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Mudworm ( Polydora websteri) parasitism is known to result in unsightly mud blisters in eastern oysters ( Crassostrea virginica), resulting in reduced product quality and increased vulnerability to illness and environmental stress. While typically a concern only for bottom-grown oysters, an abnormal severe outbreak of P. websteri in surface-cultured oysters in New Brunswick, Canada, was reported in 2013, along with an anecdotally reported concurrent increase in siltation. Although heavier loads of silt are reported to increase P. websteri infestations in oysters, studies report mixed effects of siltation to this regard. Here, we report the results of a field experiment testing the effect of siltation on P. websteri recruitment in surface-grown oysters at an aquaculture site in Richibucto, New Brunswick. Live oysters of similar size were deployed at the aquaculture site and were left to collect P. websteri recruits under one of two siltation treatments (high vs. low) for 50 days. Results suggested that P. websteri recruitment correlated with metrics of oyster size (shell weight, length, width, depth and surface area). When P. websteri counts were standardized for oyster shell morphometry, P. websteri recruitment was significantly higher in oysters exposed to the high siltation treatment, accumulating approximately 1.5× as many P. websteri as oysters exposed to the low siltation treatment. Our results suggest that higher amounts of siltation on surface-cultured oysters can result in increased rates of P. websteri parasitism. Enhanced cleaning regimes may help to alleviate the impacts of P. websteri in surface-grown oysters, although other mitigation strategies exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of nutrient-induced hypoxia or anoxia-related mortality of aquatic species is becoming more prevalent in coastal systems worldwide. One such instance in an estuary of New Brunswick, Canada, resulted in the loss of approximately 75% of cultured oysters in certain farms. Field observations revealed that, although the occurrence of summer hypoxia in north Tracadie Bay was linked with anthropogenic stressors, changes in the morphology of one of the bay's inlets were likely to play a significant role in escalating the eutrophic conditions. However, adequate information on the circulation dynamics of Tracadie Bay was lacking. To address this knowledge gap, a high-resolution spatially explicit hydrodynamic model was developed for Tracadie Bay to evaluate the possible physical processes involved in the generation of hypoxia leading to oyster mortality. Further, the model was coupled with a volume advection-dispersion tracer module to track the dissemination of effluent. The model showed high skill in south Tracadie Bay in simulating water level elevations and slightly lower skill in north Tracadie Bay. Residual flow estimates revealed poorly-circulated stagnant areas, consistent with hot spots in sediment organic matter content. Findings from modeling scenarios based on past, present, and future inlet morphology suggest that inlets have strong consequences on intricate circulation patterns, renewal of water, and transport. Outcomes from this study will be of relevance for managing water quality and aquaculture practices. • Bay's flushing potential responds to inlet geomorphic setting. • Long water renewal time indicates poor flushing. • Stagnant areas coincides with hot spots of sediment organic content. • Feeble outgoing fluxes likely to escalate eutrophic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]