Biological Survey of Deep Subtidal (>20m) Marine Sediment Resources in Lower Kenai Peninsula and near Kodiak Island, Alaska: 1989 - 1991

Subtidal Study Number 2B was initiated as part of a detailed study plan in 1989 under AirlWater Study Number 2 (Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Induced Injury to Subtidal Marine Sediment Resources). In 1991, the project was reclassified as Subtidal Study Number 2 and renamed (Injury to Benthic Communities) an...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Howard Feder
Format: Dataset
Language:unknown
Published: Gulf of Alaska Data Portal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://search.dataone.org/view/df35d.222.16
Description
Summary:Subtidal Study Number 2B was initiated as part of a detailed study plan in 1989 under AirlWater Study Number 2 (Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Induced Injury to Subtidal Marine Sediment Resources). In 1991, the project was reclassified as Subtidal Study Number 2 and renamed (Injury to Benthic Communities) and had distinct shallow tidal and deep tidal project objectives. In 1992, the two elements were split into separate project numbers 2A (Injury to Shallow Benthic Communities and 2B (Deep Water Benthos). This study was designed to assess the possible injury by petroleum, derived from the Exxon Valdez oil spill to benthic infaunal resources within Prince William Sound in water deeper than 20 m. The sampling plan was developed to coordinate with several other concurrent programs within Prince William Sound. Analyses of benthic biological data collected from 14 bays in Prince William Sound in 1990 at 40, 100 and > 100 m, by univariate and multivariate techniques, demonstrated no obvious disturbance effects on the benthic biota 16 months after the oil spill. In all multivariate analyses, the major environmental variables related to the composition of benthic assemblages were sediment parameters such as percent silt, clay, mud, percent water and amount of nitrogen and carbon in sediment. Although limited amounts of petroleum hydrocarbons and presence of hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were detected at some sites at 40 and 100 m in 1989 and 1990, minor or no impact was sustained by benthic fauna of the deep benthos within the Sound. It is apparent that the current speed within Prince William Sound during the oil spill was sufficient to flush out toxic fractions of the oil spill before they could damage the fauna within the deep benthos. References: Feder, H.M. 1995. Injury to deep benthos, Euon Valdez Oil Spill StatelFederal Natural Resource Damage Assessment Final Report (Subtidal Srudy Number 2B; AiriWater Study Number 2), Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Habitat and Restoration Division, Anchorage, Alaska.