Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reefs are both economically and ecologically important to the Chesapeake Bay. They are a valuable commercial fishery, provide critical habitat for other organisms, protect eroding shorelines, and improve water quality. The decline of natural oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay has disrupted ecosystems by eliminating these important ecosystem services. Organizations like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) are working to restore these reefs but little is known about how the creation of artificial reefs affects biodiversity across taxa. This research uses environmental DNA (eDNA) as an investigative tool to understand the biodiversity of a natural reef, and the before and after of an artificially planted reef in the Hampton River. Water samples are collected in triplicates at 3 sample sites: an area with a natural reef, an area where a reef will be artificially planted, and a control area with no oysters to investigate biodiversity. Samples will be collected during two months of each season to capture seasonal diversity shifts. Three separate genes will be targeted during sequencing and analysis (16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and CO1) to provide a full picture of the biota ranging from microbial to metazoan biodiversity. Results will include species richness and abundance between sites and if an artificial-planted oyster alters biodiversity. Our research will give insight into the current biodiversity in the Hampton River, the environmental response to artificially planted reefs, and optimal conditions for oyster restoration efforts.

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