Clean Ocean Advocate, December 2006
CREATURE FEATURE
The October Creature Feature was the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica). These seemingly immobile creatures begin life as a free-swimming, planktonic larva that eventually settles onto mud, rocks, or other oyster shells, where they attach and grow. Once they settle they can no longer move, making them susceptible to many different threats, including pollution, habitat loss, and predation. They can fend off predators with their thick, sharp outer shell and strong muscles, but because oysters are filter-feeders, they must ingest the water and all its pollutants in order to get food and oxygen. Poor water quality has resulted in a substantial decline in the eastern oyster population throughout its range.
There were no correct entries for this creature this month.
December Creature: These fish can be found along the east coast from Canada to Florida, where they are always very popular with anglers. In fact, during this time of year, fishermen “line” up along the shoreline of New Jersey, n hopes of snagging the big one. They just might lure one in using their preferred prey of live fish and invertebrates. To enter for a chance to win a COA T-shirt, send your guess for the December Creature by mail, fax, or e-mail (PO Box 505, Sandy Hook, NJ 07732; FAX 732-872-8041; Education@CleanOceanAction.org).
(Coastal Creature Feature appears every other month in the Clean Ocean Advocate.)
