Marine Pollution Ecology Program

• Main Authors: Bodega Marine Reserve, University of California Natural Reserve System, Robert W. Risebrough
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity 2007
• Subjects: VERTEX; aquaculture; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Pacific; Scripps; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5063/AA/nrs.818.1

The group began a three-year study of the distribution of hydrocarbons in marine food chains dependent upon krill in the Antarctic, with three persons participating in a cruise of R/V HERO in the Antarctic Peninsula area in February 1981. In this program measurements are being made of the levels of hydrocarbons in seawater and at various levels of the food chain. Particular attention is being paid to the food chains dependent upon krill, since expected commercial exploitation of this abundant species might alter ecological balances within Antarctic food webs. The Mussel Watch Program continued to constitute one of the group’s principal activities. This program includes an active collaboration with other coastal marine laboratories, including the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the EPA's laboratory at Narragansett. An extensive intercalibration of analytical methodologies has been a principal component of this program. Our participation has included the measurement of synthetic organic pollutants in petroleum compounds in mussels and other bivalves from coastal U.S. localities. A database is thereby being accumulated on the extent and magnitude of chemical changes in the coastal zone. Over the past year a major portion of our effort has been devoted to an examination of the distribution of a variety of organic pollutants, including petroleum, between the particulate and dissolved phases of seawater and the mussels which are being used as the indicator organism. These data are expected to contribute to our understanding of the processes that affect the distribution of these pollutants in our coastal waters. Dr. Risebrough continues his activities as Chairman of a Working Group on Chemical Changes in the Coastal Zone within SCOPE, the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment. A Steering Committee consisting of representatives of seven nations has been formed to plan for an international meeting to be held in late 1982. Both the Regional Seas Programme of UNEP and Westpac, a program operated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission in the western Pacific, are participants in the preparations for this meeting. The East-West Center in Hawaii, an institute primarily interested in questions of policy, has indicated it would provide a little of both administrative and travel support. It is therefore likely that our group will continue to be involved not only in the study of processes that affect the distribution of pollutants in the coastal zone, but also in addressing questions relating to policy. The group has received a two-year grant from the California Policy Seminar Program that will permit it to increase its capability to provide data needed in the making of policy decisions that affect the California coastal zone. An additional grant of $72,000 was received from the California Coastal Commission to purchase the computer hardware that will permit storage and retrieval of data on organic pollutants in the California coastal zone. The grant provided by the Policy Seminar Program will permit development of necessary software capability.