Bruce Museum Science Lecture
Oysters: Ecosystem Engineers, Aquaculture Crops, and Dinner
October 22, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Bruce Museum, One Museum Drive, Greenwich, CT
On Tuesday, October 22, the Bruce Museum in Greenwich hosts shellfish expert Dr. Sandra E. Shumway, who will discuss the multiple roles that shellfish play as industry commodity, efficient ecosystem engineers, and coveted food.
The lecture begins at 7:00 pm and is preceded by refreshments and open galleries at 6:30 pm. Admission is $7 to the public, $5 for Bruce Museum members, and free for students with ID. For reservations, call 203-413-6757.
Oysters, mussels, scallops, and clams are key members of the marine environment. These shellfish are among the most important of ecosystem engineers and providers of ecosystem services. They also provide an important food source for human consumption and are the basis for successful aquaculture businesses.
"Shellfish aquaculture and restoration continue to expand globally, as do eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and degradation of coastal environments," Shumway notes.
"Restoration and aquaculture are both increasingly touted as means of habitat restoration, and as potential sources of mitigation for coastal degradation," she asserts. "At some scales, shellfish restoration and establishment of sustainable molluscan shellfish aquaculture operations can mitigate effects of coastal development and eutrophication; however, the expectations and publicity are reaching unrealistic levels."
Her presentation will open a discussion of the realistic expectations that could result from exploitation of bivalve mollusks, whether in restored reefs or in aquaculture farms, as long-term ecosystem engineers and mitigators of coastal degradation. She will also address shellfish on the menu.
About Sandra E. Shumway, PhD:
Dr. Shumway is a strong advocate for the shellfishing industry and has pioneered the study of impacts of harmful algae on shellfish. A research professor at the University of Connecticut, Department of Marine Sciences, she has received numerous academic honors and authored scholarly publications. She is past president and current president-elect of the National Shellfisheries Association. Her research interests are in the ecology of marine invertebrates, shellfish biology, and aquaculture.
About the Bruce Museum:
For additional information, call the Bruce Museum at (203) 869-0376 or visit the website at www.brucemuseum.org.
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