Ecological condition and value of oyster reefs of the Southwest Florida shelf ecosystem

• We examined the ecological value and indirect economic importance of oyster reefs in the Southwest Florida shelf ecosystem.
• Drivers of change and various factors (pressures) that affect oyster reef development are examined.
• We used various responses and metrics of oysters to develop an index to assess the overall state of oyster reefs in the estuaries in Southwest Florida shelf.
• Overall, oysters in southwest Florida estuaries are at a stage “caution” suggesting that mitigation of some pressures such as managing freshwater inflows into the estuary to reduce extreme variations in salinity and substrate enhancement may help oyster reef development.

The eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica is prolific and their reefs are dominant features along the estuaries and coastal areas in the Gulf of Mexico including those along the Southwest Florida coast. This paper examines the ecological and indirect economic value of oysters and the ecosystem services they provide. Drivers of change in reefs as well as various factors (pressures) that affect oyster reefs are examined. Using the monitoring data from on-going studies, this study examined various metrics of oyster health, reproduction and survival to develop an index to create an overall state of oyster reefs in the Southwest Florida estuaries. Based on existing data, oyster reefs in Southwest Florida estuaries are at “caution”, but stable. Restoration of a more natural freshwater inflow, minimizing nutrient and contaminant input as well as decreased sedimentation will enable oyster reefs to expand and thrive.