BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Ostrea edulis
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Angus Jackson	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Widely distributed around the British Isles but less so on the east and north-east coasts of Britain and Ireland. The main stocks are now in the west coast of Scotland, the south-east and Thames estuary, the Solent, the River Fal, and Lough Foyle.
Global distribution	Found naturally from the Norwegian Sea south through the North Sea down to the Iberian Peninsula and the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Found in the Mediterranean Sea and extends into the Black Sea.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	0-80m
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	The native oyster has also been introduced and is cultivated in North America, Australia and Japan. Cultivated populations may be encouraged through the use of an artificial substratum (limed tiles) used preferentially for larval settlement. Oysters are found on a wide variety of substrata but typically where the seabed is hard. Can form into dense 'beds' of oyster shells.

Substratum preferences	Large to very large boulders Small boulders Cobbles Pebbles Gravel / shingle Artificial (e.g. metal/wood/concrete) Muddy gravel Muddy sand Mud Bedrock	Physiographic preferences	Open coast Sealoch Ria / Voe Estuary
Biological zone	Lower Eulittoral Sublittoral Fringe Upper Infralittoral Lower Infralittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Circalittoral	Wave exposure	Exposed Moderately Exposed Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Insufficient information	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu) Variable (18-40 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Campbell, 1994, Anonymous, 1999(b), Tebble, 1966, Lilley, 2000, Yonge, 1960, Korringa, 1952, Moore, 2002,