Time-lapse: Oysters Filtering Water

Oysters provide much-needed filtration of Chesapeake Bay waters, habitat for other aquatic life, and a modest commercial harvest. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation estimates the native oyster population to be as low as 4 percent of historic levels. Restoring the Chesapeake's native oyster population is key to bringing back the Bay's health.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• oyster
• oysters
• chesapeake
• bay
• foundation
• cbf
• filter
• filtering
• environment
• environmenal
• water
• pollution

[ChesapeakeBayFound]

eddiejr1956,

No, actually, the water isn't just settling. To eat, oysters are sucking the water in and filtering out, or "swallowing", the detritus and plankton, then "spitting out" the filtered water.

There are a number of significant factors besides wastewater treatment plants that are contributing to the high nitrogen levels in the bay, not the least of which is runoff from farms, suburbs, and cities.

[ananeliel]

You know what's weird, this video is near identical to another one on mussel filtration. Only thing different is they replaced the word "oyster" with "mussels"

[cafekawaii]

Interesting video, never knew they filter water :)

[Tman317]

We are currently growing oysters under our pier for the St. Mary's River (a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay). It's a project through the Department of Natural Resources for the State of Maryland. It's great to know we could be improving the water quality this much in such a short time.

[caseyburk]

Very awesome.

[eddiejr1956]

This is BULL,,,the water just settles,you should show the 66 major wastwwater plants on the chesapeake that is maimly responsible for most of the pollution that killed most of the oysters!

[beastlycooner]

very cool. im doing a project on oysters filtering. this'll help me a bunch. thanks

[TonyandAnnie]

Wow, cool.

[juxtapos99]

I guess it needs more oysters? Can't believe the Bay used to be as clear as the water off Key West. Maybe one day we'll see 30 ft. deep in the Potomac.

[battousai7]

Scary very scary