| The Eastern oyster ( Crassostrea virginica ) is one of the most abundant bivalve species inhabiting the eastern U.S. coastal zone. Because of their widespread distribution and their capacity to accumulate chemical and microbial contaminants, they have been used for several decades as an indicator of coastal water quality. In this study, oysters were collected from sites with various landuses: industrial, pristine, marina, residential, and harvesting beds. Sites were sampled in both the summer and winter to investigate the affect of season on these indicators. The Georgia Oyster Watch (GEOW) aims at determining the affects different landuses in the coastal area has on Georgia's coastal environment, examine interrelationships of chemical and microbial indicators, and to initiate and environmental observation system for coastal Georgia. |
