scholarly journals Shoreline oiling effects and recovery of salt marsh macroinvertebrates from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald R. Deis ◽  
John W. Fleeger ◽  
Stefan M. Bourgoin ◽  
Irving A. Mendelssohn ◽  
Qianxin Lin ◽  
...  

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.

Author(s):  
Donald R Deis ◽  
John W Fleeger ◽  
Stefan M Bourgoin ◽  
Irving A Mendelssohn ◽  
Qianxin Lin ◽  
...  

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in varying degrees of oiling in the salt marshes of northern Barataria Bay, Louisiana, USA. This study examines the effects of oiling intensity and recovery on two conspicuous marsh-platform macroinvertebrates, Uca spp., fiddler crabs, and Littoraria irrorata, the salt marsh periwinkle, from 2.5 to 4.5 years after the spill. The dominant fiddler crab within these marshes, Uca longisignalis, was the only species observed in field collections, and no significant difference in burrow density or burrow size was found among oiling levels over the study period indicating recovery from any negative effects of oiling already occurred for this species. The highest density of L. irrorata was found at moderately oiled sites compared to both reference (without visible oiling) and heavily oiled stations. Spartina alterniflora density recovered within two years after the spill at the moderately oiled stations facilitating recovery of L. irrorata approximately one year later. L. irrorata average shell length and length-frequency distributions were equivalent at moderately oiled and reference stations but snails were shorter at heavily oiled stations because of a greater proportion of subadults. Shell length data from the heavily oiled sites indicate that direct mortality due to oiling or oil-induced reductions in recruitment occurred in 2010 and that recovery was starting to occur at 48 months after the spill. The extent and duration of oil in the water during the spill and the biological responses we measured indicates that L. irrorata and Uca longisignalis were both affected in their ability to carry out their life cycle on the marsh and/or in the water column at all stations including the reference stations for some period following the entry of oil into the region.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald R Deis ◽  
John W Fleeger ◽  
Stefan M Bourgoin ◽  
Irving A Mendelssohn ◽  
Qianxin Lin ◽  
...  

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in varying degrees of oiling in the salt marshes of northern Barataria Bay, Louisiana, USA. This study examines the effects of oiling intensity and recovery on two conspicuous marsh-platform macroinvertebrates, Uca spp., fiddler crabs, and Littoraria irrorata, the salt marsh periwinkle, from 2.5 to 4.5 years after the spill. The dominant fiddler crab within these marshes, Uca longisignalis, was the only species observed in field collections, and no significant difference in burrow density or burrow size was found among oiling levels over the study period indicating recovery from any negative effects of oiling already occurred for this species. The highest density of L. irrorata was found at moderately oiled sites compared to both reference (without visible oiling) and heavily oiled stations. Spartina alterniflora density recovered within two years after the spill at the moderately oiled stations facilitating recovery of L. irrorata approximately one year later. L. irrorata average shell length and length-frequency distributions were equivalent at moderately oiled and reference stations but snails were shorter at heavily oiled stations because of a greater proportion of subadults. Shell length data from the heavily oiled sites indicate that direct mortality due to oiling or oil-induced reductions in recruitment occurred in 2010 and that recovery was starting to occur at 48 months after the spill. The extent and duration of oil in the water during the spill and the biological responses we measured indicates that L. irrorata and Uca longisignalis were both affected in their ability to carry out their life cycle on the marsh and/or in the water column at all stations including the reference stations for some period following the entry of oil into the region.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 1985-1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Zengel ◽  
Nicolle Rutherford ◽  
Brittany Bernik ◽  
Zachary Nixon ◽  
Jacqueline Michel

ABSTRACT The Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in persistent heavy oiling in salt marshes, particularly in northern Barataria Bay, Louisiana. Oiling conditions and several ecological variables were compared among reference plots and three types of heavily oiled plots located along a continuous shoreline area in northern Barataria Bay: oiled control plots, mechanical treatment plots, and mechanical treatment plots coupled with vegetation planting (Spartina alterniflora). Data were collected more than three years following initial oiling and two years following cleanup treatments and planting. Salt marsh oiling and associated impacts were apparent across all oiling/treatment classes relative to reference conditions. Mechanical treatment with planting showed the most improvement in oiling conditions and was also effective in re-establishing vegetation cover and plant species composition similar to reference conditions, in contrast to the oiled controls and mechanical treatment plots without planting. Marsh periwinkle (Littoraria irrorata) recovery was limited across all oiling/treatment classes relative to reference. Impacts to fiddler crabs (Uca spp.) were also documented in the heavily oiled plots. Positive influences of mechanical treatment and planting on macroinvertebrate recovery were observed; however, invertebrate recovery may lag the return of Spartina alterniflora by several years. Vegetation planting should be considered as a spill response and emergency restoration option for heavily oiled salt marshes where vegetation impacts are substantial, natural recovery may be lacking or delayed, intensive cleanup treatments are used, or where marsh shorelines are at risk of erosion.


2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 1154-1163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Zengel ◽  
Steven C. Pennings ◽  
Brian Silliman ◽  
Clay Montague ◽  
Jennifer Weaver ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 160 ◽  
pp. 111581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald R. Deis ◽  
John W. Fleeger ◽  
David S. Johnson ◽  
Irving A. Mendelssohn ◽  
Qianxin Lin ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 216 ◽  
pp. 361-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark W. Hester ◽  
Jonathan M. Willis ◽  
Shahrokh Rouhani ◽  
Marla A. Steinhoff ◽  
Mary C. Baker

2012 ◽  
Vol 109 (28) ◽  
pp. 11234-11239 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Silliman ◽  
J. van de Koppel ◽  
M. W. McCoy ◽  
J. Diller ◽  
G. N. Kasozi ◽  
...  

1987 ◽  
Vol 1987 (1) ◽  
pp. 445-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve K. Alexander ◽  
James W. Webb

ABSTRACT A single spill of crude oil in a salt marsh is generally considered to have limited biological effects. A crude oil spill in Dickinson Bayou (in the Galveston Bay system of Texas) in January 1984 provided the opportunity to test this hypothesis in salt marshes exposed to varying amounts of oil. Growth of Spartina alterniflora was unaffected in light to moderately oiled sediments (less than 5 mg oil/g sediment). However, growth was significantly reduced in sediments with high oil content (5 to 51 mg/g) through 18 months. Erosion of shoreline areas with high oil content was evident by 16 months and continued through 32 months. These results demonstrate the adverse effect of high concentrations of crude oil in salt marsh sediments. Each crude oil spill must be evaluated individually with regard to the likelihood of significant accumulation of oil in sediments before a decision is made regarding a cleanup response.


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