Impacts of Heatwaves and Hypoxia on Shellfish

This project will examine the impacts of singular and coinciding climate-change stressor events (heatwaves, hypoxia) on shellfish species of commercial and indigenous importance in the north-eastern Pacific Ocean.

Specifically, the project will investigate the effects of these two stressors on stress response (gene expression). energetics (oxygen consumption), condition, and survival of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and Pacific razor clams (Siliqua patula).

A combination of laboratory experiments. simulating heatwaves and hypoxic events. and summer field trials. during high temperatures and hypoxic conditions. will provide opportunities to investigate species-specific stress responses under both controlled-laboratory and natural conditions.

Furthermore, the project will develop and test a suite of genetic biomarkers that may be applied to future monitoring efforts and pilot test a potential method for mitigation of thermal/hypoxia stressors (artificial aeration).