Oyster drill feeding preference
Since three years the Japanese oyster drill (Ocinebrellus inornatus) has become a big threat to oyster cultivation in the Oosterschelde and other systems in the South Western Delta of the Netherlands. The oyster drill is an invasive species that drills a hole in the shell of the oyster to feed on the flesh. The snail causes large oyster losses on the on bottom culture plots. They predate especially on smaller oysters thereby directly affecting the starting material for the culture. Since most of the oyster cultivation takes place on bottom plots, measures are needed to either keep the oyster drill outside the plots or to actively prevent drills to enter the plots. From February 2018 (depending on granted funds), the Delta Academy hopes to start a 2 year research project to help Oyster farmers deal with the Oyster drill on bottom plots and to decrease oyster mortality.
This research will focus on predation preference of oyster drills on different sizes, origin and species of oysters. The research will be performed in the field, in the season that oyster drills are hypothetically most active. The experiments will be carried out in enclosures, which have to be tested for effectiveness beforehand to keep oyster drills from escaping. Keep in mind that you have to work with the tide, to be able to access your experiments, and will have to work outside office hours as well.
Research type: experiments in the Oosterschelde
Research level: minor/internship
Perquisite: Technical skills, dedicated, creative, preferably affinity with biology. A driver’s license is prefered.
Partners: Local shellfish famers, national and international knowledge partners
Researcher involved: research group aquaculture (Eva Hartog/Tony van der Hiele)
Period: 2nd semester 2017-2018
Status: open
