The Life of Animals | Oyster | A group of
oysters is commonly Called a bed or
oyster reef. Large beds of edible oysters are also found in Japan and Australia. As a keystone species, oysters
Provide habitat for many marine species. The hard surfaces of
oyster shells and the nooks the between the shells Provide places where a host of small animals can live. Hundreds of
animals Such as sea anemones, barnacles, and hooked mussels inhabit
oyster reefs. An
oyster reef can increase of the surface area of a flat bottom
50-fold.
Oysters usually reach maturity in one year. Bay oysters usually spawn by the end of June. An increase of water temperature prompts in A Few oysters to spawn. This triggers spawning in the rest, clouding the water with Millions of eggs and sperm. A single female
oyster can Produce up to 100 million eggs Annually. Attached oyster larvae are Called Spat. Spat are
oysters less than 25 millimeters (0.98 in) long.
Some tropical
oysters in the family Isognomonidae grow best on mangrove
roots. Common
oyster predators include
crabs, sea birds, sea stars, and Humans. Some oysters contain live crabs, known as oyster crabs. Jonathan Swift is quoted as having said, "He was a bold man first ate an oyster That", but evidence of
oyster consumption goes back into Prehistory, evidenced by
oyster middens found worldwide. Oysters were the resource persons an Important
food source in all coastal areas where They Could be found, and
oyster fisheries were the resource persons where an Important industry plentiful They were the resource persons.