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UPTAKE AND EFFECTS OF DISPERSED OIL DROPLETS AND EMULSIFIED OIL BY ESTUARINE CRUSTACEANS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
Impact/Purpose:
To determine the uptake and effects (molting, molting hormones, genes mediating molting, DNA strand breaks) of dispersed oil by blue crab and grass shrimp embryos/larvae/postlarvae. 2. To determine the uptake and effects (molting, molting hormones, genes mediating molting, DNA strand breaks) of emulsified oil by immature blue crabs and grass shrimp exposed to oiled sediments 3. The establishment and implementation of a Community Outreach for Accurate Science Translation teams in 4 communities in the north central Gulf of Mexico coastline. These teams will be part of the proposed project and develop public presentations on the project and its results.
Description:
The results from this project will provide information on the extent of uptake of dispersed petroleum from the seawater and uptake of emulsified oil from the sediment by blue crabs and grass shrimp of different life history stages. The primary focus of the study will be effects of dispersed and emulsified oil on molting and related processes. The data and the results of the proposed study can be expected to be useful in assessment of the effects of the Deepwater Horizon spill as well as similar spills where dispersants are used to control a spill. The data should be useful in any risk assessment or model studies concerning the fate and effects of oil spills in an estuarine environment. The community outreach program will involve Community Outreach for Accurate Science Translation teams which will address how results of the proposed scientific studies on the effects of the oil spill are important to four coastal communities in the Gulf of Mexico.