Oysters

Oyster

The Common Oyster Crassostrea virginica, to 10", is the basis of a major fishery, but they occur only in turbid brackish estuaries, conditions generally not conducive to scuba diving. Oysters once dominated the bottom fauna in our local rivers and bays, but are now all but extinct due to pollution and disease. Attempts are being made to reintroduce them in places, and perhaps someday even re-establish the fishery. Disease-resistant Asian Oysters may be the key to this.

US Fish & Wildlife Service Species Profile


Algae and plants are similar in that they can produce their own food from nutrients and sunlight by photosynthesis. The main difference between the two is in their complexity. Algae are simple organisms, sometimes unicellular, and even the largest types are relatively simple in structure. True plants, on the other hand, are quite complex, with many specialized structures, even in the smallest types.

Fungi are not plants, they do not produce their own food, but rather feed upon decaying matter. But neither are they animals, so I tacked them on here.

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