Researchers conducted a reciprocal transplant experiment using Olympia oysters from four populations in Puget Sound to examine differences in mortality, growth, and reproduction. They found that oysters from Dabob Bay, which has harsh conditions, survived best when returned to their native site. Oysters from the more productive habitat at Oyster Bay reproduced earlier and more actively when placed in their home site. The results suggest that population of origin and local habitat conditions influence oyster performance, which is important to consider for restoration success in Puget Sound.

1. Identifying Local
Olympia Oyster
Stocks Useful for
Restoration
Jake Heare, Joth Davis, Brady Blake,
Brent Vadopalas, Steven Roberts
Data, slides, and preprint @ oystergen.es/olympia
16th International Conference on Shellfish Restoration, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

2. Outline
● Background
o O. lurida history
o Local stocks?
● Experiment
o Broodstock/Outplant
o Fieldwork
● Results
o Mortality
o Growth
o Reproduction
● Conclusion
o Summary
o Implications

3. Outline
● Background
● Experiment
● Results
● Conclusion

4. Brief History of Olympia Oysters
1. Ostrea lurida Native to
Puget Sound
2. Culturally &
Commercially Important
3. Heavy Declines
4. Targeted for Restoration
in Washington

5. How local should stocks be?
● Scale
● Restoration
Success

6. Outline
● Background
● Experiment
● Results
● Conclusion

7. Experiment Basics
● Reciprocal Transplant
● Monitor
o 3 Groups
o 4 Sites
Each group was placed in
home site and three
foreign sites.
Fidalgo Bay
Dabob Bay
Manchester
Oyster Bay

8. Winter Field Work
● Collected Dead
● Counted Live
● Imaged for Size
● Maintained Trays

9. Summer Field Work
● 15 Weeks
● Reproduction
● Number of Brooders
● Growth
● Mortality

10. Expectations
1. No difference
2. Home Field
Advantage
3. Uber-Oyster
1. All Groups Equally
Successful
2. Groups Only
Successful at
Home
3. One Group
Outperforms

11. Outline
● Background
● Experiment
● Results
● Conclusion

12. 1.0
0.5
0
Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr June
1.0
0.5
0
Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr June
Mortality
Fidalgo
Manchester

13. 1.0
0.5
0
1.0
0.5
0
Dabob Mortality
Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr June
Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr June
Oyster Bay
Dabob

14. Oyster Bay
Dabob

15. 50
30
10
50
30
10
50
30
10
Growth
Dabob
Group
Fidalgo
Group
Oyster Bay
Group
Fidalgo
Manchester
Oyster Bay
Dabob
Dabob
Fidalgo

16. Reproduction 15
Temperature
10
5
0
May June July Aug
15
10
5
0
May June July Aug
Fidalgo
Manchester
Oyster Bay
Dabob
Group
Fidalgo
Group
Oyster Bay
Group
X
X
X

17. Outline
● Background
● Experiment
● Results
● Conclusion

18. Expectations vs. Reality
1. Equality?
2. Home Field Advantage?
3. Uber-Oyster?
4. ???
1. No
2. No
3. No

19. Summary
● Mortality
o Dabob Survives Better
● Growth
o Dabob Smallest
● Reproduction
o Oyster Bay Most Active (early & more)

20. Conclusions
Oysters from home site with harsh conditions –
temperature, food, habitat -- survive better
(Dabob Bay).
Oysters from home site with lush conditions –
temperature, food, habitat -- are more
reproductively active* (Oyster Bay).

21. * Number of brooders and spawning period
does not equal reproductive success.

22. How local should stocks be?
● Scale
● Restoration
Success
In Puget Sound we found
differences in Olympia oyster
performance,
related to population of origin
habitat conditions.

23. Acknowledgements
Aquaculture Program

24. Acknowledgements
Roberts Lab:
● Sam White
● Claire Olson
● Mackenzie Gavery
● Emma Timmins-
Schiffman
● Grace Crandall
● Jonathon Allen
● Etilet Maipi
● Samantha Adams
● Hannah Wear
● Jessica Richards
● Katie Jackson
● Andy Jasonowicz
● Doug Immerman
● Giles Goetz
PSRF:
● Ryan Crim
● Brian Allen
● Betsy Peabody
● Stuart Ryan
Crab Fresh:
● Brendan Mahaffey
● Jeff Koenings
● Rick Tweed
● Hatchery Crew
Fidalgo Marina:
● Einar Sortun
● Yacht Owners
Taylor Shellfish:
● Molly Jackson
● Sara Wykoff
● Ed Jones
NOAA:
● Rick Goetz
● Dive Team
● Netpen Crew
Fagergren Family
Rockpoint Oyster
Company:
● Dick Steele
● Crew
Miscellaneous:
● L. Christine
Savolainen
● Sean Bennet
● Joelle Blais
● Joe Stevick
● Bethany Stevick
● Lisa Crosson
● Alicia Godersky
● Lea Savolainen
Photo Credits:
● Jake Heare
● L. Christine
Savolainen
● Steven Roberts
● Sam Adams

25. Follow Jake’s Research!
Lab Notebook:
heareresearch.blogspot.com
Twitter:
@HeareBraindIdea
Roberts Lab:
faculty.washington.edu/sr320
Facebook:
facebook.com/pages/Roberts-Lab
Data, slides, and preprint @ oystergen.es/olympia

27. Temperature and Reproduction
Oyster Bay Site
Mar Apr May June July Aug
750
500
250
0
AVG Fidalgo/Dabob Peak Spawn 483.01 DD
AVG Oyster Bay Peak Spawn 331.025 DD
Fidalgo
Site
151.985