Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, Yerseke, the Netherlands.
PLoS One. 2019 Jun 11;14(6):e0217688. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217688. eCollection 2019.
There is growing interest to restore oyster populations and develop oyster reefs for their role in ecosystem health and delivery of ecosystem services. Successful and sustainable oyster restoration efforts largely depend on the availability and selection of suitable sites that can support long-term growth and survival of oysters. Hence, in the present study a habitat suitability index (HSI) model was developed for the intertidal rock oyster (Saccostrea cucullata), with special attention: (1) to the role of the monsoon in the suitability of oyster habitats, and (2) to identify potential suitable sites along the south-eastern Bangladesh coast. Seven habitat factors were used as input variables for the HSI model: (1) water temperature; (2) salinity; (3) dissolved oxygen; (4) particulate inorganic matter (PIM); (5) pH; (6) Chlorophyll-a; and (7) water flow velocity. Seven field surveys were conducted at 80 locations to collect geo-spatial environmental data, which were then used to determine HSI scores using habitat suitability functions. The model results showed that the areas suitable (HSI >0.50) for oyster settlement and growth were characterized by relatively high salinities, Chlorophyll-a, dissolved oxygen and pH values. In contrast, freshwater dominated estuaries and nearby coastal areas with high suspended sediment were found less suitable (HSI <0.50) for oysters. HSI model results were validated with observed oyster distribution data. There was strong correlation between the HSI calculated by the model and observed oyster densities (r = 0.87; n = 53), shell height (r = 0.95; n = 53) and their condition index (r = 0.98; n = 53). The good correspondence with field data enhances the applicability of the HSI model as a quantitative tool for evaluating the quality of a site for oyster restoration and culture.
人们对恢复牡蛎种群和开发牡蛎礁越来越感兴趣，因为它们在生态系统健康和提供生态系统服务方面发挥着作用。成功和可持续的牡蛎恢复工作在很大程度上取决于可用的和合适的地点的选择，这些地点可以支持牡蛎的长期生长和生存。因此，本研究开发了一种潮间带岩石牡蛎（Saccostrea cucullata）的栖息地适宜性指数（HSI）模型，特别关注：（1）季风在牡蛎栖息地适宜性中的作用，以及（2）确定孟加拉国东南部沿海潜在的适宜地点。该 HSI 模型使用了 7 个栖息地因素作为输入变量：（1）水温；（2）盐度；（3）溶解氧；（4）颗粒无机物质（PIM）；（5）pH 值；（6）叶绿素-a；（7）水流速度。进行了 7 次现场调查，在 80 个地点收集地理空间环境数据，然后使用栖息地适宜性函数来确定 HSI 得分。模型结果表明，适合牡蛎定殖和生长的区域具有相对较高的盐度、叶绿素-a、溶解氧和 pH 值。相比之下，淡水主导的河口和附近高悬浮物的沿海地区被认为不太适合牡蛎（HSI<0.50）。HSI 模型结果与观察到的牡蛎分布数据进行了验证。模型计算的 HSI 与观察到的牡蛎密度（r=0.87；n=53）、壳高（r=0.95；n=53）及其条件指数（r=0.98；n=53）之间存在很强的相关性。与实地数据的良好一致性增强了 HSI 模型作为评估牡蛎恢复和养殖场地质量的定量工具的适用性。
