Project Results

This project allowed me to develop a geospatial database that integrates environmental data streams to address gaps in previous restoration efforts, providing a comprehensive tool for modeling habitat suitability and guiding restoration initiatives. Beyond oysters, this geodatabase supports conservation efforts for species of concern, such as soft-shell clams and bay scallops, by identifying areas with favorable environmental conditions. I presented this project at both local and national conferences.

About This Project

Natural Oyster abundance in Rhode Island has been declining and is in need of a restoration plan. In collaboration with the Rhode Island Division of Marine Fisheries, My project will develop a GIS geodatabase of existing data to inform the development of a habitat suitability index for eastern oysters in Rhode Island. Data include, but are not limited to water quality data collected by various entities across systems, subaqueous soils, and groundwater intrusion.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

From the late 1880s into the early 1900s, oysters were the most abundant and plentiful shellfish in Rhode Island. Currently, the oyster reef habitat is estimated to be less than 1% of its historical abundance in the New England region. This is due to many factors such as incorrect harvesting, disease, and sedimentation which have negatively impacted the ecosystems resulting in the degrading of natural oysters. Oyster reefs are not only ecologically important but also economically crucial to New England. Reefs act as nursery habitats for juvenile fin fish that have value economically, and other small species of invertebrates while also enhancing water quality benefitting the overall ecosystem. Restoring the oyster abundance would greatly benefit the quality of estuarine ecosystem.

What is the significance of this project?

Although the eastern oyster (C. virginica) was once greatly abundant, reefs have become greatly damaged affecting the entire ecosystem. This issue is not just domestic to New England, but also global where oyster reef habitat has been reduced to 15% of its historical extent. Throughout Rhode Island, very few locations of high-density natural oysters still exist and there has yet to be a true attempt at restoring oyster habitat. This research would be a piece that would support a large-scale oyster habitat restoration project being conducted by the Rhode Island Division of Marine Fisheries to ultimately benefit the health of the estuarine ecosystems.

What are the goals of the project?

My goal is to identify trends related to abiotic environmental factors in Rhode Island estuaries that wild oysters find preferable for larger congregations of abundance. By analyzing environmental data of the estuaries I will use ArcGIS to create maps and collate streams of data in support of the RI Marine Fisheries restoration research. As I create these maps I will be able to provide backers with results visually of the progress I am making that easily visualize the trends that are present in the estuaries. Those maps also can be used by the Division of Marine Fisheries when developing a final restoration plan.