Abstract:

This dataset covers GoMRI research performed at Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) by Dr. Sarah Webb during 2015 and summer 2016. Multiple fish and one crab species were exposed to low-energy chemically enhanced water accommodated fraction (CEWAF) or high-energy water accommodated fraction (HEWAF) prepared with synthetic Macondo surrogate Louisiana sweet crude oil and Corexit 9500a. Organisms were exposed either with zoo- and/or phytoplankton present or without plankton present. In addition, toxicity of HEWAF to zoo- and phytoplankton was also assessed. For larval fish, toxicity endpoints included mortality and morphological effects. Toxicity in crab zoea was assessed via mortality. For zooplankton, toxicity was assessed via both mortality and reproductive success. Phytoplankton success was assessed via cell counts of living plankton.

Suggested Citation:

Chesney, Edward. 2017. Comparison of toxicity of crude oil to bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) larvae exposed both with and without zoo- and phytoplankton, and crude oil toxicity to three Gulf of Mexico fish species and one crab species. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7222S4S

Purpose:

This dataset was compiled for use in a publication addressing the toxicity of Louisiana sweet crude oil to relevant Gulf of Mexico fish and invertebrate species. Specifically, the effects of toxicity of crude oil in the presence of plankton vs. without the presence of plankton and how that might affect toxicity was addressed.

Data Parameters and Units:

Worksheet 1 name: A. mitchilli CEWAF Parameters: Date Started, Exposure Time (h), Time Since End of Exposure (days), Initial Age of Fish (DPH), Ending Age of Fish (DPH), CEWAF Concentration (mL/L), Phytoplankton (Nannochloropsis) Turbidity (NTUs), Rotifers per ML, Total Initial Fish in Beaker, Live Anchovy larvae, Moribund Anchovy Larvae, Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L), Ammonia (mg/L), pH, Temperature (°C), Salinity (ppm), Stock CEWAF Initial RFUs (average) Worksheet 2 name: A. mitchilli HEWAF Parameters: Date Started, Exposure Time (h), Initial Age of Fish (DPH), Ending Age of Fish (DPH), Dose (mL HEWAF/L seawater), Phytoplankton (Nannochloropsis) Turbidity (NTUs), Rotifers per ml, Total Initial Fish per Beaker, Live bay anchovy larvae, Moribund anchovy larvae, Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L), Ammonia (mg/L), pH, Temperature (°C), Salinity (ppm), Stock HEWAF Initial RFUs (average) Worksheet 3 name: L. campechanus HEWAF Parameters: Date Started, Exposure Time (h), Initial Age of Fish (DPH), Ending Age of Fish (DPH), Dose (mL HEWAF/L seawater), Phytoplankton (Nannochloropsis) Concentration (NTUs), rotifer concentration (per ML), Total Initial Red Snapper embryos per Beaker, Live RS larvae post exposure, Moribund larvae post exposure, Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L), Ammonia (mg/L), pH, Temperature (°C), Salinity (ppm), Stock HEWAF Initial RFUs (average) Worksheet 4 name: A. mitchilli HE-CEWAF Parameters: Date Started, Exposure Time (h), Initial Age of Fish (DPH), Ending Age of Fish (DPH), Dose (mL HEWAF/L seawater), Phytoplankton (Nannochloropsis) Turbidity (NTUs), Rotifer concentration (no. per ML), Total Initial Fish in Beaker, Alive, Moribund, Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L), Ammonia (mg/L), pH, Temperature (°C), Salinity (ppm), Stock HEWAF Initial RFUs (average) Worksheet 5 name: M. mercenaria HEWAF Parameters: Date Started, Exposure Time (h), Initial Age of Crabs (DPS), Ending Age of Crabs (DPS), Dose (mL HEWAF/L seawater), Phytoplankton (Nannochlorosis) Concentration (NTUs), Rotifer Concentration (no. per ML), Total Initial Crabs in Beaker, Live crabs Post Exposure, Moribund crabs post exposure, Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L), Ammonia (mg/L), pH, Temperature (°C), Salinity (ppm), Stock HEWAF Initial RFUs (average), Notes Worksheet 6 name: Rotifer HEWAF exp1 Parameters: Date Started, Exposure Time (hours), Dose (mL HEWAF/L seawater), Initial Rotifer concentration (no. per ml), Phyotoplankton (Nannochloropsis) Turbidity (NTUs), Live Rotifer Count 1, Live Rotifer Count 2, Live Rotifer Count 3, Average live rotifers per ML, total Egg count per Aliquot 1, total Egg count per Aliquot 2, total Egg count per Aliquot 3, Average eggs per Aliquot, Average eggs per Female, Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L), Ammonia (mg/L), pH, Temperature (°C), Salinity (ppm), Stock HEWAF Initial RFUs (average), Notes Worksheet 7 name: rotifer HEWAF exp2 Parameters: Date Started, Exposure Time (hrs), Dose Percent of Volume, Dose (mL HEWAF/L seawater), Initial Rotifer concentration (no. per ml), Phyotoplankton (Nannochloropsis) Turbidity (NTUs), Live Rotifer Count 1, Live Rotifer Count 2, Live Rotifer Count 3, Live Rotifer Count 4, Average live rotifers per ML, Dead Rotifer Count 1, Dead Rotifer Count 2, Dead Rotifer Count 3, Dead Rotifer Count 4, Average Dead rotifers per ML, Egg count per female 1, Egg count per female 2, Egg count per female 3, Egg count per female 4, Average eggs per female, Temperature (°C), Salinity (ppm), Stock HEWAF Initial RFUs (average), Notes Worksheet 8 name: GCMS Rotifer exp2 Parameters: sample treatments, seawater control (0%), 3% HEWAF, 6% HEWAF, 12% HEWAF, 18 % HEWAF, 24% HEWAF in ug/L Worksheet 9 name: N. occulata HEWAF Parameters: Date Started, Exposure Time (h), Dose (mL HEWAF/L seawater), Phytoplankton (Nannochloropsis) turbidity (NTUs), # Cells Alive 1, # Cells Alive 2, Ammonia (mg/L), pH, Temperature (°C), Salinity (ppm), Stock HEWAF Initial RFUs (average)

Methods:

Exposure experiments (fish and crabs): Bay anchovy or red snapper larvae or embryos, or stone crab zoea were exposed to HEWAF, CE-HEWAF, or CEWAF at various concentrations. Exposures were either carried out with phyto- and zooplankton present, or without plankton present. Concentrations, exposure times, and age of fish or crab at exposure are listed in the data file. Following exposure, the numbers of live, moribund, and dead fish or crabs were enumerated. Exposure experiments (phyto- and zooplankton): Nannochloropsis and rotifers (Brachionus placatilis) were exposed to various concentrations of HEWAF for 1, 3, or 24 hour time periods. Once the exposure time period was complete the number of live rotifers was enumerated as well as the number of visibly reproductive rotifers. Following exposure Nannochloropsis was stained with Trypan blue to indicate the presence of dead cells and two samples from each exposure were collected and live cells were enumerated using a hemocytometer. Petroleum analytes of diluted HEWAFs were estimated by GCMS for rotifer experiment 2 at 5 HEWAF concentrations (3,6,12,18,24%).

Instruments:

Salinity was measured using a VitalSine ™ SR-6 Salinity Refractometer. Dissolved oxygen was measured using a YSI Professional Optical Dissolved Oxygen (ProODO™) Instrument. Ammonia levels were measured using an API Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Ammonia Test Kit. Relative fluorescent units (RFUs) were measured using a Trilogy Laboratory Fluorometer, model # 7200-000. Nephalometric turbidity units (NTUs) were measured using a Hach 2100N Laboratory Turbidimeter.

Individual Files: