A single adult oyster can filter up to 50-gallons of water in a single day. For this reason, they may be one of the most important species when it comes to ensuring the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
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Some basic information about the Eastern Oyster from NOAA.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/eastern-oyster
The Baltimore Sun provides a timeline of the history of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay.
The North Carolina Sea Grant has a video about the life cycle of oysters.