1. Recruitment of oysters in Mobile Bay Sean Powers, Kyeong Park, C-K Kim, Jason Herrmann, and Ben LaCour UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA DAUPHIN ISLAND SEA LAB Fisheries Habitat Program

2. Alabama Oyster Fishery Frederic (3) Opal (3)& Erin (2) Camille (5) Ethel (3) Elena (3) 50 yr average 0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000 1,200,000 19501955196019651970197519801985199019952000 Landings (kg meat) Fisheries Habitat Program

3. Habitat Availability: Alabama Oyster Habitat (1972) Live oyster reefBuried oyster shell deposits Fisheries Habitat Program

4. Habitat Assessment

5. Addressing Restoration Challenges Dissolved Oxygen Larval supply 20010010 5 2 1 # spat m -2 d -1 (Hoese et al. 1972) Predation Fisheries Habitat Program

6. Oyster Recruitment: 2006-2007 Survey 18 sites throughout Mobile Bay every three weeks for oyster settlement. Survey 18 sites throughout Mobile Bay every three weeks for oyster settlement. Jan 2006 – Dec 2007 Jan 2006 – Dec 2007 Synoptic measurements of larval supply via plankton pump samples. Synoptic measurements of larval supply via plankton pump samples. Discrete mark & recapture experiments for post- settlement mortality Discrete mark & recapture experiments for post- settlement mortality Validation of a 3-D bio- physical transport model. Validation of a 3-D bio- physical transport model. Fisheries Habitat Program

7. Spat Recruitment Methods Fisheries Habitat Program

8. Predation: Oyster Drills Fisheries Habitat Program

9. Comparison to Hoese et al. 1972 14 sites, same locations in 2006-07 Concrete tile, same as 2006-2007 Horizontal plate orientation 2-3 week deployments April-November Salinity and temperature ranges were similar Plates moored using fixed pilings

10. Hoese et al. 1972: Spatial Pattern 20010010 5 2 1 # spat m -2 d -1 (Hoese et al. 1972)

11. Spat/m2/day CR11CR12CR13 Larvae/1000L 30-100 μ Larvae/1000L 100-500 μ

12. CR15CR16 Spat/m2/day Larvae/1000L 30-100 μ Larvae/1000 l 100-500 μ CR14

13. Transport Transport Model

14. Post-settlement Mortality Mark & recapture experiments with newly settled larvae 7-11 mm SH set on concrete tiles by the Auburn Hatchery. Experiments conducted for 5- 7 days. Miss. Sound Middle Bay Bon Secour Cedar Pt. Dauphin Island

15. Average by region Summer 2007 ab b a b b 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 Bon SecourCedar PointDauphin IslandMiddle BayMississippi Sound Portion of Spat Mortality/Day

16. Implications for Restoration Further support for high success of reefs in western portion of the study area. Fisheries enhancement should focus attention in these areas. Possibility for spawning sanctuaries in Bon Secour Bay. High retention possible Low post-settlement mortality

17. Sanctuary positioning Results of the Park and Kim biophysical transport model indicating concentrations of dye released at Shellbank (upper panel) after 6 days and Fish River Reef after 10 days. Release location is indicated by the red star.

18. Acknowledgements Tech Support, boat time, fishing volunteers and graduate students