Impact of oil spill and posterior clean-up activities on wrack-living talitrid amphipods on estuarine beaches

Borzone, Carlos A.; Rosa, Leonardo C.

Abstracts

A geomorphological and faunistic seasonal study of six estuarine beaches on Paranaguá Bay, Brazil, was abruptly interrupted when the Chilean ship "Vicuña" exploded and sank, spilling 291 tons of bunker fuel oil. The beaches sampled twice before the accident were affected by the oil spill deposition and the posterior clean-up activities. Neither drastic reduction in abundances nor occurrences of oil-covered individuals were registered. Significant variation in both amount of debris and talitrid amphipod densities was directly related to beach clean-up activities. A short (1-3 month) manual clean-up of polluted wrack resulted in an increase in talitrid abundances, with the local distribution expansion of one species, Platorchestia monodi, from three to six of the beaches sampled. The active migration and concentration of organisms at sites without wrack during cleaning activities and a massive and continuous recovery of new debris, characteristic of estuarine beaches, may contribute to the findings.

Oil spill; Estuarine beach; Talitrid amphipods; Wrack clean-up

Um estudo sazonal da geomorfologia e fauna de seis praias estuarinas na baia de Paranaguá, Brasil, foi interrompido bruscamente pela explosão e posterior afundamento do navio chileno Vicuña, que derramou 291 toneladas de óleo bunker. As praias que foram afetadas pela deposição de óleo e pelas posteriores atividades de limpeza, tinham sido amostradas duas vezes antes do acidente. Nas coletas posteriores ao acidente não foram registradas nem reduções drásticas das abundâncias nem indivíduos impregnados por óleo. As significativas variações tanto da quantidade de detrito quanto nas densidades de anfipodes talitrídeos foram relacionadas às atividades de limpeza. Uma limpeza manual e de curta duração (1 a 3 meses) resultou num aumento das abundâncias dos talitrídeos, juntamente com o aumento da distribuição de uma das espécies, Platorchestia monodi, que de três passou a ser encontrada em seis praias amostradas.Os fatores que contribuíram para estes resultados foram, por um lado, a migração ativa e a concentração de organismos em locais sem detrito durante as atividades de limpeza, e por outro, o contínuo aporte de novo detrito característico das praias estuarinas.

Derrame de óleo; Praia estuarina; Anfipode talitrideo; Limpeza de detrito

ANSELL, A. D.; SIVADAS, P.; NARAYANAN, B.; SANKARANARAYANAN, V. N.; TREVALION, A. The ecology of two sandy beaches in southwest India. I. Seasonal changes in physical and chemical factors, and in the macrofauna. Mar. Biol., v. 17, p. 38-62, 1972.
BEHBEHANI, M. I.; CROKER, R. A. Ecology of beach wrack in northern New England with special reference to Orchestia platensis Estuar. coast. Shelf Sci., v. 15, p. 611-620, 1982.
BORZONE, C. A.; MELO, S. G.; REZENDE, K. V.; VALE, R.; KRUL, R. Macrobenthic intertidal communities from wave to tide dominated beaches environment: a case of two Brazilian beaches. J. coast. Res., v. SI 35, p. 472-480, 2003.
BOUSFIELD, E. L. Recent advances in the systematics and biogeography of landhoopers (Amphipoda: Talitridae) of the Indo-Pacific region. In: RADOVSKY, F. J.; RAVEN, P. H.; SOHMER, S. H. (Ed.). Biogeography of the tropical Pacific.
Bishop Mus. spec. Publ., v. 72, p. 171-210, 1984.
BRAZEIRO, A.; DEFEO, O. Macroinfauna zonation in microtidal sandy beaches: is it possible to identify patterns in such variable environments? Estuar. coast. Shelf Sci., v. 42, p. 523-536, 1996.
CLARK, K. B.; WARWICK, R.M. Change in marine communities: an approach to statistical analysis and interpretation. Natural Environment Research Council, UF. Bournemouth, UK: Bourne Press Limited, 1994. 144p.
COLOMBINI, I.; CHELAZZI, L. Influence of marine allochthonous input on sandy beach communities. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. a. Rev., v. 41, p. 115-159, 2003.
COLOMBINI, I.; ALOIA, A.; FALLACI, M.; PEZZOLI, G.; CHELAZZI, L. Temporal and spatial use of stranded wrack by the macrofauna of a tropical sandy beach. Mar. Biol., v. 136, p. 531-541, 2000.
DAVENPORT, J.; DAVENPORT, J.L. The impact of tourism and personal leisure transport on coastal environments: A review. Estuar. coast. Shelf Sci., v. 67, p. 280-292, 2006.
DE LA HUZ, R.; LASTRA, M.; JUNOY, J.; CASTELLANOS, C.; VIEITEZ, J.M. Biological impacts of oil pollution and cleaning in the intertidal zone of exposed sandy beaches: Preliminary study of the ''Prestige'' oil spill. Estuar. coast. Shelf Sci., v. 65, p. 19-29, 2005.
GHESKIERE, T.; VINCX, M.; PISON, G.; DEGRAER, S. Are strandline meiofaunal assemblages affected by a once-only mechanical beach cleaning? Experimental findings. Mar. environ. Res., v. 61, p. 245-264, 2006.
GÓMEZ-GESTEIRA, J.L.; DAUVIN, J.C. Amphipods are good bioindicators of the impact of oil spills on softbottom macrobenthic communities. Mar. Pollut. Bull., v. 40, p. 1017-1027, 2000.
INGLIS, G. The colonization and degradation of stranded Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Ag. by the macrofauna of a New Zealand sandy beach. J. expl. mar. Biol. Ecol., v. 125, p. 203-217, 1989.
JEDRZEJCZAK, M. F. Spatio-temporal decay 'hot spots' of stranded wrack in a Baltic sandy coastal system. Part I. Comparative study of the pattern: 1 type of wrack vs 3 beach sites. Oceanologia, v. 44, p. 491-512, 2002.
JUNOY, J.; CASTELLANOS, C.; VIEITEZ, J. M.; DE LA HUZ, R.; LASTRA, M. The macroinfauna of the Galician sandy beaches (NW Spain) affected by the Prestige oil-spill. Mar. Pollut. Bull. , v. 50, p. 526-536, 2005.
LAVOIE, D. Population dynamics and ecology of beach wrack macroinvertebrates of the central California coast. Bull. south. Calif. Acad. Sci., v. 84, p. 1-22, 1985.
LLEWELLYN P.J.; SHACKLEY S.E. The effects of mechanical beach-cleaning on invertebrate populations. Br. Wildl. , v. 7, p. 147-155, 1996.
MCLACHLAN, A.; BROWN, A.C. The ecology of sandy shores Elsevier, USA, 2006.
MARSDEN, I. D. Kelp-sandhopper interactions on a sand beach in New Zealand. II. Population dynamics of Talorchestia quoyana (Milne-Edwards). J. expl. mar. Biol. Ecol., v. 152, p.75-90, 1991.
MASSELINK, G.; SHORT, A. D. The effects of tide range on beach morphodynamics and morphology: a conceptual beach model. J. coast. Res., v. 9, p. 785-800, 1993.
NORDSTROM, K.F. Estuarine beaches: an introduction to the physical and human factors affecting use and management of beaches in estuaries, lagoons, bays and fjords London: Elsevier Applied Science, 1992.
OSERNBERG, C. W.; SCHMITT, R. J. Detecting ecological impacts caused by human activities. In: SCHMITT, R. J.; OSENBERG, C. W. Detecting ecological impacts. Concepts and applications in coastal habitats. New York: Academic Press, 1996. p. 9-15.
PERSSON, L.-E. Dispersal of Platorchestia platensis (Kröyer) (Amphipoda: Talitridae) along Swedish coasts: a slow but successful process. Estuar coast. Shelf Sci., v. 52, p. 201-210, 2001.
PETERSON, C.H. The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska: acute indirect and chronic effects on the ecosystem. Adv. mar. Biol., v. 39, p. 1-103, 2001.
ROSA, L.C.; BORZONE, C.A. Uma abordagem morfodinâmica na caracterização física das praias estuarinas da baia de Paranaguá, sul do Brasil. Revta Bras. Geociênc., v. 38, n. 2, p. 237-245, 2008.
ROSA, L. C.; ALUIZIO, R.; BORZONE, C.A. Talitridae (Amphipoda, Crustacea) das praias estuarinas da Baía de Paranaguá, Paraná, Brasil. Braz. J. aquat. Sci. Technol., v. 11, p. 37-41, 2007.
SEREJO, C.S. Talitridae (Amphipoda, Gammaridea) from the Brazilian coastline. Zootaxa, v. 646, p. 1-29, 2004.
WHITFIELD, J. How to clean a beach. Nature, v. 422, p. 464-466, 2003.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
15 Jan 2010
Date of issue
Dec 2009

History

Received
19 Feb 2009
Reviewed
15 June 2009
Accepted
17 June 2009

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

[1] ANSELL, A. D.; SIVADAS, P.; NARAYANAN, B.; SANKARANARAYANAN, V. N.; TREVALION, A. The ecology of two sandy beaches in southwest India. I. Seasonal changes in physical and chemical factors, and in the macrofauna. Mar. Biol., v. 17, p. 38-62, 1972.

[2] BEHBEHANI, M. I.; CROKER, R. A. Ecology of beach wrack in northern New England with special reference to Orchestia platensis Estuar. coast. Shelf Sci., v. 15, p. 611-620, 1982.

[3] BORZONE, C. A.; MELO, S. G.; REZENDE, K. V.; VALE, R.; KRUL, R. Macrobenthic intertidal communities from wave to tide dominated beaches environment: a case of two Brazilian beaches. J. coast. Res., v. SI 35, p. 472-480, 2003.

[4] BOUSFIELD, E. L. Recent advances in the systematics and biogeography of landhoopers (Amphipoda: Talitridae) of the Indo-Pacific region. In: RADOVSKY, F. J.; RAVEN, P. H.; SOHMER, S. H. (Ed.). Biogeography of the tropical Pacific.

[5] Bishop Mus. spec. Publ., v. 72, p. 171-210, 1984.

[6] BRAZEIRO, A.; DEFEO, O. Macroinfauna zonation in microtidal sandy beaches: is it possible to identify patterns in such variable environments? Estuar. coast. Shelf Sci., v. 42, p. 523-536, 1996.

[7] CLARK, K. B.; WARWICK, R.M. Change in marine communities: an approach to statistical analysis and interpretation. Natural Environment Research Council, UF. Bournemouth, UK: Bourne Press Limited, 1994. 144p.

[8] COLOMBINI, I.; CHELAZZI, L. Influence of marine allochthonous input on sandy beach communities. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. a. Rev., v. 41, p. 115-159, 2003.

[9] COLOMBINI, I.; ALOIA, A.; FALLACI, M.; PEZZOLI, G.; CHELAZZI, L. Temporal and spatial use of stranded wrack by the macrofauna of a tropical sandy beach. Mar. Biol., v. 136, p. 531-541, 2000.

[10] DAVENPORT, J.; DAVENPORT, J.L. The impact of tourism and personal leisure transport on coastal environments: A review. Estuar. coast. Shelf Sci., v. 67, p. 280-292, 2006.

[11] DE LA HUZ, R.; LASTRA, M.; JUNOY, J.; CASTELLANOS, C.; VIEITEZ, J.M. Biological impacts of oil pollution and cleaning in the intertidal zone of exposed sandy beaches: Preliminary study of the ''Prestige'' oil spill. Estuar. coast. Shelf Sci., v. 65, p. 19-29, 2005.

[12] GHESKIERE, T.; VINCX, M.; PISON, G.; DEGRAER, S. Are strandline meiofaunal assemblages affected by a once-only mechanical beach cleaning? Experimental findings. Mar. environ. Res., v. 61, p. 245-264, 2006.

[13] GÓMEZ-GESTEIRA, J.L.; DAUVIN, J.C. Amphipods are good bioindicators of the impact of oil spills on softbottom macrobenthic communities. Mar. Pollut. Bull., v. 40, p. 1017-1027, 2000.

[14] INGLIS, G. The colonization and degradation of stranded Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Ag. by the macrofauna of a New Zealand sandy beach. J. expl. mar. Biol. Ecol., v. 125, p. 203-217, 1989.

[15] JEDRZEJCZAK, M. F. Spatio-temporal decay 'hot spots' of stranded wrack in a Baltic sandy coastal system. Part I. Comparative study of the pattern: 1 type of wrack vs 3 beach sites. Oceanologia, v. 44, p. 491-512, 2002.

[16] JUNOY, J.; CASTELLANOS, C.; VIEITEZ, J. M.; DE LA HUZ, R.; LASTRA, M. The macroinfauna of the Galician sandy beaches (NW Spain) affected by the Prestige oil-spill. Mar. Pollut. Bull. , v. 50, p. 526-536, 2005.

[17] LAVOIE, D. Population dynamics and ecology of beach wrack macroinvertebrates of the central California coast. Bull. south. Calif. Acad. Sci., v. 84, p. 1-22, 1985.

[18] LLEWELLYN P.J.; SHACKLEY S.E. The effects of mechanical beach-cleaning on invertebrate populations. Br. Wildl. , v. 7, p. 147-155, 1996.

[19] MCLACHLAN, A.; BROWN, A.C. The ecology of sandy shores Elsevier, USA, 2006.

[20] MARSDEN, I. D. Kelp-sandhopper interactions on a sand beach in New Zealand. II. Population dynamics of Talorchestia quoyana (Milne-Edwards). J. expl. mar. Biol. Ecol., v. 152, p.75-90, 1991.

[21] MASSELINK, G.; SHORT, A. D. The effects of tide range on beach morphodynamics and morphology: a conceptual beach model. J. coast. Res., v. 9, p. 785-800, 1993.

[22] NORDSTROM, K.F. Estuarine beaches: an introduction to the physical and human factors affecting use and management of beaches in estuaries, lagoons, bays and fjords London: Elsevier Applied Science, 1992.

[23] OSERNBERG, C. W.; SCHMITT, R. J. Detecting ecological impacts caused by human activities. In: SCHMITT, R. J.; OSENBERG, C. W. Detecting ecological impacts. Concepts and applications in coastal habitats. New York: Academic Press, 1996. p. 9-15.

[24] PERSSON, L.-E. Dispersal of Platorchestia platensis (Kröyer) (Amphipoda: Talitridae) along Swedish coasts: a slow but successful process. Estuar coast. Shelf Sci., v. 52, p. 201-210, 2001.

[25] PETERSON, C.H. The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska: acute indirect and chronic effects on the ecosystem. Adv. mar. Biol., v. 39, p. 1-103, 2001.

[26] ROSA, L.C.; BORZONE, C.A. Uma abordagem morfodinâmica na caracterização física das praias estuarinas da baia de Paranaguá, sul do Brasil. Revta Bras. Geociênc., v. 38, n. 2, p. 237-245, 2008.

[27] ROSA, L. C.; ALUIZIO, R.; BORZONE, C.A. Talitridae (Amphipoda, Crustacea) das praias estuarinas da Baía de Paranaguá, Paraná, Brasil. Braz. J. aquat. Sci. Technol., v. 11, p. 37-41, 2007.

[28] SEREJO, C.S. Talitridae (Amphipoda, Gammaridea) from the Brazilian coastline. Zootaxa, v. 646, p. 1-29, 2004.

[29] WHITFIELD, J. How to clean a beach. Nature, v. 422, p. 464-466, 2003.