The phenology of the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) and its environmental drivers
Abstract
The European flat oyster ( Ostrea edulis ) is an ecosystem engineer that structures reef habitats and is a major focus of restoration efforts across Europe, yet its biological rhythms in its habitat remain unknown. These rhythms synchronize physiology with environmental cycles, indicating ecological adaptation. Here, we investigated behavioral, physiological, and molecular rhythms in O. edulis , as well as their environmental drivers. Using high-resolution valvometry, we monitored valve activity and shell growth over 540-days in the German Bight (Helgoland), along with environmental variables such as photoperiod, temperature, underwater sound, and food availability. Monthly gene expression profiling of clock-related genes was also performed. O. edulis displayed coordinated daily, tidal, lunar, semilunar, and annual rhythms, mainly driven by photoperiod and temperature. This integrative chronobiological approach reveals a multiple rhythm system in O. edulis , highlighting both adaptive capacity and vulnerability to anthropogenic pressures, and providing key indicators for the conservation and restoration of oyster reef habitats.
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BibTeX
@article{moal2026phenology,
title = {{The phenology of the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) and its environmental drivers}},
author = {Alexandre Le Moal and Damien Tran and Laura Payton and Yannick Geerebaert and Bernadette Pogoda and Bettina Meyer},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-63105-x},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05840336v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The phenology of the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) and its environmental drivers
AU - Alexandre Le Moal
AU - Damien Tran
AU - Laura Payton
AU - Yannick Geerebaert
AU - Bernadette Pogoda
AU - Bettina Meyer
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/27
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-63105-x
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05840336v1
AB - The European flat oyster ( Ostrea edulis ) is an ecosystem engineer that structures reef habitats and is a major focus of restoration efforts across Europe, yet its biological rhythms in its habitat remain unknown. These rhythms synchronize physiology with environmental cycles, indicating ecological adaptation. Here, we investigated behavioral, physiological, and molecular rhythms in O. edulis , as well as their environmental drivers. Using high-resolution valvometry, we monitored valve activity and shell growth over 540-days in the German Bight (Helgoland), along with environmental variables such as photoperiod, temperature, underwater sound, and food availability. Monthly gene expression profiling of clock-related genes was also performed. O. edulis displayed coordinated daily, tidal, lunar, semilunar, and annual rhythms, mainly driven by photoperiod and temperature. This integrative chronobiological approach reveals a multiple rhythm system in O. edulis , highlighting both adaptive capacity and vulnerability to anthropogenic pressures, and providing key indicators for the conservation and restoration of oyster reef habitats.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -