There are over 200 species of oysters, from the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), measuring 35.5 centimeters (13.97 in) long to the Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) at just six to eight centimeters (2.4 to 3.1 in) in length. Know culturally worldwide for their pearls or in cuisine, oysters are a fascinating mollusksspecies that should be noted for their abilities, including those that play a significant role in our shared ecosystem.
1. Oysters are a keystone species
A keystone species is one on which their ecosystem largely depends, so much so that if they were removed or made extinct, the habitat would drastically change or collapse completely. Grouped together, an oyster bed or oyster reef provides an architectural structure that serves as a habitat for various life. Hundreds of animals, such as sea anemones, barnacles, and hooked mussels, live in oyster reefs, reproducing and finding protection from predators.
Five astonishing facts you didn’t know about oysters | One Earth
1. Oysters are a keystone species
A keystone species is one on which their ecosystem largely depends, so much so that if they were removed or made extinct, the habitat would drastically change or collapse completely. Grouped together, an oyster bed or oyster reef provides an architectural structure that serves as a habitat for various life. Hundreds of animals, such as sea anemones, barnacles, and hooked mussels, live in oyster reefs, reproducing and finding protection from predators.
Five astonishing facts you didn’t know about oysters | One Earth