HMSC RESEARCH SEMINAR- Thursday, July 13, 2023

SPEAKERS: Chris Langdon, Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station (COMES) and Dept. Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences

TOPIC: Native and Pacific Oysters: a Tale of Two Species

ABSTRACT:  Native oysters were an important component of the ecology of West coast estuaries and a source of food for native Americans. After European settlement in the 1800’s, populations of native oysters declined on the West coast due to overharvesting and other human impacts. Attempts by settlers to replace native oysters as a food source were dependent on the development of railways and shipping that allowed importation of Eastern oysters from the US East coast and Pacific oysters from Japan. Today, the Pacific oyster is the most commonly farmed species both on the US West coast and globally. Researchers at the Hatfield Marine Science Center have been instrumental in the development of hatchery technologies to support seed production for farmers. More recently, genetic quantitative and molecular techniques have been applied to improve oyster yields and help Pacific oyster farmers address future challenges associated with global climate change and ocean acidification.

HMSC Research Seminar Zoom Link

For recordings of past Thursday Seminars, visit:  http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/pastseminars

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made to Itchung Cheung, 541-867-0380, cheungi@oregonstate.edu.