FATE OF THE ZOE COLOCOTRONI OIL SPILL AND ITS EFFECTS ON INFAUNAL COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH MANGROVES

1981 ◽  
Vol 1981 (1) ◽  
pp. 353-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward S. Gilfillan ◽  
David S. Page ◽  
Ray P. Gerber ◽  
Sherry Hansen ◽  
Judy Cooley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Community Analysis ◽  
Reference Area ◽  
Infaunal Community ◽  
Red Mangrove ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Mangrove Environment ◽  
Impact Area ◽  
Spill Site ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT During 1978 and 1979, sediment samples were collected in the mangrove areas on the west side of Bahia Sucia, Puerto Rico, to examine the effects of oil discharged from the tanker Zoe Colocotroni (March 18, 1973) on the infaunal community. Samples for benthic community analysis and hydrocarbon analysis were taken in representative types of mangrove habitats and compared with habitats in a reference area some distance from the spill site. Infaunal organisms larger than 0.5 mm were included in this study. Correlation of biological and chemical data indicates that for the high salinity habitats there were more infaunal organisms larger than 0.5 millimeters in the oiled area than in the unoiled area. Analyses of the red mangrove fringe areas showed that the distribution of infaunal organisms was not related to the distribution of oil in an obvious way. Large numbers of organisms were found in some heavily oiled areas. Even the most diverse communities seen in the impact area were not as diverse as the community seen in the unoiled reference area. We conclude that only in the red mangrove environment is there remaining damage to infaunal communities from the Zoe Colocotroni oil spill.

MANGROVE LEAF TISSUE SODIUM AND POTASSIUM ION CONCENTRATIONS AS SUBLETHAL INDICATORS OF OIL STRESS IN MANGROVE TREES

1985 ◽  
Vol 1985 (1) ◽  
pp. 391-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Page ◽  
E. S. Gilfillan ◽  
J. C. Foster ◽  
J. R. Hotham ◽  
L. Gonzalez
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Leaf Tissue ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Red Mangrove ◽  
Impact Area ◽  
Spill Site ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mangrove Trees

ABSTRACT As part of an ongoing study of the long-term effects of the Zoe Colocotroni oil spill of March 17, 1973, in Bahia Sucia, Puerto Rico, the effects of the remaining oil on the red mangrove trees in the impact area were investigated. This study involved four sampling trips to the spill site and a reference area outside the spill zone between April 1979 and April 1981. The present study was based on the observation that stressed mangrove trees in the heavily oil-affected areas had a similar appearance to trees exhibiting stress due to hypersalinity in unoiled areas. The working hypothesis was that petroleum hydrocarbons induce stress in salt-excluding plants such as red mangroves by disrupting the ability of the roots to exclude ions from seawater. Measurements of sodium (the principal seawater cation) and potassium (a major physiological ion) were made on leaf samples taken from trees from oil-affected areas and reference areas. Sediment core samples were taken from the root zone of the trees sampled at each site and analyzed for hydrocarbons by gravimetric and gas chromatographic methods. The results show a relationship between sediment hydrocarbon concentration and the ratio of sodium to potassium for mangrove leaves sampled at each site. The results show that for trees exposed at the root zone to the least weathered oil, the values of this ratio for the leaves had the largest values, reflecting an oil-induced impairment of the salt (Na) exclusion mechanism. This approach to measuring the physiological health of mangrove trees at an oil spill site offers a potentially useful means of documenting oil stress and recovery from oil stress in salt-excluding halophytes. Because oil stress in mangroves appears to be a root membrane-directed effect, there may be a “window in time” between initial oil impact and plant damage, as oil penetrates the sediments, during which mitigation measures could be taken.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF THE SEA EMPRESS OIL SPILL ON BIRDS OF THE PEMBROKESHIRE COAST AND ISLANDS

1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-225
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Parr ◽  
Robert J. Haycock ◽  
Malcolm E. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Seabird Colony ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Inshore Waters ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Much of the Pembrokeshire coast and islands, together with its inshore waters, are of international importance for their breeding seabirds and wintering seaduck. Although the Sea Empress oil spill occurred before the breeding season, some 7000 oiled birds were recovered dead or alive. The impact of the oil spill on birds can be classified as follows: immediate mortality especially of more than 4500 wintering common scoter in Carmarthen Bay; sublethal effects on productivity of colonies and reduced adult survival from oil or dispersant ingestion; and chronic effects on bird populations from long-term pollution, particularly of prey. A range of monitoring and research projects are under way to investigate the impact, but it is premature to provide many results. The oil spill probably caused significant local declines in seabird colony sizes, especially of guillemot. The impact on common scoter will prove difficult to determine because of the poor quality and high variability of preincident data. Large numbers of oiled birds, particularly common scoter, were treated and subsequently released. The successful rehabilitation of such released birds is controversial; research and review results will be reported.

Effect of the T/B North Cape Oil Spill on the Surf Clam (Spisula Solidissima) in the Coastal Waters of Southern Rhode Island1

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 (1) ◽  
pp. 993-997
Author(s):  
Joseph DeAlteris ◽  
Neil Thompson ◽  
Laura Skrobe ◽  
Gary Mauseth ◽  
Gerald Erickson
Keyword(s):  
Rhode Island ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Control Area ◽  
Spisula Solidissima ◽  
Fishery Resource ◽  
Surf Clam ◽  
Home Heating ◽  
Impact Area ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT On 19 January 1996, the T/B North Cape grounded on the south shore of Rhode Island and spilled approximately 828,000 gallons of home heating oil. Storm waves mixed the oil into the water column, and currents transported the plume of contaminated water over an area of about 400 km2. Immediate post-spill observation of animals stranded on the beach within the impact area estimated 330,000 surf clams (Spisula solidissima), along with hundreds of thousands of crustaceans including lobsters and crabs. Field studies of the impact of the oil spill on the surf clam resource within the impact area and an adjacent control, unimpacted area were conducted over a 2-year period. Mortality of surf clams within the impact area was high. Using the density estimates of the adjacent control area, it is believed that most of the surf clams killed in the impact area were stranded ashore. More interesting, however, has been the recovery of the surf clam resource in the impact area, as compared to the control area. Densities of young of the year surf clams in the impact area, as observed in the winter/spring of 1997, about 1 year after the spill were very high, greater than 400/km2 at one station. Control area mean densities of the same year class were less than 2/m2 at all stations. A second field sampling conducted about 2 years after the spill indicated surf clam densities were reduced to maximum of 100/m2 within the impact area, and between 0–1/m2 in the control area. It is believed that the success of the post-spill set of surf clams in the impact area, as compared to the control area, is due to the loss of predators associated with the spill. Thus, with respect to the surf clams, this fishery resource has not only recovered, but has been enhanced by the spill.

scholarly journals Use of In Situ Burning as an Oil Spill Response Tool: Follow-Up of Four Case Studies

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Michel ◽  
Zach Nixon ◽  
Heidi Hinkeldey
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Salt Lake ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Burn Treatment ◽  
Impact Area ◽  
Sabine Lake ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Four in situ burning sites that varied widely in the physical setting, oil type, timing of the burn, and post-burn treatment were assessed 0.5–1.5 years post-burn: two condensate spills in intertidal marshes at Mosquito Bay, LA in April 2001 and near Sabine Lake, LA in February 2000; crude oil spill in a ponded wetland in Minnesota in July 2000; and a spill of diesel in a salt flat/wetland north of Great Salt Lake, UT in January 2000. When used quickly after a release, burning is most effective at reducing damage to vegetation and the areal extent of impact. Where crude oil was burned within hours after the release at the Minnesota site, the impact area was restricted to 3 acres. In contrast, the diesel in the Utah spill spread over 38 acres within 3 days. The window of opportunity for in situ burning to be an effective means of oil removal can be days to months, depending on the spill conditions. The condensate spill at Mosquito Bay site was effectively burned 6–7 days after the release was reported. For spills with snow and ice cover, burning may still be effective months later. In fact, it may be necessary to consider additional burns during thaw periods and during the final thaw. Burning will not reduce the toxic effects of the oil that occurred prior to the burn. It can, however, be very effective at reducing the extent and degree of impacts by quickly removing the remaining oil. In three of the four case studies, the area burned was significantly larger than the oiled area (up to 10 x). Healthy, green, unoiled vegetation is not always an effective fire break, particularly downwind; fires can quickly jump the kinds of fire breaks placed during spill emergencies in wetlands (e.g., vegetation laid down by the passage of airboats).

ROLE OF DYNAMIC COASTAL PROCESSES IN THE IMPACT AND DISPERSAL OF THE AMOCO CADIZ OIL SPILL (MARCH 1978) BRITTANY, FRANCE

1979 ◽  
Vol 1979 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miles O. Hayes ◽  
Erich R. Gundlach ◽  
Laurent D'Ozouville
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
The United States ◽  
Coastal Processes ◽  
Coastal Environments ◽  
Spill Site ◽  
Rocky Coasts ◽  
Marsh Pools ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Between 60,000 and 65,000 tons of the Amoco Cadiz oil came ashore along approximately 70 km of the shoreline of Brittany during the first few weeks of the spill (March 16–30, 1978). A prevailing westerly wind pushed the oil against west-facing headlands and into shoreline embayments as it moved east. A wind reversal in early April moved the oil in the opposite direction, contaminating previously untouched areas and transporting the oil as far southwest as Pointe du Raz (southwest of Brest). At the end of April, the total volume of oil onshore was reduced to approximately 10,000 tons but by that time more than 300 km of shoreline had been contaminated. The details of oil erosion and burial were determined by resurveying 19 permanent beach profiles established during the first few days of the spill. These stations, plus an additional 147 beach observation stations, were revisited one month after the spill. Coastal processes and geomorphology played a major role in the dispersal and accumulation of the oil once it came onshore. For example, oil accumulated at the heads of crenulate bays and on tombolos (sand spits formed in the lee of offshore islands). Local sinks, such as scour pits around boulders, bar troughs (runnels), marsh pools, and joints and crevasses in rocks, tended to trap oil. Classification of the coastal environments of the Amoco Cadiz oil spill site, according to an oil spill vulnerability index (scale of 1–10 on basis of potential oil spill damage), revealed a good correlation with earlier findings at the Metula and Urquiola oil spill sites. For example, exposed rocky coasts and wave-cut platforms (stations 1 and 2) were cleaned of extremely heavy doses of oil within a few days. Sheltered rocky coasts (station 8), sheltered tidal flats (station 9) and estuarine marsh systems (station 10) proved to be the most vulnerable of all coastal environments to oil spill damage. These observations provide encouragement and incentive to continue to apply the vulnerability index to areas in the United States threatened by potential oil spills. The Brittany coastline is particularly analogous to the coastline of Maine and parts of southern Alaska.

Syrian Crisis and Migration

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pinar Yazgan ◽  
Deniz Eroglu Utku ◽  
Ibrahim Sirkeci
Keyword(s):  
Human Mobility ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Syrian Crisis ◽  
Mass Migration ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Europe Today ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Near Future

With the growing insurrections in Syria in 2011, an exodus in large numbers have emerged. The turmoil and violence have caused mass migration to destinations both within the region and beyond. The current "refugee crisis" has escalated sharply and its impact is widening from neighbouring countries toward Europe. Today, the Syrian crisis is the major cause for an increase in displacement and the resultant dire humanitarian situation in the region. Since the conflict shows no signs of abating in the near future, there is a constant increase in the number of Syrians fleeing their homes. However, questions on the future impact of the Syrian crisis on the scope and scale of this human mobility are still to be answered. As the impact of the Syrian crisis on host countries increases, so does the demand for the analyses of the needs for development and protection in these countries. In this special issue, we aim to bring together a number of studies examining and discussing human mobility in relation to the Syrian crisis.

scholarly journals The environmental and ecological determinants of elevated Ross River Virus exposure in koalas residing in urban coastal landscapes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Johnson ◽  
Amy Robbins ◽  
Narayan Gyawali ◽  
Oselyne Ong ◽  
Joanne Loader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Movement ◽  
Ross River Virus ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Culex Annulirostris ◽  
Coastal Landscapes ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Virus Exposure ◽  
Elevated Exposure ◽  
The Impact

AbstractKoala populations in many areas of Australia have declined sharply in response to habitat loss, disease and the effects of climate change. Koalas may face further morbidity from endemic mosquito-borne viruses, but the impact of such viruses is currently unknown. Few seroprevalence studies in the wild exist and little is known of the determinants of exposure. Here, we exploited a large, spatially and temporally explicit koala survey to define the intensity of Ross River Virus (RRV) exposure in koalas residing in urban coastal environments in southeast Queensland, Australia. We demonstrate that RRV exposure in koalas is much higher (> 80%) than reported in other sero-surveys and that exposure is uniform across the urban coastal landscape. Uniformity in exposure is related to the presence of the major RRV mosquito vector, Culex annulirostris, and similarities in animal movement, tree use, and age-dependent increases in exposure risk. Elevated exposure ultimately appears to result from the confinement of remaining coastal koala habitat to the edges of permanent wetlands unsuitable for urban development and which produce large numbers of competent mosquito vectors. The results further illustrate that koalas and other RRV-susceptible vertebrates may serve as useful sentinels of human urban exposure in endemic areas.

scholarly journals Aircraft Impact Effects on an Aged NPP

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 816
Author(s):  
Rosa Lo Frano
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Military Aircraft ◽  
Residual Resistance ◽  
Plant Safety ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
Target Wall ◽  
Impact Area ◽  
Wall Perforation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Loss Of Strength

The impact of an aircraft is widely known to be one of the worst events that can occur during the operation of a plant (classified for this reason as beyond design). This can become much more catastrophic and lead to the loss of strength of/collapse of the structures when it occurs in the presence of ageing (degradation and alteration) materials. Therefore, since the performance of all plant components may be affected by ageing, there is a need to evaluate the effect that aged components have on system performance and plant safety. This study addresses the numerical simulation of an aged Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) subjected to a military aircraft impact. The effects of impact velocity, direction, and location were investigated together with the more unfavorable conditions to be expected for the plant. The modelling method was also validated based on the results obtained from the experiments of Sugano et al., 1993. Non-linear analyses by means of finite element (FE) MARC code allowed us to simulate the performance of the reinforced concrete containment building and its impact on plant availability and reliability. The results showed that ageing increases a plant’s propensity to suffer damage. The damage at the impact area was confirmed to be dependent on the type of aircraft involved and the target wall thickness. The greater the degradation of the materials, the lower the residual resistance capacity, and the greater the risk of wall perforation.

scholarly journals Influence of the Spatial Pressure Distribution of Breaking Wave Loading on the Dynamic Response of Wolf Rock Lighthouse

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Darshana T. Dassanayake ◽  
Alessandro Antonini ◽  
Athanasios Pappas ◽  
Alison Raby ◽  
James Mark William Brownjohn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Response ◽  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Distinct Element ◽  
Breaking Waves ◽  
Breaking Wave ◽  
Wave Loading ◽  
Wave Impact ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Impact Area ◽  
The Impact

The survivability analysis of offshore rock lighthouses requires several assumptions of the pressure distribution due to the breaking wave loading (Raby et al. (2019), Antonini et al. (2019). Due to the peculiar bathymetries and topographies of rock pinnacles, there is no dedicated formula to properly quantify the loads induced by the breaking waves on offshore rock lighthouses. Wienke’s formula (Wienke and Oumeraci (2005) was used in this study to estimate the loads, even though it was not derived for breaking waves on offshore rock lighthouses, but rather for the breaking wave loading on offshore monopiles. However, a thorough sensitivity analysis of the effects of the assumed pressure distribution has never been performed. In this paper, by means of the Wolf Rock lighthouse distinct element model, we quantified the influence of the pressure distributions on the dynamic response of the lighthouse structure. Different pressure distributions were tested, while keeping the initial wave impact area and pressure integrated force unchanged, in order to quantify the effect of different pressure distribution patterns. The pressure distributions considered in this paper showed subtle differences in the overall dynamic structure responses; however, pressure distribution #3, based on published experimental data such as Tanimoto et al. (1986) and Zhou et al. (1991) gave the largest displacements. This scenario has a triangular pressure distribution with a peak at the centroid of the impact area, which then linearly decreases to zero at the top and bottom boundaries of the impact area. The azimuthal horizontal distribution was adopted from Wienke and Oumeraci’s work (2005). The main findings of this study will be of interest not only for the assessment of rock lighthouses but also for all the cylindrical structures built on rock pinnacles or rocky coastlines (with steep foreshore slopes) and exposed to harsh breaking wave loading.

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

Polar Biology ◽  
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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