Chris Langdon has been conducting aquaculture research with COMES for over three decades, and his innovative work has been instrumental in supporting the research needs of the aquaculture industry. Current shellfish research involves selecting oysters for greater resistance to ocean acidification, oyster diseases, and summer mortality stress. Probiotic treatments are being developed to control bacterial diseases. Chris’s research program also focuses on bivalve and finfish larval nutrition using microencapsulated nutrients, as well as the impacts of microplastics on bivalve larvae.
Chris' research involving the sea vegetable dulse, a nutrient-rich, red marine algae, has been widely publicized due to dulse's reported bacon-like flavor when deep-fried. Dulse grows very quickly in land-based aquaculture systems and contains 20% protein by dry weight, which means that it could be part of the solution to feeding our rapidly increasing global population with more limited freshwater supplies.
In preparation for Chris’ upcoming retirement, his pioneering Molluscan Broodstock Program (MBP) is transitioning to USDA-ARS’ Pacific Shellfish Breeding Program (PSBC) in 2022. You can read more about MBP and the PSBC here.
Chris Langdon
Phone: 541-867-0231
Email
Professor, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences
Papers
Chris' Google Scholar
Chris' ResearchGate
Additional publications:
"Offshore Aquaculture in the Pacific Northwest", white paper submitted following the Offshore Aquaculture in the Pacific Northwest forum, 2008
"The Oyster Industry in Oregon: Its Challenges and Its Potential", a summary overview by Bruce Sorte, OSU Economist (2010)
In the News
A Legacy of Research Ensures the Future of an Industry - Progress (2023)
Solving an Oyster Mystery with Dr. Langdon - OSU Precollege Programs (2023)
Providing nutritious seaweed - (2022) Newport News Times
Working to keep oysters healthy - (2022) Newport News Times
We Need Seaweed - Eating Oregon's Dulse Can Save the World - (2022) 1859-Oregon's Magazine
Microplastics Research Project - OSU scientists take a closer look at how large-scale plastics break down in the environment - (2020) Oregon's Agricultural Progress
Farming the Waters (2020) - Terra
Adapting to a Changing Ocean (2019)
The Dream Of A Viable Bacon-Like Seaweed Is Still Alive In Oregon (2019) - Oregon Public Broadcasting
Officials Share Marine Resesarch (2019) - Newport News Times
OSU researchers aim to scale up production of nutritious red seaweeds (2018) - Oregon Sea Grant
OSU researchers aim to use probiotics to improve growth of oyster larvae (2018) - Oregon Sea Grant
Researchers aim to improve nutritional value of food for hatchery fish (2018) - Oregon Sea Grant
A Side of Seaweed, Please (2016) - Terra
The Next Big Thing: Sea Vegetables (2015)
Acidification Edification (2014)
"Best Option for Oregon Offshore Aquaculture" (PDF), interview with Chris Langdon, Molluscan Broodstock Program (2009)