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In June of 2007, Mara G. Haseltine created and installed her first
oyster reef, a pilot project experiment in New York City, in McNeil
Park on College Point, Queens NY. The project is the first of its
kind in New York City using low volts of electricity from
solar panels to produce the accretion of calcium carbonate conducive
to oyster growth. The "Biorock" process was originally
developed by Architect Wolf Hilbritz and is used worldwide for
coral reef restoration http://www.globalcoral.org. Haseltine collaborated on this project
with marine biologists, Colombia University Graduate
student Katlin Baird and engineering student Michael DiDonato.
"Biorock" accretion method
For this reef Haseltine's concept was to create a modular
design in metal, using solar panels to send low volts of electricity
to metal and thus causing mineral accretion to occur as calcium
carbonate formed on the structures. In the wild, oyster larvae
typically settle on oyster shells which are composed of
to calcium carbonate or limestone. With this experiment
the calcium carbonate covered surfaces of the metal will
in time become ideal settling spots for oyster larvae.
Computer Design
In keeping with her previous work Haseltine has peered into
the microscopic realm to find the perfect shape for her structures
and create a design inspired by the double helix in the act
of transcription of RNA . Haseltine playfully dubbed the sculpture
"TRANSCRIPTEASE" as double-helix shapes unwind
and seem to dance around the pilings bringing both aesthetic
beauty and optimal functionality to the project. "TRANSCRIPTEASE"
also doubles as a teaching tool - the sculptures depict DNA
in the act of replication, one sculpture is a fully formed
DNA helix, and the other depicts DNA in the act of unraveling
into the two separate strands of messenger RNA (mRNA).
DNA sculpture unraveling out of water at site
The vertical twisted forms are optimal for oyster beds because
its vertical shape allows for water to flow freely thus allowing
oysters to receive the maximum amount of nutrients and keeps
them above the sediment at the bottom. Vertical structures
with plenty of ventilation space where nutrients can reach
the oysters have proven to be the best way to grow healthy
oysters. This design is actually an improvement on the typical
oyster midden in which the oysters at the bottom are often
smothered in sediment or covered by other oysters at the top
of the pile so the ones on the bottom literally starve. To
offset this problem, Haseltine created a design inspired
by the double helix which allows for water to flow
freely in order for the oysters to receive the maximum amount
of nutrients. Haseltine utilized the architecture
of pre-existing wooden pilings as a structural support to
create vertical structures.
This is an environmentally sound and elegant use of the pilings,
which cannot be removed as they are considered hazardous
waste and are found throughout the coastline of New York's
waterways. The use of the pilings has the advantage of more
strength as well as saving space while still enjoying the
advantages of re-creating a biodiverse habitat, which would
not interfere with Benthic or bottom dwelling fish.
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| Install at low tide |
Detail of sculpture with tagged oysters |
In her quest to create the ultimate urban oyster reef she
is currenlty conducting experiments with the:
Global Coral Reef Alliance: http://www.globalcoral.org
New York New Jersey BayKeeper:http://www.nynjbaykeeper.org/
The River Project :http://www.riverproject.org/
Gaia Institute:http://www.gaiainstituteny.org/ |
