units per ml for up to 14 days with no inhibitory ef-fect on the growth rate of the microalgae. Further research will testthe effect of co-culture on probiotic activity. This research suggeststhat algal stocks can be used to deliver probiotics to shellfish lar-vae and enhances our understanding of algal/bacterial interactionin shellfish hatcheries.

AN ASSESSMENT OF SEASONAL GASTROPOD DISTRI-BUTION AND DENSITY IN NEARSHORE HABITATS OFTHEWEST FLORIDA SHELFSteve Geiger1, Sarah Stephenson2, Britt Burke3, Michael Ponia-towski1, Erica Levine1, and Jennifer E. Granneman1,4*

1Florida Fish andWildlife Research Institute, 100 8thAve SE, St.Petersburg, Florida 33701 USA

2National Marine Fisheries Services, 263 13thAve S, St. Peters-burg, Florida 33701 USA

3Stock Enhancement Research Facility, 14495 Harllee Rd., Pal-metto, Florida 34221 USA

4University of South Florida, 830 1st St. SE, St. Petersburg, Flor-ida 33701 [email protected] distribution and density are not known for many

of the large, marine gastropods in Florida, even though many ofthese species perform critical functions within Floridian ecosys-tems. Although the demand for large marine gastropods appears tobe climbing, regulations for gastropod harvest in Florida provideminimal protections and are not species-specific. The objective ofthis project was to establish baseline spatio-temporal data on thedensity and distribution of seven large, predatory marine snails innearshore habitats of the West Florida Shelf. To obtain seasonaldensity estimates, underwater visual and tactile surveys were con-ducted quarterly within three habitats (seagrass, oyster reef and softsediments) in the Tampa Bay estuary, using weighted transect lines.Snail densities were also estimated annually using underwater vi-sual surveys in shallow seagrass beds in regions ranging from theFlorida Keys north to St. Andrew Bay. Gastropod densities onlyvaried significantly among seasons and years in Tampa Bay for twoof the seven marine gastropods for which density estimates were


nm) was transmittance best through shells. Testing animal prepa-rations showed white light shown though shells stimulated ocellito slow down GLC cilis, while blue (405 nm), green (525 nm) andamber (591 nm) light did not. Red (680 nm) light shown on mantlerim tentacles and cerebral ocelli, with the shell in place, causeda sensory-motor response that slowed GLC cilia beating from abasal rate of about 15 beats/sec to zero over a 20 minute period.This study further demonstrates integration of photosensory signalsin control of GLC cilia in the bivalve C. virginica, and adds newknowledge demonstrating a spectral sensitivity of sensory cells incerebral ocelli and mantle rim tentacle involved.

A ROLE FOR PROTEIN KINASE C IN GILL LATERALCELLACTIVITYOF CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICAAlexcia Johnson1*, Krystle Ernest2, Margaret A. Carroll2, andEdward J. Catapane2


2Medgar Evers College, 1638 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NewYork 11225 [email protected] lateral cell (GLC) cilia of Crassostrea virginica are con-

trolled by serotonergic-dopaminergic innervations. Dopaminecauses cilio-inhibition, serotonin cilio-excitation. GLC dopaminepostsynaptic receptors are D2-like (D2DR). The D2DR signalingpathway involves inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and activation ofphospholipase C (PLC). PLC generates second messengers dia-cylglycerol (DAG) and inositol trisphosphate (IP3). IP3 binds toIP3 receptors causing release of intracellular calcium. DAG withcalcium activates protein kinase C (PKC). While high cytoplasmiccalcium slows GLC cilia beating, the role of PKC on GLC cilia hasnot been studied. It is hypothesized that PKC activation is involvedin the cilio-inhibitory response caused by dopamine in C. virginica.The PKC activator SC9 [N-(6-Phenylhexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphtha-lenesulfonamide] and PKC inhibitor rottlerin were tested. NeitherSC9 (10-6–10-3M) nor rottlerin (10-6–10-4M) applications to gill al-tered GLC cilia beating, nor did they alter cilio-excitatory actionsof serotonin; however, rottlerin treated gills did not respond to do-pamine, an SC9 did not alter the cilio-inhibitory effects of dopa-mine. These finding indicate PKC is involved in dopamine inducedslowing of GLC cilia in C. virginica. Inhibiting PKC prevents ac-tions of dopamine, while activating PKC by itself did not signifi-cantly alter cilia beating rates. The study suggests PKC plays a rolein cilio-inhibition caused by dopamine, but alone PKC activation isinsufficient to generate the cilio-inhibitory response and other as-pects of the D2DR signaling pathway also must be involved. Thesefindings are helpful in furthering the understanding of the D2DRmechanism of GLC and provides a foundation for further research.

CORRELATION OF OYSTER DISEASE WITH ACCUMU-LATION OF VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS IN OYSTERTISSUEKiserian Jackson*, Abigail Scro, and Roxanna SmolowitzRoger Williams University, Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory, 1

Old Ferry Rd, Bristol, Rhode Island 02809, [email protected] the average water temperature of Narragansett Bay and other

coastal ponds in Rhode Island continue to increase due to climatechange it is probable that the abundance of Vibrio parahaemolyti-cus (Vp) and Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) will increase as well. Vibrio aregram-negative bacteria that can accumulate in tissues of the east-ern oyster (Crasssostrea virginica). While Vibrio is not pathogenicto the oyster it can cause gastroenteritis in humans that consumethe raw oysters. Eastern oysters are commonly infected with threediseases: Perkinsus marinus (Dermo), Haplosporidium nelsoni(MSX), and Haplosporidium costale (SSO). These parasites cancause severe morbidity and mortality in cultured and wild oysters.Animals that are affected by any disease have a decreased immunefunctionality and it is probable that these diseased oysters are morelikely to accumulate higher levels of Vp and Vv. To test this theory,oysters were collected from Roger Williams University during thesummers of 2016 and 2017. Composites of 10 oysters were testedusing multiplex qPCRs for Vp and Vv in conjunction with a secondmultiplex qPCR to determine the abundance of those three disease.Individuals were also tested in order to increase accuracy of theassociation because composites which produce averages may maskimportant relationships only identified in individual animals.

SPECTRAL SENSITIVITY OF SENSORY MOTOR INTE-GRATION OF GILL LATERAL CELL CILIA IN THE BI-VALVE MOLLUSC CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICAJohanne Jean-Pierre1*, Reniece Buchanan2, Margaret A. Car-roll2, and Edward J. Catapane2


2Medgar Evers College, 1638 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NewYork 11225 [email protected] lateral cells (GLC) of Crassostrea virginica are innervat-

ed by serotonin and dopamine nerves. Serotonin is cilio-excitatoryand dopamine is cilio-inhibitory. Motor aspects of GLC innerva-tion are well studied, but not the sensory side. Sensory cues, in-cluding light, were found to initiate a sensory-motor integration re-sponse between mantle rim tentacles or cerebral ocelli (with shellsremoved) and GLC cilia. GLC responded to light by slowing GLCcilia beating. It was hypothesized that light penetrates oyster shellsand stimulates cerebral ocelli to initiate the motor response and iflight does penetrate shells, certain wavelengths are more effectivein stimulating sensory cells. To test this light transmittance throughshells was measured using a spectrophotometer. Red light (650+


The Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCeMFiS) is a Na-tional Science Foundation (NSF) funded industry/university col-laborative research center (I/UCRC) established in June 2013.SCeMFiS has two sites: The University of Southern Mississippi(USM) and Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). Since2013, SCeMFiS has grown to include not only researchers fromUSM and VIMS, but also Cornell University, Rutgers Universi-ty, University of Rhode Island, University of Maryland Centerfor Environmental Science, and The University of MassachusettsDartmouth along with other U.S. and Canadian academics and con-sultants and fourteen industrial partners. SCeMFiS provides NSFsanctioned research to meet the needs of industry partners withthe ultimate goal being sustainability of both the shellfish and fishstocks and their associated fisheries. Achievements for 2017 in-clude presence at three national meetings with a total of nine contri-butions, nine peer reviewed publications with several publicationsin press, one graduate student receiving a Master’s of Science fromThe University of Southern Mississippi, the first successful surveyof the area east of Nantucket Shoals, and the recruitment of tworesearch experience for undergraduates (REU) students. SCeMFiSis looking back at a successful year and forward to more progress in2018 as more academics and industries become involved with theCenter and its ongoing projects.

ASSESSMENT OF OYSTER (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA)HEALTH IN NATURAL VS RESTORED REEFS IN THENORTHERN, CENTRAL, AND SOUTHERN INDIAN RIV-ER LAGOON (IRL), FLORIDASusan Laramore1*, Elizabeth Urban-Gedamke1, Carolyn Sina-core1, Emily Davidson1, Alycia Shatters1, Erica Rose1, ReikaYu2, Jeffrey Beal3, Emily Dark4, and Matthew R. Anderson4

1Florida Atlantic University-Harbor Branch Oceanographic In-stitution, Center forAquaculture and Stock Enhancement, 5600 USHwy 1 North, Fort Pierce, Florida 34946 USA

2Boston University, 1 Silber Way, Boston, Massachusetts 02215USA

3Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-EstuarineSubsection, 5600 US 1 North, Fort Pierce, Florida 34946 USA

4Florida Department of Environmental Protection-Indian Riv-er Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Field Office, 3300 Lewis Street, FortPierce, Florida 34981 [email protected] Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is a diverse estuary stretching

156 miles along the FloridaAtlantic coast. Oyster (Crassostrea vir-ginica) reef restoration has been implemented at various locationsin the IRL to improve ecosystem health. Past monitoring effortshave focused on structural assessment rather than on organismalhealth.The aim of this study was to compare the health of natural and

restored oyster reefs in the IRL along a north to south gradient in

ASSESSMENT OF THE GENETIC PARAMETERS FORCOPPER AND ZINC ACCUMULATION CAPABILITY INTHE OYSTER, CRASSOSTREAANGULATACaihuan Ke 1,2,3*, YidiWu1,2,3, Bo Shi1,2,3, Long Zhou1,2,3, ChenyuDong1,2,3, and Weiwei You1,2,3

1State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xia-men University, Xiamen 361102, China

2College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xia-men 361102, China

3Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation andUtilization of Marine Biological Resources, Xiamen University,Xiamen 361102, [email protected], the increasing heavy metal pollution in estuaries

and coastal areas has posed critical threat to marine organisms, in-cluding oysters, which are one of the most commercially importantmarine shellfish worldwide. The Portuguese oyster, Crassostreaangulata, is the main cultivated oyster species in southern China.Oysters are considered as hyper-accumulators of copper (Cu) andzinc (Zn), and it has been proved that metals accumulation capabil-ity in oysters is a quantitative trait under genetic control. The genet-ic parameters of Cu and Zn accumulation capability and growth-re-lated traits in C. angulata were estimated with a mixed-familymethod to determine the degree to which Cu and Zn accumulationis under genetic control. Moreover, the correlations between Cu/Znand qualitative traits including glycogen and eight free amino acidswere investigated to evaluate the trade-offs between Cu/Zn accu-mulation and performance. Results showed that the narrow-senseheritability estimated for Cu (0.19), Zn (0.32), shell width (0.24),shell depth (0.15) and dry meat weight (0.14) were moderate, whilehigh for shell length (0.39) and live body weight (0.43). High ge-netic (0.80) and phenotypic (0.86) correlations were found betweenCu and Zn, while correlations between metals and growth traitswere lower (-0.01-0.436). Cu and Zn accumulation in C. angulatashowed no significant influence on the qualitative traits measured,except for Tau which showed similar profiles with Cu and Zn, sug-gesting its important role in Cu/Zn accumulation. Results provideimportant information for effective selective breeding on C. angu-lata with specific Cu/Zn accumulation capability.

SCEMFIS 2017: AYEAR IN REVIEWKelsey M. Kuykendall1*, Eric N. Powell1, Roger Mann2, andKaren Reay2


2Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 1375 Greate Road,Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 [email protected]


fect on shell volume and shell length. Density-dependent effectsseemed to begin when density increased from medium to high,suggesting that the medium density is the optimal stocking density.

MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR IDENTIFICA-TION OF A SHELL-BORING MUDWORM POLYDORAWEBSTERI (POLYCHAETA: SPIONIDAE) FROM PUGETSOUND, WASHINGTON, USAHeatherM. Lopes1*, Julieta C. Martinelli1,2, Jaqueline L. Padil-la-Gamino1, Lorenz Hauser1, Isadora Jimenez-Hidalgo1, PaulD. Rawson3, Jason D. Williams4, Teri L. King5, and Chelsea L.Wood1

1University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-ences, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA

2Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Aridas, CEAZA, Co-quimbo, Chile

3University of Maine, School of Marine Sciences, Orono,Maine, 04469, USA

4Hofstra University, Department of Biology, Hempstead, NewYork 11549, USA

5Washington Sea Grant, Shelton, Washington 98584, [email protected] spionid polychaetes can burrow into the shells of bivalves,

creating unsightly mud blisters. Because they are unappealing toconsumer and can burst, fouling oyster flesh, these blisters are aneconomic burden on affected oyster half-shell industries. Historicalinvasions by the spionid, Polydora websteri, have resulted in thecollapse of aquaculture operations in Australia, New Zealand, andHawaii, USA. Recent sightings of mud blisters on Pacific oysters(Crassostrea gigas) in Puget Sound, Washington, USA suggest thatthe area might be experiencing a spionid polychaete invasion. Todetermine whether P. websteri is the polychaete creating the mudblisters recently observed in Puget Sound, 170 Pacific oysters wereobtained from six locations and examined for blisters and burrows.Polychaetes were extracted from the shells and vouchered for mo-lecular analyses. Mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase I [COI] andcytochrome b) and nuclear (18S rRNA) genes for species-levelidentification was used. Positive identification of P. websteri foundin the mud blisters of Puget Sound Pacific oysters will be the firstconfirmed sighting in Washington, USA. This study is the founda-tion for advising the Washington shellfish industry on strategies formitigating the economic impacts of this invasive polychaete.

order to further inform future restoration efforts. Oyster reefs weremonitored seasonally (n = 540/season; 1620 total) from three natu-ral and three restored sites (n = 30/site) within three regions (north,central, south). Size, physiological condition, parasite and pestprevalence were compared.Health indices varied regionally and seasonally. No difference

was seen between natural and restored reefs in the north whereasnatural reefs fared better in the central and southern IRL. Size wassimilar between region and reef type. Physiological condition washighest in the fall in all regions. Northern oysters exhibited poorestphysiological condition. The prevalence and intensity of P. marinuswas highest in the fall in the northern and central IRL, and in springin the south. Northern regions had higher year-round Perkinsusmarinus prevalence. Prevalence of Bonamia sp. was lowest in thenorth and not detected at any site in the fall. MSX was absent at allsites. Pest prevalence increased at all sites in spring. Pests weremore prevalent in central and southern sites and at restored reefs.

OFF-BOTTOM CULTURE OFOLYMPIAOYSTERSJonathan S.F. Lee1*, Ryan N. Crim2, Brian L. Allen2, Barry A.Berejikian1, and Rick W. Goetz1

1Environmental and Fisheries Sciences Division, NorthwestFisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service,NOAA, 7305 Beach Dr E, Port Orchard, Washington 98366 USA

2Puget Sound Restoration Fund, 382WyattWay NE, BainbridgeIsland, Washington 98110 [email protected] oyster culture research has focused on Pacific oysters

(Crassostrea gigas), but diversification to other species would im-prove product assortment and increase resilience for industries andecosystems. Compared to Pacific oysters, Olympia oysters (Ostrealurida) are more resilient to ocean acidification, and thus may be-come more important on future shellfish farms in the Puget Sound.Olympia oysters once supported a thriving shellfish industry, butwild populations have been severely reduced. Interest in Olympiaoysters has been limited because they are smaller and grow moreslowly than Pacific oysters, but they may be well suited for thecurrent half shell market. In order to achieve better growth andsurvival in Olympia oyster culture, an experiment was conduct-ed to compare off-bottom to standard on-bottom juvenile culturemethods for a winter season. The bag-on-bottom method, wherebags lay directly on the beach, is the most common rearing method.Bag-on-rack and tray methods elevate the oysters above the beach(“off-bottom”), which may reduce sedimentation and provide im-proved water flow. Four different oyster densities (low, medium,high, extra-high) were also compared. Compared to the bag-on-bottom method, both off-bottom methods led to greater shell vol-umes, shell lengths, and survival by the end of the experiment.There were no significant differences between the two off-bottomtechniques (bag-on-rack and tray). Density had a significant ef-


munity diversity. Birds may benefit from living shorelines becauserestored habitat may increase the richness and density of prey spe-cies. This study examines bird use of constructed living shorelinesat four sites prior to (January 2016 - March 2016) and after eel-grass and oyster restoration (May 2017 - ongoing) in Newport Bay,CA. Each site consists of a 130m long x 12m wide mudflat swath,divided into four randomized 20m long treatment plots (control,oyster, eelgrass, oyster-eelgrass) separated by 10m buffer zones.Bird use surveys consist of scan samples to quantify bird densityand richness and focal samples to examine bird behavior at eachsite. It is predicted that post-restoration bird density and richnesswill increase in all restored treatments compared to control mudflattreatments. Data collection is ongoing. Sixty-seven surveys acrossall sites and treatments have been conducted with thirty-nine spe-cies observed; the most common species include willets, marbledgodwits, and western and least sandpipers. Birds spend 70% of ob-served time foraging and do not favor any treatment. With onlya few observations post-restoration, and thus low statistical pow-er, density and richness do not differ across treatments, howevertrends show an increase in density and richness on all treatmentplots, with highest richness on the oyster-eelgrass plots, comparedto control plots. This project provides insight into the potential ben-efit of combining eelgrass and oyster restoration.

SEASONAL VARIATION OF TRANSCRIPTOMIC ANDBIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF DONAX TRUNCULUSRELATED TO ITS INFECTION BY THE TREMATODEPARASITE, BACCIGER BACCIGERLuísa Magalhães1,2*, Xavier de Montaudouin2, Simão Correia1,Guillemine Daffe2, Patrice Gonzalez2, Etelvina Figueira1, JorgeM.S. Gonçalves3, and Rosa Freitas1

1Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Avei-ro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

2Université de Bordeaux, EPOC, UMR 5805 CNRS, 2, rue duPr Jolyet, F-33120 Arcachon, France

3Centro de Ciências do Mar - CCMAR, Universidade do Algar-ve, FCT, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, [email protected] wedge clam (Donax trunculus) is widely distributed along

moderately exposed beaches in the Atlantic coast, from France toSenegal. This species has high commercial importance, with themean capture production of the last ten years of ca. 850 tonnes (50% represented by Portugal captures). Populations of D. trunculusare modulated by several drivers such as tidal range, temperature,sediment grain size, fishing pressure, predation, and parasitism.Regarding parasitism, D. trunculus is the first intermediate host ofBacciger bacciger (trematode parasite) where the sporocysts devel-op. The sporocyst is the most damaging stage, reported as respon-sible of bivalve castration and flesh mass depletion.

JUST A SNIPPET: HIGH RESOLUTION MELTING (HRM)ANALYSIS TOVALIDATE SNPS FORTHE EASTERNOYS-TER, CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICAKathryn R. Markey Lundgren*, Brett Boudreau, and Dina A.ProestouUniversity of Rhode Island, USDA ARS National Cold Water

Marine Aquaculture Center, Shellfish Genetics Laboratory, Kings-ton, Rhode Island 02881 [email protected] eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, genome exhibits an

exceptionally high level of polymorphism, yet relatively few sin-gle nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers are available for thisspecies. This study outlines an approach to identify and validateSNP markers in the eastern oyster. Over 3000 putative SNPs wereidentified by mapping differentially expressed RNA transcriptsderived from two oyster families to a high-quality transcriptomeassembly. 358 putative SNPs were prioritized for SNP marker de-velopment and High Resolution Melting (HRM) genotyping assayswere designed for 104 unique gene/SNP combinations. Twen-ty-three individuals sampled from seven selectively-bred oysterlines were screened in each assay. In total only 15% of the SNPstested generated melting curves that were suitable for subsequentmarker validation. 37 primers yielded no or poor amplification, 12were monomorphic, and more than three genotypes were detectedin 34. For the 21 SNPs where the HRM assay clearly discrimi-nated two or three genotypes, amplicons associated with each dis-tinct melting curve were cloned and sequenced to confirm alleliccomposition. Cloning and sequencing of amplicons with too manymelting curves revealed additional SNPs in the short sequence. Theconfirmed SNPs are now being tested to evaluate their utility in dif-ferentiating among different populations/genetic lines of oysters.This study underscores the difficulties associated with developingSNP genotyping assays in highly polymorphic bivalve species.

AVIAN USE OF RESTORED EELGRASS MEADOWS ANDOYSTER BEDS AS PART OF A LIVING SHORELINESPROJECTKiarra I. Lyons1*,Austin H. Xu2, Danielle C. Zacherl1, andWil-liam J. Hoese1

1California State University, Fullerton, Department of Bio-logical Sciences, 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, California92831 USA

2California State University, Los Angeles, Department of Bio-logical Sciences, 5151 State University Dr, LosAngeles, California90032 [email protected] shorelines restoration uses the infrastructure that some

organisms create (e.g., oyster beds, eelgrass meadows) to reducecoastal erosion while simultaneously promoting ecological com-


POTENTIALS OF MAJOR OYSTER PLASMA PROTEINSIN FUNCTIONING FOR METAL ION STORAGE ANDTRANSPORTATIONXiaowei Mao1,2, Qinggang Xue*2, Qifeng Xia1,2, XiarongWang1,2, Dengfeng Li1, and Zhihua Lin2

1Ningbo University, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo, Zhe-jiang 315010, China

2Zhejiang Wanli University, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Germ-plasm Resource of Zhejiang, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, [email protected] and segon are the two most abundant proteins in the

plasma of eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica and both are pro-duced by the hemocytes. Dominin shares high sequence similaritywith extracellular superoxide dismutase while segon represents anovel protein. Based on the measured metal contents, the two pro-teins are believed to serve as metal binding proteins and play arole in metal metabolism. In the present research, the possibilityof dominin and segon homologues to function in metal ion stor-age and transportation was assessed in Pacific oysters, Crassostreagigas. BLAST searches using dominin and segon as queries iden-tified three dominin homologue genes, which included the previ-ously reported CgEcSOD or cavortin, and 1 segon homologue genein the Pacific oyster genome. To determine the capacity of theseproteins to bind and carry metal ions, oysters were grouped andplaced separately in natural seawater supplemented with ZnSO4 at60 mg/L and 100 mg/L and with CdCl2 at 6 mg/L and 10 mg/L.Hemolymph and gill tissues were then sampled at different timepoints after metal ion exposure. Hemocytes and gill tissues wereassayed for the expression of dominin and segon homologue genesusing real-time PCR and plasma proteins of the related hemolymphsamples quantified for the contents of zinc or cadmium ions usingICP-MS. Results of the research generated important informationfor assessing the function of the major plasma proteins of oysters inmetal ion storage and transportation.

IN SITU FILTRATION RATES OFOLYMPIAOYSTER (OS-TREA LURIDA) HABITAT AND PACIFIC OYSTER (CRAS-SOSTREAGIGAS) AQUACULTUREAlthea N. Marks* and Danielle ZacherlUniversity of California Fullerton, Department of Biology P.O.

Box 6850 Fullerton, California 92834 [email protected] filtration services of Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) habitat

and Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) aquaculture operations alongthe North American west coast have been little explored. In situ fil-tration studies can incorporate variable environmental conditionsimportant to filtration as well as the contributions of other filterfeeders living among oysters (i.e. mussels, tunicates, scallops, andsponges). This ongoing study is quantifying in situ filtration ratesof two restored Olympia oyster habitats in Newport Bay, California

In order to test the hypothesis that B. bacciger infection mod-ified wedge clam health status, including its biochemical perfor-mance and gene expression, organisms were sampled every othermonth during one year in the Faro beach (Portugal south coast).The results obtained revealed that B. bacciger prevalence

ranged between 0 and 28 %, in May and July respectively. Overall,transcriptomic and biochemical results showed that B. bacciger in-duced in D. trunculus defence mechanisms against oxidative stressand increased the host metabolism and energy demand, especiallyin spawning and spent periods.In conclusion, the present work showed that the markers used

can provide additional and ecologically relevant information about,not only the environmental conditions that animals experience butalso on the invasion effects of pathogens. These findings can helpto predict organism’s chances of reproduction and survival in theirnatural context, which can be applied in bivalve conservation anddisease episodes management.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS REGARDING RIBBEDMUSSEL (GEUKENSIADEMISSA) SPAT PRODUCTIONJustin Manley*, Thomas Bliss, and Robert HeinUniversity of Georgia, Shellfish Research Laboratory, 20 Ocean

Science Circle, Savannah, Georgia 31411 [email protected] Atlantic ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa (Dillwyn,

1817), is naturally distributed along the Atlantic seaboard from theGulf of St. Lawrence to northeastern Florida and is replaced by theGulf estuarine ribbed mussel, Geukensia granosissima (Sowerby,1914) in the Gulf of Mexico. Ribbed mussels are ideal species forrestoration due to growth rate, dietary plasticity, geographical andtidal distribution, and environmental tolerances. Stable hatcheryproduction of ribbed mussel spat for use in restoration/bioremedi-ation efforts is important to planning projects that currently rely onsporadic natural recruitment. Development of basic hatchery pro-tocols for consistent ribbed mussel spat production is necessary forexecuting restoration objectives. DuringAugust 2016 a small num-ber (~10,000) of ribbed mussel spat were successfully reared to 4mm at the University of Georgia shellfish hatchery from a limitedspawn of 10 adult mussels. Mussel larvae were successfully rearedthrough eyed and settlement stages in static culture using ShellfishDiet 1800 in accordance with feeding protocols established by Ri-kard and Walton (2012) for Crassostrea virginica larvae. Musselspat was set on Manila rope, held in an upweller nursery, trans-ferred to the field in 2 mm pearl nets, and cultured in 9 mm meshaquaculture bags. Mussels attained a mean shell height of 38.37 ±1.36 mm as of October 2017 approximately 12 months post-set.Preliminary observations regarding spawning, larval culture, set-ting, nursery maintenance, and field culture are discussed.


toxin accumulation in higher taxa could be achieved through re-peated low level exposure of non-DA associated species during aHAB event.

EFFECTS OF GENETIC DIVERSITY ON FITNESS-RE-LATED PERFORMANCE OF THE EASTERN OYSTER INNATUREKatherine McFarland1,2 and Matthew Hare1

1Cornell University, Department of Natural Resources, Ithaca,New York 14850 USA

2University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science,Cambridge, Maryland 21613 [email protected] recruitment-limited areas it is common for population supple-

mentation efforts and restoration projects to employ hatcheries togenerate abundant seed oysters for planting. The literature containsexamples of hatchery-induced genetic diversity bottlenecks basedon comparing the wild brood stock to the resulting cohort. A cohortbottleneck occurs relative to the source population if relatively fewbrood stock individuals are spawned, or relative to spawning broodstock if reproductive contributions are skewed. These are knownrisks that can be managed to some extent. Much less informationis available on the functional consequences in nature of low ge-netic diversity in hatchery cohorts. Recent work has demonstratedpositive associations between genetic diversity metrics in spat andtheir survivorship and growth rate (Hanley et al. 2016). If there isa potential for hatchery bottlenecks to lower oyster performanceor hardiness, it is important to know how strong the effect can beand whether it is context dependent (i.e., genetic by environmentinteractions). Here, strip-spawning was used to generate high- andlow-diversity cohorts from a nested set of 24 and 6 moderate-sa-linity brood stock, respectively. Outplants to replicate cages at 11sites throughout the Hudson River Estuary, NY, occurred in Au-gust 2016. At five sites the hatchery cohorts were compared to ap-proximately same-age wild spat-on-shell. Survivorship and growthrate comparisons will be reported for the first year post-outplant,including an extremely wet, low-salinity Spring and Summer forsome sites.

(CA) and San Francisco Bay, CA, two Pacific oyster aquacultureoperations in San Diego Bay, CA and Morro Bay, CA, and naturalOlympia oyster beds in the Pacific Northwest. Questions are: 1)How do filter feeder community composition and density affect fil-tration rates of oyster habitat? 2) How do water quality parametersaffect oyster habitat filtration rates? 3) What are the filtration ratesof C. gigas FLoating UPwelling SYstems operated by the Port ofSan Diego in San Diego Bay, CA and C. gigas floating long linesoperated by Morro Bay Oyster Company in Morro Bay, CA? Twoidentical instruments are deployed upstream and downstream of theoyster habitat to measure temperature, salinity, turbidity, chloro-phyll, and water velocity; filter feeder density is also measured.Each site will be measured four times over twelve months. Filtra-tion rates are expressed in Lhr-1g-1 to compare to previous filtrationstudies and Lhr-1m-2 to calculate bay-wide filtration. This researchbridges oyster-centric filtration studies with incorporation of aqua-culture and restored oyster habitat into filtration models useful toresource management.

MARINE BIOTOXINS: DOMOIC ACID MONITORING ONTHE OREGON COASTAlexandria Marquardt1*, Matthew Hunter1, Steve Rumrill2,Kelly Corbett2, and Cyreis Schmitt2

1Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2001 Marine Drive,Astoria, Oregon 97103 USA

2Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2040 SE Marine Sci-ence Drive, Newport, Oregon 97365 [email protected] biotoxins, including domoic acid, are produced by

phytoplankton during Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) events alongthe west coast. Domoic acid (DA), produced by the diatom Pseu-do-nitzchia spp. (P-n), is a potent neurological toxin that can ac-cumulate in shellfish, forage fish, marine mammals, and humans.Elevated concentrations of domoic acid pose a significant risk tohuman health, and fishery closures have significant economic im-pacts to coastal communities. Unlike the bordering states, Oregononly has a rudimentary program to monitor biotoxin levels in shell-fish and other living marine resources. The overall goal for thisproject was to: examine the scope and extent of historic and recentbiotoxin testing in marine organisms along the Oregon coast andidentify the need for additional programmatic development. Thisstudy focused on a suite of marine organisms not included in stan-dard biotoxin testing programs for the measurement and analysisof domoic acid concentrations using Enzyme-Linked Immunosor-bent Assays (ELISA) to identify relationships in trophic pathways.Findings show that during large, toxin-producing events, domoicacid can be found throughout the food web. Species not associatedwith DA (e.g. bay clams and mussels) were found with measurableaccumulated toxins. For management, this indicates that during abloom event there are multiple vectors for DA accumulation and


Maumee River. Chlorpyrifos can have negative effects on fresh-water ecosystems and organisms. Bivalves are valuable bioindi-cator organisms that can be used to characterize ecosystem healthand monitor the effectiveness of remediation programs; howevermany NorthAmerican freshwater bivalves are threatened or endan-gered so studies with abundant invasive freshwater species suchas Corbicula fluminea and Dreissena polymorpha were used to as-sess chlorpyrifos toxicity. One part of these investigations was insitu caging studies of C. fluminea and D. polymorpha conducted bythe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)as part of the Mussel Watch program in the Maumee River Basinin Lake Eerie, in collaboration with the Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA). Cellular biomarkers (including acetlycholinesteraseand glutathione) of sublethal toxicity of clams and mussels fromthese field studies as well as laboratory exposures of C. fluminea toenvironmentally relevant concentrations of chlorpyrifos were con-ducted at UNCC. Adverse effects in both bivalve species relatedto pesticide exposures, especially acetylcholinesterase, were ob-served. These studies will facilitate insights regarding the impactsand extent of chlorpyrifos on environmental health.

FIRST INVESTIGATION OFAUTOPHAGYMONITORINGBYFLOWCYTOMETRY INAN INVERTEBRATEORGAN-ISM, CRASSOSTREAGIGASSandy Picot1, Benjamin Morga1*, Nicole Faury1, Bruno Chol-let1, Lionel Dégremont1, Marie-Agnès Travers1, Tristan Re-nault2, and Isabelle Arzul1

1Ifremer, Unité Santé Génétique et Microbiologie des Mol-lusques, Laboratoire de Génétique et Pathologie des MollusquesMarins, Avenue de Mus de Loup, 17390 La Tremblade, France2Ifremer, Département Ressources Biologiques et Environnement,Rue de l’Ile d’Yeu—BP 21105—44311 Nantes Cedex 3, [email protected] is a process that engulfs a portion of cytoplasm with

components of the cell from proteins to whole organelles for theirdegradation by fusion with lysosomes. This mechanism permits tomaintain cellular homeostasis and contributes to others roles in-cluding starvation adaptation, elimination of microorganisms, andcell death. This process exists from yeast to mammals. Recent re-sults indicate that the autophagy pathway is functional in the man-tle of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas (C. gigas); however,nothing is known about the autophagy pathway in haemocytes.Few methods have been developed to investigate the autophagypathway in marine invertebrates, contrary to mammals. To studyautophagy in haemocytes of cupped oysters, C. gigas, oysters wereexposed to an autophagy inducer (Carbamazepine) and inhibitor(NH4Cl) during 24 h to 48 h before collecting haemolymph fromthe adductor muscle. Flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopyapproaches were developed and used to monitor autophagy in cells

MONITORING OYSTER RESTORATION EFFORTS INAPALACHICOLABAY, FLORIDAMelanie L. Parker1*, Matthew Davis2, Matthew LaGanke2, Ni-cole Martin2, Nicole Maloney2, and Nick Tolopka2

1Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish andWildlife Research Institute, 100 8th Avenue SE, St. Petersburg,Florida, 33701 USA

2Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Apala-chicola Field Lab, 350 Carroll Street, Eastpoint, Florida [email protected] Bay is one of the most productive estuarine sys-

tems in Florida. For decades, the Bay supported a successful com-mercial oyster fishery that accounted for over 90 percent of annu-al harvest in Florida; however, landings declined sharply in late2012 and the fishery has since collapsed. Potential causes of thiscollapse include high predation and disease rates resulting fromhigher estuarine salinities and increased fishing pressure followingthe Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. As a result, two projectsfocused on restoring oyster habitat in Apalachicola Bay were initi-ated in 2015. One aspect of these two restoration projects was todetermine the most efficient method for increasing potential oysterhabitat and resilience of the commercial fishery. To do this, twomethods were used to cultch several acres with shell substrate: 1)shell was deployed by hand from commercial fishermen’s boatsand 2) shell was deployed by high-pressure water cannons froma shallow draft barge. In addition, cultch substrate was deployedat different densities (100, 200, 300, or 400 cubic yards per acre)at three sites in the bay. Surveys to determine live oyster densityand size structure have been conducted two to four times per yearat each site. Results at this point in the studies indicate that bargeshelling larger areas increases retention of cultch material, and thatno additional benefit is gained by cultching at densities greater than300 cubic yards per acre.

CELLULAR BIOMARKER RESPONSES OF FRESHWA-TER BIVALVES TO CHLORPYRIFOSTuan K. Phan1*, Dane Thomason1, Ed Johnson2, Annie Jacob2,Kimani Kimbrough2, and Amy H. Ringwood1

1National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration, Maryland USA

2University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Bio-logical Science, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, North Car-olina 28223 [email protected] is the number one active ingredient used in many

insecticides in the United States, mainly used for corn, soybean,and alfalfa agriculture. Very high concentrations of chlorpyri-fos have found throughout the Great Lakes, especially along the


INFLUENCE OF STOCK DENSITY ON REPRODUCTIVECONDITION OF NORTHERN QUAHOGS FROM NARRA-GANSETT BAY, USAShantelle Richards*, Matt Griffin, and Dale Leavitt

1Roger Williams University, Center for Economic and Envi-ronmental Development, 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island02809 [email protected] quahogs (Mercenaria mercenaria) are commercial-

ly important infaunal bivalve molluscs that are found throughoutNarragansett Bay. Based on RI-DEM dredge surveys, it is mostcommon to observe three to four quahogs per square meter withinthe upper sections of Narragansett Bay; however, in certain areasof the Bay characterized by being prohibited from commercial har-vesting, M. mercenaria has been found to occur in densities up toor greater than an order of magnitude higher.Recent studies suggested reproductive effort in northern qua-

hogs from closure areas was significantly lower than in those fromfished areas, suggesting reproductive condition may be density de-pendent. It was thought that a reduction in spawning effort may bedue to a lack of food resource available to the larger populationsize, in combination with reduced water quality commonly foundassociated with prohibited waters.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproductive

condition in M. mercenaria collected from sites in NarragansettBay with varying degrees of standing stock density. The hypoth-esis is that northern quahogs from areas of higher stock densitydemonstrate a decreased reproductive effort. Ten sites of varyingnorthern quahog densities within Narragansett Bay were sampledbiweekly through the 2013 reproductive season, where the stageof reproduction was assessed histologically. Biweekly assessmentof reproductive condition suggested that areas of higher northernquahog density demonstrated a more disrupted annual reproductivecycle. Reduced reproductive effort with an asynchronous spawningcycle was prevalent in quahogs sampled from the highest densitypopulations.

INHIBITION OF BIOFOULINGAND BIOFILM GROWTH:THE EFFECT OFACATIONIC PORPHYRIN ON PSEUDO-MONAS AERUGINOSA BIOFILM FORMATION ON DIF-FERENT SUBSTRATADavid Rivetti*, Nehaben Patel, Jayne B. Robinson, and KarolynM. HansenUniversity of Dayton, Department of Biology, 300 College

Park, Dayton, Ohio 45469 [email protected] can have significantly detrimental impacts on aqua-

culture. Many current approaches to prevent biofouling, such asantifouling paints and coatings, release environmentally harmfulchemicals and metals that negatively affect the growth of shell-

in the different tested conditions. Complementary, transmissionelectron microscopy was used to describe ultrastructural alterationsin haemocytes. Results demonstrated that flow cytometry and flu-orescent microscopy are promising tools to study the autophagypathway in bivalves and that the autophagy pathway is functionalin the haemocytes of C. gigas.

MUD BLISTERS IN OYSTERS: RELATINGWORM INFES-TATION TO BLISTER STRENGTHRachel Pugh1,2,3*, Kelly Dorgan3, Sarah Cole3,4, and William C.Walton5

1Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, 51 Main Street,Perkinston, Mississippi 39573 USA

2University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Hat-tiesburg, Mississippi 39406 USA

3Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 102 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island,Alabama 36528 USA

4University of SouthAlabama, 307 N. University Blvd, Mobile,Alabama 36688 USA

5Auburn University Shellfish Lab, 150 Agassiz St, Dauphin Is-land, Alabama 36528 [email protected] worm, Polydora websteri, a pest to farmed eastern oysters

(Crassostrea virginica), creates mud-filled blisters in the oyster shellcavity. Blisters weaken the shell, are unappealing to consumers,and may decrease marketability of oysters. Oysters resist blistersby secreting new shell layers. This research examines the relation-ship between worm infestation and blister presence and breakingforce to determine how closely worm infestation numbers reflecttheir damage to the oyster and therefore assess the effectiveness ofthe oyster’s defense. Off-bottom triploid and diploid oysters werecollected from three farms along theAlabama coast in June and July2017. Worms were extracted. Shucking and blister breaking forceswere measured using two custom-built instruments. The hypotheseswere: (1) number of worms extracted would correlate with percentof shell area covered by blisters, (2) triploids would have less blistercoverage than diploids due to higher growth rates, (3) blister break-ing force would decrease as blister area increased, and (4) blisterbreaking force would be lower and blister area larger with darkerblister color. Results showweak correlation between worms extract-ed and percent of shell area covered, indicating worm infestationcannot be used to determine blister numbers. Triploids have lesspercent shell area covered than diploids; triploids may have more ef-ficient blister recovery. Blister breaking force and blister area wereweakly correlated with blister color, suggesting blister recovery oc-curs more slowly than turnover rates of worm infestation. Farmersshould treat oysters early and frequently to prevent blisters or allowlong recovery times post-treatment to obtain clean shells.


treated controls. Mussel position, sediment grain size and organiccontent, and benthic shear force were monitored over the fall andwinter 2017-18. Preliminary retention of mussels averaged 72%,suggesting that the structures may serve as refugia from high flowthat typically mobilized the substrate. If confirmed with extendedmonitoring, these results should support design of living shorelineprojects aimed at boosting populations of native unionids.

ONTOGENIC SHIFTS IN MICROALGAL HANDLING BYCRASSOSTREA GIGAS LARVAEMaria Rosa* and Dianna K. PadillaStony Brook University, Dept. of Ecology and Evolution, Stony

Brook, New York 11794-5245, [email protected] molluscs, including bivalves and gastropods, have a very

small (~100-300µm) planktonic feeding larval stage (veliger), withspecialized structures for capturing planktonic microalgal food.Early work on veliger larvae has generally found no selectionamong microalgal species at this stage. Larvae undergo a radicalmetamorphosis that produces juveniles (~300-500µm) with struc-tures similar to adults, but much smaller, and much less is knownabout feeding at this stage. The objective of this project was totest for differences among algal species in particle capture ratesfor developing veligers (week-old versus month-old larvae). Fivedifferent microalgal species were fed to Crassostrea gigas larvaeindividually and in combinations, and particle capture rates (PCR)measured. Larvae were also preserved for scanning electron mi-croscopy of feeding structures through development. Early in de-velopment, PCR was most affected by the size of the microalgae(mechanical constraints). Some microalgae (e.g., Rhodomonas sp.)were cleared at lower rates regardless of veliger age. In food choiceexperiments veliger age affected which microalgal species weregenerally rejected or ingested. Results indicate that, across devel-opment, properties other than size may affect which microalgae areultimately ingested.

THE EFFECTS OFTAURINE ONMANGANESEACCUMU-LATIONS IN GILL OF THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRAS-SOSTREAVIRGINICARafael Santos1*, Emmanuel Agyei2, Elvin Griffith, Jr.3, Marga-ret A. Carroll2, and Edward J. Catapane2

1Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Blvd.,Brooklyn, New Yorik 11235 USA


3Notre Dame High School, 1 Notre Dame Way, West Haven,Connecticut 06516 [email protected] is a neuroprotective against some neurodegenerative

diseases. Manganese causes Manganism, which often is confusedwith Parkinson’s disease. Manganism has no effective treatment.

fish. As a result, control of biofouling presents a difficult and costlychallenge to the aquaculture industry. Porphyrins are ringed, planarchemical compounds that are often used for sterilizing or cleaningan object or a surface. They occur naturally and also can be synthe-sized, as some porphyrins have even been used in photodynamictherapy. Cationic and zinc porphyrins have been used to both dis-rupt and prevent biofilm formation on various substrata, includingglass, polyethylene, and stainless steel. As a result of their physicaland chemical properties, biofilms are difficult to break down and re-move from surfaces. Cationic porphyrins have the capacity to causeDNAdamage in biofilms by intercalating between the base pairs ofa DNA sequence, resulting in the breakage of the strand. Porphy-rin treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms grown on glass,polyethylene, stainless steel, bone, and oyster shell (Crassostreavirginica) is being conducted to determine efficacy for inhibitionand/or prevention of microbial fouling. Various concentrationsof 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (1-methyl-pyridino)-21H,23H-porphine,tetra-p-tosylate (TMP) salt are used to determine disruption of P.aeruginosa biofilms grown on the substrates; porphyrin pretreat-ment of substrates is underway to determine inhibition of biofilmgrowth. Applications include reduction and/or prevention of bio-film growth and biofouling on a variety of substrates, includingshells of live oysters.

CREATING FLOW REFUGIA IN THE TIDAL FRESHWA-TER DELAWARE RIVER TO AUGMENT AND RESTOREFRESHWATER MUSSEL POPULATIONSS.A. Roberts1,2*, J.AMoody1,2, K. Cheng1, and D.A. Kreeger1,2

1Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, 110 S Poplar St. Suite202, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 USA

2Drexel University, Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and En-vironmental Science, 3201 Arch St. Suite 240, Philadelphia, Penn-sylvania 19104 [email protected] mussels (Order Unionoida) remain one of the most

imperiled taxonomic groups in North America. Recent attention onpopulation restoration and augmentation in tidal areas of the Del-aware Estuary with historic populations has proven challenging asbenthic conditions in urbanized areas may not provide readily suit-able habitat. Lower benthic shear stress and increased sediment sta-bility may promote mussel retention and recruitment; however, fewstudies have examined how such physical factors govern habitatsuitability in tidal freshwater systems. In fall 2017, experimentalstructures comprised of salvaged logs and cobble were constructedalong a shallow subtidal shoreline of the Delaware River wherethe preexisting mussel abundance was greatly reduced comparedto a nearby reference site. The structures were oriented to stabi-lize sediments and reduce benthic shear stress while not interferingwith seston delivery. Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) taggedmussels were subsequently deployed into each structure and un-


subsequently collected via hemolymph centrifugation. Mantle tis-sue was collected from specific locations. The product of repair,nascent shell deposited in the notch, was collected at discrete timepoints post-notching. Amino acid composition related to time sincenotching was determined via anion exchange HPLC with pulsedamperometric detection. Additionally, the Arnow Assay (specificfor catechols) was used to stain for L-dopa in the samples. Pre-liminary data reveal increased L-dopa concentrations in hemocytesand hemolymph at 24-48 hours and 96 hours post notching, re-spectively, indicating a mobilization of resources for shell repair.These data support the hypothesis that L-dopa-containing proteinsare involved in oyster shell formation and that they are distributedat discrete locations within the organism.

HOW OYSTERMEN AND FISHERMEN USE AND THINKABOUT OYSTERS IN THE ST. AUGUSTINE REGION OFFLORIDACarrie Schuman1,2 and Shirley Baker1

1University of Florida, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 7922NW 71st Street, PO Box 110600, Gainesville, Florida 32653 USA

2University of Florida, School of Natural Resources and En-vironment, 103 Black Hall, PO Box 116455, Gainesville, Florida32611 [email protected] provide a multitude of services that can be tied to hu-

man wellbeing including direct shellfish harvest and the supportof healthy local populations of finfish; however, data regardingprovision of harvest within Florida can be limited and low-reso-lution in quality. Management decisions in support of maintainingor improving oyster harvest and fishing opportunities can benefitfrom additional information regarding stakeholder behaviors, per-ceptions, and values.The goal of this research was to examine how recreational and

commercial oystermen and fishermen targeting finfish near oysterbeds use and think about oysters within the St. Augustine area.Participants were identified by snowball sampling and engaged inone-on-one semi-structured interviews. They answered a series ofquestions designed to elicit information about: what makes a de-sirable oyster bed; how beds in the region are used temporally andspatially; how use has changed over time and perceived barriers toaccess; and what benefits oysters have beyond harvest.The interviewer recorded participant responses with permis-

sion and transcribed the results while anonymizing the identity ofthe interviewee. In cases where recording did not occur, the inter-viewer took detailed notes. Notes and transcribed interviews wereanalyzed in MaxQDA using qualitative content analysis to iden-tify core ideas among participant responses. Researchers furthergrouped responses into themes that were qualitatively comparedwithin and between groups. Data and conclusions from this analy-sis are presented.

The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, has a serotonergic-do-paminergic innervation of gill lateral cells (GLC). Manganese dis-rupts the dopaminergic innervation and taurine protects against thisdisruption. We hypothesize taurine reduces manganese accumula-tions in gill or enhances manganese removal from gill. This wastested by treating gills 2 days with taurine, manganese, or taurineand manganese (500 µM each) and analyzing samples by Atom-ic Absorption Spectroscopy. Manganese treatments caused highermanganese accumulations compared to controls or taurine treat-ments. Co-treated with taurine and manganese had no significantdifference in manganese accumulations compared to manganesetreatments alone suggesting taurine does not block manganese ac-cumulation into gill. To determine if taurine removes manganesefrom gill, gills were treated 2 days with manganese (500 µM),rinsed, then treated 2 days with taurine or EDTA (0.5 to 2.5 mMeach). EDTAwas effective at removing manganese from gill (80%compared to controls). Taurine treatments were effective to a lesserdegree, removing 25%. The study shows while taurine did not pre-vent manganese accumulations, it did remove manganese, similarto how chelating agents treat metal toxicity. Considering taurine isa natural biological component and shows success as a protectiveagent in other neurodegenerative diseases, more studies are neededto determine if taurine would be an effective and safer therapeuticagent for clinical treatment of Manganism.

COMPARTMENTALIZATION AND TEMPORAL DIS-TRIBUTION OF L-DOPA-CONTAINING PROTEINS IN-VOLVED IN OYSTER SHELL FORMATIONBenjamin Schmeusser*1, Alyssa Outhwaite1, Donald J. Klep-pel1, David Rivetti1, Douglas C. Hansen2, and Karolyn M. Han-sen1


2University of Dayton, University of Dayton Research Institute,300 College Park, Dayton, Ohio 45469 [email protected] molluscs, such as the eastern oyster (Crassostrea vir-

ginica), produce structural proteins that are essential in adhesivestrategies and shell biomineralization. The unique properties ofthese proteins derive from the amino acid composition. L-3,4-dihy-droxyphenylalanine (L-dopa), which is a unique key amino acid inthe cross-linking of these proteins, can be considered a biomarkerfor identification and localization of shell formation proteins. Thefocus of this research was to determine the compartmentalizationof L-dopa-containing proteins involved in the process of biomin-eralization in C. virginica at different time points during a shellrepair event. Three organismal compartments were identified aspossible locations of L-dopa precursor proteins: hemocytes, cell-free hemolymph, and mantle tissue. Hemolymph was harvestedfrom the adductor muscle of notched oysters and hemocytes were


(Virginia) from 22 and 21 reefs respectively in the Maryland (MD)and Virginia (VA) portions of the Bay. Estimates were made of in-dividual length (SL), biomass (B), dry tissue weight (W), and shellweight (SW), and the shape relationships examined by allometricplots. Variation was observed in the b value of SW versus SL plots(y (SW = a x SLb) coincident with the variation from long, thinshelled individuals through rounded individuals with shell that in-creased in thickness with age. The MD reefs present a general con-tinuum of decreasing values of a, with increasing values of b, thelatter gradually increasing from 2.177 (all years) to 2.952. In VA, bvalues varied from 2.73 to 3.28. High r2 values for both individualand multi-year reef plots indicate consistency of shape. Distinct re-gions of common shape emerge. For example, the James River canbe described by three common shaped areas. Spatial variation wasexamined in relation to long-term environmental monitoring data.A substantial portion of the variation can be associated with salini-ty, although the role of localized fine sediments (indicative of highfine suspended sediment loads) may predominate at low salinity.

DUNGENESS CRAB TRAP CATCH EFFICIENCY RELAT-ED TO ESCAPE RING LOCATIONAND SIZEGeorge Stearns1*, Robert Conrad2, David Winfrey1, NancyShippentower-Games1, and Deanna Finley1

1Puyallup Tribe of Indians, 3009 East PortlandAvenue, Tacoma,Washington 98404

2Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, 6730 Martin WayEast, Olympia, Washington [email protected] Dungeness crab, Metacarcinus magister (Cancer magis-

ter), supports a commercially important fishery along the WestCoast of the United States. Only male crabs above a certain sizelimit may be retained (i.e., legal-size males). Escape rings are usedin traps to create circular holes that facilitate the release of bothfemales and undersized males (sublegal crabs). Sublegal crabs thatare retained in a trap can suffer stress, injury, and mortality. In thisexperiment, both the location and size of the escape ring were mod-ified in an effort to reduce retention rates of sublegal crabs. Fourdifferent trap configurations were used: (1) a standard trap withoutescape rings (control configuration); (2) an unmodified trap withtwo 4.25-in-diameter escape rings on top (standard configuration);(3) a standard trap with one 4.25-indiameter escape ring placed ineach corner adjacent with the bottom (modified 4.25-in configura-tion); and (4) a trap with two 4.5-in-diameter escape rings on topand one 4.5-in-diameter escape ring placed in each corner adja-cent with the bottom (modified 4.5-in configuration). Two differentcatch statistics were compared among trap configurations: catch oflegal-size= males and catch of sublegal crabs. No statistical dif-ference was observed in the catch of legal-sized males in any trapconfiguration. Compared with the standard configuration, the twomodified configurations caught significantly fewer sublegal crabs.Catches of sublegal crabs were not statistically different betweenthe modified 4.25-in and modified 4.5-in configurations.

EMERGING PATTERNS OF LATE SUMMER HARMFULALGALBLOOMS IN THE LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAYGail P. Scott*, William M. Jones III, and Kimberly S. ReeceVirginia Institute of Marine Science, Department of Aquatic

Health Sciences, The College of William & Mary, 1375 GreateRoad, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 [email protected] summer blooms of Alexandrium monilatum and Margale-

fidinium (formerly Cochlodinium) polykrikoides have been partic-ularly intense and widespread throughout the lower CheseapeakeBay in recent years. Laboratory bioassays have demonstrated acutedose dependent toxicity of these species to oysters at different stagesof development. Local oyster culturists have reported to researchersat the Virginia Institute of Marine Science numerous juvenile oystermortality events during and immediately following these bloomsat grow-out locations in natural estuarine habitats. This has led toincreased efforts in tracking bloom activity. A York River bloomin 2007 marked the re-emergence of A. monilatum in the mid-At-lantic since a couple reports of blooms during the 1960s. BloomsofMargalefidinium polykrikoides have occurred almost annually intheYork for decades and throughout the southern bay since the early1990s. Until 2011, A. monilatum blooms were largely localized inand near the York River with cell counts reaching into the thousandsof cells/mL. During blooms in 2012-2016, A. monilatum cells werefound at increasing concentrations into the bay mainstem, in manylower bay estuaries, as well as to the south along the North CarolinaOuter Banks. These more recent A. monilatum blooms were increas-ingly nearly monotypic with low diversity community structure andcell counts reaching into the hundred thousand cells/mL. A predict-able population progression occurs in the York River with peak cellconcentrations ofM. polykrikoides followed one to two weeks laterby peak concentrations of A. monilatum.

SPATIAL VARIATION IN OYSTER SHAPE IN THE CHES-APEAKE BAY: IMPLICATIONS FOR SHELLCARBONATEBUDGETSMelissa Southworth1*, Roger Mann1, James E. Wesson3, MitchTarnowski2, Mark Homer2, William Reay1, and John Thomas1

1Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, The College of Williamand Mary, P.O. Box 1346 Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 USA

2Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 580 Taylor Ave-nue, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 USA

3Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Newport News, VA23607 [email protected] variation in shape in Chesapeake Bay oyster populations

was examined to address two questions: how does shape influenceestimates of shell production rates, and can variation in shape beascribed to clines in one or more environmental variables? Oys-ters were collected as part of annual fall surveys (sample size n =25 oysters >30mm SL) in 2011-2013 (Maryland) and 2011-2016


the laboratory has used a quantitative PCR (qPCR) method to deter-mine abundance of parasite infections in submitted oysters. Evalua-tion of the data shows increases in the number of Perkinsus marinus(Dermo) parasites that correlates positively with oyster size, the cul-ture location and season of the year. Haplosporidium costale (SSO)was identified in animals from Rhode Island and some reports ofmorbidity and mortality have been associated with the infection inthe past. Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) infections are identifiedin several samples but do not appear to be in high abundance andno associated mortality has been reported. The laboratory qPCRmonitoring data forms the basis for understanding parasite infec-tion intensity currently and is being used for oyster management andtransport determinations. It is probable there will be an increase inthe abundance and severity of disease caused by Dermo, MSX, andSSO in the future as the northeast coastal waters warm. These datawill establish a baseline that can be used to identify changes.

THE IMPACTOFATMOSPHERIC RIVER EVENTS ONOS-TREA LURIDA AND CRASSOSTREA GIGAS DENSITIES INSOUTHERN CALIFORNIAESTUARIESHolly Suther*, Jacob Javier, Brittany Cook, Shannon Chou,Daniel Jaques, Amber Jolly, William Hoese, and Danielle C.ZacherlCalifornia State University, Fullerton, 800 N State College

Blvd, Fullerton, California 92831 [email protected]. west coast estuaries support diverse communities that can

be negatively impacted by changes in water quality. Atmosphericriver (AR) events, long, narrow corridors of water vapor deliver-ing heavy precipitation, can reduce the water quality in estuaries tolevels lethal to oysters. For example, native Ostrea lurida densitiesdeclined significantly in San Francisco Bay following an extremeAR event that decreased salinities for a lethal duration (< 6 salinityfor > 8 days). This study focused on southern Californian estuariesthat support native oysters,O. lurida, and non-native oysters, Cras-sostrea gigas. It was hypothesized that AR events would produceextreme drops in salinity for lethal durations, as in San FranciscoBay, and O. lurida would show greater density declines than C.gigas. Density was measured for both species in December/Jan-uary and May 2017 at two sites each within Newport Bay (NB)and San Diego Bay (SD). Four AR events impacted NB and threeimpacted SD between December 2016 and May 2017. Salinity andpH dropped below tolerance levels for non-lethal durations in SD.Crassostrea gigas density declined significantly at three of foursites; however, O. lurida showed no density change. Native O. lu-rida may be more acclimatized to local AR events than recentlyintroduced C. gigas, or C. gigas declines may be due to anotherunknown factor. San Francisco Bay may be more susceptible toARimpacts on oysters by experiencing more extreme ARs and havinga larger watershed; both can lead to more significant impacts onestuarine water quality.

APPLICATION OF TRIPLOIDY TO AN EMERGENT OYS-TER CULTURE INDUSTRY ON THE FLORIDA WESTCOAST: RESULTS OFGROWER TRIALSLeslie N. Sturmer1*, Carter Cyr1, Reggie Markham1, NicholasBrandimarte2, and Susan Laramore2

1University of Florida/IFAS, Shellfish Aquaculture ExtensionProgram, Senator Kirkpatrick Marine Lab, 11350 SW 153rd Court,Cedar Key, Florida 32625 USA

2Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic In-stitute, Center for Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement, 5600 USHighway 1 North, Fort Pierce, Florida 34946 [email protected] address increased interest in oyster aquaculture on the Flori-

da west coast, a demonstration project was initiated which allowedfor evaluation of an oyster breeding process to local conditions.The objectives were to document production performance and as-sess the health of diploid and triploid oysters, Crassostrea virgini-ca, under commercial conditions. Oysters were provided to eightshellfish growers in four coastal counties, each receiving 2,500triploid and diploid seed (average shell height [SH]: 22 mm) in July2016. Several culture systems used by growers also provided forevaluation of site and gear interaction on ploidy type. After eightmonths of culture, triploid oysters (grower averages: 64.6-97.7 mmSH) were larger than diploids (64.8-83.0 mm SH) at five of the sixparticipating farms, while wet meat weights of triploids (groweraverages: 5.5-13.7 g) were greater than diploids (4.4-6.6 g) at fourof the six farms. Survival was commercially acceptable in floatingbags and adjustable longline systems as opposed to bottom cag-es. Differences in shell shape and fouling were observed by ploidytype, gear type, and farm location. The parasite, Perkinsus marinus,was not prevalent in any of the samples at harvest, whereas infesta-tion of the mudworm, Polydora websteri,was found in both diploidand triploid oysters cultured over the summer months. To evaluateseasonal differences, diploid and triploid oyster seed were plantedin March 2017 with harvest anticipated after eight months. Thisproject resulted in increased awareness of the benefits of triploidyand accelerated adoption of a new bivalve species for culture.

THREE YEARS OF DISEASE MONITORING DATA OFCRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA (EASTERN OYSTER) INRHODE ISLAND AND SURROUNDING STATES AND IM-PLICATIONS FOR AQUACULTURE AND A CHANGINGENVIRONMENTAllison Surian*, Abigail Scro, M. Victoria Agnew, and Roxan-na SmolowitzRoger Williams University, Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory,

One Old Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island 02809 [email protected] Diagnostic Laboratory at Roger Williams Universi-

ty receives eastern oyster samples for disease evaluation as a routinepart of services offered by the laboratory. For the past three years,


[email protected] European green crab, Carcinus maenas, is invasive to the

coast of Maine, and has been proposed as sustainable bait for thelobster industry. This species is also the intermediate host of theAcanthocephalan parasite, Profilicollis botulus, and little is knownabout the infection dynamics of this parasite on the coast of Maine,including the possibility of cross-contamination with other crucialspecies. More information will allow ecologists and policy-mak-ers to better understand the impact of the parasite on the coast ofMaine.Crabs were collected from May 2017 through August 2017

from three alternating locations on the Maine coast and tested forparasite prevalence and intensity. Preliminary data analysis ex-amined the influence of a variety of factors on parasite infectiondynamics. Crab sex, color morph, carapace width, parasite pres-ence, and number of parasites were recorded. Fisher’s Exact Testsand Kruskal-Wallis Tests were used for preliminary comparison ofprevalence among different sub-samples.Overall prevalence for the summer of 2017 was 17% for the

entire coast, a slight increase from 14% the previous summer. Prev-alence was significantly higher in the southernmost bioregion ofMaine at 32%, followed by the mid-coast at 13% and the northern-most location at 10%, suggesting a temperature effect. Prevalencewas significantly higher than average in females, red color morphs,and berried females. Intensity was highest in the southernmost sitewith an average of five cysts per infection. These data support thehypothesis that a changing environment could significantly impacthost-parasite dynamics of green crabs on the coast of Maine.

PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY OF THREE OYSTERPARASITES (PERKINSUS MARINUS, HAPLOSPORIDIUMNELSONI, AND BONAMIA SP.) IN WILD AND CULTUREDOYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA) ON AN OYSTERFARM IN SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINARobin L. Varney* and Ami E. WilburUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington, Shellfish Research

Hatchery, CREST Research Park, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane,Wilmington, North Carolina 28409 [email protected] of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, along

theAtlantic coast of the United States have been severely impactedby a variety of parasites over the past 60 years. Prevalence andintensity of three C. virginica protozoan parasites – Perkinsusmarinus (Dermo), Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX), and Bonamiasp. – were monitored in wild and cultured oysters over a two-yearperiod using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Starting in February 2016,samples of 100 wild oysters were collected monthly from Mason-boro Sound, North Carolina (NC). A line (HC5-9) of cultured oys-ters was sampled prior to deployment on the farm in July 2016and monthly thereafter. Prevalence of P. marinus and H. nelsoni inwild oysters varied widely over the two-year sampling period, withpeaks in prevalence of both parasites in August 2017 (93% and

MORE THAN THE EYE CAN SEE: GROSS VISUAL ANDRADIOGRAPHIC OBSERVATIONS OF SHELL-BORINGPARASITES IN THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICA, REVEALDYNAMICS OF SHELLDAMAGEShelby Thomas*1, Andy Kane2, Ross Brooks2, Felipe Sanchez2,and Hanzhi Gao2

1University of Florida, School of Natural Resources and En-vironment, Aquatic Pathobiology, Laboratory, PO Box 110885,Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA

2University of Florida, Department of Environmental and Glob-al Health, Aquatic Pathobiology, Laboratory, PO Box 110885,Gainesville, Florida 32611 [email protected] parasites on oyster reefs can reduce shell density

and increase shell surface area, contributing to accelerated shellerosion. Discerning prevalence and severity of shell parasites aspart of a basic health assessment in restoration monitoring is, there-fore, an important factor that may affect long-term reef stabilityand restoration outcomes. This project examined the effectivenessof ranking the severity of parasite shell damage in eastern oystersbased on typical gross visual examination versus diagnostic radi-ography. Oysters (n=347), representing all size classes, were sam-pled from Apalachicola Bay during June of 2016, and shells wereevaluated grossly and from x-rays using an established, ranked se-verity score (0-5), based on percent area affected. Radiographicobservations provided higher (i.e., better) parasite severity scoresthan gross visual observation scores using identical ranking crite-ria. Mean severity scores based on radiographic, visual internaland visual external shell observations for Polydora were 3.9, 1.6and 1.0; for Diplothyra were 1.7, 0.7, and 1.2; and for Cliona were2.3, 0.7 and 1.6, respectively. On average Polydora visual rankswere 2.4 ranks lower than radiographs, Diplothyra inside were 1.0and outside 0.4 ranks lower than radiographs, and Cliona inside 1.6and outside 0.7 ranks lower than radiographs. Through statisticalanalysis, a multiplier was developed from radiographic data to ap-ply to what is observed visually, allowing for a more accurate pre-diction of shell damage to be made. This would enable researchersto analyze oysters visually and be able to have a better estimate ofparasite severity though applying this multiplier.

INFECTION DYNAMICS OF AN ACANTHOCEPHALANPARASITE, PROFILICOLLIS BOTULUS, IN THE GREENCRAB, CARCINUS MAENAS, ON THE COAST OFMAINETyler Van Kirk1*, Ian Bricknell1, Olivia Joyce1, Allyson Red-cay1, Molly Westbrook1, Caroline Spangenberg2, Rebecca Lo-pez-Anido3, and Liza Gallandt3

1University of Maine School of Marine Sciences, Aubert HallRm. 360, Orono, Maine 04469-5706 USA

2University of Maine School of Biology and Ecology, MurrayHall, Orono, Maine 04469-5751 USA

3Maine EPSCoR, Corbett Hall rm. 444, Orono, Maine 04469-5717 USA


[email protected] aquaculture is increasingly supplying oysters for con-

sumption, to some extent due to the decline of wild oyster stocks.Triploid oysters have become a staple in the oyster industry due totheir faster growth and reduced gamete production, allowing themto be sold year-round. Triploids are produced by crossing a diploidoyster (two sets of chromosomes) with a tetraploid oyster (four setsof chromosomes) creating a triploid oyster (three sets of chromo-somes). Tetraploid oysters are polyploid, meaning they possessmore than two sets of chromosomes, and are essential to the pro-duction of triploid oysters. Chromosome instability is a fundamentalaspect of polyploid and can be challenging for tetraploid breedingprograms. This study investigates the potential impacts of environ-mental stress on reversion by exposing four tetraploid families (withthree replicates) to three different pH treatments, ambient, 0.2 pHunits below ambient, and 0.4 pH units below ambient. Mortalityis being monitored daily, while growth will be assessed biweekly.Chromosomal loss will be assessed at the beginning and end of theexperiment. Preliminary observations suggest that the family is hav-ing a greater influence on the mortality than the pH treatments. Datacollection is ongoing, and the results will be presented.

THE EFFECT OF SEDIMENTATION ON OYSTERS ADJA-CENT TO EELGRASS MEADOWSVictoria R. Wood1*, Juliann C. Vannordstrand1, ChristineWhitcraft2, Joseph Carlin3, Katie Nichols4, and Danielle C.Zacherl1

1California State University, Fullerton, Department of Biolog-ical Science, 800 N. State College Avenue, Fullerton, California92834 USA

2California State University, Long Beach, College of NaturalSciences and Mathematics, 1250 N. Bellflower Boulevard, LongBeach, California 90840 USA

3California State University, Fullerton, Department of Geolog-ical Sciences, 800 N. State College Avenue, Fullerton, California92834 USA

4Orange County Coastkeeper, 3151 Airway Avenue, CostaMesa, California 92626 [email protected] and eelgrass beds both provide ecosystem services in-

cluding providing refuge from predation, offering complex, three-di-mensional habitats, and providing shoreline resiliency by bufferingerosion. The California native oyster, Ostrea lurida, and the nativeeelgrass, Zostera marina, have declined over the past two centurieson the west coast of the United States. As part of a Living Shorelinesinitiative to restore these important habitats while promoting shore-line resiliency, this study seeks to restore oysters and eelgrass aloneand adjacent to one another, and assess if oyster response is affectedby eelgrass due to eelgrass-induced sediment deposition.Four treatment blocks were established with restored eelgrass,

oyster, oyster/eelgrass, and control plots each at four locations inNewport Bay, California. Eelgrass and oyster responses were mea-

97%, respectively). Bonamia sp. was rarely detected in the wildoyster samplings, with peak prevalence observed in March 2016(16%). Intensity of infection (estimated by Ct value) was greatestin late summer 2017 for P. marinus and in late spring 2017 forH. nelsoni. Cultured oysters initially tested negative for all threeparasites, but by fall 2016 all three parasites were detected withlow prevalence and intensity. Prevalence and intensity of P. mari-nus and H. nelsoni remained low throughout the winter months,but gradually increased through late spring and summer with peakprevalence of both parasites observed in August 2017 (86% and98%, respectively). No significant correlation was observed be-tween any environmental parameter examined (temperature, salin-ity, chlorophyll-α) and parasite prevalence.

WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFEMANAGEMENT ACTIONS FOR EUROPEAN GREENCRAB INWASHINGTONWATERSRichard H. Visser II* and Jesse M. SchultzWashington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Aquatic Invasive

Species Unit, 1111Washington St SE, Olympia, Washington [email protected] green crab (EGC), Carcinus maenas, are a Prohibited

Level 1 species in the State of Washington, which means they posea high invasive risk and are a priority for prevention and expeditedrapid response management actions. EGC are known to be vora-cious predators on several species of shellfish (Cohen et al. 1995,DFO 2011) and the concern is that this threat could affect Washing-ton waters and the Shellfish industry if unchecked. Although therehave been small populations of EGC along Washington’s outercoast such as in Wilapa Bay and Grays Harbor since 1997, thesepopulations have remained small and have not become significant-ly harmful. It is only in the last two years EGC have spread to newlocations in the Puget Sound where the risk of establishment, abili-ty for sustainable reproduction, and potentially far greater resourc-es impacts have raised alarms. TheWashington Department of Fishand Wildlife (WDFW) is the lead entity for management of EGCand works closely withWashington Sea Grant, U.S. Fish andWild-life Service, tribes, shellfish growers, and the Canada’s Departmentof Fisheries and Oceans to assess risk and implement managementactions. This coalition has been extremely effective in both earlydetection of new EGC settlements and rapid response in controllingthose populations to prevent reproduction and further spread.

EFFECTS OF REDUCED PH ON GROWTH AND CHRO-MOSOME LOSS IN TETRAPLOID OYSTERS CRASSOST-REAVIRGINICABrittany M. Wolfe* and Ami E. WilburUniversity of North Carolina- Wilmington, Shellfish Research

Hatchery, Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center forMarine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, NorthCarolina 28409, USA


Parasites such as Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) and Perkin-sus marinus (Dermo) have been an ongoing challenge for easternoyster (Crassostrea virginica) aquaculture. Strategies including useof resistance lines of oysters have been presented as one way tomitigate the impacts. Another approach may be to utilize differentgear and management strategies. This study monitored prevalenceand intensity of Haplosporidium nelsoni and Perkinsus marinusin three different gear types (floating cages, flip bags and bottomcages) at three locations (Masonboro Sound, Cedar Island Bay, Ro-anoke Sound) in North Carolina. Each gear was replicated (n=3)at each site. Oysters in floating cages were exposed twice month-ly for 12 hours, whereas oysters in the flip bags were constantlysubmerged in surface waters (<8 inches) and at depth in bottomcages. Oysters (n=25) were sampled at deployment (6 months postspawn) and at 3, 9, and 12 months post deployment, each samplewas analyzed by quantitative PCR for the presence of the parasites.Initial prevalence of the parasites were modest (9±3% positive forHaplosporidium nelsoni, 21±7% positive for Perkinsus marinus),but increased substantially in some gears and on some farms overtime. The results of these analyses will be presented.

sured by assessing oyster spatfall and recruitment, and eelgrassblade density. Sediment characteristics were measured using sed-iment pins.After five months of erosive conditions, sedimentation did not

differ among treatments, but there was accumulated sediment onlyon eelgrass and oyster/eelgrass plots. There was higher oyster spat-fall on oyster and oyster/eelgrass plots as compared to control andeelgrass plots during weeks of highest spatfall; however, this trans-lated into higher recruitment only on the oyster plot compared tothe control plot. Based on preliminary findings, restoring oystersand eelgrass in adjacent restoration plots might not yield the mosteffective outcomes for oysters, possibly due to eelgrass-inducedsedimentation. These results will help direct future restoration ini-tiatives involving oysters and eelgrass.

THE EFFECT OF GEAR TYPE AND MANAGEMENTSTRATEGY ON THE ACQUISITION OF PARASITES BYCULTURED OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREAVIRGINICA)Johanna K. Woods*and Ami E. WilburUniversity of North Carolina-Wilmington, Shellfish Research

Hatchery, Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center forMarine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, NorthCarolina, 28409 [email protected]

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