Oyster Based Education and Lesson Plan with Hands on Experiments

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The Massachusetts Oyster The Massachusetts Oyster ProjectProject

A volunteer run non-profit restoring oysters to the A volunteer run non-profit restoring oysters to the estuaries of Massachusetts to increase bio-estuaries of Massachusetts to increase bio-

diversity and improve water qualitydiversity and improve water quality

July 2015July 2015

New England AquariumNew England Aquarium

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What we do.What we do. Recycle oyster shellRecycle oyster shell Support restorationSupport restoration

financially, labor, shell, expertisefinancially, labor, shell, expertise EducateEducate

Speaking at SchoolsSpeaking at Schools Tours- Depuration Plant, Oyster Farms, WellfleetTours- Depuration Plant, Oyster Farms, Wellfleet

Lobby for regulations more favorable to Lobby for regulations more favorable to restorationrestoration

Direct oyster restorationDirect oyster restoration

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Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

Learn about oysters and oyster restorationLearn about oysters and oyster restoration Why do we careWhy do we care

Learn about oyster history in BostonLearn about oyster history in Boston Teaching module for you to do with your studentsTeaching module for you to do with your students

Ocean Acidity, Water cleansing, Nitrogen, Politician Ocean Acidity, Water cleansing, Nitrogen, Politician Letter, Site visitsLetter, Site visits

Crassostrea Virginica The Eastern Oyster

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Ecosystem EngineersEcosystem Engineers Create their environment so they can better surviveCreate their environment so they can better survive Change their world- Change their world-

BeaversBeavers Create ponds and lakesCreate ponds and lakes

HumansHumans Change the worldChange the world

OystersOysters Adding to biomass by taking barren seabottom and making it habitable.Adding to biomass by taking barren seabottom and making it habitable. Increasing to biodiversity by sheltering 100 other species including eels, Increasing to biodiversity by sheltering 100 other species including eels,

shrimp, crabs, fingerling fish and lobstersshrimp, crabs, fingerling fish and lobsters Supporting the 60% of our commercial fish catch that spend part of their Supporting the 60% of our commercial fish catch that spend part of their

life in estuaries.life in estuaries.

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Baseline 6 months Post Oysters

12 months Post Oysters

Oysters Create HabitatOysters Create Habitat

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Oyster LifecycleOyster Lifecycle

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Spat on ShellSpat on Shell

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Oyster ReefOyster Reef

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The 1881 Ingersoll Report on the The 1881 Ingersoll Report on the Oyster Industry Oyster Industry

Provides an excellent Provides an excellent overview on the overview on the industry including industry including Massachusetts.Massachusetts.

Provides strong Provides strong references for oysters references for oysters being present in both being present in both the Charles and the Charles and Mystic Rivers. Mystic Rivers.

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The Ingersoll Report quotes The Ingersoll Report quotes William Wood’s New England William Wood’s New England

Prospect of 1634.Prospect of 1634.1634

Oysters a foot long Reefs that could block shipsPresent in Both the Charles and Mystic Rivers

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Streets of Early Boston Were Streets of Early Boston Were Paved with Oyster ShellsPaved with Oyster Shells

Historian Richard Historian Richard Archer Archer Confirms that oyster Confirms that oyster

shells were thrown at shells were thrown at Boston MassacreBoston Massacre

Mentions that streets Mentions that streets of Colonial Boston of Colonial Boston were paved with were paved with oyster shells. Page oyster shells. Page 185.185.

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Oyster Shells on the StreetsOyster Shells on the Streets

This photo was taken This photo was taken during the replacement during the replacement of the sidewalk around of the sidewalk around Bunker Hill Monument Bunker Hill Monument in 2013.in 2013.

The underlayer of The underlayer of oyster shell is still oyster shell is still present. We do not present. We do not know how old this shell know how old this shell is.is.

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Oysters in Mortar in the Old Oysters in Mortar in the Old StatehouseStatehouse

Oyster shell mixed in Oyster shell mixed in the mortar of the old the mortar of the old statehouse is still statehouse is still visible in a few places visible in a few places where the older where the older mortar remains.mortar remains.

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Oysters for the Union (Atwood ) Oyster House Oysters for the Union (Atwood ) Oyster House came from the Atwood Oyster Farm in Everett came from the Atwood Oyster Farm in Everett

on the Mystic River.on the Mystic River.

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Charles River Oysters- Charles River Oysters- CambridgeCambridge

Anthropologists* review of colonial documents Anthropologists* review of colonial documents revealedrevealed Large oyster reef and clam flats extending from Large oyster reef and clam flats extending from

Massachusetts Avenue through Cambridgeport down Massachusetts Avenue through Cambridgeport down to the Miller’s River near Charlestown. to the Miller’s River near Charlestown.

Area has been subject of extensive fill. Area has been subject of extensive fill. Original rivers edge on Mass Ave is at the present fire stationOriginal rivers edge on Mass Ave is at the present fire station MIT built on fillMIT built on fill

Shellfish middens were found on the site of the Third Shellfish middens were found on the site of the Third Street courthouse and Cambridge Cemetery.Street courthouse and Cambridge Cemetery.

They were associated with Native Americans. They were associated with Native Americans.

*Dena Dincause – Writings of English Settlers in Harvard University Library

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Charles River Oysters- Charles River Oysters- CambridgeCambridge

In 1816 the cellar of the In 1816 the cellar of the Cambridge Townhouse was Cambridge Townhouse was rented to Zenas C. Atwood rented to Zenas C. Atwood for storing oysters. for storing oysters.

In the 1853 edition of the In the 1853 edition of the Massachusetts Register Massachusetts Register there are 8 Cambridge based there are 8 Cambridge based purveyors of oysters and 5 in purveyors of oysters and 5 in neighboring Charlestown. neighboring Charlestown.

*Dena Dincause – Writings of English Settlers in Harvard University Library

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Oyster DemiseOyster Demise Loss of habitat- through fill Loss of habitat- through fill Misuse- oyster shells and Misuse- oyster shells and

sometimes whole oysters sometimes whole oysters were spread on fields to were spread on fields to reduce soil acidity reduce soil acidity

River subjugation-River subjugation-protective dams convert protective dams convert significant areas of Back significant areas of Back Bay and Mystic Rivers to Bay and Mystic Rivers to fresh water.fresh water.

Pollution- sewage flows, Pollution- sewage flows, river silt, chemicals river silt, chemicals

Over-harvesting- feeding Over-harvesting- feeding humanshumans

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Oyster DemiseOyster Demise1901 State Publication associated with 1901 State Publication associated with construction of first Charles River Damconstruction of first Charles River Dam

Probably became extinct within twenty five years

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Oyster DemiseOyster Demise1901 State Publication associated with 1901 State Publication associated with construction of first Charles River Damconstruction of first Charles River Dam

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Oyster HistoryOyster History

Opportunity to introduce the concept of Opportunity to introduce the concept of Institutional MemoryInstitutional Memory We have forgotten about our oystersWe have forgotten about our oysters Nobody believed us when we said they were Nobody believed us when we said they were

once here. once here. Now Boston Harbor is fighting against the Now Boston Harbor is fighting against the

institutional memory of being to polluted to institutional memory of being to polluted to use.use.

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RestorationRestorationWellfleet Before and AfterWellfleet Before and After

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Oyster BenefitsOyster Benefits Filtering water in tidal estuariesFiltering water in tidal estuaries

40 gallons per oyster per day40 gallons per oyster per day Feeding on phytoplankton and silt Feeding on phytoplankton and silt Capturing viruses, algae and bacteriaCapturing viruses, algae and bacteria Sequestering Nitrogen and COSequestering Nitrogen and CO22 to reduce ocean to reduce ocean

acidification.acidification.

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Experiment 1 Oyster FiltrationExperiment 1 Oyster Filtration Requirements Requirements

2 Aquariums2 Aquariums 7-8 oysters7-8 oysters SeawaterSeawater

ProcessProcess Prepare the seawater add phytoplanktonPrepare the seawater add phytoplankton Add oysters to one tankAdd oysters to one tank Watch for change in water clarityWatch for change in water clarity

LessonLesson Oysters filter the waterOysters filter the water

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Experiment 2 Oyster & AcidityExperiment 2 Oyster & Acidity Requirements Requirements

2 containers2 containers 3-4 oyster shells3-4 oyster shells Steamer clamsSteamer clams

ProcessProcess Fill both containers with vinegar water solutionFill both containers with vinegar water solution Add oyster shell to one containerAdd oyster shell to one container Add steamer clam shellAdd steamer clam shell Watch for impact on shellWatch for impact on shell

LessonLesson Oysters buffer acidity Calcium Carbonate ShellOysters buffer acidity Calcium Carbonate Shell

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Experiment 2 Oyster & AcidityExperiment 2 Oyster & Acidity

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Experiment 3 Experiment 3 Impact of NitrogenImpact of Nitrogen

Requirements Requirements 2 containers2 containers Sea or pondwaterSea or pondwater Nitrogen source- fertilizerNitrogen source- fertilizer

ProcessProcess Fill both containers with the waterFill both containers with the water Add nitrogen to oneAdd nitrogen to one

LessonLesson Nitrogen leads to excess flora growth.Nitrogen leads to excess flora growth. Nitrogen is found in urine- ammonia 7 pounds per person Nitrogen is found in urine- ammonia 7 pounds per person

per year.per year.

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Experiment 4 Advanced Experiment 4 Advanced Fish and StructureFish and Structure

Requirements Requirements Saltwater fish tankSaltwater fish tank Oyster or structure at one sideOyster or structure at one side FishFish Camera I-Pad with periodic imagingCamera I-Pad with periodic imaging

ProcessProcess Photograph the tank periodicallyPhotograph the tank periodically Track where the fish areTrack where the fish are

QuestionQuestion Do fish naturally prefer structure and gravitate to it?Do fish naturally prefer structure and gravitate to it?

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Experiment 5 Experiment 5 Keep caged oystersKeep caged oysters

Requirements Requirements Pier or other coastal accessPier or other coastal access Trays for hanging oysters- milk cratesTrays for hanging oysters- milk crates

ProcessProcess Place the oysters Place the oysters Periodically examine them and what is around themPeriodically examine them and what is around them

QuestionQuestion What other creatures move in with the oysters?What other creatures move in with the oysters? Track oyster growth ratesTrack oyster growth rates

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Oyster Growth DataOyster Growth Data

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Charles HistogramsCharles Histograms

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New York ProgramsNew York Programs On June 24, a new oyster reef was placed at On June 24, a new oyster reef was placed at Soundview Park in the BronxSoundview Park in the Bronx. The NY/NJ . The NY/NJ

Baykeeper, along with the Hudson River Foundation, NYC Parks, Bronx River Alliance, and other Baykeeper, along with the Hudson River Foundation, NYC Parks, Bronx River Alliance, and other partners, placed 125 cubic yards of shell at the site in order to create the largest expanse of partners, placed 125 cubic yards of shell at the site in order to create the largest expanse of subtidal habitat in the lower Hudson River Estuary. A barge bought in the shell and deposited it in subtidal habitat in the lower Hudson River Estuary. A barge bought in the shell and deposited it in the intertidal region, around the existing rock outcroppings. The reef will be provide substrate for the intertidal region, around the existing rock outcroppings. The reef will be provide substrate for new oysters to attach to, and help to propagate a self-sustaining reef to improve water quality new oysters to attach to, and help to propagate a self-sustaining reef to improve water quality and increase habitat in the area. In addition, the reef will allow for community involvement and and increase habitat in the area. In addition, the reef will allow for community involvement and education in the area, and provide space for scientific experiments to add to our knowledge of education in the area, and provide space for scientific experiments to add to our knowledge of oysters in the NY/NJ area. Throughout the summer, there will be monitoring and educational trips oysters in the NY/NJ area. Throughout the summer, there will be monitoring and educational trips to the reef. In addition, 100,000 spat-on-shell produced by the New York Harbor School will be to the reef. In addition, 100,000 spat-on-shell produced by the New York Harbor School will be added to the reef in order to increase the population. added to the reef in order to increase the population. 

    Visit Visit nynjbaykeeper.org/resources-programs/oyster-restoration-program/  to see photos. to see photos. 

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Citizenship ActivityCitizenship Activity Letter Writing Letter Writing

GovernorGovernor Secretary of Energy and Environmental AffairsSecretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Mayor if a coastal townMayor if a coastal town

ContentContent Benefits of healthy coastsBenefits of healthy coasts Oysters can help Oysters can help Improve our activity levels in oyster restorationImprove our activity levels in oyster restoration

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Field TripsField Trips Hatchery’s Hatchery’s

Aquacultural Resource Corp Dennis, MAAquacultural Resource Corp Dennis, MA Island Creek Oysters Duxbury, MAIsland Creek Oysters Duxbury, MA

Oyster farmsOyster farms Island CreekIsland Creek Big Rock OystersBig Rock Oysters Nonesuch Oysters in MaineNonesuch Oysters in Maine

Oyster restoration sitesOyster restoration sites Wellfleet, MAWellfleet, MA

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Teaching ModuleTeaching Module Ecosystem BuildersEcosystem Builders Oyster Life-cycleOyster Life-cycle Oyster HistoryOyster History ExpirementsExpirements

FiltrationFiltration PH PH Nitrogen impactNitrogen impact Fish and structureFish and structure

Citizenship/writing- politician letterCitizenship/writing- politician letter Hatchery visit- Island Creek, ARC DennisHatchery visit- Island Creek, ARC Dennis Restoration site visit- WellfleetRestoration site visit- Wellfleet

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Further ReadingFurther Reading

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QuestionsQuestions

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