1
|
Zengel S, Weaver J, Wilder SL, Dauzat J, Sanfilippo C, Miles MS, Jellison K, Doelling P, Davis A, Fortier BK, Harris J, Panaccione J, Wall S, Nixon Z. Vegetation recovery in an oil-impacted and burned Phragmites australis tidal freshwater marsh. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 612:231-237. [PMID: 28850842 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 08/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In-situ burning of oiled marshes is a cleanup method that can be more effective and less damaging than intrusive manual and mechanical methods. In-situ burning of oil spills has been examined for several coastal marsh types; however, few published data are available for Phragmites australis marshes. Following an estimated 4200gallon crude oil spill and in-situ burn in a Phragmites tidal freshwater marsh at Delta National Wildlife Refuge (Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana), we examined vegetation impacts and recovery across 3years. Oil concentrations in marsh soils were initially elevated in the oiled-and-burned sites, but were below background levels within three months. Oiling and burning drastically affected the marsh vegetation; the formerly dominant Phragmites, a non-native variety in our study sites, had not fully recovered by the end of our study. However, overall vegetation recovery was rapid and local habitat quality in terms of native plants, particularly Sagittaria species, and wildlife value was enhanced by burning. In-situ burning appears to be a viable response option to consider for future spills in marshes with similar plant species composition, hydrogeomorphic settings, and oiling conditions. In addition, likely Phragmites stress from high water levels and/or non-native scale insect damage was also observed during our study and has recently been reported as causing widespread declines or loss of Phragmites stands in the Delta region. It remains an open question if these stressors could lead to a shift to more native vegetation, similar to what we observed following the oil spill and burn. Increased dominance by native plants may be desirable as local patches, but widespread loss of Phragmites, even if replaced by native species, could further acerbate coastal erosion and wetland loss, a major concern in the region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott Zengel
- Research Planning, Inc. (RPI), 247 E. 7th Avenue, Suite 200, Tallahassee, FL 32303, USA.
| | - Jennifer Weaver
- Research Planning, Inc. (RPI), 247 E. 7th Avenue, Suite 200, Tallahassee, FL 32303, USA.
| | - Susan L Wilder
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 61389 Highway 434, Lacombe, LA 70445, USA.
| | - Jeff Dauzat
- Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, 201 Evans Road, Suite 420, New Orleans, LA, 70123, USA.
| | - Chris Sanfilippo
- Texas Petroleum Investment Company, 207 Town Center Parkway, Suite 150, Lafayette, LA 70506, USA.
| | - Martin S Miles
- Louisiana State University (LSU), Department of Environmental Sciences, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
| | - Kyle Jellison
- NOAA Emergency Response Division, Office of Response and Restoration, 500 Poydras Street, Suite 1213, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA.
| | - Paige Doelling
- NOAA Emergency Response Division, Office of Response and Restoration, 500 Poydras Street, Suite 1213, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA.
| | - Adam Davis
- NOAA Emergency Response Division, Office of Response and Restoration, 500 Poydras Street, Suite 1213, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA.
| | - Barret K Fortier
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 61389 Highway 434, Lacombe, LA 70445, USA.
| | - James Harris
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 61389 Highway 434, Lacombe, LA 70445, USA.
| | - James Panaccione
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 61389 Highway 434, Lacombe, LA 70445, USA.
| | - Steven Wall
- NOAA Emergency Response Division, Office of Response and Restoration, 500 Poydras Street, Suite 1213, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA.
| | - Zachary Nixon
- Research Planning, Inc. (RPI), 247 E. 7th Avenue, Suite 200, Tallahassee, FL 32303, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lecklin T, Ryömä R, Kuikka S. A Bayesian network for analyzing biological acute and long-term impacts of an oil spill in the Gulf of Finland. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2011; 62:2822-35. [PMID: 22001297 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.08.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2010] [Revised: 08/26/2011] [Accepted: 08/31/2011] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of oil-induced impacts from the literature and experts were used to develop a Bayesian network to evaluate the biological consequences of an oil accident in the low-saline Gulf of Finland (GOF). Analysis was carried out for selected groups of organisms. Subnetworks were divided into subgroups according to a predicted response to oil exposure. Two scenario analyses are presented: the most probable and the worst-case accident. The impact of the most probable accident in the GOF is rather small. In most of the groups studied oil-induced long-term effects are evaluated to be minor at least from the perspective of the whole GOF. After the worst-case accident negative effects are more likely. The model predicts that the most vulnerable groups are auks and ducks. Amphipods, gulls and to a lesser extend littoral fishes and seals may show delayed recovery after an accident. Also annual plant species may be susceptible to oil-induced disturbances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiina Lecklin
- Fisheries and Environmental Management (FEM) Group, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Merikotka Research Center, Mussalontie 428, FI-48310 Kotka, Finland.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Baustian J, Mendelssohn I, Lin Q, Rapp J. In situ burning restores the ecological function and structure of an oil-impacted coastal marsh. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2010; 46:781-789. [PMID: 20821009 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-010-9549-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2010] [Accepted: 08/12/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
As the use of in situ burning for oil spill remediation in coastal wetlands accelerates, the capacity of this procedure to restore the ecological structure and function of oil-impacted wetlands becomes increasingly important. Thus, our research focused on evaluating the functional and structural recovery of a coastal marsh in South Louisiana to an in situ burn following a Hurricane Katrina-induced oil spill. Permanent sampling plots were set up to monitor marsh recovery in the oiled and burned areas as well as non-oiled and non-burned (reference) marshes. Plots were monitored for species composition, stem density, above- and belowground productivity, marsh resiliency, soil chemistry, soil residual oil, and organic matter decomposition. The burn removed the majority of the oil from the marsh, and structurally the marsh recovered rapidly. Plant biomass and species composition returned to control levels within 9 months; however, species richness remained somewhat lower in the oiled and burned areas compared to the reference areas. Recovery of ecological function was also rapid following the in situ burn. Aboveground and belowground plant productivity recovered within one growing season, and although decomposition rates were initially higher in the oiled areas, over time they became equivalent to those in reference sites. Also, marsh resiliency, i.e., the rate of recovery from our applied disturbances, was not affected by the in situ burn. We conclude that in situ burning is an effective way to remove oil and allow ecosystem recovery in coastal marshes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Baustian
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 70803, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|