Timelapse of Oysters Filtering Chesapeake Bay Water

Maryland conservation non-profit The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has created timelapse of oysters filtering the waters of the east coast estuary. The bivalves play an important role in helping clean up the ecosystem, causing concern when their population dipped to as low as 4% of their normal levels.

Adult oysters are capable of pumping and straining up to two gallons of water in an hour. The simple act of eating makes them the bay’s most effective filtration system.