470
host a complex community of marine organisms that may be vulnerable to oiling,
mat sinking, and oxygen loss from oil and surface dispersant applications (Powers
et al. 2013). However, the sensitivity of Sargassum communities to oil exposure
from a deep ocean spill remains largely unknown.
Multiple species of cetaceans, sea turtles, and sea birds were severely impacted
by the DWH oil spill from coating from surface oiling, ingestion and inhalation
pathways, and impacts to dolphins continue to be documented (Barron 2012; Beyer
et al. 2016; Smith et al. 2017). Prior to the DWH, marine mammals and sea turtles
had been identified as particularly at risk from a large subsea spill, and recent simulation modeling of deep ocean oil releases also show the highest relative risks from
surface oiling to these species (MMS 2000; Bock et al. 2018).
27.2.3 Coastal Environments
Coastal environments include nearshore surf zone habitats, estuaries, wetlands, and
beaches, with depths greater than 10 m delineating offshore areas (Fig. 27.1) (CERC
1984). As seen in DWH, deep ocean spills can result in weathered oil impacting a
diversity of coastal environments including oyster reef, seagrass, beach, tidal mud
flat, mangrove, marsh, and wetland communities (Barron 2012; Beyer et al. 2016;
Baker et al. 2017). For example, over 1700 km of shoreline were oiled during DWH,
including beaches (51%) and saltwater marshes (45%), and oil remained on nearly
700 km of the shoreline 2 years after the spill (Michel et al. 2013). Sand beach habitat, sea grass, marsh vegetation, and subtidal oysters were severely injured from
physical oiling, chemical toxicity, and response actions and cleanup activities during DWH (Baker et al. 2017).
Coastal environments provide nursery, refuge, and foraging habitat for a diversity of resident and migratory species of aquatic animals, including infaunal benthic
invertebrates, snails, oysters and other shellfish, shrimp, crabs, and multiple species
of fish (Beyer et al. 2016; Baker et al. 2017). Many coastal species such as oysters,
shrimp, and fish are commercially important and may also be recreationally important and/or keystone species (e.g., Gulf menhaden, Brevoortia patronus) (Beyer
et al. 2016; Baker et al. 2017; Bock et al. 2018).
Shallow water coral reef communities in proximity to dispersed oil may also be
impacted from a deep ocean spill. The limited available research indicates that species and life stages of reef building corals are sensitive to oil and chemical dispersants. During DWH, species of sea fans appeared to be impacted in areas of
persistent oil slicks (Beyer et al. 2016).
M. G. Barron et al.
host a complex community of marine organisms that may be vulnerable to oiling,
mat sinking, and oxygen loss from oil and surface dispersant applications (Powers
et al. 2013). However, the sensitivity of Sargassum communities to oil exposure
from a deep ocean spill remains largely unknown.
Multiple species of cetaceans, sea turtles, and sea birds were severely impacted
by the DWH oil spill from coating from surface oiling, ingestion and inhalation
pathways, and impacts to dolphins continue to be documented (Barron 2012; Beyer
et al. 2016; Smith et al. 2017). Prior to the DWH, marine mammals and sea turtles
had been identified as particularly at risk from a large subsea spill, and recent simulation modeling of deep ocean oil releases also show the highest relative risks from
surface oiling to these species (MMS 2000; Bock et al. 2018).
27.2.3 Coastal Environments
Coastal environments include nearshore surf zone habitats, estuaries, wetlands, and
beaches, with depths greater than 10 m delineating offshore areas (Fig. 27.1) (CERC
1984). As seen in DWH, deep ocean spills can result in weathered oil impacting a
diversity of coastal environments including oyster reef, seagrass, beach, tidal mud
flat, mangrove, marsh, and wetland communities (Barron 2012; Beyer et al. 2016;
Baker et al. 2017). For example, over 1700 km of shoreline were oiled during DWH,
including beaches (51%) and saltwater marshes (45%), and oil remained on nearly
700 km of the shoreline 2 years after the spill (Michel et al. 2013). Sand beach habitat, sea grass, marsh vegetation, and subtidal oysters were severely injured from
physical oiling, chemical toxicity, and response actions and cleanup activities during DWH (Baker et al. 2017).
Coastal environments provide nursery, refuge, and foraging habitat for a diversity of resident and migratory species of aquatic animals, including infaunal benthic
invertebrates, snails, oysters and other shellfish, shrimp, crabs, and multiple species
of fish (Beyer et al. 2016; Baker et al. 2017). Many coastal species such as oysters,
shrimp, and fish are commercially important and may also be recreationally important and/or keystone species (e.g., Gulf menhaden, Brevoortia patronus) (Beyer
et al. 2016; Baker et al. 2017; Bock et al. 2018).
Shallow water coral reef communities in proximity to dispersed oil may also be
impacted from a deep ocean spill. The limited available research indicates that species and life stages of reef building corals are sensitive to oil and chemical dispersants. During DWH, species of sea fans appeared to be impacted in areas of
persistent oil slicks (Beyer et al. 2016).
M. G. Barron et al.