Abstract
Oysters play a pivotal role as ecosystem engineers, offering multifaceted benefits to estuaries and oceans. This study examines into the potential of oysters as tools for water quality and restoration, specifically focusing on denitrification. The decline in oyster populations in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida, has sparked interest in restoration efforts for improving water quality. To support NGOs such as the Watershed Action Lab in sustaining the watershed, I have partnered with the University of Florida to utilize a dataset from North Carolina, emphasizing easily measurable predictor variables. Through a stepwise AIC model selection, Linear Regression, and ANOVA, the study develops a predictive model for denitrification, highlighting the significance of factors such as salinity and temperature. The results underscore the viability of oysters in nitrogen mitigation, advocating for expanded geographical studies and long-term data collection for comprehensive analyses.