We were just getting over the possibility of beer shortages when we learned California oysters could become climate victims too. The marine bivalves tend to gather on the coast where humans have colonized nature. They are not coping well with pollution from mills and outboard motors, and disturbance by highways. Moreover, they are under constant threat from sea ducks, rock crabs, and parasitic infestations.
Could Severe Rain Storms Wipe Out California Oysters?
The American Physiological Association gathered on October 27, 2018 to consider the effects on oysters of severe flooding on land. When this flows into the ocean it dilutes typical ocean salinity below 3%.
The Association had gathered to learn how tolerant California oysters are to periods of desalination after floods. Researchers had identified three groups of oysters exposed to different levels of rainwater intrusion. One group lived in a large estuary subject to routine flooding. Another lived in a smaller one under less threat. Finally, a third group lived far away from any estuary.
The Research Findings and Why They Matter
The researchers exposed samples of live oysters to low salinity water with only 0.5% salt. The ones from the large estuary with regular flooding were more tolerant. “More frequent exposure to freshwater in this region, likely forced oysters to evolve new ways of surviving in low salinity,” they say.
However, these adaptions involving keeping shells closed longer may cause stress. Furthermore, this stress could lead to DNA damage and protein unfolding. California oysters are a foundation species providing shelter for other small species in a safer, healthier habitat. Therefore, there will be a chain reaction if these colonies die out.
We are only just beginning to learn the catastrophic effects of climate change, unless we do something now. It is all very well reminiscing about dining on oysters and beer on a California deck in high summer. Our story has a deeper significance we are only just beginning to understand.
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