Alabama Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium Assessments:

Transcription

1 Alabama Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium Assessments: Field and Experimental Rapid Response Assessments of Ecosystem Resilience to Hydrocarbon Pollution and Dispersants in the northern Gulf of Mexico

2 Consortium Participants UNA ASU UAH BSC JSU UAB UA SU TC UWA UM JC AU ASU TU AUM HC TSU TSUD UM SHC USA Alabama State University* Athens State University Auburn University* Auburn University at Montgomery Birmingham Southern College Huntingdon College Jacksonville State University* Judson College Samford University Spring Hill College Talladega College Troy University Troy University Dothan Tuskegee University* University of Alabama* University of Alabama at Birmingham* University of Alabama at Huntsville* University of Mobile University of Montevallo University of North Alabama University of South Alabama* University of West Alabama *Schools with graduate programs

3 Home for the MESC: The Dauphin Island Sea Lab DISL Campus

4 Research conducted at scales ranging from the ecosystem down to the beaker Richard C. Shelby Center for Ecosystem- Based Fisheries Management Experimental Tank Mesocosm Facility

5 Research Vessels R/V Alabama Discovery R/V E.O. Wilson

6 Deepwater Horizon April 2010

7 Gulf-wide Oil Coverage Led to Dire Predictions About Health of Marine Food Web Photo: Marla Valentine

8 DISL Immediate Responses: Pre-Rapid Response Funding Characterized baseline health and condition of: Reef fishes Demersal fishes Oysters Planktonic assemblages invertebrate, vertebrate, and microbial Critical Nursery habitats

9 Northern Gulf Institute-Funded DISL Acute Characterizations: BACI Designs Task 1: Document the impacts of oil intrusion on economically and ecologically important fishes in Alabama s nearshore and coastal waters Task 2: Document the impacts of oil intrusion on keystone sentinels in Mobile Bay waters Task 3: Document the impacts of oil intrusion on the health of critical nursery habitats and habitat utilization patterns of the young of economically important fishes Task 4: Evaluate the impacts of oil, methane and dispersant on pelagic food web structure and organic matter cycling along the Alabama coast Task 5: Evaluate the extent to which sedimentary biogeochemical cycles and specifically the nitrogen cycle have been changed by inundation of coastal waters by oil Task 6: Quantifying the effects of oil on the microbial community structure and processes in Alabama coastal waters Task 7: Evaluate the potential for along-estuary transport of oil-derived substances in surface and subsurface waters of the ship channel of the Mobile Bay Estuary Tasks largely completed 12/31/2010

10 BP-Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GRI): Unsolicited Support Based on the initial efforts of DISL-resident scientists, on July 26, 2010 BP presented the Governor of Alabama with a check for $5,000,000 which he transferred to the MESC The ultimate goal of the GRI was to improve society s ability to mitigate the impacts of hydrocarbon pollution and other stressors of the marine environment with emphasis on conditions found in the Gulf of Mexico.

11 Meeting BP Requirements Funds were obligated as quickly as possible on research consistent with the aims of the GRI Projects were approved by appropriate experts before project commencement Data will be made fully and openly available as quickly as possible in accordance with standard applicable practices Peer review publications are of paramount importance

12 MESC requirements The charge: formulate hypothesis-driven science that evaluates the impacts of hydrocarbon-based pollution on our coastal resources and the services they provide Proposed budgets were based on TDC Timelines must be closely adhered to by all PI s Contracts were to be cost reimburseable Quarterly and Final Reports must be submitted on time

13 Selected BP-GRI priorities Physical distribution, dispersion and dilution of contaminants under the action of ocean currents and tropical storms Chemical evolution and biological degradation of the oil/dispersant systems and subsequent interaction with the marine and coastal ecosystems Environmental effects of the oil/dispersant system on the sea floor, water column, coastal waters, shallow water habitats, wetlands, and beach sediments and the science of ecosystem recovery Technology developments for improved mitigation, detection, characterization, and remediation of oil spills

14 The budget $ 1,000,000 was allocated for each theme A cap on administrative fees was set at 15% TDC Include funds for data management in your work plans $ 250,000 was set aside for SGER (< 15K/project) ~$400,000 was set aside for MESC administrative fees (8% of the total allocation) Remaining funds have been applied to unanticipated costs, costs associated with external evaluations of the work plans, co-chair salaries and, if possible, amendments to meritorious study plans that exceed the initial allocations

15 MESC process Selected meritorious hypotheses and questions that addressed concerns about hydrocarbon pollution on coastal ecosystems at the workshops Selected co-chairs from the member institutions to help lead in the development of the four work plans Work plans and budgets were completed by the first of October 2010 Work plans were independently evaluated by a panel of experts selected by the Harte Institute Results of the independent evaluation were provided to the PIs and theme co-chairs Funding recommendations were made by the PI in consultation with co-chairs

16 Harte Institute Advisory Panel Advisory Panel Composition Eight expert scientists in residence at institutions of higher learning in gulf states Two panelists/theme Two co-chairs from the Harte Institute with oil spill experience

17 Award Details ~97% of the award obligated in four months to: 91 Full Grant Investigators 18 SGER Investigators 11 MESC Member Institutions 2 Gulf Coast Institutions (LSU & UF)

18 Results to Date from Rapid Response Support: Many Predictions Were Not Met By The Facts

19 Results To Date from Rapid Response Support DwH Oil and/or dispersants: suppressed rates of virus production suppressed rates of photo degradation of PAH in shelf waters and sediments suppressed rates of population growth for a number of salt marsh meiofauna recalcitrant PAH s found in beach sediments were toxic to selected meiofaunal organisms triggered shifts in water column and salt marsh microbial community composition

20 Results To Date from Rapid Response Support DwH Oil and/or dispersants also triggered: Dramatic increases in water column DOC levels were coincident with oiling off Alabama. Shifts in DI 13 C values indicating hydrocarbon uptake by the plankton. While no physiological affects on Ruppia were detected we found evidence of negative affects on Spartina biomass

21 Results To Date from Rapid Response Support: Some Covariates Mobile Bay and the Alabama shelf are significant sources of methane to the atmosphere Methane concentrations (5-30 nm) at shelf sites were significantly above atmospheric equilibrium values of ~2 nm. Methane probably came from the sediments rather than DwH. Sampling efforts revealed continued high levels of shellfish and finfish productivity in the seagrass/marsh systems in the northern Gulf of Mexico

22 Results To Date from Rapid Response Support: Some Covariates Creation of the fisheries exclusion zone was correlated with substantial increases the numbers and biomass of unexploited mid-level consumers Seemingly lower numbers of exploited crustaceans These results show that assessments of indicating hydrocarbon impacts on the gulf ecosystems will also require assessments of the government management actions

23 Chronic Effects of Weathered oil/dispersant impacts on ecosystem structure and function Distance Estuary Sound Inner Shelf Mid Shelf Depth Sedimentation Dispersion Physical Transport Nutrient fluxes/microbial and Phytoplankton Growth Limitations Wetlands Seagrass Oysters Microbial hydrocarbon degradation/transformation Plankton Microbial Loop Interactions Beaches Mixing exchange Pelagic/Demersal fishes Juvenile egress Larval ingress Physical Transport Artificial Reefs Live Bottom Habitats Microbial hydrocarbon degradation/transformation Conceptual diagram of ecosystem organization indicating hierarchical relationships among variables dependent upon oiling and the chemical of mechanical measures to remove oil. Responses will be determined either by direct or proxy measurements or by manipulative experimentation [outlined in *color*]. Physical processes moving oil between organizational components are indicated by red arrows. All processes and responses indicated here exist in the context of regular (e.g., seasonal) and irregular or episodic (e.g., river discharge, tropical storms, hypoxia, etc.) background variability.

24 Conclusions These seemingly contradictory data suggest that ecosystem resistance and resiliency is determined in large part by the biological diversity (ranging rom the genotype to the ecosystem) of impacted areas.

25 Conclusions Our greatest challenge then will be to tease apart the effects of anthropogenic disturbances from those of created by nature There is a need to include analyses of longterm historical records impacts of government management actions in this evaluation Only then will we be able to make data-driven predictions about the impacts of future uncontrolled releases of hydrocarbons on the ngom ecosystem

26 Manuscripts Resulting from BP - GRI Round 1 Funding Published or In Press Dzwonkowski, B., Park, K., Jiang, L. (In Press, 2011), Subtidal across-shelf surface transport and the factors that influence exchange on the Alabama shelf, Journal of Geophysical Research, 116, doi: /2011jc Fodrie. F.J., Heck, K.L. Jr. (2011) Response of coastal fishes to the Gulf of Mexico disaster. PLoS 6(7): e Graham, W. M., R.H. Condon, R.H. Carmichael, I. D Ambra, H.K. Patterson, L.J. Linn, F.J. Hernandez, Jr. (2010) Oil carbon entered the coastal planktonic food web during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Environmental Research Letters. 5: (6pp) Coleman, A. (2011). The Biology and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin in Alabama. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, August, Hayworth, J. S., Clement, T. P., BP's Operation Deep Clean: Could dilution be the solution to beach pollution? Environ. Sci. Technol. Hayworth, J. S., Clement, T. P., Valentine, J. F., Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacts on Alabama beaches. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 8, 1-27.

27 Manuscripts Resulting from BP- GRI Round 1 Funding Submitted Clement, T. P., Hayworth, J. S., V. Mulabagal, Francis, G. J., Fang, Y. Is Submerged Deepwater Horizon Oil Degrading Offshore? Comparison of the Chemical Signatures of Tar Mat Samples Deposited by Tropical Storm Lee in September 2011 with Oil Mousse Samples Collected in June Water Resources Research Coleman, A.T., T. Wibbels, K. Marion. Development of recovery programs for the diamondback terrapin: Evaluation of threats and conservation. Chelonian Conservation and Biology. Coleman, A.T., T. Wibbels, K. Marion, D. Nelson, J. Dindo. Effect of bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) on the capture of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in crab pots in an Alabama salt marsh. Alabama Academy of Science. Coleman, A.T., T. Wibbels, K. Marion, D. Nelson, J. Dindo. Orientation behavior of hatchling diamondback terrapins on a nesting beach. Manuscript submitted to Herpetologica. Dzwonkowski, B., and Park, K. Subtidal circulation on the Alabama shelf during the Deep Water Horizon oil spill, Journal of Geophysical Research. Kewei Y. Anaerobic biodegradation of benzene in salt marsh sediment of the Louisiana Gulf coast. Ecological Engineering. Park, K., Dzwonkowski B., Webb BM, Chen J. A modeling study of water and salt exchange for a micro-tidal, stratified northern Gulf of Mexico estuary. Journal of Marine Systems.

28 Manuscripts Resulting from BP-GRI Round 1 Funding In Preparation Aven, A., R. Carmichael, and others. Evidence for seasonal migration and site fidelity by West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) between the northern Gulf of Mexico and western Florida coasts. Aven, A. and R. Carmichael. Detection of belted manatees using passive acoustic monitors. Condon, R.H., W.M. Graham, R. Kiene, S.L. McCallister, and J. Brandes, Priming effect: Oil stimulates microbial metabolism of refractory organic matter and planktonic food web processes. Condon, R.H. and W.M. Graham. Hydrocarbons as a subsidy energy source for increased food web production. Horel, Agota, Behzad Mortazavi, and Patricia Sobecky. Characterization of Hydrocarbon Degraders from Coastal Alabama Marsh Sediments. Martin, CW, JF Valentine, JD Dindo, SK Scyphers, and TC Kauffman. Polyaromatic hydrocarbon accumulation in coastal Alabama waterfowl after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Martin, CW, JF Valentine, JD Dindo, LM Steele, SK Scyphers, and TC Kauffman. In Prep. Food web of coastal Alabama waterfowl as evidenced by stable isotopes. Mortazavi, Behzad, Alice Ortmann, Lei Wang, Rebecca Bernard. Nitrification and Denitrification Potential Along a Vegetation Gradient in a Saltmarsh Ecosystem. Shelton, N.L., R.H. Condon, W.M. Graham, L.J. Linn and S. Cecil. Source-sink dynamics of oil-derived chromophoric dissolved organic matter in coastal Gulf of Mexico waters. Valentine, J.F., C.Martin and L. Steele. Impacts of on food web structure in the north-central Gulf of Mexico.

29 Reporting Statistics to Date: Full Grant % - Quarter 1 100% - Quarter 2 SGER Grant 90% - Quarter % Quarter 2 Stay tuned!

30 Questions? Additional Information on Research at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab