Project Information

Title: Spatial synthesis of lingering oil distribution modeling with population and biomarker data for recovering species 12120117

Project Year and Number: 2012: 12120117

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: None

Principal Investigator (PI): Zachary Nixon (Research Planning; Inc.)

Managing Agency: NOAA

Assisting Personnel: Brenda Ballachey, Jim Bodkin, Dan Esler, Jacqui Michel

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Not Specified

Abstract: Much recent work has been carried out in Prince William Sound (PWS) to characterize the distribution and ongoing impacts of lingering subsurface oil from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS). The ongoing work of Bodkin et al., Esler et al., and Monson et al., (1994, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2010, in press) have provided an unprecedented understanding of the ongoing recovery status of certain recovering species via detailed population dynamics and measures of individual health: biomarker expression, contaminant concentrations, and pathological effects. In parallel, Michel et al.,(2009) and Boufadel et al., (2010) have successfully characterized, synoptically, and in spatial detail, the distribution of and factors contributing to the ongoing presence of lingering oil reservoirs within PWS and the wider EVOS impact area. We propose to synthesize these two bodies of work by rigorously examining the strength of spatial correlations between measures of recent and ongoing impact to recovering species, at both the individual and population level, and where lingering subsurface oil is specifically estimated to persist. Presence or absence of such links will provide insight into the recent and potentially ongoing nature of the impact of this oil, and could guide proposed remediation efforts with specificity not previously possible.


Proposal: View (525 KB)

Reports:
Final Report: Not available. For current status, please contact us.

Publications from this Project: None Available