Eastern o smp version 2 11.18.

N OVEMBER Figure 2. 220.2 1. From for oy habita ppt, d 0.5–3 low d 2. Oyste in late et al. aquac 3. Brow reache Easter 7 The oyste establishin 5 10 15 20 25 T h ou san d s of O ys te rs a 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 T h ou san d s of O ys te rs b R 18, 2014 6. Eastern oys 2.2. Distribu a comparison ysters in Rhod at in Rhode Is dissolved oxyg meters, subs depositional qu er larvae have e August; larv 2013. The au culture operat n et al. 2013 es of the Narr rn oyster in th er habitat descr ng new, wild po 50 00 50 00 50 2007 20 40 60 80 00 20 40 60 2007 ter wild harves Coas ution n of water qua de Island wate sland waters i gen concentra trate consistin ualities, and i e been reporte val settlement uthors sugges ions located i 3 report 56 ac row River eco he Narrow Ri ribed by Brown opulations of E 2008 2 Oys 2008 2 Oy C HAPT st landings for stal Cooperati ality data 199 ers was degra is defined by ations of 4–6 ng of sand, gr is stable. ed in the wate t was found to st that reestab in the salt pon cres of high q osystem. Figu iver; highest q n et al. 2013 Eastern oyster, 2009 2010 Year ster Landi 2009 201 Yea yster Land TER 2: E COLOG Rhode Island ve Statistics Pr 98–2007, Nau aded and not s Hines and Br mg l -1 , water ravel and rock r column from o be most inte blishment of n nds is both po quality habitat ure 2.7 shows quality oyster is with regard and should con 2011 r ings - Rho 2011 ar dings - Sa GY a, and the sa rogram 2013. u 2007 foun suitable for oy rown 2012 a temperature k, and a sedim m late June th ense mid-Aug natural oyster ossible and pr t for oyster re s the distributi r habitat 7 is lo to habitat suita nfused with su 2012 2 ode Island 2012 alt Ponds alt ponds b, 2 nd that 95 of yster restorat as having a sa of 14–28°C, mentary envir hrough Septem gust to mid-S populations robable. estoration in t ion of habitat ocated at the v able for sustain uitability as site 2013 d N G Sa B Sa 2013 N P AGE 35 OF 37 007–2013 Atl f the ideal hab ion. “Ideal” o alinity of 12–2 water depth o ronment that h mber, with a p eptember Br from oyster the northern t suitable for t very northern ning existing, o es for aquacultu Narragansett Ba Greenwich Bay akonnet River lock Island alt Ponds Point Judith Ninigret Quonochontau Winnipaug 73 lantic bitat oyster 28 of has peak rown the n or ure. ay ug P AGE 36 OF 308 C HAPTER 2: E COLOGY N OVEMBER 18, 2014 portion of the estuarine ecosystem. Currently the Narrow River is closed to all shellfish harvest activities. a. For Point Judith Pond, Brown et al. 2013 found overall that the quality of habitat for oyster restoration was low. Figure 2.8 shows the distribution of habitat suitable for the Eastern oyster in the Point Judith Pond ecosystem; highest quality oyster habitat is located intermittently throughout the ecosystem, though mainly in the northern extent, on the south side of Ram Island, and in Potter Pond near the designated spawning sanctuary. b. Within the shellfish sanctuary in Ninigret Pond, Brown et al. 2013 found higher oyster densities in the southern portion of the sanctuary, but note it could have been due to initial sanctuary stocking densities. They also note higher oyster survival in the southern portion of the pond, likely due to a lower abundance of potential predators mud crab, blue crab, flatworms compared to the northern pond, and the tendency for Gracilaria to bloom in the northern region and cause low dissolved oxygen conditions. Evidence of natural oyster recruitment was noted. c. Figure 2.9 shows habitat quality for Eastern oysters in Ninigret Pond and Green Hill Pond. Overall, Brown et al. 2013 report poor quality habitat for oyster restoration in Ninigret Pond, with intermittent, sparse areas of moderately good habitat along the northern shore in the mid section of the pond; habitat quality in the spawning sanctuary is poor, with some moderate habitat quality along the northern shore of the sanctuary. For Green Hill Pond Brown et al. 2013 found that, despite no sanctuary in the pond, there is a large area of high quality habitat suitable to oyster restoration, most of it located along the southwest shoreline; pockets of good to very good habitat are found intermittently along the southern and eastern shorelines of Green Hill Pond. d. Brown et al. 2013 report 24 acres of medium-high quality habitat for oyster restoration in the western section of the shellfish sanctuary in Quonochontaug Pond, and 6 acres in the eastern portion. Figure 2.10 shows the distribution of habitat quality in the pond, as noted above. e. Brown et al. 2013 report 21 acres of medium-high to high quality habitat for oyster restoration in Winnipaug Pond. Figure 2.11 shows the distribution of habitat quality for Eastern oysters in the pond, showing that the northwestern shoreline contains the bulk of the highest quality habitat, and that the best habitat quality overlaps with that area designated as a spawning sanctuary. 4. The distribution of oysters were noted to be scattered in Great Salt Pond on Block Island Ganz 1978, 1983, 1992; Ganz et al. 2000. N OVEMBER Figure 2. R 18, 2014 .7. Distribution n of habitat sui R C HAPT itable for the E River bottom TER 2: E COLOG Eastern oyster i from Brown e GY in the Narrow et al. 2013. River top an ent Plan, Vers P AGE 37 OF 37 d southern Nar 73 rrow P AGE 38 OF Figure and Shellfish F 308 e 2.8. Distributi ion of habitat s t Plan, Versio C HAPT suitable for the bottom fro TER 2: E COLOG e Eastern oyste om Brown et al GY er in Point Jud l. 2013. N OV dith Pond top VEMBER 18, 201 and Potter Po 14 nd N OVEMBER Figure 2. R 18, 2014 .9. Distribution n of habitat sui C HAPT itable for the E bottom fro TER 2: E COLOG Eastern oyster i om Brown et al GY in the Ninigret l. 2013. t Pond top an ent Plan, Vers P AGE 39 OF 37 nd Green Hill P 73 Pond P AGE 40 OF Figure Figure 2 and Shellfish F 308 2.10. Distribut 2.11. Distributi Management tion of habitat ion of habitat s t Plan, Versio C HAPT suitable for the suitable for the on II TER 2: E COLOG e Eastern oyste 2013. Eastern oyster GY er in Quonocho r in Winnipaug N OV ontaug Pond f g Pond from B VEMBER 18, 201 from Brown et Brown et al. 20 14 t al. 013. N OVEMBER 220.3 220.3 1. The b ecosy Rhod for m 2. The b mats t been r The d signif outbre 3. Blue m have b feedin betwe 4. The b comm Ferso in less presen or ma 5. Becau New during growt 6. Musse R 18, 2014

3. Blue muss

Figure 2.12 3.1. Ecology blue mussel is ystem services e Island wate ore detail on blue mussel ra that can beco reported to be dogwhelk Nu ficant predato eaks Seed 19 mussels predo been found to ng rates as foo een 10ºC and blue mussel ho mon in mussel n 1986 foun s optimal gro nce of pea cra aking them un use of their re ell 1989; thi g hypoxic eve th in Narragan els were repo sel Mytilus 2. Blue mussel s a common in s similar to th rs, but musse mussel aquac anges from La me unstable a e sea stars, lar ucella spp. ha or; sea stars ca 993. ominate in ar o process high od content of 25ºC Brenko osts a comme l populations nd 69 of mu wing conditio abs in mussel nmarketable. elatively smal s may be a fa ents reported nsett Bay hyp orted as scarce C HAPT edulis l Mytilus eduli ntertidal and s hose described el culture is a culture. abrador Cana and be uproot rge crustacean as been know an be a signifi eas of good w her volumes o f filtered wate o and Calabre ensal crustace south of Cap ussels in wate ons, pea crab s destined for ll size, mussel actor in the mo by Altieri 20 poxia prone ar e in Great Sal TER 2: E COLOG is, illustration subtidal bival d for oyster re burgeoning in ada to Cape ted during sto ns, tautog, eid wn to selective ficant predator water flow tha of water at low r increases; o ese 1969. ean, the pea cr e Cod Massa ers off Martha infected mus r consumption ls can only ke ortality seen i 008. Altieri a reas. lt Pond on Blo sland Shellfis GY n courtesy of Br lve that forms eefs. Wild mu ndustry in Na Hatteras Nor orms Dame 2 der, and scote ely feed on mu ry force durin at replenishes w particle con optimal growt rab Pinnothe achusetts; Ne a’s Vineyard ssels exhibited n is a detrime eep their shell in Narraganse and Witman ock Island R sh Manageme randon Fuller, s dense beds a ussel harvest arragansett Ba rth Carolina, 2012. Major er Newell 19 ussels and the ng times of po s food supplie ncentrations, th occurs at w eres maculatu ewell 1989. B were infected d slower rates ent, often redu ls closed for u ett Bay musse 2006 report Russel et al., 1 ent Plan, Vers P AGE 41 OF 37 , 2014. and provides is inconsisten ay; see Chapt , occurring in predators hav 989; Dame 20 erefore can be opulation es often. Muss then reducing water temperat us, which is m Bierbaum and d with pea cra s of growth. T ucing market up to 96 hour el populations reduced mus 1973; Ganz 19 73 nt in ter 4 n large ve 012. e a sels g tures most d abs; The value rs s ssel 978. P AGE 42 OF 220.4 220.4 1. The s “fried 1960 areas abund to abu 2. As ea and th year m replac 3. In a st 2009 seekin settlem 4. At a s the eg seen i matur were h no ref 5. Filteri were Matt 6. Comm espec 15 Slowe repair clams and Shellfish F 308

4. Soft-shell

Figure 2.13. 4.1. Ecology oft-shell clam d clams.” Soft their harvest closed to she dant in the sou undance inter arly as the mid hat strict man must survive t ce both parent tudy of soft-s 9 found the p ng a site for s ment events c shell length of ggs produced in larval stage rity 45 mm s highly suscep fuge from pre ing rate was f feeding on fla thiessen 1960 mon predators ially the gree ; 13 cm vs. 10 er growth has r e.g., edge c s burrowing in Management clam Mya . Soft-shell clam m, often referr t-shell clams w had become s ellfishing Ov uth shore lago spersed by sc d-1950s, Ayer agement was to settlement tal clams. shell clam pop presence of ad ettlement. Ins controlled pat f 12 mm soft- by a female c es, especially hell length; 2 ptible to post edation based found to be re agellate domi . s of soft-shell n crab Carci 0 cm in the p s been noted i hipping in co n coarse sedim C HAPT arenaria m Mya arenar red to as “stea were once ab small and ins iatt et al. 200 oon ecosystem carcity Pfeiff rs 1956 repo needed to su in the area s pulation dyna dult soft-shell stead, they fo tterns of abun -shell clams b clam survive just after sett 2 years of age settlement pr on clam size educed in wat inated phytop l clams are th inus maenus presence of cr n coarse sedim oarse sedimen ments Thom TER 2: E COLOG ria, illustratio amers,” are a undant throug ignificant, an 03. Populatio ms but popula fer-Hebert 200 orts the soft-s ustain the spec spawned in o amics in the B clams was ne und that hydr ndance. become perma to this point tlement to the . Bowen and rocesses at 2 m . ters less than plankton rathe e moon snail . Soft-shell cl rabs Flynn an ment vs. fine nt, but reduce son and Gann GY on courtesy of B staple of seaf ghout Narrag nd by the early ons of soft-she ations experie 07. shell clam as cies. The auth order for the p Bay of Fundy either detrime rodynamics, l anently fixed Brousseau 19 e benthos; mo d Hunt 2009 mm shell leng 15 ppt, and g er than diatom Luatia hero lams have bee nd Smee 2010 sediment, lik ed predation m non 2013. N OV Brandon Fulle food restauran gansett Bay in y 2000s they ell clams have ence wide flu being “drasti hor found that population to Canada, Bo ent nor attract larval behavio d in their burro 978. The hig ortality then le found that so gth. Boulding growth was fa m dominated p s, and many en found to b 0; Thomson a kely due to th mortality was VEMBER 18, 201 r, 2014. nts in the form n 1865, but b existed largel e historically ctuations that cally over fis t 40 larvae pe sustain itself owen and Hun tant to juveni or, and post ows; only 0.1 ghest mortality evels off at se oft-shell clam g 1984 repor aster when cla phytoplankton species of cr burrow deeper and Gannon 2 he cost of shel s significant fo 14 m of by ly in been t lead shed” er e.g., nt iles of y is exual ms rted ams n rabs, r 2013. ll for N OVEMBER 7. Figur Bay 8 but ha areas share, Soft-s Ganz 220.5 220.5 1. The b south 90 bo harve in 186 eelgra Rhod Grizz chang 2. In a re 10 ft an abo vs. 90 Carol 3. The h marin R 18, 2014 e 2.14 a sho note change as seen a near Figure 2.14 , followed by shell clams w 1978, and as

5. Bay scallo

Figure 2.14. B 5.1. Ecology bay scallop ha shore salt po at scallop flee sting areas. O 65, but that es ass as a major e Island wate le 2007; Carr ging ecologica eview of scall with firm bo ove bottom at 0 on the sed inas Fay et a health of bay s na, with stud ows wild harv in scale amon r continuous d b, and hav Point Judith were reported a s scarce or ab op Argopec Bay scallop Ar as been histori onds Brown 1 et in Rhode Is Oviatt et al. 2 ssentially no b r factor. Scall rs as a result roll et al. 2010 al community lop ecology b ttom, preferen ttachment site diment interfa al. 1983. scallop popul ies finding th C HAPT vest landings f ng graphs. H decline. Harv e increased in Pond Figure as scarce in G bsent by Camp cten irradian rgopecten irrad ically abunda 1991. MacKe sland waters, 2003 note sca bay scallops h lops however, of brown tide 0, as well as y make up Ca by MacKenzie ntially with e e as a partial r ace. The range ations is often hat increased s TER 2: E COLOG for 2007–201 Harvest from N est from the s n recent years e 2.14 c. Great Salt Pon pbell 1961. ns dians, illustrat ant in Narraga enzie 2008 with Greenw allops as havi have been tak , are consider e events in 19 from habitat arroll et al. 20 e 2008, it is eelgrass, whic refuge from p e of the bay sc n tied to the p seagrass abun GY 13 for soft-she Narragansett salt ponds dom s; Winnipaug nd on Block I tion courtesy o ansett Bay, th reports that in wich Bay and ing been most ken in decade red to have be 985 and 1986 loss associate 010. s noted that sc ch enhances ju predation; 60 callop is Cap presence or ab ndance equals ell clams take Bay has dom minate landin Pond provide sland Russel of Brandon Ful he Sakonnet R n the late 180 Cowesett Bay t abundant in s, suggesting een largely el Brown 1991 ed with nutrie callops prefer uvenile settlem mortality o e Cod Massa bsence of eelg s increased bi ent Plan, Vers P AGE 43 OF 37 en in Narraga minated landin ngs from othe es the domina ll et al., 1973; ller, 2014. River, and the 00s there exist y being prime n Greenwich B the loss of iminated from 1; Coen and ent loading an r shallow wate ment and pro on eelgrass fro achusetts to t grass Zostera ivalve settlem sion II 73 ansett ngs, er ant ; ted a e Bay m nd er 3– ovides onds the a ment