Project Information

Title: Effects of EVOS on Shallow Subtidal Communities in PWS ST02-A

Project Year and Number: 1992: ST02-A

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 1996: 96106, 1995: 95106, 1993: 93047, 1993: 93047-A, 1993: 93047-2, 1993: 93047-1, 1991: ST02

Principal Investigator (PI): Stephen Jewett (University of Alaska Fairbanks)

Managing Agency: ADFG

Assisting Personnel: None

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Damage Assessment

Injured Resources Addressed: Sediments, Subtidal Organisms

Abstract: Benthic organisms associated with subtidal sediments generally represent good monitors for measuring effects of oil fluxing to the bottom. These organisms typically remain close to or at the site of larval settlement and, consequently, represent good monitoring organisms. The composition of the marine benthic fauna has been successfully used at various locations throughout the industrial world as a basis for measuring effects of pollutants on the bottom. Shallow (<20 m) subtidal studies were initiated in Prince William Sound in the fall of 1989, and continued during the summers of 1990 and 1991. Thus far, the 1989-90 sampling effort has demonstrated the presence of oil (observed as sheens) and/or injury to marine plants, invertebrates, and fishes in silted fjord, eelgrass (Zostera) and Laminaria/Agarum bay habitats (Jewett et al., 1992). Deep (>20 m) benthos studies were initiated in the Prince William Sound in July l99O. Six of the deep benthos sites sampled in l990 were adjacent to eelgrass sites sampled by the shallow benthic program. Preliminary results from the deep benthos study indicated significant differences for infauna within oiled embayments in comparison with unoiled embayments.


Proposal: View (18 KB)

Reports:
Final Report: See Project 93047

Publications from this Project: None Available

Datasets:
Auke Bay Laboratory (Hydrocarbon Samples): Hydorcarbon sample results from this project are included in the NOAA final hydrocarbon database. The database includes sample collection information, hydrocarbon analyses and numerical correlations directly related to oil. dbf Availability: This database is accessible through Auke Bay Lab (907) 789-6000 and will be included on the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council Information Management CD-ROM available fall 1996.