Assessment of Jessica oil spill impacts on intertidal invertebrate communities.
The impact of the Jessica oil-spill on intertidal macroinvertebrate communities was studied using a reference-impact design at three tidal levels at sites where oil deposits had been reported by a shoreline assessment team, and adjacent reference sites. Faunal relationships between the various sites did not show any clear pattern related to oil exposure at the time of sampling (4-11 months post-spill). Similarly, no significant differences associated with oiling were detected for total animal density nor species richness data, nor for the abundances of common taxa. We note that post-hoc studies such as this are limited by a failure to recognise different levels of oiling impacts at different sites (oiling-site interactions). Baseline information is critical if subtle effects of oiling are to be distinguished.
Gelin
Agnès
A
Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador.
Gravez
Vincent
V
Edgar
Graham J
GJ
D000059:Accidents; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004190:Disasters; D017753:Ecosystem; D004484:Ecuador; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005843:Geography; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000502:physiology*; D010578:Petroleum; D012767:Ships; D013997:Time Factors; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical
D010578:Petroleum