How Acidic are Maine’s Mudflats?
Downeast Institute developed a novel method for measuring ocean acidification (OA) of shellfish habitat— mudflats — and has monitored OA alongside clam recruitment and survival at two Clam [...]
Investigating Factors Affecting Growth and Survival of Clams in West Jonesport (2022)
A pilot study was conducted in West Jonesport in 2022 to examine effects of: 1) tidal height; 2) stocking density; and, 3) predator exclusion using netting on the survival and growth of [...]
Intertidal recruitment of soft-shell clams, blue mussels, and green crabs at two sites in Taunton Bay in Franklin
From April- November 2022 Downeast Institute collaborated with the Friends of Taunton Bay to measure recruitment behavior of soft-shell clams and green crabs at two intertidal mudflats in Taunton [...]
Clam Recruitment Monitoring Network
Downeast Institute has established a soft-shell Clam Recruitment Monitoring Network that spans the entire coast of Maine.
Effects of Oyster Shell Recycling vs Predator Protection on Mudflat Acidity and Shellfish Enhancement
During 2021, Downeast Institute and partners continued our work testing the effects of sediment buffering (adding recycled crushed shells to mudflats) vs predator protection on commercial [...]
Testing Brushing as a Method to Enhance Clam Populations
In May of 2019, DEI scientists deployed studies across the Maine coast to determine if the traditional practice of brushing works to increase soft-shell clam populations, the first time [...]
Examining How Sediment and Seawater Chemistry Affect Clam Survival, Growth, and Recruitment in Cutler and Machiasport (2018)
Summary In 2018, DEI conducted a comparative field experiment at two coves, one in Cutler and one in Machiasport, to investigate how soft-shell clams react to acidic seawater and sediments, and [...]
