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Biologists discover giant exotic oysters in San Francisco Bay
AP on Bakersfield Californian ^
| 8/18/06
| AP
Posted on 08/18/2006 1:32:49 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Biologists have discovered giant invasive oysters that could threaten efforts to restore native oyster species in San Francisco Bay.
Government staffers and volunteers removed 256 of the exotic mollusks last week after searching the mudflats between the Dumbarton Bridge and the San Leandro Marina, biologists said Thursday.
Scientists have not identified the species, which grow up to 9 inches long and in a variety of shapes. They don't know how the exotic oysters got here or how they could affect the bay if their population expands.
Biologists are concerned the monster oysters could take over the best habitat and form reefs unsuitable for local fish and invertebrates. They could also threaten the bay's native Olympia oyster, Ostrea conchaphila, which usually grow no more than 2 1/2 inches long.
"We're really concerned about these nonnative oysters out-competing the native oysters," said Abe Doherty at the California State Coastal Conservancy.
A big empty shell of an exotic oyster first turned up more than two years ago near the eastern end of the Dumbarton Bridge. The species wasn't found again until three weeks ago when five large live oysters were discovered in the same area.
Wildlife officials quickly organized an effort to remove the unwelcome mollusks and hope they can eliminate them before they harm the bay ecosystem.
"We have a chance," said Andrew Cohen, who directs an invasive-species program at the San Francisco Estuary Institute. "We don't know if they're actively reproducing in the bay yet."
TOPICS: Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: biologists; coastalenvironment; discover; environment; exotic; giant; invasivespecies; marinebiology; oysters; sanfrancisco
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To: CholeraJoe
That was my thought as well, bilge water..
21
posted on
08/18/2006 2:00:01 PM PDT
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi ......Help the "Pendleton 8' and families -- http://www.freerepublic.com/~normsrevenge/)
To: NormsRevenge
Mmmmmmmmmm... Giant invasive oysters...
22
posted on
08/18/2006 2:00:17 PM PDT
by
The Electrician
("Government is the only enterprise in the world which expands in size when its failures increase.")
To: NormsRevenge
What happened to the survival of the fittest? If they taste good, let Darwinism roll on.
23
posted on
08/18/2006 2:10:19 PM PDT
by
burroak
To: rawcatslyentist
Lets send all the red/greens down to protect them!! I'd like to help. Really. But there's a Possum Lodge meeting that night.
24
posted on
08/18/2006 2:17:45 PM PDT
by
JennysCool
(Roll out the Canarble Wagon!)
To: NormsRevenge
25
posted on
08/18/2006 2:17:58 PM PDT
by
American Quilter
(You can't negotiate with people who are dedicated to your destruction.)
To: Condorman
Geoduck ping. (For the uninitiated, that's pronounced, "gooey duck." No, I don't know why.)
It was a typographical error in a mid-1800s dictionary. The word reported to the dictionary was spelled "goeduck," which was one of several accepted spellings, but the "o" and the "e" were transposed, and subsequent dictionaries picked-up the error.
Additional info re 'ducks: I have heard the word was a Nisqually phrase meaning, literally, "dig deep." Also, FYI, geoduck digs are great chick magnets. Women love to see men working like hell for food in the mud, and large numbers of them will voluntarily attend a dig. Although, in my personal experience, none of them will go after the 'duck. That's strictly a man's job.
26
posted on
08/18/2006 2:27:52 PM PDT
by
Ironclad
(O Tempora! O Mores!)
To: CheneyChick
Refer to post #16.........Looks like an 'aphrodisiac' to me! };>)
27
posted on
08/18/2006 2:28:12 PM PDT
by
wolfcreek
(You can spit in our tacos and you can rape our dogs but, you can't take away our freedom!)
To: martin_fierro
To: Ironclad
When you buy geoducks at the Pike Place Market, the clerk lowers the weight of the clam by removing the excess water. He does this by stroking and squeezing the siphon until it expels all its held water.
For some reason, women watching this ritual turn bright red.
29
posted on
08/18/2006 2:50:09 PM PDT
by
Publius
To: martin_fierro
What did you post? A pic of a geoduck?
30
posted on
08/18/2006 2:51:25 PM PDT
by
BJClinton
(What happens on Free Republic, stays on Google.)
To: PBRSTREETGANG
Oh boy, here come the "Oyster Encounter" boat trips. lol
31
posted on
08/18/2006 3:20:22 PM PDT
by
Oratam
To: PBRSTREETGANG
That's a geoduck in the pic you posted, a clam, not an oyster.
32
posted on
08/19/2006 5:00:30 AM PDT
by
Rudder
To: JennysCool; glock rocks
I treasure my Red Green coffee cup...
To: Rudder
I was aware of that, but thanks.
(It was posted in response to another pictue of a geoduck which was since removed.)
To: NormsRevenge
it's hard to stay clam at this news
35
posted on
09/11/2006 1:59:22 AM PDT
by
drlevy88
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