scholarly journals Effects of the Shell Oil spill on hydrocarbon metabolism in the staghorn sculpin Leptocottus armatus: Pilot and reconnaissance study for the Shell Oil spill assessment and recovery monitoring environmental effects program

1989 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Spies
Author(s):  
Peter Foxton ◽  
Martin Heubeck

SynopsisA brief description is given of the accident to the tanker Esso Bernicia that resulted in the release of 1174 tonnes of heavy fuel oil into the harbour at Sullom Voe. The measures taken to deal with the spill and the resulting oil pollution are described and their effectiveness assessed. Aspects of the environmental effects are considered with particular reference to birds, otters and sheep. Wide-ranging inquiries were made into the cause of the incident, the adequacy of the response, and the effects of the pollution. The actions that resulted are described. Finally the significance of the event is considered in relation to the subsequent development of oil spill contingency planning at Sullom Voe, and in the wider context of Shetland.


1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
R.P. Warren

A proposal to undertake exploration in the coastal waters adjacent to Sydney/Newcastle/Wollongong has brought strong protests on environmental grounds. This opposition is committed and the basis for it should be considered in the wider context of offshore exploration around Australia. Of the various activities involved in oil and gas exploration the potential impacts of marine seismic surveys and the likelihood of a blowout- related oil spill are those of greatest concern to the media and public.A review of the available literature shows the environmental effects of seismic surveys to be of little consequence provided non- explosive energy sources are used. The effects of an oil spill are heavily dependent on site conditions and the type of oil spilled.The literature shows that direct exposure to spilled oil is fatal to many marine species. However, the potential lethal effects are largely dependent on direct exposure and this declines with the weathering and degradation of the spill. Moreover, the risks of an oil spill occurring as a result of current transportation and handling of oil in coastal waters and points around Australia are much greater than would be presented by drilling an exploratory well.In considering the role of exploration as an assessment procedure rather than a land use it is possible to draw parallels between the conservation status of Australian coastal waters today and the onshore situation some 20 years ago. The offshore oil and gas exploration industry needs to take several measures if it is to avoid denial of access for exploration. These include clearly identifying the environmental effects of exploration as opposed to production, adopting industry- wide codes for environmental practice, and recording and disseminating the industry's environmental performance.


1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 (1) ◽  
pp. 789-793
Author(s):  
Eric F. Heinitz ◽  
Melany Lee

ABSTRACT The Ilwaco tire fire oil spill occurred when oil generated by the pyrolysis of rubber tire chips began seeping from a hillside into an adjacent coastal wetland. The tire chips were used as road fill material to repair a section of State Route 100 damaged by a landslide. This paper discusses not only the complexities of the response to the oil spill, but also the elaborate cofferdam system and containment berm constructed to control and contain the continual flow of oil from the site until mitigation measures could be taken to eliminate the source. Because exposure to oxygen could potentially increase the risk of a tire fire, several in-situ cooling methods were evaluated. The unique properties of this oil, the environmental effects and restoration concerns, the excavation methods, and disposal problems are all discussed. This is one of two sites in the state of Washington where a road fill, constructed of shredded tire chips, has begun burning. A comparison between these two sites, along with some assumptions as to the causes and possible preventative measures, will be briefly discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hibiki Kimura ◽  
Tilo Pfalzgraff ◽  
Marie Levet ◽  
Yuuki Kawabata ◽  
John F Steffensen ◽  
...  

Fish perform rapid escape responses to avoid sudden predatory attacks. During escape responses, fish bend their bodies into a C-shape and quickly turn away from the predator and accelerate. The escape trajectory is determined by the initial turn (Stage 1) and a contralateral bend (Stage 2). Previous studies have used a single threat or model predator as a stimulus. In nature, however, multiple predators may attack from different directions simultaneously or in close succession. It is unknown whether fish are able to change the course of their escape response when startled by multiple stimuli at various time intervals. Pacific staghorn sculpin (Leptocottus armatus) were startled with a left and right visual stimulus in close succession. By varying the timing of the second stimulus, we were able to determine when and how a second stimulus could affect the escape response direction. Four treatments were used: a single visual stimulus (control); or two stimuli coming from opposite sides separated by a 0 ms (simultaneous treatment); a 33 ms; or a 83 ms time interval. The 33 ms and 83 ms time intervals were chosen to occur shortly before and after a predicted 60 ms visual escape latency (i.e. during Stage 1). The 0 ms and 33 ms treatments influenced both the escape trajectory and the Stage 1 turning angle, compared to a single stimulation, whereas the 83 ms treatment had no effect on the escape response. We conclude that Pacific staghorn sculpin can modulate their escape response only between stimulation and the onset of the response, but that escape responses are ballistic after the body motion has started.


1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1604-1609 ◽  
Author(s):  
William S. Marshall

Although hypophysectomy did not affect the number of skin mucous cells of sculpins in 5% seawater (1.4‰ salinity), there were fewer mucous cells in the gills, compared with intact and sham-operated controls. Injections of ovine prolactin (10 μg/g) maintained the number of gill mucous cells of the hypophysectomized fish at levels near that of sham-operated controls. The results are discussed in relation to the possible involvement of mucus secretion in teleost osmoregulation. An index method for easily estimating the number of mucous cells in the gill is described and evaluated.


1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 (1) ◽  
pp. 996-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Reilly ◽  
Robin Jamail

ABSTRACT A facility known as the Coastal Oil Spill Simulation (COSS) system has been constructed to test the efficacy and environmental effects of physical, chemical, and biological oil spill response technologies under realistic coastal and nearshore environmental conditions. The COSS facility is located in Corpus Christi, Texas. Oil spill research and development experiments will begin at the COSS facility in the summer of 1997. The Texas General Land Office and the Marine Spill Response Corporation have sponsored the design and construction of the COSS facility.


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