Comparing Oyster Condition and Prevalence/Intensity of Oyster Macroparasites between Aquaculture Grow-Out Methods
Mentor/s
Torrie Hanley
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
Comparing oyster condition and prevalence/intensity of oyster macroparasites between aquaculture grow-out methods
Amanda J. Smentkowski1, Loretta A. Fernandez2, Jonathan H. Grabowski2, A. Randall Hughes2, David L. Kimbro2, Olivia A. Griffin1, and Torrance C. Hanley1
1Sacred Heart University, Department of Biology, Fairfield, CT
2Northeastern University, Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Nahant, MA
Oyster aquaculture provides numerous ecosystem functions and services and is an economically-valuable component of seafood production in the United States. However, parasite exposure and infection can impact the short- and long-term sustainability of oyster aquaculture. Aquaculture practitioners use multiple farming techniques, such as on-bottom cages and floating bags, to optimize oyster condition and marketability. These different methods expose oysters to a variety of micro-and macro-parasite species that can independently and interactively affect oyster health, but the relationship between grow-out methods and single and multiple parasite infections - and the consequent effects on oyster condition - require further study. Here, we compared condition of oysters grown on-bottom vs floating at four aquaculture sites in Massachusetts, and measured prevalence and intensity of multiple common macroparasites (boring sponge and mud blister worm) from July to December in 2023 and 2024. We found that oysters grown in on-bottom cages had consistently worse condition than oysters grown in floating bags, though the magnitude of these differences varied across aquacultures sites. Similarly, macroparasite prevalence and intensity varied across site x depth combinations. Our findings can be used to inform aquaculture practice in New England, specifically how parasite exposure depends on farming methods and the consequences for oyster condition and marketability.
College and Major available
Biology
Academic Level
Undergraduate student
Location
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Start Day/Time
4-25-2025 12:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-25-2025 2:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Comparing Oyster Condition and Prevalence/Intensity of Oyster Macroparasites between Aquaculture Grow-Out Methods
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Comparing oyster condition and prevalence/intensity of oyster macroparasites between aquaculture grow-out methods
Amanda J. Smentkowski1, Loretta A. Fernandez2, Jonathan H. Grabowski2, A. Randall Hughes2, David L. Kimbro2, Olivia A. Griffin1, and Torrance C. Hanley1
1Sacred Heart University, Department of Biology, Fairfield, CT
2Northeastern University, Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Nahant, MA
Oyster aquaculture provides numerous ecosystem functions and services and is an economically-valuable component of seafood production in the United States. However, parasite exposure and infection can impact the short- and long-term sustainability of oyster aquaculture. Aquaculture practitioners use multiple farming techniques, such as on-bottom cages and floating bags, to optimize oyster condition and marketability. These different methods expose oysters to a variety of micro-and macro-parasite species that can independently and interactively affect oyster health, but the relationship between grow-out methods and single and multiple parasite infections - and the consequent effects on oyster condition - require further study. Here, we compared condition of oysters grown on-bottom vs floating at four aquaculture sites in Massachusetts, and measured prevalence and intensity of multiple common macroparasites (boring sponge and mud blister worm) from July to December in 2023 and 2024. We found that oysters grown in on-bottom cages had consistently worse condition than oysters grown in floating bags, though the magnitude of these differences varied across aquacultures sites. Similarly, macroparasite prevalence and intensity varied across site x depth combinations. Our findings can be used to inform aquaculture practice in New England, specifically how parasite exposure depends on farming methods and the consequences for oyster condition and marketability.
Students' Information
Amanda Smentkowski- Biology major, psychology, chemistry, and honors minor. 2026