Abstract:

Meiofauna were collected after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill to determine the effects and recovery from oiling in Barataria Bay Louisiana salt marshes. Some sites were sampled for about 2 years after the spill (Short-term sites) and others (Long-term sites) continue to be sampled (as of 2016). Here, counts of meiofauna at the level of major taxon are provided. Information on this study is available in a publication: Fleeger J. W., K. R. Carman, M. R. Riggio, I. A. Mendelssohn, Q. Lin, A. Hou, D. R. Deis, and S. Zengel. 2015. Recovery of saltmarsh benthic microalgae and meiofauna following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill linked to recovery of Spartina alterniflora. Marine Ecology-Progress Series, 536:39-54.

Suggested Citation:

John Fleeger, Rita Riggio. 2016. Meiofauna major taxa data 2011-2016 from Barataria Bay Louisiana in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7FX77F4

Publications:

Fleeger, J., Carman, K., Riggio, M., Mendelssohn, I., Lin, Q., Hou, A., … Zengel, S. (2015). Recovery of salt marsh benthic microalgae and meiofauna following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill linked to recovery of Spartina alterniflora. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 536, 39–54. doi:10.3354/meps11451

Purpose:

To determine the extent of oiling effects (at different oiling intensities including reference, no surface oil, lightly, moderately and heavily oiled) on the meiofauna community, and to estimate recovery times for various major taxa.

Data Parameters and Units:

Data are presented as raw counts (individuals per core) and in a standardized format (ind per 10 cm squared area). A hand-held corer (inner diameter = 3.5 cm) was used to take two sediment cores to a depth of 3 mm at haphazardly selected locations at each plot or station to sample the meiofauna. The two cores were combined in a single sample container.

Methods:

Just prior to sample sorting, samples were rinsed through a 500-µm sieve stacked on top of a 32-µm sieve. Fauna retained on the 32-µm sieve were extracted from sediments using Ludox. Eighty ml of Ludox was added to the sample which was thoroughly shaken to mix sediment and Ludox. Samples were allowed to settle for 60-90 min before the supernatant was carefully poured through a 32 µm sieve and rinsed. This procedure was repeated two additional times. A stereo-dissecting microscope was used to identify and enumerate meiofauna to higher taxonomic rank (e.g., nematodes, copepods, polychaetes) while simultaneously enumerating the sabellid polychaete Manayunkia aestuarina. Adult and juvenile copepods were picked from the sample, and adults were later identified to species. Density was standardized to the number of individuals 10 cm-2 based on corer diameter.

Error Analysis:

Samples were replicated with at least 4 replicates per oiling treatment and sampling date. Standard errors are reported in the dataset.

Individual Files: