Hitching a ride on Hercules: fatal epibiosis drives ecosystem change from mud banks to oyster reefs

Best known as a 'love them or hate them' luxury food, or for their pearls, oysters are also ecosystem engineers, forming vast oyster reefs. Oyster reefs provide habitat for a myriad of species, and support fisheries, improve water quality and provide coastal protection. These services are estimated to be worth US$5500-$99,000 per hectare per year (Grabowski et al. 2012).