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Oil and Dispersed Oil on Subtidal Seagrass


Kim Wilson (B.Appl.Sci. Hons) Current Appointment: PhD Candidate Contact: Aquatic Photosynthesis Group Institute for Environmental Resource Management Department of Environmental Sciences University of Technology, Sydney PO Box 123 Broadway NSW 2007 Australia Office: Building 4, Level 5, Room 66 (City Campus) Phone: +61 2 9514 8345 Fax: +61 2 9514 4079 Email: Kim.G.Wilson@student.uts.edu.au Project Outline The chance of an oil spill occurring within an area inhabited by subtidal seagrass is likely. Both shipping and seagrass occur within shallow coastal and estuarine environments. When an oil spill occurs, managers used dispersants to break up the slick. Dispersants reduce the inter-facial tension between the water and oil and their addition results in the oil being moved from a surface slick and into the water column. To subtidal seagrass this may increase the likelihood of coming into contact with dispersed oil and may potentially, have deleterious effects. Limited research exists on the toxic impact of petroleum hydrocarbons on Australian seagrasses. This study aims to determine whether certain species of seagrass are more vulnerable to petroleum hydrocarbon toxicity than others and to determine the toxic effects of bunker oil, crude oil and dispersants, and mixtures of these. The project will be undertaken using in situ field dosing chambers which will be placed in seagrass meadows. The water soluble fraction (WSF) of the oil (and dispersant) will be added to these chambers and left for approximately 10 hours in the field. A Diving PAM (Pulse Amplitude Modulated) fluorometer will be used to measure photosynthetic health of the seagrass as a determinant of stress. This study is a collaborative project between the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). The results will assist environmental managers to make informed decisions regarding subtidal seagrass meadows following an oil spill. The study is also supported by an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage grant. Teaching Activities 2006 Demonstrator in Cells, Genetics and Evolution 2005 Demonstrator in Biodiversity 2004 Demonstrator in Resource Assessment Techniques 2004 Demonstrator in Ecology Awards 2006 Australian Society of Phycology and Botany Conference Student Poster Award 2005 Australian Postgraduate Award Industry Scholarship 2005 Australian Research Council Linkage Grant Supervisors Associate Professor Peter Ralph Associate Professor Kenneth Brown