title: Characterization of epibenthic and demersal megafauna at Mississippi Canyon 252 shortly after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
abstract: The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill resulted in the release of a large quantity of oil and gas into the northern Gulf of Mexico from a bathypelagic source. Due to a lack of pre-spill quantitative data the baseline condition of the communities near the spill site is unknown. This makes it difficult to determine the impact of the spill on deepwater megafauna. Remotely operated vehicles were used to quantify megafauna at five study sites during August and September 2010:2000 m north, west, south, and east, and 500 m north of the Macondo well. Comparisons of animal abundances indicated that 2000 m-N and 2000 m-W had the greatest taxonomic richness and highest abundances while 2000 m-E had slightly lower values. In contrast 500 m-N and 2000 m-S had the lowest taxonomic richness and abundances. Our study also suggests that certain taxa were potentially more resistant or sensitive to the spill.
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University, School of the Coast and Environment, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, 2179 Energy, Coast and Environment Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. Electronic address: mvale017@odu.edu.
authors.forename: Marla M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Valentine
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Benfield
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D044822:Biodiversity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D060851:Gulf of America; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Deepwater horizon; Megafauna; Oil spill; ROV