Education at the Shellfish Laboratory

Generating Enhanced Oyster Reefs in Georgia's Inshore Areas (GEORGIA) Education Program

Generating Enhanced Oyster Reefs in Georgia's Inshore Areas (G.E.O.R.G.I.A.) is a community-based oyster restoration program coordinated by the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service. Oyster populations along the Georgia coastline have been depleted by rapid and sustained economic and population growth, overharvesting, and disease. Oyster reefs serve many vital functions in the estuarine ecosystem including erosion control, water filtration, food production, and spawning and breeding habitat for many fish species. G.E.O.R.G.I.A. aims to restore, preserve, and enhance our local oyster reefs by educating the public about their importance and encouraging community participation in shell recycling and reef restoration activities. Funding for this project was provided through grants from the NOAA Restoration Center Community-based Restoration Program, the National Fisheries Institute, and Ocean Trust. The education programs described below are hosted at the Shellfish Research Facility and through the Marine Education Center & Aquarium. For a curriculum guide please click here.

Oyster Populations
Oysters are considered to be a keystone species and good indicators of the health of estuaries. Students take a closer look at why oyster populations have declined during the last century using hands-on and inquiry-based activities that compare the role of sedimentation, overharvesting, water quality and disease on oyster populations. Students perform water quality tests, collect data, create graphs and draw conclusions as to why oyster populations have been impacted.
~1.5 hours; GPS aligned; minimum 15 students, maximum 25; 5 th grade and up

Dermo Detectives
Students determine the prevalence of Dermo, the common name for an oyster disease caused by the protozoan parasite, Perkinsus marinus in oysters collected locally. Students learn what Dermo is, how it affects oysters, and test for Dermo using an assay procedure that involves oyster dissections and microscope observations.
2 hours: GPS aligned; minimum 15 students, maximum 25; 5 th grade and up

Oysters: the Fanatic Filterers
Oysters are able to filter 2.5 gallons of water per hour removing plankton, sediment and pollutants! This hands-on program provides students an opportunity to collect and identify various species of phytoplankton consumed by oysters using plankton nets and microscopes, and to conduct a filtering demonstration to determine the filtering rates of living oysters.
<2 hours: GPS aligned; minimum 15 students, maximum 25; 5 th grade and up

Oyster Reef Habitat Exploration
Oyster reefs provide essential habitat for a variety of creatures including fish and crabs. Students explore the function of the oyster reef as critical habitat, providing shelter for fish and invertebrates and providing food for the community. This hands-on, in the field approach provides students with a better understanding of what types of organisms use an oyster reef as they collect organisms from an existing reef to construct food webs and determine species diversity.
3 hours: GPS aligned; minimum 15 students, maximum 25; 5 th grade and up

The Amazing Oysters and Water Quality
Did you know that an adult oyster can filter up to 60 gallons of water per day? Through filtration, oyster reefs can improve water quality by removing pollutants and controlling algal blooms. Using sampling equipment, students collect and analyze various water quality parameters (salinity, temperature, sedimentation, dissolved oxygen) at a nearby-restored reef.
3 hours: GPS aligned; minimum 15 students, maximum 25; 5 th grade and up

All About Whelks and Oysters
By using two of coastal Georgia's most famous shellfish (oysters and whelks) comparisons are made between the classes Bivalvia and Gastropoda. Differences in general anatomy and life history are explored through dissections of each species reproductive and digestive systems.
3 hours: GPS aligned; minimum 15 students, maximum 25; high school and up

Guided Oyster Disease Study
Disease has caused major oyster population decline in the United States over the last 20 years. Students are introduced to a disease that affects oyster populations in Georgia, called MSX (Haplosporidium nelsoni). This class begins with a guided tour of a working histology laboratory to learn how slides are prepared. Students will use these prepared slides in a hands on microscopic exercise to determine the prevalence and intensity of MSX in local oysters populations.
3 hours: GPS aligned; minimum 15 students, maximum 25; 5 th grade and up

Oyster Restoration in Georgia
This class introduces the history of the Georgia oyster industry followed by a discussion on why our populations are declining. Students will visit a restored oyster reef and get an overview of oyster restoration processes currently being conducted in the area. Each stage of the process involved will be discussed from the collection and bagging of shell, to the planting and monitoring of reefs. Students will have the opportunity to participate in the restoration program by visiting the shell-recycling center to assist in the bagging of shell.
3 hours: GPS aligned; minimum 15 students, maximum 25; 7 th grade and up

Studies in Fisheries and Aquaculture

Molluscan Biology and Molluscan Fisheries
25 students max.
~ 2 hours
This course provides basic information on the biology and ecology of local mollusc species and describes the molluscan fisheries in Georgia. The classes Gastropoda and Bivalvia are examined in detail and students will dissect representative species of commercial importance (e.g., whelks and clams).

Introduction to Shellfish Aquaculture
25 students max.
~ 2 hours
Students will study hatchery and field grow-out techniques for commercially important shellfish species. Topics include broodstock conditioning, spawning, larval care (rearing and feeding) and mass algal culture. Students will learn how to perform sterile algae transfers to create pure cultures and will initiate a shellfish growth experiment that can be tracked over a period of months from their home classroom.

Whelk Mark-and-Recapture Techniques
25 students max.
~ 3 hours
The theory of mark-and-recapture will be discussed in class and students will complete a lab exercise showing how the procedure is used in monitoring population size, growth, and migration patterns of whelks. Afterwards, the students will participate in an ongoing research study by searching for previously tagged whelks in the intertidal zone and by marking the untagged whelks collected. Transportation to the study area is by open skiff. Class is weather and tide dependent.

Diversity Indices Study
25 students
3 hrs
Calculators are provided
Students will visit two coastal habitats; learn how to collect and identifying organisms. While at the beach, students apply a formula to determine the diversity index of each habitat.

We are pleased to offer jointly with the University of Georgia Marine Education Center & Aquarium (MECA) a new program, "Environmental Water Chemistry & Aquaculture," to supplement AP high school or college undergraduate courses in biology or chemistry. These courses offer a unique "hands on" experience involving laboratory classes and field activities related to molluscan biology and ecology, water quality analysis, and current aquaculture research techniques.

In addition, we are currently participating in the first aquacultural course to be offered at Savannah State University, and are also assisting several students to conduct graduate research. Graduate students working through accredited university programs are encouraged to conduct research at the SRAL. Interested students should contact Dr. Randal Walker to discuss their specific needs. As an applied research facility, the SRAL is not normally open to the public, however, with sufficient notice interested parties can arrange for a tour.

Volunteer opportunities also exist at the laboratory; for more information write, call, or e-mail, Ms Dodie Thompson at (912) 598-2348.