Abstract
Benthic foraminifera (BF) have been commonly used as marine petroleum contamination indicators. The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) released 4.0 million barrels of petroleum into the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGoM) over 87days in 2010, causing Marine Oil Snow Sedimentation and Flocculent Accumulation (MOSSFA). Previous BF studies have documented region-specific impacts associated with contaminant input and sediment redox conditions. This study determined benthic resilience as measured by BF test density, species richness and heterogeneity. Surface sediment samples (0–42mm) from seven sites throughout the nGoM (2011–2015) showed a continuous increase in mean species richness (27.2% ±3.6%) and heterogeneity (19.8% ±0.2%). The greatest increase occurred from 2011 to 2013, followed by consistent values from 2013 to 2015, which suggested a resilience rate on the order of three years. This study demonstrated the importance of long-term time-series studies following events such as DWH and exemplified necessity for broad baseline measurements prior to the next marine petroleum accident.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.