Abstract:

To fully assess the impacts of Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil on the vertebrate stress response and the trajectory for recovery, our research over a series of experiments integrated molecular, cellular, gland/organ and whole animal physiological and behavioral studies using a benthic marine teleost, the Gulf toadfish, a resident of the Gulf of Mexico. These studies evaluated multiple pathways (e.g., pituitary fatigue, reduced receptor sensitivity, disruption or overstimulation of cortisol biosynthesis) and the consequence of these changes at the whole animal level (e.g., changes in carbohydrate metabolism, immune capacity and responses to natural stresses such as predation and social interaction). In this series of experiments, the pathways and endpoints were evaluated during short-term exposures to DWH oil. Water parameters and water chemistry were analyzed. Each exposure was followed by a complementary recovery period (i.e., no oil or PAH exposure) to assess the recovery trajectory. These experiments were completed at Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), University of Miami, Marine Technology & Life Sciences Seawater Complex (MTLSS) Building, room 211 between January 2018 to December 2018.

Suggested Citation:

M. Danielle McDonald, Matthew M. Alloy, Maria C. Cartolano, Rumya Sundaram, Anastasiya Plotnikova, Emily Milton. 2019. Acute exposure water chemistry data. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-zr13-x613

Purpose:

The data were collected to verify exposure concentrations and conditions of our experiment.

Data Parameters and Units:

The dataset contains measurements of total PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and its various components with time after exposure to a benthic marine teleost, the Gulf toadfish. It also contains water chemistry parameters such as pH and temperature. Main parameters: Replicate Sample ID, Temperature (degrees C), pH, water fluorescence, water PAH concentration (sum total PAHs). Please note that there is no data on salinity and dissolved oxygen content in excel file columns BR and BT, and NM = not measured. The naming convention for replicate sample ID is where A = Treatment (B= blank sample; S=100% HEWAF stock solution; C = controls; L = low concentration exposure; M = medium concentration exposure; H = high concentration exposure); T = Trial # (1 or 2); X = Sample type (CE = composite exposure period; CR = composite recovery period; I = individual sample); MM = month; DD = day; YY = year.

Methods:

The oil used in this study was from extensively weathered surface slicks taken by the ship Juniper during the active phase of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (Sample ID: OFS-20100719-Juniper-001:00979, 00919). Toadfish were exposed to 0.006 (control), 0.009 (low), 0.06 (medium) and 2.8 (high) ug/L sum 50 total PAH for 4, 8, 24 h, 3 days and 7 days and were then exposed to control water conditions for up to 4, 8, 24 h, 3 days and 7 days. PAH's were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry − selective ion monitoring (GC/MS-SIM) as outlined in US EPA Method 8270D. PAH fluorescence was measured using a Perkin Elmer LS45 Fluorescence Spectrometer. Regular seawater pumped from Biscayne Bay, Florida was used.

Individual Files: