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ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF HABITAT ALTERATION ON SHELLFISH POPULATIONS
Citation:
Chintala, M AND K. A. Tammi. ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF HABITAT ALTERATION ON SHELLFISH POPULATIONS. Presented at National Shellfisheries Association Conference, New Orleans, LA, April 13-17, 2003.
Description:
Habitat provides a variety of life support functions for many species, such as providing shelter, substrate, food, and nursery areas. Habitat alteration is one of the most important causes of declines in ecological resources in North America, and habitats essential to the well being of shellfish species are rapidly being affected by many land-use activities. As a result, many restoration efforts have been conducted that are designed to restore many of the altered areas back to their original habitat value. What is not always clear is how to define the value of a habitat to a particular species of interest. This information is important to assess the impacts of habitat alteration on species that utilize those areas. The ecological impacts of these types of habitat alterations will be reviewed in the context of the critical life support functions of shellfish populations. A characterization of the habitat conditions that support the survival and continued viability of shellfish populations is needed to properly assess habitat alteration and evaluate the success of restoration efforts.