Abstract:

This collection of datasets was generated from mesocosm experiments conducted from August to November 2016 to examine the effects of oil exposure on coastal predator-prey interactions. Prey assemblages composed of diamond killifish (Fundulus xenicus), juvenile blue crabs, and grass shrimp (Palaemonetes spp.) were exposed to press and pulse oil conditions in 72-hour sensitivity experiments. Pulse treatments received one 20 mL inoculation of unweathered crude oil (concentration: 1 mL oil per 1 L water) at the initiation of the experiment. Press treatments received an inoculation of the same volume every 24 hours of the experiment (total of 3 inoculations). Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) concentrations were measured at 1, 25, 49, and 72 hours of each experiment. Prey survival was recorded at the termination of each experiment. Given that mortality was observed in grass shrimp from this experiment, a second sensitivity experiment using only grass shrimp exposed to either press conditions or no oil was conducted. Shrimp mortality was measured in oiled tanks at either 48 or 72 hours. Effects of oil exposure on predator-prey interactions between 4 predator species (red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis), Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta), and adult blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus)) and prey assemblages were examined in 24 hour experiments. Prey assemblages were exposed to single predators for 24 hours in either pulse oiled or un-oiled conditions. Prey survival was recorded at the termination of the experiment.

Suggested Citation:

Valentine, John F.; Martin, Charles, W.; Alford, Scott B.. 2019. Small scale effects of oil exposure on coastal forage species survival and predator-prey interactions, a mesocosm study from 2016-08-23 to 2016-11-09. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-g0mq-fk28

Purpose:

These datasets show the results of an experiment examining the effects of oil exposure on survival of common Gulf of Mexico estuarine species and predator-prey interactions. Analysis of these data will examine survival under different levels of short-term exposure to crude oil and the effects of oil exposure on prey survival with different predator species.

Data Parameters and Units:

There are six datasets in this collection. 1. Oil Pred-Prey Recovery Start.Date: The date that an experimental trial began. Experiments were terminated after 24 hr. Run: Sequential sets of replicates that were started at the same time. Lower numbers denote replicates that were run earlier than those with higher numbers. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Tank: Individual tank where the replicate was conducted. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Predator: Predator treatment assigned to each experimental replicate. Control – no predators were added to a replicate. Red Drum – 1 red drum Sciaenops ocellatus was used as a predator in a replicate. Blue Crab – 1 male blue crab Callinectes sapidus was used as a predator in a replicate. Gulf Killifish – 1 Gulf killifish Fundulus grandis was used as a predator in a replicate. Gulf Toadfish – 1 Gulf toadfish Opsanus beta was used as a predator in a replicate. Oil: Describes the oil exposure treatment assigned to a replicate. Oiled tanks received 20 mL of unweathered crude oil (concentration: 1 mL oil per 1 L water) at the initiation of a replicate. No oil was added to un-oiled tanks. Salinity: Salinity in ppt was measured in the source water tank at the onset of each replicate. Water from this source tank was used to fill experimental tanks. DO: Average dissolved oxygen measured in mg/L of the experimental replicate. DO was measured at the onset, afternoon, and termination of each replicate, generating up to 3 measurements per replicate that are listed in the Oil Pred-Prey Environmentals worksheet. Temp: Average temperature measured in °C of the experimental replicate. Temperature was measured at the onset, afternoon, and termination of each replicate, generating up to 3 measurements per replicate that are listed in the Oil Pred-Prey Environmentals worksheet. Pred_size: Total length (mm TL) of fish predator or carapace width (mm CW) of crab predator used in an experimental replicate. “NA” is listed in this column for replicates not containing a predator (Control Predator Treatment). Crab: Number of juvenile blue crabs used as prey recovered from a replicate. Shrimp: Number of grass shrimp used as prey recovered from a replicate. Fish: Number of diamond killifish used as prey recovered from a replicate. Total: Number of total prey individuals from all prey species recovered from a replicate. This number is the sum of individual prey species recovered (crab, shrimp, fish). 2. Oil Pred-Prey Prey Sizes Run: Describes sequential sets of replicates that were started at the same time. Lower numbers denote replicates that were ran earlier than those with higher numbers. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Tank: Describes the individual tank where the replicate was conducted. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Predator: Predator treatment assigned to each experimental replicate. Control – no predators were added to a replicate. Red Drum – 1 red drum Sciaenops ocellatus was used as a predator in a replicate. Blue Crab – 1 male blue crab Callinectes sapidus was used as a predator in a replicate. Gulf Killifish – 1 Gulf killifish Fundulus grandis was used as a predator in a replicate. Gulf Toadfish – 1 Gulf toadfish Opsanus beta was used as a predator in a replicate. Oil: Describes the oil exposure treatment assigned to a replicate. Oiled tanks received 20 mL of unweathered crude oil (concentration: 1 mL oil per 1 L water) at the initiation of a replicate. No oil was added to un-oiled tanks. Crab: Carapace width (CW) in mm of individual juvenile blue crab used as prey in experimental replicates. Shrimp: Total length (TL, tip of rostrum to tip of telson) in mm of individual grass shrimp used as prey in experimental replicates. Fish: Total length (TL) in mm of individual diamond killifish used as prey in experimental replicates. 3. Oil Pred-Prey Sensitivity 1 Tank: Describes the individual tank where the sample was collected. Treatment: Describes the oil exposure treatment assigned to each tank. Pulse treatments received one 20 mL inoculation of unweathered crude oil (concentration: 1 mL oil per 1 L water) at the initiation of the experiment. Press treatments received an inoculation of the same volume every 24 hours of the experiment (total of 3 inoculations). Crab: Number of juvenile blue crabs recovered from a tank. Shrimp: Number of grass shrimp recovered from a tank. Fish: Number of diamond killifish recovered from a tank. 4. Oil Predator-prey Sensitivity 2 The sensitivity experiment was re-run using only grass shrimp (5 per tank) exposed to either no oil for 72 hours, press oil conditions for 48 hours, or press oil conditions for 72 hours. Survival of grass shrimp was recorded at the end of each replicate. Run: The experiment was conducted in 2 sets of replicates (either Run 1 or Run 2). Tank: Tank number that a replicate was assigned. Treatment: Oil treatment assigned to a replicate. No Oil: no oil was added to a replicate. Replicate was terminated after 72 hours. 48 hr Press: Replicate received 20 mL of unweathered crude oil (1 mL oil to 1 L of water) at the initiation of the experiment and 24 hours after initiation (total of 2 inoculations). Replicate was terminated after 48 hours. 72 hr Press: Replicate received 20 mL of unweathered crude oil (1 mL oil to 1 L of water) at the initiation of the experiment, 24 hours after initiation, and 48 hours after inhiation (total of 3 inoculations). Replicate was terminated after 72 hours. Survival: Number of living grass shrimp recovered at the termination of a replicate. 5. Oil Predator-prey Environmentals Start.Date: The date when an experimental trial began. Experiments were terminated after 24 hr. Run: Sequential sets of replicates that were started at the same time. Lower numbers denote replicates that were run earlier than those with higher numbers. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Tank: Individual tank where the replicate was conducted. Tank can be used with Run to identify individual replicates in this dataset and other datasets associated with this project. Predator: Predator treatment assigned to each experimental replicate. Control – no predators were added to a replicate. Red Drum – 1 red drum Sciaenops ocellatus was used as a predator in a replicate. Blue Crab – 1 male blue crab Callinectes sapidus was used as a predator in a replicate. Gulf Killifish – 1 Gulf killifish Fundulus grandis was used as a predator in a replicate. Gulf Toadfish – 1 Gulf toadfish Opsanus beta was used as a predator in a replicate. Oil: Describes the oil exposure treatment assigned to a replicate. Oiled tanks received 20 mL of unweathered crude oil (concentration: 1 mL oil per 1 L water) at the initiation of a replicate. No oil was added to un-oiled tanks. DO1-DO3: Dissolved oxygen measured in mg/L at the initiation (morning, DO1), the afternoon (DO2), and the termination (morning, DO3) of a replicate. Temp1-Temp3: Temperature measure in degrees C at the initiation (morning, Temp1), the afternoon (Temp2), and the termination (morning, Temp3) of a replicate. *** Some measurements were not taken due to maintenance and repair of equipment (YSI 2030). Fouling and sensor damage from oil in experimental tanks precluded some measurements. These cells are marked “NULL”.*** 6. Oil Predator-Prey Water Chem *** Water samples were taken from tanks during the first sensitivity experiment *** Time: Describes the time step that the water sample analyzed was collected. Samples were collected either, 1, 48, or 72 hours after oil was added to a tank. Tank: Describes the individual tank where the sample was collected. Treatment: Describes the oil exposure treatment assigned to each tank. Pulse treatments received one 20 mL inoculation of unweathered crude oil (concentration: 1 mL oil per 1 L water) at the initiation of the experiment. Press treatments received an inoculation of the same volume every 24 hours of the experiment (total of 3 inoculations). TPH: Concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) from a water sample measured in mg/L. PAH: Concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from a water sample measured in mg/L.

Methods:

The methods for oil/water analysis were conducted by following the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocols: All undiluted oil samples were prepped for analysis according to EPA3546. All undiluted oil samples were analyzed for TPH concentrations using EPA 8015B modified method and analyzed for PAH concentrations using EPA8270. Oil/water matrix samples were prepped for TPH analysis using EPA3535 and prepped for PAH analysis using EPA3510. EPA8015B modified was used for TPH analysis and EPA8270 was used for PAH analysis of these samples.

Instruments:

EPA8015B analyses for TPH concentration were conducted on Agilent 6890 FID instruments. EPA8270 analyses for PAH concentration were conducted on Agilent 5975 instruments.

Individual Files: