title: Overlap between Atlantic bluefin tuna spawning grounds and observed Deepwater Horizon surface oil in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
abstract: The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacted the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) during the spring spawning season of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). Overlap between BFT spawning habitat and surface oil in the northern GOM was examined using satellite-derived estimates of oil coverage, and spawning habitat models. Results suggested that although eggs and larvae were likely impacted by oil-contaminated waters in the eastern GOM, high abundances of larvae were located elsewhere, especially in the western GOM. Overall, less than 10% of BFT spawning habitat was predicted to have been covered by surface oil, and less than 12% of larval BFT were predicted to have been located within contaminated waters in the northern GOM, on a weekly basis. Our results provide preliminary but important initial estimates of the effects of the spill on larval BFT mortality, as concern continues over the appropriate management responses to impacts of the spill.
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, USA. Barbara.Muhling@noaa.gov
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Muhling
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Roffer
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lamkin
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Ingram
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Upton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gawlikowski
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muller-Karger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Habtes
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D060851:Gulf of America; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012098:Reproduction; D017215:Satellite Communications; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014413:Tuna / Q000502:physiology*; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002734:Chlorophyll