You can argue delicious or disgusting, but there is no denying the important roles oysters play in the ecological health and well-being of the Chesapeake Bay. As keystone species, Eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica support communities of other species. Dr. Ihde, a research professor at the Morgan State University Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory (PEARL), will talk about the history of oysters in the Chesapeake, and their importance to the ecosystem. and share some of past and current research focused on estimating the regional economic impacts of oyster restoration efforts in both Maryland and Virginia.