title: Effects of the 'Prestige' oil spill on macroalgal assemblages: large-scale comparison.
abstract: An assessment of the effects of the 'Prestige' oil spill on intertidal, macroalgal assemblages was carried out comparing abundance data obtained before and after the spill. Four zones in the North and Northwest coast of Spain were sampled, one of them located at the immediate vicinity of the spill, the zone most heavily oiled. Macroalgal assemblages had similar structure between years. Neither critical decrease in abundance of the dominant macroalgae, nor increase in opportunistic species were found. Some differences in abundance were observed, but they did not show any pattern, being more likely the result of the natural variability of the assemblage. Extensive, but not intense fuel deposition on the shores and a limited use of aggressive cleanup methods are suggested as possible causes for the lack of the effects in these assemblages after the 'Prestige' oil spill.
authors: Dpto. de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Unidad de Ecología, Universidad de Oviedo, C/Catedrático Rodrigo Uría s/n, 33071 Oviedo, Spain. carlalobon.uo@uniovi.es
authors: Carla M
authors: CM
authors: Lobón
authors: Consolación
authors: C
authors: Fernández
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Arrontes
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: Rico
authors: José L
authors: JL
authors: Acuña
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Anadón
authors: José Augusto
authors: JA
authors: Monteoliva
mesh_terms: D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D004190:Disasters; D017753:Ecosystem; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000187:drug effects*; D005648:Fuel Oils / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D012767:Ships; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D005648:Fuel Oils; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical