Program Overview

The Molluscan Ecology Program within the Department of Fisheries Science at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is a dynamic research group that derives its origins from the original oyster biologists at the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, the organizational ancestor to VIMS.

In recent years, while still providing research-based advisory service to the Commonwealth of Virginia for oyster biology, ecology and restoration issues, we have expanded our activities to include benthic and pelagic molluscs found locally in the Chesapeake Bay (hard clams, squid, whelks including the invasive rapa whelk), the ecological communities associated with these molluscs, as well as coastal and off-shore molluscan species and communities. Since the mid-1990s we have maintained an educational component of our programs to share the results of our research with local educators and give them support communicating this information to their students. Additionally, we are actively involved in invasive species research, management, policy discussions, and control strategies on local, national, and international levels. Graduate education at the Masters and Ph.D. level is an integral component of our program at all levels.

In all of our activities we seek to understand the biological, ecological, and fishery impacts of the animals of interest and apply that knowledge toward restoration, management, and educational issues.