Benthic Faunal Baselines in the Gulf of Mexico: A Precursor to Evaluate Future Impacts

Patrick Schwing, Paul A. Montagna, Maria Luisa Machain-Castillo, Elva Escobar-Briones, Melissa Rohal

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

This chapter provides a comparison between recently developed, post-oil spill baseline measurements throughout the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and previous, pre-oil spill baselines for benthic foraminifera, meiofauna, and macrofauna for areas impacted by the Deepwater Horizon (2010) and Ixtoc 1 (1979–1980) oil spills. This comparison will provide two primary outcomes: (1) assessment of any lasting changes in benthic faunal assemblages caused by the Deepwater Horizon and Ixtoc 1 oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico and (2) augmentation of pre-oil spill baselines or establishment of “new normal” post-oil spill baseline measurements that can be utilized to quantitatively assess impact, response, and recovery of benthic fauna in the event of a future oil spill.

Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publicationScenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 21 2019

Keywords

  • Benthic
  • Foraminifera
  • Macrofauna
  • Meiofauna
  • Oil spill
  • MOSSFA
  • Deepwater Horizon
  • Ixtoc 1
  • Baseline

Disciplines

  • Life Sciences
  • Marine Biology

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