Effects of produced water discharges on the colonization potential of Macrocystis pyrifera spores

Conference · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Phycology; (United States)

OSTI ID:6436932

Lewis, R J ^[1]; Reed, D C ^[2]

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1. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Fort Pierce, FL (United States)
2. Univ. of California, Santa Barbara (United States)

Point sources of pollution (e.g. industrial outfalls) may produce ecological impacts at distant locations if pollutants affect dispersive propagules. The authors used laboratory experiments to determine how exposure to produced water (PW; aqueous fraction of petroleum production that is typically discharged into coastal waters) in the water column influences the colonization potential of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) spores on the bottom. Spores were maintained in suspension in 18 L containers and exposed to one of five concentrations of PW (0 to 10%) for varying amounts of time. Spore swimming generally decreased with increasing PW concentration and exposure duration, with the specific pattern of decrease differing between experimental trials done at different dates. The effect of exposure duration in the water column on the ability of swimming spores to attach to plastic dishes placed the bottom varied with PW concentration. Spores placed in 1 and 10% PW showed a steady decline in their ability to attach with increased exposure; lower concentrations of PW had no such effects. The proportion of spores that germinated after attachment varied tremendously with exposure duration and date of experimental trial. A low proportion of spores that settled during the first 12 h germinated, indicative of a short period of precompetency. Surprisingly, water column exposure to high concentrations of PW during the first 12 h reduced this precompetent period and greatly improved germination success. The magnitude of this enhancement, however, varied among dates. Delayed expression of PW effects were not observed in developing gametophytes; survival of individuals that successfully germinated and gamete production was not affected by previous exposure to PW as a spore.

• OSTI ID: 6436932
• Report Number(s): CONF-9308131--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Journal of Phycology; (United States) Journal Volume: 29:Suppl.3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
COASTAL WATERS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GERMINATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
LIQUID WASTES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
PLANTS
POINT SOURCES
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
RADIATION SOURCES
SEAWEEDS
SPORES
SURFACE WATERS
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION