Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: SINERR-2021-1 (submitted: 05/04/2021, status: approved)
Project Type: Grant-funded Academic Research
Application Title
do environmental conditions and oyster population genetics influence pathogen prevalence and intensity?
Investigator Information
| Principal Investigator: | John Carroll | ||
| Home Institution: | Georgia Southern University | ||
| Award Information: | Georgia Sea Grant funded research | ||
| Mailing Address: | Department of Biology | Phone Number: | (912) 478-4587 |
| 4324 Old Register Rd | E-mail Address: | jcarroll@georgiasouthern.edu | |
| Statesboro, Georgia 30460 | |||
| Co-investigators: | Sarah Batchelor (Georgia Southern University) | ||
Project Abstract
The goal of this project is to (1) examine the presence and intensity of oyster diseases within wild oyster populations, (2) determine the fine scale population structure of oysters within select harvest areas, and (3) to conduct fine scale bi-monthly sampling of oysters to explore whether abiotic stressors relate to pathogen or parasite risk. For the first objective, wild oysters will be collected from each site, processed, and DNA will be extracted from the gill tissues. Using qPCR, samples will be screened for Vibrio spp., Perkinsus marinus (Dermo disease), and Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX Disease). For the 2nd objective, adult oysters will be sampled from each site, and oyster recruits will also be collected during the spawning period. The oysters and recruits will be collected, processed, and DNA will be extracted from tissue samples. Using 22 microsatellite markers, genetic variation and relatedness within and among reefs will be estimated. Additionally, plaster clod cards will be deployed to determine the amount of water flow in each creek relative to each other. This information will be used to investigate the potential effect of water flow on relatedness among oyster recruits and between recruits and adult oysters. For the 3rd objective, subtidal and intertidal cages (three replicates at each site) will be deployed with oysters obtained from UGA MarEx and Georgia Sea Grant Shellfish Research Laboratory. Every two weeks, oysters will be collected from each replicate cage, processed, and screened for Vibrio spp., Perkinsus marinus, and Haplosporidium nelsoni.
Project Location
The four SWMP station sites
GPS Coordinates for Study Sites
I will provide a spreadsheet containing GPS coordinates for my study sites
Expected Start and End Dates of the Project
Start Date: 06/01/2021 End Date: 12/31/2021
Number and Frequency of People Accessing the Site
2 people for 1 day every two weeks.
Keywords Describing the Project
Equipment Deployed in the Field
Replicate floating oyster cages and intertidal cages (6 cages total at each site) with 100 oysters (provided by the UGA MarEx and Georgia Sea Grant Shellfish Research Laboratory) in each cage will be placed at Hunt Dock and Cabretta Creek. At each site, I will deploy plaster clod cards to measure relative flow, and terra cotta tile recruitment collectors.
Plants and Animal Collecting
10 oysters will be harvested from intertidal reefs at Hunt Dock and Cabretta Creek locations every 2 weeks during the sampling season. Oyster recruits that settle on terra cotta tiles at each location will also be harvested from each site.
Likely Impacts of the Project on the Site
None
Boardwalk Installation Plans
No, this access to study sites for this project does not involve the use of boardwalks.
Expected persistence of site impacts after the research is concluded?
There should be no persisting impacts.