Virginia leads the U.S. in aquaculture production of the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria. Iris Anderson, Mark Brush, and Mark Luckenbach of VIMS will study the movement of nitrogen in and around clam beds to better understand the effects of intensive clam aquaculture on Chesapeake Bay water quality. This information will help clam farmers optimize clam production and inform decisions about how and where to allocate space and resources to clam farming and competing uses.
Funded by the Virginia Sea Grant Coastal & Marine Science RFP
Project Detail: Iris Anderson (VIMS), Mark Brush (VIMS), and Mark Luckenbach (VIMS). Assessing ecosystem-level effects of hard clam aquaculture on water quality and nutrient dynamics.
