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Accelerated marsh erosion following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill confirmed, ameliorated by planting. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13802. [PMID: 35963962 PMCID: PMC9376092 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18102-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple studies have examined the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on coastal marsh shoreline erosion. Most studies have concluded that the spill increased shoreline erosion (linear retreat) in oiled marshes by ~ 100–200% for at least 2–3 years. However, two studies have called much of this prior research into question, due to potential study design flaws and confounding factors, primarily tropical cyclone influences and differential wave exposure between oiled (impact) and unoiled (reference) sites. Here we confirm that marsh erosion in our field experiment was substantially increased (112–233%) for 2 years in heavily oiled marsh after the spill, likely due to vegetation impacts and reduced soil shear strength attributed to the spill, rather than the influences of hurricanes or wave exposure variation. We discuss how our findings reinforce prior studies, including a wider-scale remote sensing analysis with similar study approach. We also show differences in the degree of erosion among oil spill cleanup treatments. Most importantly, we show that marsh restoration planting can drastically reduce oiled marsh erosion, and that the positive influences of planting can extend beyond the immediate impact of the spill.
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2
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Kim T, Lee C, Lee J, Bae H, Noh J, Hong S, Kwon BO, Kim JJ, Yim UH, Chang GS, Giesy JP, Khim JS. Best available technique for the recovery of marine benthic communities in a gravel shore after the oil spill: A mesocosm-based sediment triad assessment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 435:128945. [PMID: 35500340 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ecotoxicological effects of spilled oils are well documented, but study of recovery of marine benthic communities is limited. Long-term recovery of hard bottom communities during physical and biological remediations after a spill was monitored. A 60-day experiment was conducted using a mesocosm with monitoring of eight endpoints by use of the sediment quality triad (SQT). First, physical treatment of hot water + high pressure flushing maximally removed residual oils (max=93%), showing the greatest recovery among SQT variables (mean=72%). Physical cleanup generally involved adverse effects such as depression of the microphytobenthic community during the initial period. Next, biological treatments, such as fertilizer, emulsifier, enzyme and augmentation of the microbes, all facilitated removal of oil (max=66%) enhancing ecological recovery. Analysis of the microbiome confirmed that oil-degrading bacteria, such as Dietzia sp. and Rosevarius sp. were present. A mixed bioremediation, including fertilizer + multi-enzyme + microbes (FMeM) maximized efficacy of remediation as indicated by SQT parameters (mean=47%). Natural attenuation with "no treatment" showed comparable recovery to other remediations. Considering economic availability, environmental performance, and technical applicability, of currently available techniques, combined treatments of physical removal via hand wiping followed by FMeM could be most effective for recovery of the rocky shore benthic community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taewoo Kim
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Changkeun Lee
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghyun Lee
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanna Bae
- GeoSystem Research Corporation, Gunpo 15807, Republic of Korea
| | - Junsung Noh
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongjin Hong
- Department of Ocean Environmental Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Oh Kwon
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, Kunsan National University, Kunsan 54150, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Jin Kim
- Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, College of Life Science & Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Un Hyuk Yim
- Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea
| | - Gap Soo Chang
- Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N5E2, Canada
| | - John P Giesy
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences & Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan,Saskatoon, SK S7N5B3, Canada; Environmental Sciences Department, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798-7266, United States
| | - Jong Seong Khim
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Development of interval transient pollution distribution model and its application in the Fenghuangshan drinking water source. Ecol Modell 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.110037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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4
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Nassar HN, Rabie AM, Abu Amr SS, El-Gendy NS. Kinetic and statistical perspectives on the interactive effects of recalcitrant polyaromatic and sulfur heterocyclic compounds and in-vitro nanobioremediation of oily marine sediment at microcosm level. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 209:112768. [PMID: 35085558 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A halotolerant biosurfactant producer Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain NSH3 (NCBI Gene Bank Accession No. MN149622) was isolated to degrade high concentrations of recalcitrant polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polyaromatic heterocyclic sulfur compounds (PASHs). In biphasic batch bioreactors, the biodegradation and biosurfactant-production activities of NSH3 have been significantly enhanced (p < 0.0001) by its decoration with eco-friendly prepared magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs). On an artificially contaminated sediment microcosm level, regression modeling and statistical analysis based on a 23 full factorial design of experiments were trendily applied to provide insights into the interactive impacts of such pollutants. MNPs-coated NSH3 were also innovatively applied for nanobioremediation (NBR) of in-vitro diesel oil-polluted sediment microcosms. Gravimetric, chromatographic, and microbial respiratory analyses proved the significantly enhanced biodegradation capabilities of MNPs-coated NSH3 (p < 0.001) and the complete mineralization of various recalcitrant diesel oil components. Kinetic analyses showed that the biodegradation of iso- and n-alkanes was best fitted with a second-order kinetic model equation. Nevertheless, PAHs and PASHs in biphasic batch bioreactors and sediment microcosms followed the first-order kinetic model equation. Sustainable NBR overcome the toxicity of low molecular weight hydrocarbons, mass transfer limitation, and steric hindrance of hydrophobic recalcitrant high molecular weight hydrocarbons and alkylated polyaromatic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein N Nassar
- Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI), Nasr City, Cairo, PO, 11727, Egypt; Center of Excellence, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), 6(th) of October City, Giza, PO, 12566, Egypt
| | - Abdelrahman M Rabie
- Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI), Nasr City, Cairo, PO, 11727, Egypt
| | - Salem S Abu Amr
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Karabuk University, Demir Campus, Karabuk, PO, 78050, Turkey
| | - Nour Sh El-Gendy
- Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI), Nasr City, Cairo, PO, 11727, Egypt; Center of Excellence, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), 6(th) of October City, Giza, PO, 12566, Egypt.
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5
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Mora M, Walker TR, Willis R. Spatiotemporal characterization of petroleum hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in small craft harbour sediments in Nova Scotia, Canada. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 177:113524. [PMID: 35279547 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Previous characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals has been conducted in small craft harbour (SCH) sediments in Nova Scotia, Canada, but petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have not been spatiotemporally assessed. This study characterized the distribution of over 500 PHCs and PCBs samples in 31 SCHs sediments between 2000 and 2017. Federal and regional sediment quality guidelines were used to determine exceedances. Results showed exceedances for diesel and oil resembling PHCs, expected given their longer permanence in sediments and lower volatility. However, only 7% of the samples exceeded 500 ppm, threshold where benthic impairment is observed, showing low risk. PCBs do not pose high risk to biota since only six samples exceeded the higher effect level and 25% of them exceeded the lower effect one. Monitoring is recommended for SCHs with significant exceedances, as well as collectively assessing all contaminants characterized in SCHs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Mora
- School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Tony R Walker
- School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Rob Willis
- Dillon Consulting Limited, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3S 1B3, Canada
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6
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Alterations of endophytic microbial community function in Spartina alterniflora as a result of crude oil exposure. Biodegradation 2022; 33:87-98. [PMID: 35039995 PMCID: PMC10405147 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-021-09968-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster remains one of the largest oil spills in history. This event caused significant damage to coastal ecosystems, the full extent of which has yet to be fully determined. Crude oil contains toxic heavy metals and substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that are detrimental to some microbial species and may be used as food and energy resources by others. As a result, oil spills have the potential to cause significant shifts in microbial communities. This study assessed the impact of oil contamination on the function of endophytic microbial communities associated with saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Soil samples were collected from two locations in coastal Louisiana, USA: one severely affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and one relatively unaffected location. Spartina alterniflora seedlings were grown in both soil samples in greenhouses, and GeoChip 5.0 was used to evaluate the endophytic microbial metatranscriptome shifts in response to host plant oil exposure. Oil exposure was associated with significant shifts in microbial gene expression in functional categories related to carbon cycling, virulence, metal homeostasis, organic remediation, and phosphorus utilization. Notably, significant increases in expression were observed in genes related to metal detoxification with the exception of chromium, and both significant increases and decreases in expression were observed in functional gene subcategories related to hydrocarbon metabolism. These findings show that host oil exposure elicits multiple changes in gene expression from their endophytic microbial communities, producing effects that may potentially impact host plant fitness.
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7
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Zerebecki RA, Heck KL, Valentine JF. Biodiversity influences the effects of oil disturbance on coastal ecosystems. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8532. [PMID: 35127038 PMCID: PMC8796919 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity can enhance the response of ecosystems to disturbance. However, whether diversity can reduce the ecological effect of human-induced novel and extreme disturbances is unclear. In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon (DwH) platform exploded, allowing an uncontrolled release of crude oil into the northern Gulf of Mexico. Initial surveys following the spill found that ecological impacts on coastal ecosystems varied greatly across habitat-type and trophic group; however, to date, few studies have tested the influence of local biodiversity on these responses. We used a meta-analytic approach to synthesize the results of 5 mesocosm studies that included 10 independent oil experiments and 5 independent oil + dispersant experiments. We tested whether biodiversity increased the resistance and/or resilience of coastal ecosystems to oil disturbance and whether a biodiversity effect depended on the type of diversity present (taxonomic or genetic) and/or the response type measured (population, community, or ecosystem level). We found that diversity can influence the effects of oiling, but the direction and magnitude of this diversity effect varied. Diversity reduced the negative impact of oiling for within-trophic-level responses and tended to be stronger for taxonomic than genetic diversity. Further, diversity effects were largely driven by the presence of highly resistant or quick to recover taxa and genotypes, consistent with the insurance hypothesis. However, we found no effect of diversity on the response to the combination of oil and dispersant exposure. We conclude that areas of low biodiversity may be particularly vulnerable to future oil disturbances and provide insight into the benefit of incorporating multiple measures of diversity in restoration projects and management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn A. Zerebecki
- Dauphin Island Sea LabDauphin IslandAlabamaUSA
- Present address:
University of LouisianaLafayetteLouisinaUSA
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8
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Zengel S, Weaver J, Mendelssohn IA, Graham SA, Lin Q, Hester MW, Willis JM, Silliman BR, Fleeger JW, McClenachan G, Rabalais NN, Turner RE, Hughes AR, Cebrian J, Deis DR, Rutherford N, Roberts BJ. Meta-analysis of salt marsh vegetation impacts and recovery: a synthesis following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e02489. [PMID: 34741358 PMCID: PMC9285535 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Marine oil spills continue to be a global issue, heightened by spill events such as the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the largest marine oil spill in US waters and among the largest worldwide, affecting over 1,000 km of sensitive wetland shorelines, primarily salt marshes supporting numerous ecosystem functions. To synthesize the effects of the oil spill on foundational vegetation species in the salt marsh ecosystem, Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus, we performed a meta-analysis using data from 10 studies and 255 sampling sites over seven years post-spill. We examined the hypotheses that the oil spill reduced plant cover, stem density, vegetation height, aboveground biomass, and belowground biomass, and tracked the degree of effects temporally to estimate recovery time frames. All plant metrics indicated impacts from oiling, with 20-100% maximum reductions depending on oiling level and marsh zone. Peak reductions of ~70-90% in total plant cover, total aboveground biomass, and belowground biomass were observed for heavily oiled sites at the marsh edge. Both Spartina and Juncus were impacted, with Juncus affected to a greater degree. Most plant metrics had recovery time frames of three years or longer, including multiple metrics with incomplete recovery over the duration of our data, at least seven years post-spill. Belowground biomass was particularly concerning, because it declined over time in contrast with recovery trends in most aboveground metrics, serving as a strong indicator of ongoing impact, limited recovery, and impaired resilience. We conclude that the Deepwater Horizon spill had multiyear impacts on salt marsh vegetation, with full recovery likely to exceed 10 years, particularly in heavily oiled marshes, where erosion may preclude full recovery. Vegetation impacts and delayed recovery is likely to have exerted substantial influences on ecosystem processes and associated species, especially along heavily oiled shorelines. Our synthesis affords a greater understanding of ecosystem impacts and recovery following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and informs environmental impact analysis, contingency planning, emergency response, damage assessment, and restoration efforts related to oil spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Zengel
- Research Planning, Inc. (RPI)TallahasseeFlorida32303USA
| | | | | | - Sean A. Graham
- Gulf South Research CorporationBaton RougeLouisiana70820USA
| | - Qianxin Lin
- Louisiana State UniversityBaton RougeLouisiana70803USA
| | - Mark W. Hester
- University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayetteLouisiana70504USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Nancy N. Rabalais
- Louisiana State UniversityBaton RougeLouisiana70803USA
- Louisiana Universities Marine ConsortiumChauvinLouisiana70344USA
| | | | - A. Randall Hughes
- Northeastern University Marine Science CenterNahantMassachusetts01908USA
| | - Just Cebrian
- Northern Gulf InstituteStennis Space CenterMississippi State UniversityStarkvilleMississippi39529USA
| | | | - Nicolle Rutherford
- National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)SeattleWashington98115USA
| | - Brian J. Roberts
- Louisiana Universities Marine ConsortiumChauvinLouisiana70344USA
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9
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Hart ME, Perez-Umphrey A, Stouffer PC, Burns CB, Bonisoli-Alquati A, Taylor SS, Woltmann S. Nest survival of Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima) in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259022. [PMID: 34699553 PMCID: PMC8547620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill released an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, damaging coastal ecosystems. Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima)-a year-round resident of Gulf Coast salt marshes-were exposed to oil, as shown by published isotopic and molecular analyses, but fitness consequences have not been clarified. We monitored nests around two bays in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, USA from 2012-2017 to assess possible impacts on the nesting biology of Seaside Sparrows. A majority of nests failed (76% of known-fate nests, N = 252 nests, 3521 exposure-days) during our study, and predation was the main cause of nest failure (~91% of failed nests). Logistic exposure analysis revealed that daily nest survival rate: (1) was greater at nests with denser vegetation at nest height, (2) was higher in the more sheltered bay we studied, (3) decreased over the course of the breeding season in each year, and (4) was not correlated with either sediment polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations or estimated predator abundance during the years for which we had those data. Although the Deepwater Horizon spill impacted other aspects of Seaside Sparrow ecology, we found no definitive effect of initial oiling or oiled sediment on nest survival during 2012-2017. Because predation was the overwhelming cause of nest failure in our study, additional work on these communities is needed to fully understand demographic and ecological impacts of storms, oil spills, other pollutants, and sea-level rise on Seaside Sparrows and their predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Hart
- Center of Excellence for Field Biology, and Department of Biology, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, United States of America
| | - Anna Perez-Umphrey
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Philip C Stouffer
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Christine Bergeon Burns
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Sabrina S Taylor
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Stefan Woltmann
- Center of Excellence for Field Biology, and Department of Biology, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, United States of America
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10
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Moyo S, Bennadji H, Laguaite D, Pérez-Umphrey AA, Snider AM, Bonisoli-Alquati A, Olin JA, Stouffer PC, Taylor SS, López-Duarte PC, Roberts BJ, Hooper-Bui L, Polito MJ. Stable isotope analyses identify trophic niche partitioning between sympatric terrestrial vertebrates in coastal saltmarshes with differing oiling histories. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11392. [PMID: 34316388 PMCID: PMC8288111 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioindicator species are commonly used as proxies to help identify the ecological effects of oil spills and other stressors. However, the utility of taxa as bioindicators is dependent on understanding their trophic niche and life history characteristics, as these factors mediate their ecological responses. Seaside sparrows (Ammospiza maritima) and marsh rice rats (Oryzomys palustris) are two ubiquitous terrestrial vertebrates that are thought to be bioindicators of oil spills in saltmarsh ecosystems. To improve the utility of these omnivorous taxa as bioindicators, we used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis to quantify their trophic niches at saltmarshes in coastal Louisiana with differing oiling histories. We found that rats generally had lower trophic positions and incorporated more aquatic prey relative to seaside sparrows. The range of resources used (i.e.,trophic niche width) varied based on oiling history. Seaside sparrows had wider trophic niches than marsh rice rats at unoiled sites, but not at oiled sites. Trophic niche widths of conspecifics were less consistent at oiled sites, although marsh rice rats at oiled sites had wider trophic niches than rats at unoiled sites. These results suggest that past oiling histories may have imparted subtle, yet differing effects on the foraging ecology of these two co-occurring species. However, the temporal lag between initial oiling and our study makes identifying the ultimate drivers of differences between oiled and unoiled sites challenging. Even so, our findings provide a baseline quantification of the trophic niches of sympatric seaside sparrows and marsh rice rats that will aid in the use of these species as indicators of oiling and other environmental stressors in saltmarsh ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Moyo
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America.,Department of Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, United States of America
| | - Hayat Bennadji
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Danielle Laguaite
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Anna A Pérez-Umphrey
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Allison M Snider
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona, Pomona, CA, United States of America
| | - Jill A Olin
- Great Lakes Research Center, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States of America
| | - Philip C Stouffer
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Sabrina S Taylor
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Paola C López-Duarte
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States of America
| | - Brian J Roberts
- Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Chauvin, LA, United States of America
| | - Linda Hooper-Bui
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Michael J Polito
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
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11
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Echols BS. Toxicity evaluation of Louisiana nearshore marsh sediments following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 168:112380. [PMID: 33894585 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A crucial step towards understanding potential impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to marsh ecosystems was to quantitatively determine the toxicity of oil remaining in the sediment. The objective of this study was to assess the potential injury to benthic species using standardized toxicity bioassays. Sediments were collected from locations with differing degrees of oiling based on previous assessments. Less than 13% of the 315 toxicity tests resulted in toxicity to amphipods, mysid shrimp, or sea urchins. There was no relationship among toxicity test results, oiling category or measured total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Equilibrium partitioning sediment benchmarks and additive toxic units (ESBTUs) were applied as an additional line of evidence to evaluate the potential adverse effects based on PAH concentrations in field sediments. The ∑ESBTUs based on 34 PAHs at the 64 nearshore sampling locations were <1, indicating PAHs in sediments were unlikely to cause adverse impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandi S Echols
- Environmental Toxicology Associates, LLC, Cumming, GA 30028, United States of America.
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12
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Challenger GE, Gmur S, Taylor E. A review of Gulf of Mexico coastal marsh erosion studies following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill and comparison to over 4 years of shoreline loss data from Fall 2010 to Summer 2015. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 164:111983. [PMID: 33513545 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.111983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill affected nearly 1105 km of coastal marsh. Long-term shoreline loss in the northern Gulf of Mexico is an important question with far-reaching ecological and human-use implications. Numerous studies have examined potential exacerbated marsh shoreline retreat after the DWH using ground-level sampling and/or aerial/satellite imagery interpretation. This paper reviews previous DWH erosion studies, discusses their limitations and sometimes conflicting results, and provides a comprehensive analysis of a larger data set. Shoreline retreat measurements from multiple studies following the DWH incident were combined for 131 herbaceous marsh sample sites for the period from Fall 2010 to Summer 2015. Significant increases in shoreline loss were found only in the period from Fall 2010 to Fall 2011 for heavily oiled shorelines relative to other periods. The evidence does not suggest widespread long-term coastal marsh erosion from the DWH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephan Gmur
- Polaris Applied Sciences, Inc., United States of America.
| | - Elliott Taylor
- Polaris Applied Sciences, Inc., United States of America.
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13
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Bernik BM, Lumibao CY, Zengel S, Pardue J, Blum MJ. Intraspecific variation in landform engineering across a restored salt marsh shoreline. Evol Appl 2021; 14:685-697. [PMID: 33767744 PMCID: PMC7980261 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem engineers that modify landforms can be valuable tools for restoring habitat, but their use has frequently resulted in unanticipated outcomes. Departures from expectations might arise because applications discount the possibility that geomorphic processes are influenced by heritable phenotypic variation. We conducted a field-scale common garden experiment to assess whether shoreline erosion reflects intraspecific variation in the landform engineer Spartina alterniflora. Replicated plots on a shoreline denuded by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill were revegetated using plants from four genetically distinct sources: the local population, a nonlocal population, and two nursery stocks. We assessed variation in biomass, tissue nutrients, and functional traits alongside soil shear strength, surface elevation, and shoreline erosion rates over 2 years. We found that productivity, traits, nutrient content, and erosion rates varied according to plant provenance. Erosion reflected traits like root architecture more so than coarser metrics of growth. Erosion was significantly higher in plots with nonlocal plants that exhibited lower productivity, likely due to nitrogen limitation. Our results indicate that restoration practices should account for intraspecific variation in landform engineers and that in situ trials should be performed at sites slated for restoration to evaluate donor source suitability, particularly if introductions might modify local populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany M. Bernik
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyTulane UniversityNew OrleansLAUSA
| | - Candice Y. Lumibao
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyTulane UniversityNew OrleansLAUSA
| | | | - John Pardue
- Department of Civil & Environmental EngineeringLouisiana State UniversityBaton RougeLAUSA
| | - Michael J. Blum
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyTulane UniversityNew OrleansLAUSA
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of TennesseeKnoxvilleTNUSA
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14
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Deis DR, Fleeger JW, Johnson DS, Mendelssohn IA, Lin Q, Graham SA, Zengel S, Hou A. Recovery of the salt marsh periwinkle (Littoraria irrorata) 9 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: Size matters. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 160:111581. [PMID: 32890962 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Prior studies indicated salt marsh periwinkles (Littoraria irrorata) were strongly impacted in heavily oiled marshes for at least 5 years following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Here, we detail longer-term effects and recovery over nine years. Our analysis found that neither density nor population size structure recovered at heavily oiled sites where snails were smaller and variability in size structure and density was increased. Total aboveground live plant biomass and stem density remained lower over time in heavily oiled marshes, and we speculate that the resulting more open canopy stimulated benthic microalgal production contributing to high spring periwinkle densities or that the lower stem density reduced the ability of subadults and small adults to escape predation. Our data indicate that periwinkle population recovery may take one to two decades after the oil spill at moderately oiled and heavily oiled sites, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John W Fleeger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - David S Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA
| | - Irving A Mendelssohn
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Qianxin Lin
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Sean A Graham
- Gulf South Research Corporation, Baton Rouge, LA 70820, USA
| | - Scott Zengel
- Research Planning, Inc., Tallahassee, FL 32303, USA
| | - Aixin Hou
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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15
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Martin CW, Lewis KA, McDonald AM, Spearman TP, Alford SB, Christian RC, Valentine JF. Disturbance-driven changes to northern Gulf of Mexico nekton communities following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 155:111098. [PMID: 32469757 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DwH) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico discharged ~3.19 million barrels of oil into Gulf waters, making it one of the largest marine disasters in history in terms of volume. We report on the results of a study to assess oil impacts to coastal fishes and invertebrates. Using two-decades of fisheries-independent data in coastal Alabama and Mississippi, we document variability following both natural and anthropogenic disturbances from two periods pre-DwH (1997-2001 and 2007-2009), one intra-spill period for acute DwH effects (2010-2012) and one period post-spill for chronic, longer-term impacts (2014-2017). Results indicated significant changes to community structure, relative abundance, and diversity in the intra-spill period. Causation for changes is confounded by variables such as behavioral emigration, altered freshwater inflow, death of consumers, and the mandated fishery closure. Results highlight the need for long-term, comprehensive monitoring/observing systems to provide adequate background for assessing future disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles W Martin
- Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 552 1st Street, Cedar Key, FL 32625, United States of America.
| | - Kristy A Lewis
- Department of Biology and The National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, United States of America
| | - Ashley M McDonald
- Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 552 1st Street, Cedar Key, FL 32625, United States of America
| | - Trey P Spearman
- Department of Marine Science, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, United States of America
| | - Scott B Alford
- Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 552 1st Street, Cedar Key, FL 32625, United States of America; Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, United States of America
| | - Robert C Christian
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, United States of America
| | - John F Valentine
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, United States of America
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16
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Lumibao CY, Bernik BM, Formel SK, Kandalepas D, Mighell KL, Pardue J, Van Bael SA, Blum MJ. Rhizosphere microbial communities reflect genotypic and trait variation in a salt marsh ecosystem engineer. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2020; 107:941-949. [PMID: 32533589 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE There is growing recognition that intraspecific genetic variation in plants can influence associated soil microbial communities, but the functional bridges linking plant genotype with microbial community structure are not well understood. This deficit is due in part to a prevailing focus on characterizing relationships between microbial communities and functional trait variation among plant species or across plant communities, rather than within a single species. METHODS We examined whether and how spatiotemporal variation in salt marsh rhizosphere microbial communities reflect plant provenance (genotypic variation) and associated trait variation within an ecosystem engineer, Spartina alterniflora. We planted S. alterniflora from four genetically distinct source populations in replicate sets of experimental plots across a shoreline in southeastern Louisiana, USA. After 2 years, we measured functional plant traits and profiled microbial communities. RESULTS Bacterial and fungal α-diversity and richness were significantly higher in winter than in summer and corresponded to plant trait variation associated with provenance. Notably, 20% of the variation in fungal community composition was explained by trait differences while bacterial community structure did not reflect plant provenance or trait variation. However, evidence was found suggesting that bacterial communities are indirectly shaped by the influence of plant provenance on soil physicochemical properties. CONCLUSIONS This study illustrates that intraspecific genetic and corresponding trait variation in an ecosystem engineer can shape rhizosphere microbial communities, with fungal communities being more responsive than bacteria to the influence of plant provenance and associated trait variation. Our results highlight the potential relevance of plant intraspecific variation in plant-microbe-soil feedbacks shaping naturally depauperate ecosystems like salt marshes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Y Lumibao
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Brittany M Bernik
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
- Tulane University, The ByWater Institute, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Stephen K Formel
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Demetra Kandalepas
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
- Tulane University, The ByWater Institute, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Kimberly L Mighell
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - John Pardue
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Sunshine A Van Bael
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Michael J Blum
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
- Tulane University, The ByWater Institute, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
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17
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Fleeger JW, Johnson DS, Zengel S, Mendelssohn IA, Deis DR, Graham SA, Lin Q, Christman MC, Riggio MR, Pant M. Macroinfauna responses and recovery trajectories after an oil spill differ from those following saltmarsh restoration. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 155:104881. [PMID: 32072985 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Given the severity of injuries to biota in coastal wetlands from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWH) and the resulting availability of funding for restoration, information on impacted salt marshes and biotic development of restored marshes may both help inform marsh restoration planning in the near term and for future spills. Accordingly, we performed a meta-analysis to model a restoration trajectory of total macroinfauna density in constructed marshes (studied for ~30 y), and with a previously published restoration trajectory for amphipods, we compared these to recovery curves for total macroinfauna and amphipods from DWH impacted marshes (over 8.5 y). Total macroinfauna and amphipod densities in constructed marshes did not consistently reach equivalency with reference sites before 20 y, yet in heavily oiled marshes recovery occurred by 4.5 y post spill (although it is unlikely that macroinfaunal community composition fully recovered). These differences were probably due to initial conditions (e.g., higher initial levels of belowground organic matter in oiled marshes) that were more conducive to recovery as compared to constructed marshes. Furthermore, we found that amphipod trajectories were distinctly different in constructed and oiled marshes as densities at oiled sites exceeded that of reference sites by as much as 20x during much of the recovery period. Amphipods may have responded to the rapid increase and high biomass of benthic microalgae following the spill. These results indicate that biotic responses after an oil spill may be quantitatively different than those following restoration, even for heavily oiled marshes that were initially denuded of vegetation. Our dual trajectories for oil spill recovery and restoration development for macroinfauna should help guide restoration planning and assessment following the DWH as well as for restoration scaling for future spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Fleeger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA.
| | - D S Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, 23062, USA
| | - S Zengel
- Research Planning, Inc. (RPI), 247 E. 7th Ave, Tallahassee, FL, 32303, USA
| | - I A Mendelssohn
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, 70803, USA
| | - D R Deis
- Atkins, Jacksonville, FL, 32256, USA
| | - S A Graham
- Gulf South Research Corporation, 8081 Innovation Park Dr, Baton Rouge, LA, 70820, USA
| | - Q Lin
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, 70803, USA
| | - M C Christman
- MCC Statistical Consulting, LLC, 2219 NW 23rd Terrace, Gainesville, FL, 32605, USA
| | - M R Riggio
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - M Pant
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, 23062, USA
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18
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Deis DR, Mendelssohn IA, Fleeger JW, Bourgoin SM, Lin Q. Legacy effects of Hurricane Katrina influenced marsh shoreline erosion following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 672:456-467. [PMID: 30965260 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Disturbance interactions occur when one perturbation influences the severity and perhaps the baseline state of succeeding disturbances. Natural and anthropogenic disturbances are frequent in dynamic coastal ecosystems and can often be linked. We evaluated potential for disturbance interactions associated with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, which was preceded by disturbance from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, by quantifying marsh shoreline retreat across both events. Our goal was to determine the degree to which Hurricane Katrina altered baseline rates of erosion prior to the DWH spill. We quantified erosion rate and fetch from aerial images of northern Barataria Bay, Louisiana marsh shorelines classified as reference, moderately-oiled, and heavily-oiled over three pre-spill time periods (1998-2004, prior to Hurricane Katrina; 2004-2005, during Katrina; 2005-2010, post-Katrina but pre-oil spill) and a post-spill period from 2010 to 2013. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, marsh shoreline erosion rates were low (from 0.38 to 1.10 m yr-1). In contrast during Hurricane Katrina (2004-2005), erosion increased by 661% and 756%, respectively, for shorelines that would subsequently become moderately and heavily-oiled; reference shoreline erosion increased by 59%. These high erosion rates were associated with increased fetch and higher wave action due to loss of protective geomorphic features such as small islands and spits and persisted during the post-Katrina/pre-spill period of 2005-2010 (0.62, 1.38, and 2.07 m yr-1 for reference, moderately, and heavily-oiled shorelines, respectively). Erosion rates increased modestly after the DWH event (reference = 1.13 m yr-1, moderate oiling = 1.45 m yr-1; heavy oiling = 2.77 m yr-1), but not significantly, compared to the post-Katrina period. Consequently, we could not detect a post-spill increase in marsh shoreline erosion. Rather, we concluded that Hurricane Katrina reset the erosion baseline, thereby connecting the two disturbances, and was the major driver of marsh shoreline erosion at our research sites during the study period.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irving A Mendelssohn
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - John W Fleeger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | | | - Qianxin Lin
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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19
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Silliman BR, He Q, Angelini C, Smith CS, Kirwan ML, Daleo P, Renzi JJ, Butler J, Osborne TZ, Nifong JC, van de Koppel J. Field Experiments and Meta-analysis Reveal Wetland Vegetation as a Crucial Element in the Coastal Protection Paradigm. Curr Biol 2019; 29:1800-1806.e3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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20
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Perez-Umphrey AA, Bergeon Burns CM, Stouffer PC, Woltmann S, Taylor SS. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in seaside sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus) following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 630:1086-1094. [PMID: 29554730 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) is an abundant and permanent resident of coastal salt marshes impacted by the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Such terrestrial species are often overlooked in the aftermath of marine spills, despite the potential for long-term oil exposure. We sampled the livers of seaside sparrows residing in oiled and unoiled sites from 2011 to 2014 and quantified expression of cytochrome p450 1A (CYP1A), a gene involved in the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In August 2011, CYP1A expression was markedly higher in birds from an oiled site compared to an unoiled site, but differences had disappeared by June 2012. In June 2013, CYP1A expression was elevated compared to 2012 levels on all sites, including those collected from sites that had not been directly oiled during the spill. This rise in CYP1A expression was possibly due to Hurricane Isaac, which made landfall near our sites between the 2012 and 2013 sampling periods. CYP1A expression was significantly attenuated again in June 2014. We also collected sediment samples from the same marshes for a total concentration analysis of PAHs. The PAH concentrations in sediment samples exhibited a similar pattern to the CYP1A data, supporting the link between marsh PAHs and bird CYP1A expression. These results indicate that contamination from marine oil spills can immediately extend to terrestrial ecosystems, and that storms, weather, or other factors may influence subsequent spatial and temporal oil exposure for several additional years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A Perez-Umphrey
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, 227 RNR Building, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA.
| | - Christine M Bergeon Burns
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, 227 RNR Building, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Philip C Stouffer
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, 227 RNR Building, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Stefan Woltmann
- Department of Biology, and Center of Excellence for Field Biology, Austin Peay State University, 601 College St., Clarksville, TN, 37040, USA
| | - Sabrina S Taylor
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and AgCenter, 227 RNR Building, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
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21
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Bam W, Hooper-Bui LM, Strecker RM, Adhikari PL, Overton EB. Coupled effects of oil spill and hurricane on saltmarsh terrestrial arthropods. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194941. [PMID: 29641552 PMCID: PMC5895010 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Terrestrial arthropods play an important role in saltmarsh ecosystems, mainly affecting the saltmarsh’s primary production as the main consumers of terrestrial primary production and decomposition. Some of these arthropods, including selected insects and spiders, can be used as ecological indicators of overall marsh environmental health, as they are differentially sensitive to ecological stressors, such as land loss, erosion, oil spills, and tropical storms. In the present study, we used terrestrial arthropods collected from seven (three lightly-oiled, four heavily-oiled) sites in Barataria Bay and from three unoiled reference sites in Delacroix, Louisiana, to determine the impacts of the distribution and re-distribution of Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil on these saltmarsh ecosystems. A total of 9,476 and 12,256 insects were collected in 2013 and 2014, respectively. The results show that the terrestrial arthropods were negatively affected by the re-distribution of DWH oil by Hurricane Isaac in 2012, although the level of impacts varied among the arthropod groups. Moreover, the mean diversity index was higher (>1.5) in 2014 than in 2013 (<1.5) for all sites, suggesting a recovery trajectory of the saltmarsh arthropod population. The higher taxonomic richness observed in the reference sites compared to the oiled sites for both years also indicated long-term impacts of DWH oil to the saltmarsh arthropod community. Whereas a slow recovery of certain terrestrial arthropods was observed, long-term monitoring of arthropod communities would help better understand the recovery and succession of the marsh ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wokil Bam
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Linda M. Hooper-Bui
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States of America
| | - Rachel M. Strecker
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States of America
| | - Puspa L. Adhikari
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States of America
| | - Edward B. Overton
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States of America
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22
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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.
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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.
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23
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Deis DR, Fleeger JW, Bourgoin SM, Mendelssohn IA, Lin Q, Hou A. Shoreline oiling effects and recovery of salt marsh macroinvertebrates from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3680. [PMID: 28828273 PMCID: PMC5563157 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Salt marshes in northern Barataria Bay, Louisiana, USA were oiled, sometimes heavily, in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Previous studies indicate that fiddler crabs (in the genus Uca) and the salt marsh periwinkle (Littoraria irrorata) were negatively impacted in the short term by the spill. Here, we detail longer-term effects and recovery from moderate and heavy oiling over a 3-year span, beginning 30 months after the spill. Although neither fiddler crab burrow density nor diameter differed between oiled and reference sites when combined across all sampling events, these traits differed among some individual sampling periods consistent with a pattern of lingering oiling impacts. Periwinkle density, however, increased in all oiling categories and shell-length groups during our sampling period, and periwinkle densities were consistently highest at moderately oiled sites where Spartina alterniflora aboveground biomass was highest. Periwinkle shell length linearly increased from a mean of 16.5 to 19.2 mm over the study period at reference sites. In contrast, shell lengths at moderately oiled and heavily oiled sites increased through month 48 after the spill, but then decreased. This decrease was associated with a decline in the relative abundance of large adults (shell length 21-26 mm) at oiled sites which was likely caused by chronic hydrocarbon toxicity or oil-induced effects on habitat quality or food resources. Overall, the recovery of S. alterniflora facilitated the recovery of fiddler crabs and periwinkles. However, our long-term record not only indicates that variation in periwinkle mean shell length and length-frequency distributions are sensitive indicators of the health and recovery of the marsh, but agrees with synoptic studies of vegetation and infaunal communities that full recovery of heavily oiled sites will take longer than 66 months.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John W Fleeger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | | | - Irving A Mendelssohn
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Qianxin Lin
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Aixin Hou
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
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24
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Beland M, Biggs TW, Roberts DA, Peterson SH, Kokaly RF, Piazza S. Oiling accelerates loss of salt marshes, southeastern Louisiana. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181197. [PMID: 28767649 PMCID: PMC5540489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill damaged thousands of km2 of intertidal marsh along shorelines that had been experiencing elevated rates of erosion for decades. Yet, the contribution of marsh oiling to landscape-scale degradation and subsequent land loss has been difficult to quantify. Here, we applied advanced remote sensing techniques to map changes in marsh land cover and open water before and after oiling. We segmented the marsh shorelines into non-oiled and oiled reaches and calculated the land loss rates for each 10% increase in oil cover (e.g. 0% to >70%), to determine if land loss rates for each reach oiling category were significantly different before and after oiling. Finally, we calculated background land-loss rates to separate natural and oil-related erosion and land loss. Oiling caused significant increases in land losses, particularly along reaches of heavy oiling (>20% oil cover). For reaches with ≥20% oiling, land loss rates increased abruptly during the 2010–2013 period, and the loss rates during this period are significantly different from both the pre-oiling (p < 0.0001) and 2013–2016 post-oiling periods (p < 0.0001). The pre-oiling and 2013–2016 post-oiling periods exhibit no significant differences in land loss rates across oiled and non-oiled reaches (p = 0.557). We conclude that oiling increased land loss by more than 50%, but that land loss rates returned to background levels within 3–6 years after oiling, suggesting that oiling results in a large but temporary increase in land loss rates along the shoreline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Beland
- Department of Geography, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Geography, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Trent W. Biggs
- Department of Geography, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Dar A. Roberts
- Department of Geography, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Seth H. Peterson
- Department of Geography, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Raymond F. Kokaly
- United States Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Sarai Piazza
- United States Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
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25
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Hinshaw SE, Tatariw C, Flournoy N, Kleinhuizen A, Taylor C, Sobecky PA, Mortazavi B. Vegetation Loss Decreases Salt Marsh Denitrification Capacity: Implications for Marsh Erosion. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:8245-8253. [PMID: 28616973 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b00618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Salt marshes play a key role in removing excess anthropogenic nitrogen (N) loads to nearshore marine ecosystems through sediment microbial processes such as denitrification. However, in the Gulf of Mexico, the loss of marsh vegetation because of human-driven disturbances such as sea level rise and oil spills can potentially reduce marsh capacity for N removal. To investigate the effect of vegetation loss on ecosystem N removal, we contrasted denitrification capacity in marsh and subtidal sediments impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill using a combination of 29N2 and 30N2 production (isotope pairing), denitrification potential measurements (acetylene block), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of functional genes in the denitrification pathway. We found that, on average, denitrification capacity was 4 times higher in vegetated sediments because of a combination of enhanced nitrification and higher organic carbon availability. The abundance of nirS-type denitrifers indicated that marsh vegetation regulates the activity, rather than the abundance, of denitrifier communities. We estimated that marsh sediments remove an average of 3.6 t N km-2 y-1 compared to 0.9 t N km-2 y-1 in unvegetated sediments. Overall, our findings indicate that marsh loss results in a substantial loss of N removal capacity in coastal ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarra E Hinshaw
- University of Alabama , Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528, United States
| | - Corianne Tatariw
- University of Alabama , Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528, United States
| | - Nikaela Flournoy
- University of Alabama , Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Alice Kleinhuizen
- University of Alabama , Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528, United States
| | - Caitlin Taylor
- University of Alabama , Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Patricia A Sobecky
- University of Alabama , Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Behzad Mortazavi
- University of Alabama , Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528, United States
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26
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Garner TR, Hart MA, Sweet LE, Bagheri HTJ, Morris J, Stoeckel JA, Roberts AP. Effects of Deepwater Horizon Oil on the Movement and Survival of Marsh Periwinkle Snails (Littoraria irrorata). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:8757-8762. [PMID: 28661662 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b01565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill resulted in the release of millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, and some marsh shorelines experienced heavy oiling including vegetation laid over under the weight of oil. Periwinkle snails (Littoraria irrorata) are a critical component of these impacted habitats, and population declines following oil spills, including DWH, have been documented. This study determined the effects of oil on marsh periwinkle movement and survivorship following exposure to oil. Snails were placed in chambers containing either unoiled or oiled laid over vegetation to represent a heavily impacted marsh habitat, with unoiled vertical structure at one end. In the first movement assay, snail movement to standing unoiled vegetation was significantly lower in oiled chambers (oil thickness ≈ 1 cm) compared to unoiled chambers, as the majority (∼75%) of snails in oiled habitats never reached standing unoiled vegetation after 72 h. In a second movement assay, there was no snail movement standing unoiled structure in chambers with oil thicknesses of 0.1 and 0.5 cm, while 73% of snails moved in unoiled chambers after 4h. A toxicity assay was then conducted by exposing snails to oil coated Spartina stems in chambers for periods up to 72 h, and mortality was monitored for 7 days post exposure. Snail survival decreased with increasing exposure time, and significant mortality (∼35%) was observed following an oil exposure of less than 24 h. Here, we have shown that oil impeded snail movement to clean habitat over a short distance and resulted in oil-exposure times that decreased survival. Taken together, along with declines documented by others in field surveys, these results suggest that marsh periwinkle snails may have been adversely affected following exposure to DWH oil.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ross Garner
- University of North Texas , Department of Biological Sciences & Advanced Environmental Research Institute, Denton, Texas 76203, United States
| | - Michael A Hart
- Auburn University , School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Lauren E Sweet
- University of North Texas , Department of Biological Sciences & Advanced Environmental Research Institute, Denton, Texas 76203, United States
| | - Hanna T J Bagheri
- University of North Texas , Department of Biological Sciences & Advanced Environmental Research Institute, Denton, Texas 76203, United States
| | - Jeff Morris
- Abt Associates , Boulder, Colorado 80302, United States
| | - James A Stoeckel
- Auburn University , School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Aaron P Roberts
- University of North Texas , Department of Biological Sciences & Advanced Environmental Research Institute, Denton, Texas 76203, United States
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27
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Olin JA, Bergeon Burns CM, Woltmann S, Taylor SS, Stouffer PC, Bam W, Hooper-Bui L, Turner RE. Seaside Sparrows reveal contrasting food web responses to large-scale stressors in coastal Louisiana saltmarshes. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jill A. Olin
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences; Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge Louisiana 70803 USA
| | - Christine M. Bergeon Burns
- School of Renewable Natural Resources; Louisiana State University AgCenter; Baton Rouge Louisiana 70803 USA
| | - Stefan Woltmann
- Department of Biology and Center of Excellence for Field Biology; Austin Peay State University; Clarksville Tennessee 37044 USA
| | - Sabrina S. Taylor
- School of Renewable Natural Resources; Louisiana State University AgCenter; Baton Rouge Louisiana 70803 USA
| | - Philip C. Stouffer
- School of Renewable Natural Resources; Louisiana State University AgCenter; Baton Rouge Louisiana 70803 USA
| | - Wokil Bam
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences; Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge Louisiana 70803 USA
| | - Linda Hooper-Bui
- Department of Environmental Sciences; Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge Louisiana 70803 USA
| | - R. Eugene Turner
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences; Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge Louisiana 70803 USA
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28
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Marsh Loss Due to Cumulative Impacts of Hurricane Isaac and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in Louisiana. REMOTE SENSING 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/rs9020169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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29
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Evans M, Liu J, Bacosa H, Rosenheim BE, Liu Z. Petroleum hydrocarbon persistence following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as a function of shoreline energy. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 115:47-56. [PMID: 27894726 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 11/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
An important aspect of oil spill science is understanding how the compounds within spilled oil, especially toxic components, change with weathering. In this study we follow the evolution of petroleum hydrocarbons, including n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylated PAHs, on a Louisiana beach and salt marsh for three years following the Deepwater Horizon spill. Relative to source oil, we report overall depletion of low molecular weight n-alkanes and PAHs in all locations with time. The magnitude of depletion, however, depends on the sampling location, whereby sites with highest wave energy have highest compound depletion. Oiled sediment from an enclosed bay shows high enrichment of high molecular weight PAHs relative to 17α(H),21β(H)-hopane, suggesting the contribution from sources other than the Deepwater Horizon spill, such as fossil fuel burning. This insight into hydrocarbon persistence as a function of hydrography and hydrocarbon source can inform policy and response for future spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith Evans
- Marine Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373-5015, United States
| | - Jiqing Liu
- Marine Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373-5015, United States
| | - Hernando Bacosa
- Marine Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373-5015, United States
| | - Brad E Rosenheim
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 830 1st St. SE, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701-5921, United States
| | - Zhanfei Liu
- Marine Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78373-5015, United States.
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30
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Pennings SC, Zengel S, Oehrig J, Alber M, Bishop TD, Deis DR, Devlin D, Hughes AR, Hutchens JJ, Kiehn WM, McFarlin CR, Montague CL, Powers S, Proffitt CE, Rutherford N, Stagg CL, Walters K. Marine ecoregion and
D
eepwater
H
orizon
oil spill affect recruitment and population structure of a salt marsh snail. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Steven C. Pennings
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry University of Houston Houston Texas 77204 USA
| | - Scott Zengel
- Research Planning, Inc. (RPI) Tallahassee Florida 32303 USA
| | | | - Merryl Alber
- Department of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602 USA
| | - T. Dale Bishop
- No Bones Coastal Biological Consultants, LLC 1114 Hyatt Avenue Murrells Inlet South Carolina 29576 USA
| | | | - Donna Devlin
- Department of Biological Sciences Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution Florida Atlantic University 5600 U.S. 1 N Fort Pierce Florida 34946 USA
| | - A. Randall Hughes
- Marine and Environmental Science Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts 01908 USA
| | - John J. Hutchens
- Department of Biology Coastal Carolina University PO Box 261954 Conway South Carolina 29528 USA
| | | | | | - Clay L. Montague
- Howard T. Odum Center For Wetlands Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences University of Florida Gainesville Florida 32611 USA
| | - Sean Powers
- Department of Marine Sciences University of South Alabama Mobile Alabama 36688 USA
| | - C. Edward Proffitt
- Department of Biological Sciences Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution Florida Atlantic University 5600 U.S. 1 N Fort Pierce Florida 34946 USA
| | - Nicolle Rutherford
- Emergency Response Division National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle Washington 98115 USA
| | - Camille L. Stagg
- U.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center Lafayette Louisiana 70506 USA
| | - Keith Walters
- Department of Marine Science Coastal Carolina University PO Box 261954 Conway South Carolina 29528 USA
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31
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Dietl GP, Durham SR. Geohistorical records indicate no impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on oyster body size. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160763. [PMID: 28018663 PMCID: PMC5180161 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Documentation of the near- and long-term effects of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, one of the largest environmental disasters in US history, is still ongoing. We used a novel before-after-control-impact analysis to test the hypothesis that average body size of intertidal populations of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) inhabiting impacted areas in Louisiana decreased due to increased stress/mortality related to the oil spill. Time-averaged death assemblages of oysters were used to establish a pre-spill baseline of body-size structure for four impacted and four control locations along a 350 km stretch of Louisiana's coastline. Post-spill body sizes were then measured from live oysters at each site in order to evaluate the differences in body size between oiled (i.e. impact) and unoiled (i.e. control) locations before and after the spill. Our results indicate that average body size of oysters remained relatively unchanged after the oil spill. There were also no temporal patterns in temperature, salinity or disease prevalence that could have explained our results. Together, these findings suggest that oysters either recovered rapidly following the immediate impact of the DWH oil spill, or that its impact was not severe enough to influence short-term population dynamics of the oyster beds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory P. Dietl
- Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Stephen R. Durham
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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32
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Silliman BR, Dixon PM, Wobus C, He Q, Daleo P, Hughes BB, Rissing M, Willis JM, Hester MW. Thresholds in marsh resilience to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32520. [PMID: 27679956 PMCID: PMC5040145 DOI: 10.1038/srep32520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem boundary retreat due to human-induced pressure is a generally observed phenomenon. However, studies that document thresholds beyond which internal resistance mechanisms are overwhelmed are uncommon. Following the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, field studies from a few sites suggested that oiling of salt marshes could lead to a biogeomorphic feedback where plant death resulted in increased marsh erosion. We tested for spatial generality of and thresholds in this effect across 103 salt marsh sites spanning ~430 kilometers of shoreline in coastal Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, using data collected as part of the natural resource damage assessment (NRDA). Our analyses revealed a threshold for oil impacts on marsh edge erosion, with higher erosion rates occurring for ~1–2 years after the spill at sites with the highest amounts of plant stem oiling (90–100%). These results provide compelling evidence showing large-scale ecosystem loss following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. More broadly, these findings provide rare empirical evidence identifying a geomorphologic threshold in the resistance of an ecosystem to increasing intensity of human-induced disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R Silliman
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Philip M Dixon
- Department of Statistics, Snedecor Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1210, USA
| | - Cameron Wobus
- Abt Associates, 1881 Ninth Street, Suite 201, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - Qiang He
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Pedro Daleo
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA.,Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), UNMDP, CONICET, CC1260 Correo Central, B7600WAG, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Brent B Hughes
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 96060, USA
| | - Matthew Rissing
- Abt Associates, 1881 Ninth Street, Suite 201, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - Jonathan M Willis
- Institute for Coastal and Water Research, Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
| | - Mark W Hester
- Institute for Coastal and Water Research, Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
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33
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Beyer J, Trannum HC, Bakke T, Hodson PV, Collier TK. Environmental effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: A review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 110:28-51. [PMID: 27301686 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Revised: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill constituted an ecosystem-level injury in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Much oil spread at 1100-1300m depth, contaminating and affecting deepwater habitats. Factors such as oil-biodegradation, ocean currents and response measures (dispersants, burning) reduced coastal oiling. Still, >2100km of shoreline and many coastal habitats were affected. Research demonstrates that oiling caused a wide range of biological effects, although worst-case impact scenarios did not materialize. Biomarkers in individual organisms were more informative about oiling stress than population and community indices. Salt marshes and seabird populations were hard hit, but were also quite resilient to oiling effects. Monitoring demonstrated little contamination of seafood. Certain impacts are still understudied, such as effects on seagrass communities. Concerns of long-term impacts remain for large fish species, deep-sea corals, sea turtles and cetaceans. These species and their habitats should continue to receive attention (monitoring and research) for years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonny Beyer
- NIVA - Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NO-0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hilde C Trannum
- NIVA - Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NO-0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Torgeir Bakke
- NIVA - Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NO-0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Peter V Hodson
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Tracy K Collier
- Delta Independent Science Board, 980 Ninth Street, Suite 1500, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA
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34
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Turner RE, McClenachan G, Tweel AW. Islands in the oil: Quantifying salt marsh shoreline erosion after the Deepwater Horizon oiling. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 110:316-323. [PMID: 27349381 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Revised: 05/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Qualitative inferences and sparse bay-wide measurements suggest that shoreline erosion increased after the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster, but quantifying the impacts has been elusive at the landscape scale. We quantified the shoreline erosion of 46 islands for before and after the DWH oil spill to determine how much shoreline was lost, if the losses were temporary, and if recovery/restoration occurred. The erosion rates at the oiled islands increased to 275% in the first six months after the oiling, were 200% of that of the unoiled islands for the first 2.5years after the oiling, and twelve times the average land loss in the deltaic plain of 0.4%y(-1) from 1988 to 2011. These results support the hypothesis that oiling compromised the belowground biomass of the emergent vegetation. The islands are, in effect, sentinels of marsh stability already in decline before the oil spill.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Eugene Turner
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States.
| | - Giovanna McClenachan
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States
| | - Andrew W Tweel
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States
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35
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Hester MW, Willis JM, Rouhani S, Steinhoff MA, Baker MC. Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the salt marsh vegetation of Louisiana. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 216:361-370. [PMID: 27299994 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.05.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The coastal wetland vegetation component of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment documented significant injury to the plant production and health of Louisiana salt marshes exposed to oiling. Specifically, marsh sites experiencing trace or greater vertical oiling of plant tissues displayed reductions in cover and peak standing crop relative to reference (no oiling), particularly in the marsh edge zone, for the majority of this four year study. Similarly, elevated chlorosis of plant tissue, as estimated by a vegetation health index, was detected for marsh sites with trace or greater vertical oiling in the first two years of the study. Key environmental factors, such as hydrologic regime, elevation, and soil characteristics, were generally similar across plant oiling classes (including reference), indicating that the observed injury to plant production and health was the result of plant oiling and not potential differences in environmental setting. Although fewer significant impacts to plant production and health were detected in the latter years of the study, this is due in part to decreased sample size occurring as a result of erosion (shoreline retreat) and resultant loss of plots, and should not be misconstrued as indicating full recovery of the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark W Hester
- Institute for Coastal and Water Research, Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA.
| | - Jonathan M Willis
- Institute for Coastal and Water Research, Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
| | | | - Marla A Steinhoff
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Assessment and Restoration Division, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - Mary C Baker
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Assessment and Restoration Division, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
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36
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Lin Q, Mendelssohn IA, Graham SA, Hou A, Fleeger JW, Deis DR. Response of salt marshes to oiling from the Deepwater Horizon spill: Implications for plant growth, soil surface-erosion, and shoreline stability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 557-558:369-77. [PMID: 27016685 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the initial impacts and post spill recovery of salt marshes over a 3.5-year period along northern Barataria Bay, LA, USA exposed to varying degrees of Deepwater Horizon oiling to determine the effects on shoreline-stabilizing vegetation and soil processes. In moderately oiled marshes, surface soil total petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations were ~70mgg(-1) nine months after the spill. Though initial impacts of moderate oiling were evident, Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus aboveground biomass and total live belowground biomass were equivalent to reference marshes within 24-30months post spill. In contrast, heavily oiled marsh plants did not fully recover from oiling with surface soil total petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations that exceeded 500mgg(-1) nine months after oiling. Initially, heavy oiling resulted in near complete plant mortality, and subsequent recovery of live aboveground biomass was only 50% of reference marshes 42months after the spill. Heavy oiling also changed the vegetation structure of shoreline marshes from a mixed Spartina-Juncus community to predominantly Spartina; live Spartina aboveground biomass recovered within 2-3years, however, Juncus showed no recovery. In addition, live belowground biomass (0-12cm) in heavily oiled marshes was reduced by 76% three and a half years after the spill. Detrimental effects of heavy oiling on marsh plants also corresponded with significantly lower soil shear strength, lower sedimentation rates, and higher vertical soil-surface erosion rates, thus potentially affecting shoreline salt marsh stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianxin Lin
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
| | - Irving A Mendelssohn
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Sean A Graham
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA 70310, USA
| | - Aixin Hou
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - John W Fleeger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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37
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Nixon Z, Zengel S, Baker M, Steinhoff M, Fricano G, Rouhani S, Michel J. Shoreline oiling from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 107:170-178. [PMID: 27098990 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Revised: 02/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/02/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
We build on previous work to construct a comprehensive database of shoreline oiling exposure from the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) spill by compiling field and remotely-sensed datasets to support oil exposure and injury quantification. We compiled a spatial database of shoreline segments with attributes summarizing habitat, oiling category and timeline. We present new simplified oil exposure classes for both beaches and coastal wetland habitats derived from this database integrating both intensity and persistence of oiling on the shoreline over time. We document oiling along 2113km out of 9545km of surveyed shoreline, an increase of 19% from previously published estimates and representing the largest marine oil spill in history by length of shoreline oiled. These data may be used to generate maps and calculate summary statistics to assist in quantifying and understanding the scope, extent, and spatial distribution of shoreline oil exposure as a result of the DWH incident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Nixon
- Research Planning, Inc., 1121 Park Street, Columbia, SC 29201, USA.
| | - Scott Zengel
- Research Planning, Inc., 247 E. 7th Ave, Suite 200, Tallahassee, FL 32303, USA
| | - Mary Baker
- Assessment and Restoration Division, Office of Response and Restoration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - Marla Steinhoff
- Assessment and Restoration Division, Office of Response and Restoration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - Gail Fricano
- Industrial Economics, Inc., 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA
| | - Shahrokh Rouhani
- NewFields, LLC., 1349 West Peachtree St NW #2000, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
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Zengel S, Montague CL, Pennings SC, Powers SP, Steinhoff M, Fricano G, Schlemme C, Zhang M, Oehrig J, Nixon Z, Rouhani S, Michel J. Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Salt Marsh Periwinkles (Littoraria irrorata). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:643-652. [PMID: 26713547 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b04371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Deepwater Horizon was the largest marine oil spill in U.S. waters, oiling large expanses of coastal wetland shorelines. We compared marsh periwinkle (Littoraria irrorata) density and shell length at salt marsh sites with heavy oiling to reference conditions ∼16 months after oiling. We also compared periwinkle density and size among oiled sites with and without shoreline cleanup treatments. Densities of periwinkles were reduced by 80-90% at the oiled marsh edge and by 50% in the oiled marsh interior (∼9 m inland) compared to reference, with greatest numerical losses of periwinkles in the marsh interior, where densities were naturally higher. Shoreline cleanup further reduced adult snail density as well as snail size. Based on the size of adult periwinkles observed coupled with age and growth information, population recovery is projected to take several years once oiling and habitat conditions in affected areas are suitable to support normal periwinkle life-history functions. Where heavily oiled marshes have experienced accelerated erosion as a result of the spill, these habitat impacts would represent additional losses of periwinkles. Losses of marsh periwinkles would likely affect other ecosystem processes and attributes, including organic matter and nutrient cycling, marsh-estuarine food chains, and multiple species that prey on periwinkles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Zengel
- Research Planning, Inc. (RPI), Tallahassee, Florida 32303, United States
| | - Clay L Montague
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Steven C Pennings
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston , Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Sean P Powers
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama and Dauphin Island Sea Lab , Mobile, Alabama 36688, United States
| | - Marla Steinhoff
- Assessment and Restoration Division, Office of Response and Restoration, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) , Seattle, Washington 98115, United States
| | - Gail Fricano
- Industrial Economics, Inc. (IEc), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Claire Schlemme
- Industrial Economics, Inc. (IEc), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Mengni Zhang
- NewFields, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, United States
| | - Jacob Oehrig
- NewFields, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, United States
| | - Zachary Nixon
- Research Planning, Inc. (RPI), Columbia, South Carolina 29201, United States
| | | | - Jacqueline Michel
- Research Planning, Inc. (RPI), Columbia, South Carolina 29201, United States
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United States Gulf of Mexico Coastal Marsh Vegetation Responses and Sensitivities to Oil Spill: A Review. ENVIRONMENTS 2015. [DOI: 10.3390/environments2040586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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