AI Article Synopsis

  • The study examined how an oil spill impacted the production and respiration of benthic communities by measuring CO2 emissions in intertidal sandflats before and after the spill.
  • The oil spill led to decreased levels of chlorophyll a in sediments, changes in the macrofaunal community, and disrupted ecological processes by reducing microalgal production and increasing bacterial respiration, shifting the ecosystem from autotrophic to heterotrophic.
  • While the spill had a more intense effect on macrofauna than on microalgae, the benthic community showed signs of recovery in about 23 days, indicating that monitoring benthic metabolism can help assess oil spill impacts.

Article Abstract

This study determined effects of an oil spill on subtropical benthic community production and respiration by monitoring CO2 fluxes in benthic chambers on intertidal sandflats during emersion before and after an accidental spill. The oil spill decreased sediment chlorophyll a concentrations, altered benthic macrofaunal community, and affected ecological functioning by suppressing or even stopping microalgal production, increasing bacterial respiration, and causing a shift from an autotrophic system to a heterotrophic system. Effects of the oil spill on the macrofauna were more severe than on benthic microalgae, and affected sedentary infauna more than motile epifauna. Despite the oil spill's impact on the benthic community and carbon metabolism, the affected area appeared to return to normal in about 23 days. Our results suggest that the prompt response of benthic metabolism to exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons can serve as a useful indicator of the impact of an oil spill.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.05.006DOI Listing

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