Background

Ostrea lurida (Fig 2) are important to their ecosystems

because they can regulate plankton blooms and
stabilize sediment. Previous studies have been done
regarding whether or not barnacle colonies impede the
growth of oysters.1 However, these studies do not
specifically focus on the effects of adult barnacle
colonies on the Ostrea lurida in the unique ecosystem
of the San Francisco Estuary.
Research Question
Is there a correlation between adult barnacle growth and
Ostrea lurida population?
Hypothesis
If there is a negative correlation between adult
barnacles and Ostrea lurida, the population of oysters
will decrease due to a loss of space for development.
Methods
1.Settling plates of prepared floor tiles (Fig 1) were
placed in three locations: Point San Quentin, China
Camp, and Loch Lomond.
2.The settling plates were collected after 2-4 weeks.
3.The plates were counted & recorded at least 2 times.

The Relationship Between Ostrea lurida

and Adult Barnacles
Jennifer Doering, Amber Jackson, & Jenae
Casalnuovo
Abstract
Ostrea lurida (Fig 2) is an oyster species essential to the San Francisco Estuary
ecosystem. They often interact with adult barnacles during growth. We hypothesize that if
there is a negative correlation between adult barnacles and Ostrea lurida, the population of
oysters will decrease due to a loss of space for development. Data was collected by
placing settling plates in three locations, collecting them after 2-4 weeks, and then
counting and recording the organisms present. The results revealed that there is no
correlation between the Ostrea lurida population and adult barnacle growth.

Results
The collected data revealed that there is no correlation between adult
barnacles and Ostrea lurida (Chart 1). When the two highest values of
barnacles are removed, there still is no correlation between adult barnacles
and Ostrea lurida (Chart 2).

Discussion
Our results indicate that there is no correlation
between adult barnacle growth and the Ostrea
lurida population (Chart 1). The exception is
when there are high numbers of barnacles and
low numbers of oysters. This conclusion remains
the same even when any outliers, the two
highest values of barnacles, are removed (Chart
2). However, due to the appearance of a slight
positive curve, it can be hypothesised that
without the high barnacle counts, a positive
correlation might exist. These results, which do
not support our hypothesis, are important
because they indicate that the presence of adult
barnacles does not inhibit the growth of Ostrea
lurida. This information is helpful when
researching declines in oyster populations.
Moving forward, we recommend studying if there
is indeed a positive correlation by continuing to
collect data, especially in areas with comparable
barnacle and oyster growth.

Acknowledgements
Dr. Lindsay Sullivan-Anderson
HONO 3200
San Francisco Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve

Literature Cited
1

Boudreaux, M. (2005).
Native and invasive
competitors of the eastern
oyster Crassostrea virginica
in Mosquito Lagoon,
Florida. Unpublished
masters thesis, University
of Central Florida, Orlando,
Florida.
Figure 1: Settling Plates

Figure 2: Ostrea lurida