Project Information

Title: Nearshore Synthesis: Sea Otters and Sea Ducks 070808-A

Project Year and Number: 2008: 070808-A

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2010: 10100808, 2009: 090808, 2007: 070808

Principal Investigator (PI): Brenda Ballachey (US Geological Survey)

Managing Agency: USGS

Assisting Personnel: Jim Bodkin, Dan Esler, Keith Miles

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Sea Otters

Abstract: This is an amendment to Project 070808 (Sea Otter Recovery and Nearshore Synthesis). Sea otters, and other nearshore birds and mammals were severely impacted by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. In areas where acute effects were greatest and lingering oil persists, recovery for some of those nearshore birds and mammals remains incomplete through 2007. We present five objectives in this proposal: (1) Evaluate progress toward nearshore ecosystem recovery through surveys of expression of the Cytochrome P450 1A biomarker; (2) Estimate the frequency of use of oiled intertidal habitats by foraging sea otters; (3) Conduct histopathological examinations of sea otter liver biopsies; (4) Evaluate PCB concentrations in sea otters and sea ducks, and (5) Evaluate expression of an array of genes indicative of injury in sea ducks. Anticipated outcomes will identify the current level of exposure to lingering oil in a suite of nearshore vertebrates, potential pathways of exposure to lingering oil through intertidal foraging by sea otters, the potential contribution of non-EVO contaminants (PCBs) to expression of the P450 biomarker, and the potential for injury at the cellular level in sea otters and sea ducks.


Proposal: View (283 KB)

Reports:
Annual Report FY08: View (24 KB)
Final Report: See Project 070808

Publications from this Project: None Available