Editing Oyster (section)

==Nutrient cycling==
[[Bivalves]], including oysters, are effective filter feeders and can have large effects on the water columns in which they occur.<ref>{{cite journal | pmid=21558200 | year=2010 | last1=Padilla | first1=D. K. | title=Context-dependent impacts of a non-native ecosystem engineer, the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas | journal=Integrative and Comparative Biology | volume=50 | issue=2 | pages=213–225 | doi=10.1093/icb/icq080 | doi-access=free }}</ref> As filter feeders, oysters remove plankton and organic particles from the water column.<ref name="jud and layman">{{cite web |first1=Zachary |last1=Jud |first2=Craig |last2=Layman |year=2011 |title=Loxahatchee River oyster reef restoration monitoring report: Using baselines derived from long-term monitoring of benthic community structure on natural oyster reefs to assess the outcome of large-scale oyster reef restoration |work=Martin County, Florida |url=https://loxahatchee-qnewmedia.netdna-ssl.com/pdf/FIU_NOAAMonitRpt_2011.pdf |access-date=14 July 2022 |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808180240/https://loxahatchee-qnewmedia.netdna-ssl.com/pdf/FIU_NOAAMonitRpt_2011.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Multiple studies have shown individual oysters are capable of filtering up to {{convert|190|L}} of water per day, and thus oyster reefs can significantly improve water quality and clarity.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://academic.oup.com/icb/article/37/6/612/115863 |doi=10.1093/icb/37.6.612 |title=Bacteria, Dissolved Organics and Oxygen Consumption in Salinity Stratified Chesapeake Bay, an Anoxia Paradigm | year=1997 | last1=Jonas | first1=Robert B. | journal=American Zoologist | volume=37 | issue=6 | pages=612–620 | doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Officer |first1=C.B. |last2=Smayda |first2=T.J. |last3=Mann |first3=R. |year=1982 |title=Benthic Filter Feeding – a Natural Eutrophication Control |journal=[[Marine Ecology Progress Series]] |volume=9 |pages=203–210 |doi=10.3354/meps009203 |bibcode=1982MEPS....9..203O |url=https://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/9/m009p203.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1352778 | jstor=1352778 | title=The Trophic Consequences of Oyster Stock Rehabilitation in Chesapeake Bay | last1=Ulanowicz | first1=Robert E. | last2=Tuttle | first2=Jon H. | journal=Estuaries | year=1992 | volume=15 | issue=3 | pages=298–306 | doi=10.2307/1352778 | s2cid=84975440 }}</ref><ref>Newell, R. 2004. Ecosystem Influences of Natural and Cultivated Populations of Suspension-Feeding Bivalve Molluscs: A Review. J. Shellfish Research, 23(1):51-61.</ref> Oysters consume nitrogen-containing  compounds ([[nitrate]]s and [[ammonia]]), [[phosphate]]s, plankton, detritus, bacteria, and dissolved organic matter, removing them from the water.<!-- repetitiveOysters feed on plankton, incidentally consuming nitrogen compounds, as well. --><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1017/S0025315400052589 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-marine-biological-association-of-the-united-kingdom/article/abs/feeding-by-oyster-larvae-the-functional-response-energy-budget-and-a-comparison-with-mussel-larvae/6B4CC491635F66929B33F1F8D164A9D6 |title=Feeding by Oyster Larvae: The Functional Response, Energy Budget and a Comparison with Mussel Larvae |year=1985 |last1=Crisp |first1=D. J. |last2=Yule |first2=A. B. |last3=White |first3=K. N. |journal=Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=759–783 |bibcode=1985JMBUK..65..759C |s2cid=83713773 }}</ref> What is not used for animal growth is then expelled as solid waste pellets, which eventually decompose into the atmosphere as nitrogen.<ref name=econ>{{cite news
|url=http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12795573
|title=A dozen ocean-cleaners and a pint of Guinness, please
|access-date=26 December 2008
|newspaper=The Economist
|date=18 December 2008}}</ref> In [[Maryland]], the [[Chesapeake Bay Program]] had implemented a plan to use oysters to reduce the amount of nitrogen compounds entering the [[Chesapeake Bay]] by {{convert|8600|MT|ST|abbr=on}} per year by 2010.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease2005/081505.html
 |title=Oyster Restoration Projected to Provide Significant Boost to Bay Grasses While Removing Nitrogen Pollution from the Bay
 |access-date=26 December 2008
 |website=Maryland Department of Natural Resources
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903090534/http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease2005/081505.html
 |archive-date=3 September 2006
}}</ref> Several studies have shown that oysters and [[mussels]] have the capacity to dramatically alter nitrogen levels in estuaries.<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1007/1-4020-3030-4_6 |title=The Comparative Roles of Suspension Feeders in Ecosystems, Vol. 47|year=2005|publisher=Springer|location=Netherlands|pages=93–120|author1=Newell, R. I. E.|author2=Fisher, T. R.|author3=Holyoke, R. R. |author4=Cornwell, J. C.|series=NATO Science Series IV: Earth and Environmental Series |isbn=978-1-4020-3030-7 |edition=NATO Science Series IV: Earth and Environmental Sciences|contribution=Influence of eastern oysters on nitrogen and phosphorus regeneration in the Chesapeake Bay, USA|editor1=Dame, R.|editor2=Olenin, S.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1875-306X(07)80017-7 |author1=Grabowski, J. H.|author2=Petersen, C. H.|title=Ecosystem Engineers – Plants to Protists |chapter=Restoring oyster reefs to recover ecosystem services|series=Theoretical Ecology Series |year=2007|volume=4 |publisher=Elsevier-Academic Press|location=Amsterdam|pages=281–298|doi=10.1016/S1875-306X(07)80017-7 |isbn=978-0-12-373857-8 |edition=Ecosystem Engineers: Concepts, Theory and Applications|editor1=Cuddington, K.|editor2=Byers, J. E.|editor3=Wilson, W.G.|editor4=Hastings, A.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|vauthors=Rose JM, Tedesco M, Wikfors GH, Yarish C |title=International Workshop on Bioextractive Technologies for Nutrient Remediation Summary Report|url=http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/publications/|publisher=US Dept Commer, Northeast Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc. 10–19; 12 p. Available from: National Marine Fisheries Service, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-1026|year=2010}}</ref> In the U.S., [[Delaware]] is the only East Coast state without aquaculture, but making aquaculture a state-controlled industry of leasing water by the acre for commercial harvesting of shellfish is being considered.<ref name="Brown">{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Ashton|title='Aquaculture' shellfish harvesting bill moves forward|url=http://delaware.newszap.com/centraldelaware/123124-70/aquaculture-shellfish-harvesting-bill-moves-forward|access-date=11 June 2013|newspaper=Delaware State News|date=10 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022225000/http://delaware.newszap.com/centraldelaware/123124-70/aquaculture-shellfish-harvesting-bill-moves-forward|archive-date=22 October 2013}}</ref> Supporters of Delaware's legislation to allow oyster aquaculture cite revenue, job creation, and nutrient cycling benefits. It is estimated that {{convert|1|acre|ha|spell=in}} can produce nearly 750,000 oysters, which could filter between {{convert|57000|to(-)|150000|m3|e6ft3|sigfig=2|abbr=unit}} of water daily.<ref name="Brown"/> Also see [[nutrient pollution]] for an extended explanation of [[Nutrient pollution#Nutrient remediation|nutrient remediation]].