1. Community-Based Oyster Gardening Partnership for the Indian River Lagoon (Oyster PIRL) Brevard County, Florida

2. Canaveral National Seashore Mosquito Lagoon, FL Indian River Lagoon: 3 bodies of water Indian River Banana River Mosquito Lagoon 156 miles long Biologically diverse estuary home to over 3,500 species.

3. What is a Keystone Species? A keystone species is one that plays a critical role in determining and maintaining the overall relationship of plants and animals within an ecosystem. If a keystone species is removed or declines, the nature of the ecosystem will change dramatically.

4. Food Habitat Prevent Erosion Filter Feeding

6. Oyster Biology Spat : Juvenile Oysters 2 week free-swimming larval phase Must settle on hard surface Gregarious species Stationary Can live up to 20 years Oysters spawned in hatchery

7. Overharvesting Habitat Loss Reduced Water Quality Diseases (MSX & Dermo) Boat Wakes

8. Stormwater Treatment Since 1991 in Brevard: More than 21,000 acres treated for Stormwater $34 Million invested in Stormwater More than 400 projects completed or underway

9. Sources of Nitrogen and Phosphorus that Contribute to High Chlorophyll BASEFLOW 52% STORM WATER RUNOFF 39% ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION 5% POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 4% STORMWATER RUNOFF 18% POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 2% BASEFLOW ( GROUNDWATER) 39% ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION (AIR) 40% Based on SJRWMD GMFR Optical Model for 1996-2007 data.

10. INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS TO REDUCE COLOR:  Keep leaf litter and yard debris out of ditches, canals and waterways. LARGE-SCALE COMMUNITY ACTIONS TO IMPROVE LIGHT PENETRATION:  Dredge muck deposits from the IRL.  Construct more stormwater treatment projects.  Sponsor shoreline, oyster and clam restoration projects.  Enforce erosion prevention during development and construction.  Harvest vegetation from stormwater ponds, canals, and ditches.  Expand sewer service to reduce the number of septic tanks.  Require new construction to treat stormwater on site.  Repair and replace leaky sewer pipes.  Increase street sweeping.  Regulate fertilizer use. Based on SJRWMD GMFR Optical Model for 1996-2007 data. POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 2% INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS TO REDUCE TURBIDITY:  Stop soil erosion by planting or mulching bare ground.  Prevent leaves and grass clippings from washing into the stormwater system.  Reduce pesticide, herbicide and fungicide use.  Wash cars at a Car Wash or over the grass.  Participate in shoreline planting or lagoon restoration projects. CHLOROPHYL L 14 – 27% COLOR 8 – 17% TURBIDITY 64 – 69% BASEFLOW 52% ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION 5% POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 4% STORM WATER RUNOFF 18% BASEFLOW ( GROUNDWATER) 39% ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION (AIR) 40% NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS SOURCES OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO HIGH CHLOROPHYLL : STORM WATER RUNOFF 39% INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS TO REDUCE CHLOROPHYLL:  Minimize fertilizer use and irrigation.  Reduce vehicle emissions by choosing a more fuel efficient vehicle, carpooling, walking, biking, or riding the bus.  Adjust thermostat to reduce power use.  Inspect and maintain septic systems.  Catch runoff by installing rain barrels, rain gardens, pervious pavers, retention ponds or swales.  Replace high-maintenance landscaping with Florida- Friendly plantings.  Keep leaf litter and yard debris out of ditches, canals and waterways.  Keep up with car maintenance & fix leaks.  Pick up after your pet.  Cancel junk mail.

11. 1986 Brevard harvested 3% of State total for oysters. 2013 Brevard harvested only.1% of State total for oysters Brevard harvest of Oysters is.7% of what it was 27 years ago.

12. 1986 Brevard harvested 93% of State total for clams 2013 Brevard harvested only 43% of State total for clams Brevard harvest of Clams is.2% of what it was 27 years ago.

13. It's time to step out of the Box Reduce Pollutant and Nutrient Inputs Restore Oysters, Clams and Wetlands Remove Detrimental Muck Research (the foundation)

14. LHC Oyster Gardening Project Brevard County accounts for 71% of the IRL Community based restoration project 4 R’s : Reduce, Remove, Research and Restoration Includes a small staff and numerous volunteers One million oysters deployed in the IRL For our community, Cindy Pennington & Arabella Lewis are the citizen scientists !

15. What is a Citizen Scientist Make your own habitats Use rope to suspend these 4 habitats from your dock Weekly time commitment – Monitoring – Online data input Supplies Gloves Brush Online Datasheets 4 Oyster Habitats Hanging Scale Calipers (Masters only) Oyster spat

16. Habitat Maintenance Perform weekly checks of habitats Important to remove “ fouling ” (i.e. barnacles, algae, etc.) that can impede water flow Check lines to ensure secure connection Cleanliness is key! – Rinse habitat with freshwater – Use scrub brush to remove barnacles – Watch out for foes and remove from habitat – Shake oysters gently to prevent attaching to habitat Take habitat out of water and place in shady spot – 1-2 hour drying period – Help to control predators and fouling Barnacles

17. Weekly Data Collection All Oyster Gardeners Weigh Habitats (lbs) – Weigh using digital scale – Before and after cleaning Identify Friends & Foes – Record any marine organisms found in habitat – Remove any foes Check test recruitment shell for oyster spat, yes or no question Keep track of amount of time spent Return all oysters back to their habitat and put habitats back in the water

18. Biweekly Data Collection Master Oyster Gardeners Weigh habitat both with digital and heavy duty scale Count the number of live oysters in each habitat – Dead oysters will be gaping open & discharge water when lightly squeezed Randomly select and measure length of 25 live oysters from each habitat using calipers – Measure from umbo to bill in millimeters Return all oysters back to their habitat and put habitats back in the water

19. Oyster Gardening Friends SpeciesDescription Hermit Crab Keep habitat clean of fouling organisms Typically no threat to oysters Can eat small oysters Mud Crab Inhabit oyster reefs Usually in search of other prey Can eat small oysters Shrimp: Grass shrimp Snapping shrimp Pink shrimp Grass shrimp most common No threat to oysters Detritivores: feed on decaying animal or plant material Small Fish: Blennies Gobies Skillet fish Inhabit oyster reefs Reef provides protection from predators No threat to oysters Grass Shrimp Snapping Shrimp Pink Shrimp Hermit Crab Mud Crab Goby Blenny

20. Oyster Gardening Foes SpeciesDescription Crabs: Blue Crab Stone Crab Scavengers, prey on oysters Use oyster reef for habitat Young stone crabs vary in color: bluish gray, gray, green, or dark tan with dark spots Filter Feeders: Ribbed Mussel Barnacle Sea Squirt These three species are filter feeders Compete with oyster spat for food and space Boring Sponge Attacks oysters by boring holes in shell Can bore completely through shell and kill oyster Oyster can survive if damage is limited to outer shell Sheepshead Fish Eat oysters Small fish can fit through wire mesh into oyster habitat Blue Crab Stone Crab Ribbed Mussel Barnacle Sea Squirt Boring Sponge Sheepshead

21. The Aftermath Do not eat our oysters, their job isn’t done yet! – They will be used to populate oyster reef restoration projects in the Indian River Lagoon – Provide numerous benefits Water quality improvement Habitat for over 300 different species Help restore natural population levels of oysters to lagoon

22. Questions??? Contact Information LHC Citizen Scientist: Cindy Pennington at 732-580-5425 cynthiacpennington@gmail.com Oyster Gardening Team at Brevard Zoo at (321) 254-9453 x284 – Sammy Anderson; Sanderson@brevardzoo.orgSanderson@brevardzoo.org Holly Abeels, UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County habeels@ufl.edu or at (321) 633-1702 x235habeels@ufl.edu Scott Herber, Eastern Florida State College Environmental Club; herberS@easternflorida.com or at (321) 433-5742 herberS@easternflorida.com