Effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on eelgrass communities in Prince William Sound, Alaska 1990-1995. Restoration project 95106. Exxon Valdez oil spill restoration project final report
Injuries to the shallow subtidal eelgrass community were observed in the heavily oiled portions of Western Prince William Sound following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. High PAH concentrations were associated with observed differences in communities at oiled vs. reference sites. Dominant taxa within the eelgrass community, including infaunal amphipods, infaunal bivalves, helmet crabs, and leather stars were less abundant at oiled than at reference sites in 1990. Other taxa, including several families of opportunistic or stress-tolerant infaunal polychaetes and gastropods, epifaunal polychaetes and mussels, and small cod, were more abundant at oiled sites. By 1995, there was apparent recovery of most community constituents. However, not all taxa had recovered fully. Some evidence of slight hydrocarbon contamination still existed at some sites, and three infaunal bivalves, two amphipods, a crab, and a sea star were still more abundant at reference sites than at oiled sites.
- Research Organization:
- Alaska Univ., Fairbanks, AK (United States). School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
- OSTI ID:
- 572354
- Report Number(s):
- PB-98-115454/XAB; TRN: 80331632
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: DN: See also PB--96-194865; PBD: May 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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