Benthic Faunal Baselines in the Gulf of Mexico: A Precursor to Evaluate Future Impacts

Authors

Patrick Schwing, University of South FloridaFollow
Paul A. Montagna, Texas A & M
Maria Luisa Machain-Castillo, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Elva Escobar-Briones, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Melissa Rohal, Texas A & M

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

7-21-2019

Keywords

Benthic, Foraminifera, Macrofauna, Meiofauna, Oil spill, MOSSFA, Deepwater Horizon, Ixtoc 1, Baseline

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12963-7_6

Abstract

This chapter provides a comparison between recently developed, post-oil spill baseline measurements throughout the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and previous, pre-oil spill baselines for benthic foraminifera, meiofauna, and macrofauna for areas impacted by the Deepwater Horizon (2010) and Ixtoc 1 (1979–1980) oil spills. This comparison will provide two primary outcomes: (1) assessment of any lasting changes in benthic faunal assemblages caused by the Deepwater Horizon and Ixtoc 1 oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico and (2) augmentation of pre-oil spill baselines or establishment of “new normal” post-oil spill baseline measurements that can be utilized to quantitatively assess impact, response, and recovery of benthic fauna in the event of a future oil spill.

Comments

Data used in this book chapter are available for download.

Particle size distribution of n-decane and methane-saturated n-decane jets entering seawater at 150 bar ambient pressure and elevated oil reservoir pressure

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages from sediment cores collected on multiple cruises in the Gulf of Mexico from 2010-11-18 to 2017-05-22

Gulf-wide seafloor surface benthic foraminifera stable isotopes from sediment cores collected on multiple cruises from 2010-06-13 to 2017-07-19

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Benthic Faunal Baselines in the Gulf of Mexico: A Precursor to Evaluate Future Impacts, in S. A. Murawki, C. H. Ainsworth, S. Gilbert, D. J. Hollander & C. B. Paris (Eds.), Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills: Fighting the Next War, Springer, p. 98-108

Scholar Commons Citation

Schwing, Patrick; Montagna, Paul A.; Machain-Castillo, Maria Luisa; Escobar-Briones, Elva; and Rohal, Melissa, "Benthic Faunal Baselines in the Gulf of Mexico: A Precursor to Evaluate Future Impacts" (2019). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 455.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/455