Dataset: OlyGrowth_Expt_2018_Mortality

We cultured Olympia oyster larvae in 50 unique combinations of temperature, salinity, and pCO2. Larvae were collected on the day of release from Puget Sound Restoration Fund, and overnight shipped to Shannon Point Marine Center, rehydrated, and dispensed into treatment cups. Culture cups were housed in a custom-build head gradient flow-through water bath ranging from ambient (~12°C) to ~30°C and assigned a random salinity value (9-36, by threes). Also available is the dataset of cup chemistry.

To measure mortality in culture cups, we sampled larvae prior to water changes every two-three days of the experiment (Mon/Wed/Fri). Samplers condensed larval cups into small bowls, mixed larvae inside to suspend dead and alive larvae, and took 0.5-1ml aliquots on Sedgewick rafter counting cells. Our aim was to capture at least 20 live larvae in each sample. If fewer than 20 live larvae were sampled, the counter would take another aliquot and add numbers. If more, all larvae in aliquot we’re counted. Live and dead larvae were counted, and the live ones were collected for later size measurement (see growth experiment datasheet). The developmental stage was noted by the visual presence of eyespots on larval shells (though these were recounted in size samples later to improve consistency, so eye counts from this data sheet were not used), and presence of settled larvae on culture cup surfaces.