Date of Award
2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biological and Environmental Sciences (MSBES)
Department
Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science
First Advisor
Coleen Suckling
Abstract
Biofouling on shellfish and aquaculture gear is a persistent problem for the oyster aquaculture industry, requiring significant resources to clean and prevent. Previous studies have investigated naturally controlling biofouling by using grazing sea urchins integrated with shellfish with successful results. In Rhode Island (USA), the native unexploited purple sea urchin (Arbacia punctulata) has yet to be tested for biofouling control and co-culture with shellfish. The aim of this study was to determine whether the commercially unexploited native purple sea urchin A. punctulata can be integrated with eastern oysters, (Crassostrea virginica), in Rhode Island using an oyster farm as a case study. It is hypothesized that gear and oyster shell biofouling will be reduced and that oyster growth will increase when integrated with A. punctulata. This study examined integrating A. punctulata at different densities (0, 1, and 3 urchins per bag) with oysters (n=25 per bag) for 2 months (Sept.-Nov. 2023) and measured biofouling levels on gear and shell surfaces, and organismal survival, growth, and quality relative to the market. Results showed that when A. punctulata reduced gear biofouling by 50% to 90% and 60% to 90% from shellfish surfaces for low (1 urchin per bag) and medium (3 urchins per bag) urchin stocking densities respectively, without compromising the growth or survival of oysters. The inclusion of 3 sea urchins per bag, fully prevented the shell burrowing worm, Polydora sp and produced oysters at a similar market standard of cleanliness as the farm baselines. These results demonstrate strong potential for the sea urchin species A. punctulata to be used as a biofouling control agent and support the growing demand for future trials at production level.
Recommended Citation
Jenkins, Christopher, "INTEGRATING GRAZING PURPLE SEA URCHINS (ARBACIA PUNCTULATA) WITH EASTERN OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA) CAN REDUCE BIOFOULING" (2025). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2691.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2691