Abstract:

The explosion and sinking of the Macondo drilling platform resulted in one of the largest oil spills in history but with largely uncertain ecological consequences to date. Among the lesser studied but potentially greater concerns are population and toxicological effects of the spill on migratory birds, including many economically-important waterfowl that overwinter in the area. Here, we present an analysis of oil effects on coastal diving ducks, specifically greater/lesser scaup (Aythya spp), bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), and redhead (Aythya americana).

Suggested Citation:

Charles Martin. 2015. Impacts of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Coastal Alabama Waterfowl, December 2010, January 2011.. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N72Z13GK

Publications:

Martin, C., Valentine, J., Scyphers, S., Kauffman, T., & Dindo, J. (2016). Preliminary Analysis of the Effects of the Macondo Oil Spill on Coastal Diving Ducks in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Applied Life Sciences International, 8(3), 1–9. doi:10.9734/jalsi/2016/28874

Purpose:

This data set was collected with the intention of providing a baseline of liver PAH concentrations and carbon/nitrogen stable isotopes in oiled areas in Alabama, as well reference areas.

Data Parameters and Units:

We measured liver hydrocarbon concentrations (ug/kg) and carbon/nitrogen isotopes (del-13C and del-15N) in greater/lesser scaup (Aythya spp), bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), and redhead (Aythya americana).

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