TY - JOUR
T1 - Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Evaluated Using an End-to-End Ecosystem Model
AU - Ainsworth, Cameron
AU - Paris-Limouzy, Claire B.
AU - Perlin, Natalie
AU - Dornberger, Lindsey N.
AU - Patterson, William F.
AU - Chancellor, Emily
AU - Murawski, Steven
AU - Hollander, David J.
AU - Daly, Kendra L.
AU - Romero, Isabel
AU - Coleman, Felicia
AU - Perryman, Holly
AU - Paris, Claire B.
PY - 2018/1/25
Y1 - 2018/1/25
N2 - We use a spatially explicit biogeochemical end-to-end ecosystem model, Atlantis, to simulate impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and subsequent recovery of fish guilds. Dose-response relationships with expected oil concentrations were utilized to estimate the impact on fish growth and mortality rates. We also examine the effects of fisheries closures and impacts on recruitment. We validate predictions of the model by comparing population trends and age structure before and after the oil spill with fisheries independent data. The model suggests that recruitment effects and fishery closures had little influence on biomass dynamics. However, at the assumed level of oil concentrations and toxicity, impacts on fish mortality and growth rates were large and commensurate with observations. Sensitivity analysis suggests the biomass of large reef fish decreased by 25% to 50% in areas most affected by the spill, and biomass of large demersal fish decreased even more, by 40% to 70%. Impacts on reef and demersal forage caused starvation mortality in predators and increased reliance on pelagic forage. Impacts on the food web translated effects of the spill far away from the oiled area. Effects on age structure suggest possible delayed impacts on fishery yields. Recovery of high-turnover populations generally is predicted to occur within 10 years, but some slower-growing populations may take 30+ years to fully recover.
AB - We use a spatially explicit biogeochemical end-to-end ecosystem model, Atlantis, to simulate impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and subsequent recovery of fish guilds. Dose-response relationships with expected oil concentrations were utilized to estimate the impact on fish growth and mortality rates. We also examine the effects of fisheries closures and impacts on recruitment. We validate predictions of the model by comparing population trends and age structure before and after the oil spill with fisheries independent data. The model suggests that recruitment effects and fishery closures had little influence on biomass dynamics. However, at the assumed level of oil concentrations and toxicity, impacts on fish mortality and growth rates were large and commensurate with observations. Sensitivity analysis suggests the biomass of large reef fish decreased by 25% to 50% in areas most affected by the spill, and biomass of large demersal fish decreased even more, by 40% to 70%. Impacts on reef and demersal forage caused starvation mortality in predators and increased reliance on pelagic forage. Impacts on the food web translated effects of the spill far away from the oiled area. Effects on age structure suggest possible delayed impacts on fishery yields. Recovery of high-turnover populations generally is predicted to occur within 10 years, but some slower-growing populations may take 30+ years to fully recover.
UR - https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cimage_pubs/25
UR - https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/808
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0190840
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0190840
M3 - Article
C2 - 29370187
VL - 13
JO - PLOS One
JF - PLOS One
ER -