Journal article
Initial effects of a moderate-sized oil spill on benthic assemblage structure of a subtropical rocky shore
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Vol.109, pp.107-115
2012
Abstract
The environmental impacts of very large oil spills are well documented across a range of settings. However, there is a dearth of information about the immediate effects, and post-spill trajectories, of small to moderate (<1000 t) oil spills on intertidal biota. The published studies are from very different environments, and are contradictory in terms of the severity of initial impacts. This study reports on the effects of a 270 t spill of bunker fuel oil on 11 March 2009, approximately 13 km east of Cape Moreton, eastern Australia. We examined the initial effects of this moderate sized spill on the rocky shore biota of Cape Moreton, and quantified the trajectory of oil removal and change in assemblage structure over the next 5 months. Compared to adjacent reference sites, the initial effects were very marked, especially on the upper shore. Oiling was heavier and more persistent on the upper shore than the mid-shore, and biological effects were more pronounced higher in the intertidal. At both levels, however, there was little evidence of recovery up to 5 months after oiling, and visible oil residues were still apparent. The effect size was larger than previously reported for spills of this magnitude, comparable to that of larger spills, although over a smaller stretch of coastline.
Details
- Title
- Initial effects of a moderate-sized oil spill on benthic assemblage structure of a subtropical rocky shore
- Authors
- Tim Stevens (Author) - Griffith UniversityA Boden (Author) - GHD AustraliaJ M Arthur (Author) - Griffith UniversityThomas Schlacher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringD Rissik (Author) - Griffith UniversitySally Atkinson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Publication details
- Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Vol.109, pp.107-115
- Publisher
- Academic Press
- Date published
- 2012
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ecss.2012.05.032
- ISSN
- 0272-7714
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2012. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450169002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
81 File views/ downloads
715 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Marine & Freshwater Biology
- Oceanography
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites