The Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences' Eastern Shore
Laboratory (ESL) serves as both a field station in support of research and
teaching and as a site for resident research in coastal ecology and
aquaculture. By virtue of its access to unique coastal habitats, excellent
water quality, and an extensive seawater laboratory, the ESL affords
educational and research opportunities not available elsewhere within the
region. Over its 40-year history, the laboratory has become internationally
recognized for shellfish research, with important contributions to molluscan
ecology and culture.
The ESL is located on 4.3
acres in the coastal fishing village of Wachapreague, VA. A 3,200
square foot building provides office, laboratory, and classroom space. A
teaching laboratory with student workstations is equipped with both dissecting
and compound microscopes. Lab bench space is available in a common-use
equipment room, which contains a UV/visible spectrophotometer, fluorometer,
light microscopes, an image-analysis system, and balances.
A hallmark of the ESL is a large flexible seawater system for husbandry of live marine and
estuarine organisms. Approximately 50 flowing seawater tables are located at
the facility, some inside and others outdoors. Tanks of various sizes are
available for use in either flow-through or recirculation modes. A seawater
quarantine system provides the capability to conduct work on nonindigenous
species.
During our stay at ESL we will be utilizing the dormitory, kitchen and dining
facilities. We can also take advantage of the ESL’s small vessels for research and
educational activities. The emphasis in the fleet is on small, shallow draft
vessels that provide easy access to shallow-water habitats along the seaside
and bayside of the Eastern Shore.