Aquaculture 2025

March 6 - 10, 2025

New Orleans, Louisiana USA

Add To Calendar 08/03/2025 11:30:0008/03/2025 11:50:00America/ChicagoAquaculture 2025INVESTIGATING GROWTH POTENTIAL AND FERTILIZATION RATE OF HYBRID EASTERN OYSTERS IN TEXASSalon EThe World Aquaculture Societyjohnc@was.orgfalseDD/MM/YYYYanrl65yqlzh3g1q0dme13067

INVESTIGATING GROWTH POTENTIAL AND FERTILIZATION RATE OF HYBRID EASTERN OYSTERS IN TEXAS

Kate D. Gomez-Rangel*a, Joseph Mattb , Christopher Hollenbecka, Keisha D. Bahra

aHarte Research Institute - Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

6300 Ocean Dr.

Corpus Christi, TX, 78412

 



The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is a valuable benthic organism that plays a crucial role in ecosystem services and supports commercial fisheries and aquaculture industries economically. In the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), research on the genetics of eastern oyster is limited, leaving significant gaps in scientific knowledge about these organisms. The GoM offers a unique environment along the Texas coast, characterized by varying salinity and temperatures across multiple bays. Previous research indicates that eastern oysters in Texas are divided into two populations with distinct environmental tolerances, including a genetic transition zone where naturally occurring hybrid oysters can be found. This research focuses on characterizing growth and reproduction of hybrid oysters, and involves monitoring fertilization rates from both oyster populations and their hybrids, observing their larval development, and development of adult oysters at a local oyster farm in Corpus Christi Bay to monitor and compare growth rates. Currently, environmental stressors and high demands of commercial fishing have led to reductions in Texas oyster populations over time. The results of this study will offer valuable information that can guide the selective breeding of aquaculture, as well as development of conservation and fishery management plans for these vital organisms.