The status and long-term trends of oyster reefs in Galveston Bay, Texas

Simple item page
dc.acquisition-srcDownloaded from-Web of Scienceen_US
dc.call-noen_US
dc.contract-noen_US
dc.contributor.authorPowell ENen_US
dc.contributor.authorSong JGen_US
dc.contributor.authorEllis MSen_US
dc.contributor.authorWilsonOrmond EAen_US
dc.contributor.otherJournal of Shellfish Researchen_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-02-15T17:17:31Z
dc.date.available2010-02-15T17:17:31Z
dc.date.issued1995 Decen_US
dc.degreeen_US
dc.description439-457en_US
dc.description-otheren_US
dc.description.abstractThe oyster reefs of Galveston Bay were surveyed using a new acoustic technique which permitted conducting a detailed survey over a wide geographic area. The results of this survey were compared to a more limited survey conducted circa 1970 and to earlier, less detailed accounts. Our survey approximately doubles the known area of reef and unconsolidated shelly substrate in the bay system. Certain components of the Galveston Bay reef system have persisted throughout recorded time; others have exhibited substantial malleability, changing position and shape in response to natural and man-made changes in the bay system. Regional subsidence has resulted in an increase in water depth over the reefs, thus reducing the acreage intertidally and subaerially exposed, and areas of high subsidence have suffered reef attrition due to siltation. Channelization, dike construction, and the disappearance of major barrier reef have substantially changed bay circulation patterns. As a consequence, the equilibrium that once existed between the reefs and bay circulation has been modified, resulting in loss or attrition of a number of reefs in areas of lowered salinity and the accretion of reefs parallel to the new isohaline structure of the bay. Thus, some reefs are no longer optimally located for continued high productivity; many areas of low reef coverage would now support productive reef if substrate became available. In optimal areas, reefs more than doubled in size in 20 yr. No evidence was found to suggest that the oyster fishery had contributed to reef attrition, however leasing may have encouraged reef accretion. Artificial reefs did no worse or better than their natural nearby counterparts, indicating siting as the overriding concern for successful artificial reef emplacement. The Houston Ship Channel has extended the isohalines upestuary to the great benefit of oyster populations and the oyster fishery. Over 1000 hectares of reef have developed along this channel, a substantial fraction of which exists between the channel edge and the crest of the parallel-trending spoil banks. Both a channel and a spoil bank are required for development of reef along channels. Channels in which spoil was placed on only one side always have reef development predominately or exclusively on that sideen_US
dc.description.urihttp://gbic.tamug.edu/request.htmen_US
dc.historyen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/23503
dc.latitudeen_US
dc.locationen_US
dc.longitudeen_US
dc.notesTimes Cited: 10ArticleEnglishCited References Count: 46TT365C/O DR. SANDRA E. SHUMWAY, NATURAL SCIENCE DIVISION, SOUTHAMPTON COLLEGE, SOUTHAMPTON, NY 11968SOUTHAMPTONen_US
dc.placeen_US
dc.publisheren_US
dc.relation.ispartofseries51150.00en_US
dc.relation.urien_US
dc.scaleen_US
dc.seriesen_US
dc.subjectoyster reefen_US
dc.subjectbathymetryen_US
dc.subjectGALVESTON BAYen_US
dc.subjectoyster fisheryen_US
dc.subjectchannelizationen_US
dc.subjectartificial reefen_US
dc.subjectgeographic surveyen_US
dc.titleThe status and long-term trends of oyster reefs in Galveston Bay, Texasen_US
dc.typeJournalen_US
dc.universityen_US
dc.vol-issue14(2)en_US

Files

Collections

Galveston Bay Bibliography
GBIC Abstracts (full text not available through Jack K. Williams Library)