Abstract:

Shipboard physiological and toxicological studies were conducted using health rating scores on the deep sea corals Callogorgia americana, Leiopathes glaberrima and Paramuricea biscaya with respect to exposure to dispersants and oil contamination. Coral samples were collected at BOEM lease blocks VK826 and AT357, during the R/V Falkor cruise FK006b, November 2012.

Suggested Citation:

Erik Cordes. 2016. Physiology and toxicity data from studies of coral exposed to oil and dispersant, laboratory experiment, November 2012. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7F18WSW

Publications:

DeLeo, D. M., Ruiz-Ramos, D. V., Baums, I. B., & Cordes, E. E. (2015). Response of deep-water corals to oil and chemical dispersant exposure. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2015.02.028

Purpose:

This study was done to investigate the effects of exposure to various concentrations of oil, dispersant and oil/dispersant mixtures on abundant cold-water corals to better understand impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on deep sea communities.

Data Parameters and Units:

Exposure concentrations (ppm) [0.8, 2.5, 8, 14, 25] of [Control, Oil and Dispersant, Oil] and associated health ratings [0,1,2,3,4,5] of each coral species [Callogorgia americana, Leiopathes glaberrima, Paramuricea biscaya] with respect to survival and condition in each treatment over time (hours) [24, 48, 72, 96]. Leiopathes_glaberrima_Falkor_HR copy.xlsx: Database ID; Treatment; Concentration (ppm); Treatment group (control, oil, dispersant, oil+dispersant); Colony (colony number); Sampling time (hours); Particle on bottom (#); Polyps on bottom (#); Polyps extended (%); Polyps retracted (%); Mucus spots (#); Mucus balls (#); Cloudy water (yes, no, little); Retracted from skeleton (yes, no, location); Polyps disintegrating (yes, no, where); Health index = percentage of live polyps and tissue-covered skeleton [dead fragment (score of 0), less than 50% (score of 1–2), 50% (score of 3), more than 50% (score of 4–5)]; Comments; Average health score for each treatment. Treatments: C1-C10 = control replicates, D1-D4 = Corexit 9500A dispersant, O1-O4 = Macondo crude oil collected during the spill, O+D1-O+D4 = Crude oil and dispersant. P_biscaya_C_americana_Falkor_HR copy.xlsx: Species; Colony; Treatment; Concentration (ppm); Timepoint (hrs); Health index = percentage of live polyps and tissue-covered skeleton [dead fragment (score of 0), less than 50% (score of 1–2), 50% (score of 3), more than 50% (score of 4–5)];Treatments: C1-C10 = control replicates CX = Corexit 9500A dispersant O = Macondo crude oil collected during the spill O&CX = Crude oil and dispersant

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