Publications by authors named "Bryand M Duke"

Sandy beach ecosystems are highly dynamic coastal environments subject to a variety of anthropogenic pressures and impacts. Pollution from oil spills can damage beach ecosystems through the toxic effects of hydrocarbons on organisms and the disruptive nature of large-scale clean-up practices. On temperate sandy beaches, intertidal talitrid amphipods are primary consumers of macrophyte wrack subsidies and serve as prey for higher trophic level consumers, such as birds and fish.

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Article Synopsis
  • On May 19, 2015, crude oil from a pipeline spill contaminated the surf zone at Refugio State Beach, California, affecting early life stages of various marine species.
  • Water and beach porewater samples were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and total petroleum hydrocarbon levels, which were found to be elevated near the spill site but decreased over time and distance.
  • Toxicity tests conducted on sand crab post larvae, inland silverside larvae, and blue mussel embryos indicated that PAH concentrations posed lethal risks to these early life stages, highlighting the environmental impact of the spill.
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