Auditory signals and communication in Crassostrea gigas and Ostrea edulis. A preliminary oyster dictionary

Authors:          Frederico Batista1; Deborah Power2; Adrian Harrison3 (Presenting)

Affiliations:    1Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Barrack Road, The Nothe, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UB, United Kingdom
2Centro de Ciencias do Mar do Algarve (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
3PAS, Section for Physiology, Dept for Veterinary & Animal Sciences (IVH),
Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark - adh@sund.ku.dk

Abstract:

It is generally accepted that the oceans are one of the noisiest environments on the planet, due largely to human pollution [1]. Human activities such as shipping, sonar and drilling contribute immensely to this noise, resulting in a level that disrupts marine life in terms of communication, hearing loss, navigation, feeding, stress and survival, as well as habitat displacement [1]. There is currently a lack of knowledge as to how our noise pollution might affect natural communication signals and impact both immediate as well as long-term survival of certain species, among them oysters. As a species, oysters are important. They build their shells through a process of calcification, in which they combine calcium, carbon and oxygen from sea water to form calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The carbon component of oyster shells accounts for some 12% of the shell´s total mass, some of which can have a mass in excess of 400g (thus 48g of CO2) [2]. Whilst oyster farming per se may not contribute significantly to reducing global warming through “blue carbon” sinks in the form of oyster shells [3], there can be no doubt that the greater the number of oysters in the ocean the more carbon can be sequestered as calcium carbonate. This study has therefore examined communication signals used by oysters in the hope of learning more about them and assessing any potential conflict with oceanic noise of a man-made origin.

1.     Ocean Noise – NOAA Fisheries – Feb 2025 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/science-data/ocean-noise

2.     Carbon Sequestration Potential of Shellfish – The Fish Site – Oct 2004 - https://thefishsite.com/articles/carbon-sequestration-potential-of-shellfish