5-37 



Crassostrea virginica 



New Haven Harbor serves as a primary natural source of oyster 

 seed for Long Island Sound (NAI, 1978a). Oysters showed greater numbers 

 on exposure panels at Fort Hale and Harbor Station and occurred during 

 all years at these stations. Presence on short-term panels was limited 

 to August and September (Figure 5-3) . 



C. virginica has been recorded in sheltered, shallow subtidal, 

 and intertidal marine and estuarine water (TRIGOM, 1973) with temper- 

 atures ranging seasonally from 1-32°C (Galtsoff , 1964) . They are in- 

 active at temperatures less than 8°C and mortality increases at greater 

 than 35°C (Mackin, 1968) . Reproduction occurs during the summer when 

 temperatures exceed 20 °C, usually from late June to late August in Long 

 Island Sound (Loosanoff , 1965 in TRIGOM, 197 3) . The average female 

 oyster releases over 50 million eggs per year from which about one dozen 

 reach maturity. The planktonic larvae are quite specific in their 

 settling requirement for other oyster shells which results in low 

 recruitment on short-term panels. 



COMPARISON OF NEW HAVEN HARBOR WITH OTHER LONG ISLAND SOUND SITES 



Hillman (1973) compared the results of expo sure -panel studies 

 conducted in the Long Island Sound area in 1971-1972 at Niantic Bay and 

 Stamford and New Haven Harbors. He observed a similarity in phyla 

 present on panels at all sites, but noted a greater total number of 

 species at Niantic Bay, which he attributed to better water quality. 

 Table 5-6 lists abundant species taken from fouling panels at four sites 

 in Long Island Sound from October 1971-Septeinber 1972. New Haven Harbor 

 and Niantic Bay had a number of species in common: Balanus eburneus , B. 

 improvisus , Teredo navalis, Corophium insidiosum, Mytilus edulis , 

 Nereis succinea, and Halichondria bowerhankia. Of these common species, 

 Stamford had three (Corophium sp. , Nereis succinea and Teredo navalis) 

 and Bridgeport had two (Mytilus edulis and Nereis succinea) . 



