| MMS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM: ONGOING STUDIES | ||||||
| MMS OCS Region: | Alaska | |||||
| Title: |
The Role of Zooplankton in the Distribution of Hydrocarbons |
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| Total Cost: |
$20,000 |
Period of Performance: | FY 1999-2004 | |||
| Conducting Organization: |
CMI, UAF; University of Alaska Juneau, Oil Spill Recovery Institute; and NOAA |
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| MMS Contact: | ||||||
| Description: | ||||||
| Background Copepods play an important role in carbon flux in marine ecosystems. Vertical transport of carbon from the euphotic surface water to the benthos occurs when copepods feed on diatoms and incorporate them into larger, negatively buoyant fecal pellets. Therefore, analysis of hydrocarbon content of fecal pellets would provide insights in understanding the role of copepods in distribution and remediation of hydrocarbons. Data derived from analysis of copepod fecal pellets will provide baseline information for experimentation and modeling of ecosystem processes, which include accumulation of hydrocarbons in higher trophic levels such as commercial fish species. |
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| Objectives The objectives of this study are to evaluate the role of copepods in the distribution and bioremediation of hydrocarbons in the environment. Specifically, this study will evaluate: 1. The composition and seasonal variation of lipids in forage plankton in Prince William Sound. 2. The relationships between lipid content and lipid composition in forage plankton and patterns of accumulation of hydrocarbons in copepod body tissue. 3. The role of the copepods Neocalanus spp. and Pseudocalanus spp. in the distribution of mineral hydrocarbons in the environment. |
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| Methods A series of experiments will be conducted at Auke Bay Lab (ABL), in Southeast Alaska: 1. Collect copepods from Prince William Sound and Lynn Canal, near Auke Bay. 2. Collect zooplankton weekly from Lynn Canal, during April – August 2000, using vertical tows of a bongo net. 3. Place the subject species in incubators and exposed to sublethal concentrations of hydrocarbons (~10 ppm ) for 96 hrs. At the end of the experiment, collect copepods and their fecal pellets and take to ABL for analysis of lipids and hydrocarbons using standard operating procedures developed by the Lab. 4. To evaluate the influence of oil exposure on egg production, sort experimentally dosed female copepods alive into individual containers, and conduct egg production experiments every 2 weeks. 5. Concomitant with live sampling for experimental animals, collect a sample for lipid analysis and immediately freeze for later analysis at ABL. For evaluation of differences in hydrocarbon uptake due to amount of surface area, collect measurements of length, wet weight, and dry weight of zooplankton from a random sample as often as experiments are conducted. |
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| Importance to MMS This experimental study provides valuable information at the level of primary consumers about processes that affect the transference of hydrocarbons through the food chain and water column. It specifically supports the environmental assessment process for potential lease sales in Cook Inlet and, in general, supports assessments for potential developments in northern latitudes. |
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| Current Status: Awaiting final report |
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| Final Report Due: |
December 1, 2003 |
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| Publications: |
Duesterloh, S., Short, J.W., Barron, M.G., 2002. Photenhanced toxicity of weathered Alaska North Slope curde oil to the calanoid copepods Calanus marshallae and Metridia okhotensis. Environ. Sci. techol., 2002, 36, 3953-3959. |
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| Affiliated WWW Sites: | ||||||
| Revised date: |
April 2004 |
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| ESPIS |
ESPIS - All completed
ESP Studies: |
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