Four tanks of equal size were set up to compare just how much microalgae our native Florida shellfish can take out of the water column over a period of time. The first tank is the control with no shellfish, the second tank contains Ribbed mussels (Geukensia demissa), the third tank contains Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica), and the fourth tank contains Hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria).
Shellfish provide many ecosystem services. One shown here is their ability to improve water quality by removing algae suspended in the water column which allows more sunlight to reach aquatic vegetation on the benthos. All shellfish cultivated for human consumption are grown in areas that meet water quality standards and are tested regularly for safety!
