Effects of petroleum products on bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana)

Abstract

Although research has been conducted on the effects of oil on the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera, no similar studies have been completed on bull kelp, Nereocystis leutkeana, the dominant kelp in Washington State, British Columbia, and Alaska. The effects of three petroleum products [diesel fuel, intermediate fuel oil (IFO), and crude oil] were tested before and after weathering on N. luetkeana. Whole plants were exposed to petroleum product for 4 or 24 h and then transferred to the field; observations on the condition of the plants were made daily for 7 d. In addition, controlled bioassays were performed to measure the effects of petroleum exposure on net photosynthetic rate (NP) and respiration rate (R), using light-and dark-bottle techniques. These experiments verified the susceptibility of N. luetkeana tissue to the damaging effects of direct exposure to several oil types. The 4 h exposures to weathered diesel and unweathered IFO, and 24 h exposures to unweathered and weathered diesel and IFO resulted in moderate to severe damage to kelp tissue (i.e., clearly delineated bleached line accompanied by tissue necrosis). Weathered diesel was more toxic than unweathered diesel. The most severe damage to bull kelp was concentrated at the meristematic zone (junction of stipe and bulb) where new tissue growth occurs. Petroleum type significantly affected stipe and blade NP, R, and NP:R ratios. Diesel treatments had a greater negative effect on NP than did the IFO treatments. Based on these experiments, the relative ranking of the damaging effects of petroleum treatment on bull kelp are weathered diesel>unweathered IFO>unweathered diesel>weathered IFO>unweathered crude>weathered crude.