Modeling oyster populations: the effect of density and food supply on production

A time-dependent model has been developed to assess the response of oyster populations to environmental variables and the importance of population density in optimizing yield under varying climatic and hydrologic conditions. Food supply in Galveston Bay would appear to be just adequate in most years to maintain a healthy, productive oyster population. The effects of a decline in food supply, by reduced food content, lower current velocity, lower temperature, or increased population density, is studied in this paper.