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.

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.

scholarly journals Short-term disturbance by a commercial two-dimensional seismic survey does not lead to long-term displacement of harbour porpoises

2013 ◽  
Vol 280 (1771) ◽  
pp. 20132001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M. Thompson ◽  
Kate L. Brookes ◽  
Isla M. Graham ◽  
Tim R. Barton ◽  
Keith Needham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Control Area ◽  
Seismic Survey ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Survey Period ◽  
The North ◽  
Impact Area ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Passive Acoustic ◽  
The Impact

Assessments of the impact of offshore energy developments are constrained because it is not known whether fine-scale behavioural responses to noise lead to broader-scale displacement of protected small cetaceans. We used passive acoustic monitoring and digital aerial surveys to study changes in the occurrence of harbour porpoises across a 2000 km 2 study area during a commercial two-dimensional seismic survey in the North Sea. Acoustic and visual data provided evidence of group responses to airgun noise from the 470 cu inch array over ranges of 5–10 km, at received peak-to-peak sound pressure levels of 165–172 dB re 1 µPa and sound exposure levels (SELs) of 145–151 dB re 1 µPa 2 s −1 . However, animals were typically detected again at affected sites within a few hours, and the level of response declined through the 10 day survey. Overall, acoustic detections decreased significantly during the survey period in the impact area compared with a control area, but this effect was small in relation to natural variation. These results demonstrate that prolonged seismic survey noise did not lead to broader-scale displacement into suboptimal or higher-risk habitats, and suggest that impact assessments should focus on sublethal effects resulting from changes in foraging performance of animals within affected sites.

PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OIL SPILL DEBRIS DISPOSAL

1977 ◽  
Vol 1977 (1) ◽  
pp. 265-269
Author(s):  
J. S. Farlow ◽  
D. E. Ross ◽  
R. Landreth
Keyword(s):  
Rhode Island ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Sanitary Landfills ◽  
Local Officials ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Oil Spill Cleanup ◽  
Practical Recommendations

ABSTRACT Many oil spill cleanup efforts include the disposal of a significant quantity of unusable oily organic and inorganic debris. Because spills are emotion-charged events, debris disposal is often impeded by the somewhat exaggerated fears of local inhabitants. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency retained SCS Engineers, Inc. to prepare a detailed, practical how-to-do-it manual for oil spill debris disposal and to make an accompanying film for state and local officials. The work included a literature search, interviews with both researchers and practitioners, and limited field studies in California, Utah and Rhode Island. Because aerobic conditions result in relatively rapid microbial degradation of the bulk of the hydrocarbons, the land-spreading process is recommended where debris size characteristics and access to suitable land permit. Anaerobic disposal in individual burial sites or existing sanitary landfills is acceptable, though definitely less desirable because of the greatly extended period for groundwater pollution potential and monitoring.

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).

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 Reproduction and biomarker responses of Eisenia fetida after exposure to imidacloprid in biochar-amended soil

Biochar ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngitheni Winnie-Kate Nyoka ◽  
Ozekeke Ogbeide ◽  
Patricks Voua Otomo
Keyword(s):  
Eisenia Fetida ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Pesticide Pollution ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Amended Soil

AbstractTerrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are increasingly threatened by pesticide pollution resulting from extensive use of pesticides, and due to the lack of regulatory measures in the developing world, there is a need for affordable means to lessen environmental effects. This study aimed to investigate the impact of biochar amendment on the toxicity of imidacloprid to life-cycle parameters and biomarker responses of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. E. fetida was exposed to 10% biochar-amended and non-amended OECD artificial soils spiked with 0, 0.75, 1.5, 2.25 and 3 mg imidacloprid/kg for 28 days. An LC50 of 2.7 mg/kg was only computed in the non-amended soil but not in the biochar-amended soil due to insignificant mortality. The EC50 calculated in the non-amended soil (0.92 mg/kg) for reproduction (fertility) was lower than the one computed in the biochar amended (0.98 mg/kg), indicating a decrease in toxicity in the biochar-amended substrate. Significant weight loss was observed at the two highest imidacloprid treatments in the non-amended soil and only at the highest treatment in the biochar-amended substrate, further highlighting the beneficial effects of biochar. Catalase activity decreased significantly at the two highest concentrations of non-amended soil. Yet, in the amended soil, the activity remained high, especially in the highest concentration, where it was significantly higher than the controls. This indicated more severe oxidative stress in the absence of biochar. In all non-amended treatments, there was a significant acetylcholinesterase inhibition, while lower inhibition percentages were observed in the biochar-amended soil. In most endpoints, the addition of biochar alleviated the toxic effects of imidacloprid, which shows that biochar has the potential to be useful in soil remediation. However, there is still a need for field studies to identify the most effective application rate of biochar for land application.

Collectivistic Leadership in Context: An Examination of How and When Collective Charismatic Leadership Relates to Unit Functioning

2021 ◽  
pp. 154805182098653
Author(s):  
Jonathan C. Ziegert ◽  
David M. Mayer ◽  
Ronald F. Piccolo ◽  
Katrina A. Graham
Keyword(s):  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Task Complexity ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Charismatic Leadership ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Collective Leadership ◽  
Contingency Perspective ◽  
The Impact

This research explores the nature of collective leadership by examining the boundary conditions of how and when it relates to unit functioning. Building from a contingency perspective that considers the impact of contextual factors, we propose that collective charismatic leadership will be associated with lowered unit conflict, and this relationship will be strengthened by the contingency elements of individual charismatic leadership, task complexity, and social inclusion. Furthermore, we propose that the interactions of collective charismatic leadership with these contextual factors will relate to performance and satisfaction through conflict. We examine our hypotheses across two unit-level field studies, and the results illustrated that high levels of these contextual factors enhanced the negative relationship between collective charismatic leadership and conflict, which generally mediated the relationships between these interactive effects and performance and satisfaction. The results also highlight the detrimental aspects of collective leadership and how it can relate to reduced unit functioning when it is not aligned with an appropriate context. Overall, these findings begin to provide a more complete picture of collective leadership from a contingency perspective through a greater understanding of when and how it is related to unit functioning.

scholarly journals Persistently high SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate and incidence for Hispanic/Latinos during state reopening in an urban setting: a retrospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Hsiang Weng ◽  
Andrew Saal ◽  
Daniel C. McGuire ◽  
Philip A. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Rhode Island ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
The United States ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Latino Population ◽  
Hispanic Latinos ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hispanic White

Abstract Hispanic/Latino populations are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States. The impact of state reopening on COVID-19 in this population after stay-at-home orders is unknown. We evaluated the incidence, prevalence and trends during reopening of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) at a major federally qualified health centre in Providence, Rhode Island. A total of 14 505 patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 from 19 March to 18 August 2020, of which, data on 13 318 (91.8%) patients were available; 70.0% were Hispanic/Latino, and 2905 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The urban Hispanic/Latino population was almost five times more likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 (risk ratio 4.97, 95% CI 2.59–9.53, P < 0.001) compared to non-Hispanic White. The positivity rates among the urban Hispanic/Latino population remained >10% during all phases of reopening. The trends of the incidence rates showed similar associations to those we observed for positivity rates. Public health interventions to address SARS-CoV-2 in Hispanic/Latino communities are urgently needed, even in latter phases of state reopening.

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.

The nature of entrepreneurial orientation strength: the impact of shared values on firm performance

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Laurence G. Weinzimmer ◽  
Eric J. Michel ◽  
Jennifer Robin
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Revenue Growth ◽  
Entrepreneurship Theory ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Strong Culture

Abstract Drawing on Wales, Monsen, and McKelvie's (2011, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 35(5), 895–923) model of entrepreneurial orientation pervasiveness and the strong culture hypothesis (Denison, 1984, Organization Dynamics, 13, 4–22), this study investigates how entrepreneurial orientation (EO) strength, defined as the level of agreement in the shared perceptions of EO, serves as a boundary condition of the EO–firm performance relationship. Four field studies provide evidence for a valid and reliable 10-item multidimensional measure of entrepreneurial orientation, the EO-10, which in turn, may be used to assess EO strength. We establish content and construct validity of the EO-10 (study 1; n = 447 employees), criterion-related validity with revenue growth and sales growth (study 2; n = 412 employees in 43 profit centers), and convergent validity with Covin and Slevin's (1989, Strategic Management Journal, 10, 75–87) 9-item measure (study 3; n = 291 employees). Finally, in study 4 (n = 853 employees nested in 22 organizations), we demonstrate the interactive effects of EO and EO strength on profit growth and revenue growth. In sum, this study provides conceptual and empirical evidence for the importance of EO strength as a moderator of the EO–firm performance relationship.

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