Student Research Reports
Oyster Gardening and Climate Change
Organization(s):Trinity Lutheran School (USVAHRBG)
Country:United States of America
Student(s):
Grade Level:Upper Primary (grades 3-5, ages 8-11)
GLOBE Educator(s):
Contributors:
Report Type(s):
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Date Submitted:05/09/2012
Compare growth of oysters placed in different bodies of water with different water qualities.
In September, 2011, approximately 8,000 oyster spat were placed in Taylor Floats in four different Chesapeake Bay tributaries. All oyster spat came from the same source, Oyster Reefkeepers of Virginia. One float was located at LeeWard Marina in the James River in Newport News, VA. The second float was located in the Back River, a tributary of the York River, in Poquoson, Virginia. Float number three was placed in Hoffler Creek, a tributary of the James River, in Portsmouth, Virginia. The fourth float was placed in Oyster Harbor on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Each float held approximately 2,000 oyster spat. Floats one and three were both located in rather large urban areas. (*See Attachment B, Map Displaying Oyster Float Locations)
Each month groups of students visited the floats to collect water quality data and measured the length of the oysters. Data collected at each site included dissolved oxygen, pH level, salinity (in ppt), water temperature, length of 50 random oysters, and mortality rate. (Note: Northampton High School and Christopher Academy did not have materials to test for DO)