Marine Biology Commons^™

The American Oyster Crassostrea Virginica In Cheapeake Bay, Dexter Haven

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The American Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is widely distributed in Chesapeake Bay where it grows in the intertidal zone to depths of about 6.5 m. The salinity range over which it occurs, is from about 5 to 34 ° /oo. It is most abundant in protected embayments where bottoms are a firm sand-clay mixed with shelly material. This bivalve is a filter feeder, and ingests planktonic material which it strains from the water with its gills. Spawning occurs in Chesapeake Bay from June through September, and the eggs and resulting larvae are widely distributed during their 10-20 day planktonic life.

Growth …