A Freshwater Inflow Model for the Conservation of Texas Oyster Reefs

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dc.contributor.advisorPollack, Jennifer Beseres
dc.contributor.advisorMontagna, Paul A.
dc.contributor.authorSavage, Kelley
dc.contributor.committeeMemberGibeaut, James
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSoniat, Thomas
dc.date.accessioned2017-07-28T19:35:36Z
dc.date.available2017-07-28T19:35:36Z
dc.date.issued2017-05
dc.descriptionA thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in MARINE BIOLOGY from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas.en_US
dc.description.abstractLong-term changes in freshwater inflows over a climatic gradient along the Texas coast have provided an opportunity to examine relationships between inflows and oyster dynamics; specifically, the oysters’ relationship with the oyster parasite Perkinsus marinus. The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is used in this study as a bioindicator to identify the environmental conditions needed to regulate P. marinus on a regional scale and a local scale. On a regional scale, 15+ years of oyster disease, climate indices, freshwater inflow, and salinity data from 6 Texas estuaries have been compiled to determine freshwater needs across a climatic gradient, and to link climate variability to salinity regimes and oyster disease dynamics. This study found that P. marinus is an effective bioindicator and accessible way to manage freshwater inflow to Texas Estuaries. Climatic conditions played a strong role in governing estuarine salinity patterns and P. marinus disease dynamics among Texas estuaries. Climate-driven wet conditions across Texas estuaries promote significantly lower proportions of oysters infected with P. marinus and less severe infections. At the local scale, there was a spatial gradient of salinity and P. marinus infections, moving from reefs closest to the freshwater inflow source to reefs closest to the Gulf inlet. This study found climate variability affected salinity, which affected P. marinus infections. Results from this study were used to help support multi-year adaptive management plans that account for climate patterns expressed in multiyear periodicities.en_US
dc.description.collegeCollege of Science and Engineeringen_US
dc.description.departmentLife Sciencesen_US
dc.format.extent66 pages.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/4409
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rightsThis material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with its source. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the author and/or publisher.en_US
dc.rights.holderSavage, Kelley
dc.subjectbioindicatoren_US
dc.subjectconservationen_US
dc.subjectCrassostrea virginicaen_US
dc.subjectfreshwater inflowen_US
dc.subjectPerkinsus marinusen_US
dc.subjectRegional Scaleen_US
dc.titleA Freshwater Inflow Model for the Conservation of Texas Oyster Reefsen_US
dc.typeTexten_US
dc.type.genreThesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineMarine Biologyen_US
thesis.degree.grantorTexas A & M University--Corpus Christien_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen_US

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