Oyster Reefs as Complex Ecological Systems

Abstract

Aggregations of suspension-feeding organisms like oyster reefs, mussel beds and worm reefs are prominent systems in coastal environments. The fundamental properties of these systems are reviewed and indicate that they are complex systems that are highly optimized and evolutionarily selected for high productivity. Such systems are unstable when faced with a never experienced situation. In the case of oyster reefs, catastrophic collapse usually involves anthropogenic factors such as pollution, sediment loading, and over-harvesting. Strategies for examining these complex systems and developing compatible management approaches must include continued experimentation, learning, and adaptation by managers.