<
https://theconversation.com/leaf-oysters-the-unsung-heroes-of-estuaries-are-disappearing-and-we-know-almost-nothing-about-them-164330>
"Camouflaged by a layer of silty mud, most people probably wouldn’t notice the
large flat oysters lurking beneath shallow water in Australia’s coastal
estuaries. These are remarkable “leaf oysters”, and they can form reefs,
produce mauve pearls, and reach the size of a dinner plate.
Of the 14 species of reef-forming oysters and mussels in Australia, leaf
oysters (
Isognomon ephippium) are the least well known. Our review, published
last year, found only 30 publications globally that mention leaf oysters. Half
of those were only incidental recordings.
This is a huge problem because there is widespread evidence of significant
declines in the number and condition of shellfish reefs. In Australia, 99% of
shellfish reefs have been described as “functionally extinct”, meaning the
habitat these reefs previously provided has now been lost.
This has led to serious efforts in shellfish reef restoration. Leaf oysters are
crucial members of these ecosystems, and we need substantially more information
about them to ensure they’re not left out of these programs. Let’s delve into
what we do know."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
