Abstract:

To compare species composition and abundance of fish larvae, to investigate movement of dispersed oil and dispersant into marine food webs and to investigate ecological effects of the oil spill on the near shore marsh food webs. Assemblages of fish larvae between historical pre-spill plankton collections and post-spill collections. Indirect effect of oil/dispersants on the food web through alternation in prey resources and reductions in fish health using hydrocarbon analysis of index species (zooplankton, prey fishes, and juvenile fishes), and molecular analyses of fish liver and muscle tissue.