This summer, I had the opportunity to work with Shannon Meseck during my internship in Milford, Connecticut. I am a master’s student in Stony Brook University’s Marine Conservation and Policy program, and I participated in NOAA's College-Funded Internship Program at the Milford Lab. While at Milford I worked closely and became friends with Jennifer Herrera, who is part of the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center. She was participating in a NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunity while working toward her master’s degree at University of Maryland’s Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore, Maryland.
As part of a marine carbon dioxide removal project, the Milford Laboratory was focusing on understanding how oyster larvae react to olivine . Olivine is a naturally occurring silicate mineral that can also be synthesized. The mineral has been studied in recent years as a possible marine carbon dioxide removal agent for negative emission technology. Marine carbon dioxide removal aims to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the ocean for the long term. This technology has become more important in recent years as carbon dioxide emissions increase along with the threat of ocean acidification. Despite its potential, relatively little research has been done to investigate the potential effects olivine exposure has on nearby marine life. As climate change becomes more severe, there have been increasing efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Research on how to counteract ocean acidification is also increasing. I expressed interest in the project and Jennifer and I collaborated.
Oysters Larvae Sold Separately
We tested Eastern oysters to see how they would react to different olivine concentrations in the experiment. Eastern oysters support a multimillion dollar fishery and aquaculture industry in the United States, and provide important ecosystem services. They are a food source and provide habitat for marine life. Oysters in large aggregations form important habitats called oyster reefs. Oyster reefs improve water quality by filtering the water and can even buffer storm surge. Understanding how olivine might impact the oyster population is important from both an economic and ecological perspective. Before the experiment could begin, we needed oyster larvae.
The Milford Lab had a supply of adult oysters; however, we needed more to ensure a large enough supply of larvae for the experiment. Jennifer and I visited the “oyster trenches” near the lab to collect more. Not even the sinking muddy sand could keep Jennifer and me from our quest to collect more oysters. After several trips—racing against the incoming tide and navigating through sinking sediment—we collected enough. Afterward, we cleaned, sorted, and prepared the oysters for spawning. With the help of David Veilleux and Isaiah Mayo, Jennifer and I induced the oysters to spawn and produced the larvae we needed by increasing the water temperature in a controlled and enclosed environment. After a quick inspection to make sure the larvae were healthy, they were ready for the experiment .
We Got This: Olivine Oyster Experiment Days!
Our first experiment focused on how oyster larvae respond to different concentrations of synthetic olivine. The second experiment was similar except that we wanted to know how oyster larvae respond to natural olivine.
During both experiments, multiple scientists at Milford offered their expertise. Shannon Meseck, Dave Veilleux, Isaiah Mayo, Katyanne Shoemaker, Matthew Poach, and fellow interns Emily Lekas and Samantha worked together, which helped me learn new skills including trace metal sampling and how to be part of a big research team. By the end of both experiments, we collected water samples from the experimental chambers to undergo further analysis. We used the water samples to measure the carbonate chemistry, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nutrient levels, metal concentration, and the oyster larvae themselves. Once we completed the experiment, took the samples, and collected the data, the only thing left to do was clean up.
