title: Susceptibility of seagrass to oil spills: A case study with eelgrass, Zostera marina in San Francisco Bay, USA.
abstract: Existing literature illustrates inconsistent responses of seagrasses to oil exposure, both in the field and in the laboratory. Here, we add a new study that combined morphometric, demographic and photophysiology assessments to determine the potential oiling impacts to eelgrass (Zostera marina) from the 2007 Cosco Busan event in San Francisco Bay. Shoot densities, reproductive status, and rhizome elongation of Z. marina were examined at sites with pre-spill data, and eelgrass photosynthetic efficiency was measured post-spill. Shoot densities and percent elongation of rhizome internodes formed after the oil spill varied but with no consistent relationship to adjacent shoreline cleanup assessment team (SCAT) oiling categories. Similarly, differences in seagrass photosynthetic efficiency were not consistent with SCAT oiling categories. While thresholds for negative impacts on seagrass in general remain to be defined, conclusive oiling indicators for degree and duration of exposure would be important considerations and need examination under controlled study.
authors.affiliation: CSA Ocean Sciences Inc., 8502 SW Kansas Avenue, Stuart, FL 33974, United States. Electronic address: fonseca.mark@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, United States.
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Piniak
authors.affiliation: NOAA Fisheries Restoration Center/Damage Assessment, SW Region, 777 Sonoma Ave., Suite 219-A, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, United States.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cosentino-Manning
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D010788:Photosynthesis; D012495:San Francisco; D035962:Zosteraceae
keywords: Cosco Busan; Eelgrass; Oil; PAM; San Francisco Bay; Seagrass; Zostera marina