The Impact of Terrestrial Oil Pollution on Parasitoid Wasps Associated With Vachellia (Fabales: Fabaceae) Trees in a Desert Ecosystem, Israel

Abstract Oil is a major pollutant of the environment, and terrestrial oil spills frequently occur in desert areas. Although arthropods account for a large share of animal diversity, the effect of oil pollution on this group is rarely documented. We evaluated the effects of oil pollution on parasitoid wasps associated with Vachellia (formerly Acacia) tortilis (Forssk.) and Vachellia raddiana (Savi) trees in a hyper-arid desert that was affected by two major oil spills (in 1975 and 2014). We sampled the parasitoid populations between 2016 and 2018 in three sampling sites and compared their abundance, diversity, and community composition between oil-polluted and unpolluted trees. Parasitoid abundance in oil-polluted trees was lower in one of the sites affected by the recent oil spill, but not in the site affected by the 1975 oil spill. Oil-polluted trees supported lower parasitoid diversity than unpolluted trees in some sampling site/year combinations; however, such negative effects were inconsistent and pollution explained a small proportion of the variation in parasitoid community composition. Our results indicate that oil pollution may negatively affect parasitoid abundances and diversity, although the magnitude of the effect depends on the tree species, sampling site, and the time since the oil spill.

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AN EVALUATION OF OIL POLLUTION PROBABILITY IN THE LEVANTINE BASIN OFF ISRAEL

Proceedings of International Conference "Managinag risks to coastal regions and communities in a changinag world" (EMECS'11 - SeaCoasts XXVI) ◽

10.31519/conferencearticle_5b1b93715e1b93.24235003 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ron Goldman ◽

Eliyahu Biton ◽

Isaac Gertman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Nile Delta ◽

Oil Pollution ◽

Numerical Models ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Propagation Model ◽

Offshore Platforms ◽

Ship Traffic ◽

The Impact

Recent gas discoveries in the eastern Mediterranean Sea have led to multiple operations with substantial economic interest, and they are accompanied by the risk of oil spills and their potential environmental impacts. In this this study we compute the probability of an area being polluted by oil. The first stage of this computation is to determine what the likely scenarios for oil spills are, where the areas of higher oil spill probability are and what the expected size of the spill is. This study was performed as part of the RAOP-MED project, which considered ship collision scenarios, other accidental spill from ships and rigs, and accidents that might occur during fueling operations. The results of the project include a map of oil spill probability for the eastern Mediterranean that details different scenarios, as well as a map of the maximal spill size. We use these results to create possible oil spill scenarios and run Monte-Carlo simulations of the oil spill’s fate. The simulations use the MEDSLIK oil spill propagation model, forced by the realistic atmospheric and oceanic conditions that exist off the Israeli coast, as outlined by the SKIRON and SELIPS numerical models. Potential risk sources in the area are the ship traffic that enters and leaves the Suez channel, as well as the offshore platforms on the Nile Delta and in the Israeli exclusive economic zone. We also examine the impact of the alongshore current on the probability and severity of the pollution.

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AN EVALUATION OF OIL POLLUTION PROBABILITY IN THE LEVANTINE BASIN OFF ISRAEL

Proceedings of International Conference "Managinag risks to coastal regions and communities in a changinag world" (EMECS'11 - SeaCoasts XXVI) ◽

10.21610/conferencearticle_58b43154c8c1b ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ron Goldman ◽

Eliyahu Biton ◽

Isaac Gertman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Nile Delta ◽

Oil Pollution ◽

Numerical Models ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Propagation Model ◽

Offshore Platforms ◽

Ship Traffic ◽

The Impact

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Seed Predation on Oil-Polluted and Unpolluted Vachellia (Acacia) Trees in a Hyper-Arid Desert Ecosystem

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11100665 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 665

Author(s):

Marco Ferrante ◽

Daniella M. Möller ◽

Gabriella M. Möller ◽

Yael Lubin ◽

Michal Segoli

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Seed Predation ◽

Oil Pollution ◽

Keystone Species ◽

Ground Level ◽

Desert Ecosystem ◽

Arid Environments ◽

Animal Diversity ◽

Arid Desert ◽

Predation Rates

Acacia trees are keystone species in many arid environments, supporting high levels of plant and animal diversity. In Israel, the populations of Vachellia (formerly Acacia) tortilis (Forssk.) and V. raddiana (Savi) are declining at an alarming rate. Severe infestations by bruchid beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) are among the major causes of seed mortality, but additional environmental stressors can reduce the defence level of the seeds, exacerbating their susceptibility to predators. In a hyper-arid desert ecosystem affected by two major oil spills (in 1975 and 2014), we quantified seed predation rates caused by insect granivores before and after the pods dropped to the ground. We recorded predation rates of up to 84% for both tree species, and higher predation rates at the ground level than in the canopy, suggesting that repeated infestations occur. These results reinforce the call to protect the populations of large ungulates such as gazelles, which kill the bruchids by feeding upon the pods, and promote seed germination and dispersion. We found no clear evidence of a negative effect of the oil spill on seed predation, indicating that oil pollution did not increase the vulnerability of the seeds to granivores even in trees affected by the recent oil spill.

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Oil Pollution Affects the Central Metabolism of Keystone Vachellia (Acacia) Trees

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13126660 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 6660

Author(s):

Marco Ferrante ◽

Anuma Dangol ◽

Shoshana Didi-Cohen ◽

Gidon Winters ◽

Vered Tzin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oil Spills ◽

Oil Pollution ◽

Keystone Species ◽

Desert Ecosystem ◽

Arid Environments ◽

Central Metabolism ◽

Adult Trees ◽

Metabolite Profiles ◽

One Year

Vachellia (formerly Acacia) trees are native to arid environments in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, where they often support the local animal and plant communities acting as keystone species. The aim of this study was to examine whether oil pollution affected the central metabolism of the native keystone trees Vachellia tortilis (Forssk.) and V. raddiana (Savi), as either adults or seedlings. The study was conducted in the Evrona Nature Reserve, a desert ecosystem in southern Israel where two major oil spills occurred in 1975 and in 2014. Leaf samples were collected to analyze the central metabolite profiles from oil-polluted and unpolluted adult trees and from Vachellia seedlings growing in oil-polluted and unpolluted soils in an outdoor setup. We found that oil pollution had a stronger effect on one-year-old seedlings than on adult trees, reducing the levels of amino acids, sugars, and organic acids. While adult trees are mildly affected by oil pollution, the effects on young seedlings can cause a long-term reduction in the population of these keystone desert trees, ultimately threatening this entire ecosystem.

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Quantifying the consequence of applying conservative assumptions in the assessment of oil spill effects on polar cod (Boreogadus saida) populations

Polar Biology ◽

10.1007/s00300-021-02824-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 575-586

Author(s):

Pepijn De Vries ◽

Jacqueline Tamis ◽

Jasmine Nahrgang ◽

Marianne Frantzen ◽

Robbert Jak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Population Level ◽

Threshold Concentration ◽

The Arctic ◽

Polar Cod ◽

Boreogadus Saida ◽

Precautionary Approach ◽

Recovery Duration ◽

The Impact

AbstractIn order to assess the potential impact from oil spills and decide the optimal response actions, prediction of population level effects of key resources is crucial. These assessments are usually based on acute toxicity data combined with precautionary assumptions because chronic data are often lacking. To better understand the consequences of applying precautionary approaches, two approaches for assessing population level effects on the Arctic keystone species polar cod (Boreogadus saida) were compared: a precautionary approach, where all exposed individuals die when exposed above a defined threshold concentration, and a refined (full-dose-response) approach. A matrix model was used to assess the population recovery duration of scenarios with various but constant exposure concentrations, durations and temperatures. The difference between the two approaches was largest for exposures with relatively low concentrations and short durations. Here, the recovery duration for the refined approach was less than eight times that found for the precautionary approach. Quantifying these differences helps to understand the consequences of precautionary assumptions applied to environmental risk assessment used in oil spill response decision making and it can feed into the discussion about the need for more chronic toxicity testing. An elasticity analysis of our model identified embryo and larval survival as crucial processes in the life cycle of polar cod and the impact assessment of oil spills on its population.

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Characterization of microbial response to petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in a lacustrine ecosystem

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-021-13885-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Emilio D’Ugo ◽

Milena Bruno ◽

Arghya Mukherjee ◽

Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay ◽

Roberto Giuseppetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Petroleum Hydrocarbon ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Oil Pollution ◽

Primary Source ◽

Hydrocarbon Contamination ◽

Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contamination ◽

Microbial Response ◽

Pollution Event ◽

Hydrocarbonoclastic Potential

AbstractMicrobiomes of freshwater basins intended for human use remain poorly studied, with very little known about the microbial response to in situ oil spills. Lake Pertusillo is an artificial freshwater reservoir in Basilicata, Italy, and serves as the primary source of drinking water for more than one and a half million people in the region. Notably, it is located in close proximity to one of the largest oil extraction plants in Europe. The lake suffered a major oil spill in 2017, where approximately 400 tons of crude oil spilled into the lake; importantly, the pollution event provided a rare opportunity to study how the lacustrine microbiome responds to petroleum hydrocarbon contamination. Water samples were collected from Lake Pertusillo 10 months prior to and 3 months after the accident. The presence of hydrocarbons was verified and the taxonomic and functional aspects of the lake microbiome were assessed. The analysis revealed specialized successional patterns of lake microbial communities that were potentially capable of degrading complex, recalcitrant hydrocarbons, including aromatic, chloroaromatic, nitroaromatic, and sulfur containing aromatic hydrocarbons. Our findings indicated that changes in the freshwater microbial community were associated with the oil pollution event, where microbial patterns identified in the lacustrine microbiome 3 months after the oil spill were representative of its hydrocarbonoclastic potential and may serve as effective proxies for lacustrine oil pollution.

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Multi-domain probiotic consortium as an alternative to chemical remediation of oil spills at coral reefs and adjacent sites

Microbiome ◽

10.1186/s40168-021-01041-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Denise P. Silva ◽

Helena D. M. Villela ◽

Henrique F. Santos ◽

Gustavo A. S. Duarte ◽

José Roberto Ribeiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Community ◽

Coral Reefs ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Oil Contamination ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Corexit 9500 ◽

Coral Health ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Beginning in the last century, coral reefs have suffered the consequences of anthropogenic activities, including oil contamination. Chemical remediation methods, such as dispersants, can cause substantial harm to corals and reduce their resilience to stressors. To evaluate the impacts of oil contamination and find potential alternative solutions to chemical dispersants, we conducted a mesocosm experiment with the fire coral Millepora alcicornis, which is sensitive to environmental changes. We exposed M. alcicornis to a realistic oil-spill scenario in which we applied an innovative multi-domain bioremediator consortium (bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeast) and a chemical dispersant (Corexit® 9500, one of the most widely used dispersants), to assess the effects on host health and host-associated microbial communities. Results The selected multi-domain microbial consortium helped to mitigate the impacts of the oil, substantially degrading the polycyclic aromatic and n-alkane fractions and maintaining the physiological integrity of the corals. Exposure to Corexit 9500 negatively impacted the host physiology and altered the coral-associated microbial community. After exposure, the abundances of certain bacterial genera such as Rugeria and Roseovarius increased, as previously reported in stressed or diseased corals. We also identified several bioindicators of Corexit 9500 in the microbiome. The impact of Corexit 9500 on the coral health and microbial community was far greater than oil alone, killing corals after only 4 days of exposure in the flow-through system. In the treatments with Corexit 9500, the action of the bioremediator consortium could not be observed directly because of the extreme toxicity of the dispersant to M. alcicornis and its associated microbiome. Conclusions Our results emphasize the importance of investigating the host-associated microbiome in order to detect and mitigate the effects of oil contamination on corals and the potential role of microbial mitigation and bioindicators as conservation tools. Chemical dispersants were far more damaging to corals and their associated microbiome than oil, and should not be used close to coral reefs. This study can aid in decision-making to minimize the negative effects of oil and dispersants on coral reefs.

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COSMO–SkyMed Synthetic Aperture Radar Data to Observe the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

10.20944/preprints201805.0442.v2 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Ferdinando Nunziata ◽

Andrea Buono ◽

Maurizio Migliaccio

Keyword(s):

Synthetic Aperture Radar ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Oil Pollution ◽

Deepwater Horizon ◽

Synthetic Aperture ◽

Synthetic Aperture Radar Data ◽

Pollution Event ◽

The Impact ◽

Csk Constellation ◽

Aperture Radar

Oil spills are adverse events that may be very harmful to ecosystems and food chain. In particular, large sea oil spills are very dramatic occurrence often affecting sea and coastal areas. Therefore the sustainability of oil rig infrastructures and oil transportation via oil tankers are linked to law enforcement based on proper monitoring techniques which are also fundamental to mitigate the impact of such pollution. Within this context, in this study a meaningful showcase is analyzed using remotely sensed measurements collected by the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) operated by the COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) constellation. The showcase presented refers to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil incident that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. It is one of the world's largest incidental oil pollution event that affected a sea area larger than 10,000 km2. In this study we exploit, for the first time, dual co-polarization SAR data collected by the Italian CSK X-band SAR constellation showing the key benefits of HH-VV SAR measurements in observing such a huge oil pollution event, especially in terms of the very dense revisit time offered by the CSK constellation.

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ANALISA PENCEMARAN LAUT OLEH PTT EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION (PTTEP) AUSTRALASIA TERHADAP LAUT TIMOR INDONESIA

Jurnal PIR : Power in International Relations ◽

10.22303/pir.4.2.2020.127-136 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 127

Author(s):

Paulin Yosephin Marini ◽

Sherlly Monica Bonsapia ◽

Johni R.V. Korwa

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

Oil Field ◽

Australian Government ◽

Compensation Mechanisms ◽

Exploration And Production ◽

Data Collection Technique ◽

The Impact

<p><em>This study aims to analyze a blowout from an oil and gas leak owned by PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) Australasia in the Montara oil field in the Indonesian Timor Sea, and how to resolve disputes between Australia and Indonesia. A qualitative approach was used in this study, whilst the data collection technique was through library research. The theory of state responsibility, the concept of human security, and the concept of international maritime law are used to analyze disputes between Indonesia and Australia. The study found that the Montara oil spill had not only damaged the marine ecosystem but also polluted Indonesian waters. It also found that although the Australian government had formed a special commission to resolve cases and even used dispersant, it had not satisfied all parties. Several points are summarized. First, the Montara oil spill in Australia is a transnational study because the impact has crossed national borders. Secondly, UNCLOS has a weakness in the settlement of the Montara case because the Convention only provides a description related to ‘Responsibility of Each Country’ and does not specifically arrange material compensation mechanisms to countries that cause sea pollution. Third, the Montara oil spill has caused huge losses for Indonesian seaweed farmers, especially 13 districts in NTT. The recommendations are that the Indonesian government along with the Montara Victim Peoples’ Advocacy Team should continue to follow up the case of oil spills from the Montara platform and continue to fight for compensation to the Australian government and the PTTEP as the responsible party.</em></p>

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Predicting the impact of future oil-spill closures on fishery-dependent communities—a spatially explicit approach

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsz138 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Igal Berenshtein ◽

Shay O’Farrell ◽

Natalie Perlin ◽

James N Sanchirico ◽

Steven A Murawski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Transport Model ◽

Gulf Coast ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Management Tool ◽

Spatially Explicit ◽

Oil Transport ◽

Fishing Fleets ◽

The Impact

Abstract Major oil spills immensely impact the environment and society. Coastal fishery-dependent communities are especially at risk as their fishing grounds are susceptible to closure because of seafood contamination threat. During the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster for example, vast areas of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) were closed for fishing, resulting in coastal states losing up to a half of their fishery revenues. To predict the effect of future oil spills on fishery-dependent communities in the GoM, we develop a novel framework that combines a state-of-the-art three-dimensional oil-transport model with high-resolution spatial and temporal data for two fishing fleets—bottom longline and bandit-reel—along with data on the social vulnerability of coastal communities. We demonstrate our approach by simulating spills in the eastern and western GoM, calibrated to characteristics of the DWH spill. We find that the impacts of the eastern and western spills are strongest in the Florida and Texas Gulf coast counties respectively both for the bandit-reel and the bottom longline fleets. We conclude that this multimodal spatially explicit quantitative framework is a valuable management tool for predicting the consequences of oil spills at locations throughout the Gulf, facilitating preparedness and efficient resource allocation for future oil-spill events.

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