Characterization of the Microbiota of Oyster Larvae (Crassostrea virginica) and Tank Water from an Aquaculture System with High and Low Larval Survival Rates

Aquaculture plays an increasingly important role in the growing demand for seafood. Hatchery production of oyster larvae is an integral component of oyster farming, providing single seed for off-bottom farming or larvae for setting on larger substrates for on-bottom farming. Larvae from certain tanks in an established aquaculture enterprise were dying from an unknown etiologic agent. A metagenomic approach was used to examine oyster larvae and water from larval tanks with high and low survival rates to evaluate the epidemiological efficacy of this approach.