Abstract:

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine sublethal and behavioral effects on Crassostrea virginica after acute exposures to ecologically relevant concentrations of water accommodated fractions of crude oil (WAF) and with a combination of chemical dispersant (CEWAF). This dataset includes veliger kinematics, pediveliger settlement rates, pollutant-induced larval inactivity, and adult clearance rates.

Suggested Citation:

Garcia, Sara, Kevin Du Clos, Olivia Hawkins, and Brad Gemmell. 2018. Sublethal Impacts of Crude Oil and Corexit 9500 on Crassostrea virginica at Multiple Life History Stages. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N70V8BBP

Purpose:

Data collected to quantify impact of oil and dispersant exposure on ecologically and economically significant coastal organism. Multiple life history stages were assessed to develop an understanding of impacts to oysters communities after an oil spill. Research conducted by S. Garcia for Master's Thesis.

Data Parameters and Units:

File "SublethalImpacts_Adult_Clearance Rates_24HR": CC (microL L-1): concentration of crude oil for exposure; DC (microL L-1): concentration of chemical dispersant (Corexit 9500) for exposure; TR (treatment Type): where C = control, WAF = Water Accommodated Fraction, and CEWAF: Chemically Enhanced Water Accommodated Fraction; FC (C=clean, O=oiled): feeding condition that feeding trial was conducted in; DW (g): dry tissue weight on individual oyster; SL (mm): shell length of individual oyster; T_0 (cells/mL): count of algal cells at time = 0 minutes; T_30 (cells): count of algal cells at time = 30 minutes; CRW (L h-1 g-1): Clearance rate of individual oyster with weight of oyster considered; CRWW (L h-1)= Clearance Rate of Oyster eliminating size of oyster as a factor. File "SublethalImpacts_Adult_Clearance Rates_Longterm": CC (microL L-1): concentration of crude oil for exposure; DC (microL L-1): concentration of chemical dispersant (Corexit 9500) for exposure; TR (treatment Type): where C = control, WAF = Water Accommodated Fraction, and CEWAF: Chemically Enhanced Water Accommodated Fraction; DW (g): dry tissue weight on individual oyster; SL (mm): shell length of individual oyster X_CR (L h-1 g-1): Clearance rate of individual oyster on X day of experiment; X_0 (cells/mL): count of algal cells at time = 0 minutes for X day of experiment; X_30 (cells/mL): count of algal cells at time = 30 minutes on X day of experiment. File "SublethalImpacts_Veliger_Kinematics": crude concentration (microL L-1): concentration of crude oil for exposure; dispersant concentration (microL L-1): concentration of chemical dispersant (Corexit 9500) for exposure; treatment (treatment Type): where C = control, WAF = Water Accommodated Fraction, and CEWAF: Chemically Enhanced Water Accommodated Fraction; CS (mm s-1): cruise speed by veliger during 30 second recording; SS (mm s-1): sinking speed by veliger during 30 second recording; TD (mm): total distance traveled by veliger during 30 second recording. File "SublethalImpacts_Pediveliger_Behavior": crude concentration (microL L-1): concentration of crude oil for exposure; dispersant concentration (microL L-1): concentration of chemical dispersant (Corexit 9500) for exposure; treatment (treatment Type): where C = control, WAF = Water Accommodated Fraction, and CEWAF: Chemically Enhanced Water Accommodated Fraction; settled: number of pediveligers settled after exposure to treatment; swimming: number of pediveligers swimming after exposure to treatment; mortality: number of pediveligers that experienced mortality after exposure to treatment; total: total number of pediveligers per treatment. Folder "Videos": Each folder is named by treatment type (ex. Control, 10 WAF, 10 CEWAF, etc.). Within each folder, there is an A, B, and C that are replicates of each treatment. Each replicate was filmed multiple times, each file within an A, B, or C folder is one of those recordings. Imaging was immediately taken after 24-hour exposure. Each provided measurement is for a separate veliger. A speed was considered cruising if: instantaneous velocity was less than 2mm s^-1^ and sinking if instantaneous velocity was greater than 2mm s^-1^. Instantaneous velocities were determined from trajectories observed using Particle tracker in ImageJ.

Methods:

Counts were conducted using a 1mL Sedgewick rafter counter thus the unit is cells/mL. Clearance rates were calculated: CRW= ((lcT0 - lcT30) / 0.5)* 1.3, where 1.3 is the volume of water oysters were fed in and 0.5 the amount of elapsed time oysters were allowed to consume algal cells (30 minutes). T=0 is the initial algal concentration added at the beginning of the 30-minute feeding period. Adult data = 1 individual per replicate maintained in 1.3 L of water in 1.5 L Carolina Dishes. Pediveliger data is from 2 replicates. An organism was considered to be inactive if internal organs remained active, however, the organism was not visibly motile after exposure. Veligers: 14 days post fertilization; 200 organisms in 3 replicates; 1 L of water Pediveligers: 21 days post fertilization; 100 organisms in 2 replicates; 1 L of water

Individual Files: