Resuspension, Redistribution, and Deposition of the Deepwater Horizon Recalcitrant Hydrocarbons to Offshore Depocenters – REDIRECT

The natural heterogeneity of bottom topography and circulation processes are key drivers transporting materials to deeper areas in the GoM by erosion and deposition of contaminated sediments beyond the surface extent of the once existing oil slick or the subsurface plumes(s).

The proposed research will transform our understanding of the sinks, distribution, and transport processes of sedimentary hydrocarbons by investigating the connectivity of geomorphological features (erosional channels, lee depocenters, and isolated valleys), and the sedimentological and physical oceanographic processes (resuspension, advection, and re-sedimentation) affecting oil-derived hydrocarbon distribution and deposition within the BNL in the deep sea. 

Petrocarbon content (14C) and organic geochemical analyses (aliphatics, aromatics, hopanes, and steranes) will be used to quantify the concentration and degree of weathering of hydrocarbon residues. Laboratory flume analyses will test the behavior of the surface layer to determine threshold current velocities necessary to resuspend size-specific particles and, subsequently, the behavior during transport of the resuspended material, which can be utilized in sediment transport models. This study will develop a spatial and temporal perspective of the MOS deposited on the seafloor to compare with the MOS projected to have formed in the water column.

A time-series analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Gulf of Mexico mesopelagic fauna 

The Gulf of Mexico (GoM) contains abundant sources of toxic organic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Due in part to the increases in the exploration of deep-marine resources in the last decade, it is likely that major PAH contamination events will occur. An example was the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (DWH) which was primarily a deep-pelagic event. The deep pelagic zone is by far the largest habitat in the GoM that was affected by the DWH spill. The DWH spill highlighted the large data gap for the deep ocean in the GoM.

Results from a collaborative effort between DEEPEND and C-IMAGE II Consortia indicate that the mesopelagic fauna incorporated DWH oil resulting in diet shifts after the spill and exposure to PAHs.  A 10-fold increase in PAH concentrations during 2010-2011 relative to pre-spill values (2007) and a decline in 2015-2016 were observed. The presence and composition of elevated PAHs confirmed post-spill contamination of deep-pelagic fishes.  PAH data will be integrated with those from population dynamics and stable isotope analysis to provide evidence for the effects of oil exposure to deep-pelagic communities. Analyses were conducted at the Paleoceanographic Laboratory – University of South Florida.

Related Publication:

• Romero Isabel C., Heather Judkins, Michael Vecchione. 2020. Temporal variability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in deep-sea cephalopods of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Front. Mar. Sci. 7:54; doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00054
• Cook, A., A. M. Bernard, K.M. Boswell, H. Bracken-Grissom, M. D’Elia, S. deRada, D. English, R.I. Eytan, T. Frank, C. Hu, M.W. Johnston, H. Judkins, C. Lembke, R.J. Milligan,J. Moore, B. Penta, N.M. Pruzinsky, J.A. Quinlan, T. Richards, I.C. Romero, M.S. Shivji, M. Vecchione, M.D. Weber, R. J. D. Wells, T.T. Sutton. 2020. A Multidisciplinary Approach to Investigate Deep-Pelagic Ecosystem Dynamics in the Gulf of Mexico following Deepwater Horizon. Frontiers in Marine Science, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.548880
• Beth Polidoro, Cole W. Matson, Mary Ann Ottinger, D. Abigail Renegar, Isabel C. Romero, Daniel Schlenk, John Pierce Wise, Jesús Beltrán González, Peter Bruns, Kent Carpenter, Dorka Cobián Rojas, Tracy K. Collier, Thomas F. Duda, Patricia González-Díaz, Richard Di Giulio, R. Dean Grubbs, J. Christopher Haney, John P. Incardona, Guillermo Horta-Puga, Christi Linardich, Jon A. Moore, Daniel Pech, Susana Perera Valderrama, Gina M. Ralph, Kyle Strongin, Amy H. Ringwood, Bernd Würsig. 2020. A Multi- taxonomic Framework for Assessing Relative Petrochemical Vulnerability of Marine Biodiversity in the Gulf of Mexico, Science of the Total Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142986
• Sutton, Tracey, Tamara Frank, Heather Judkins, I.C. Romero. 2020. As Gulf Oil Extraction Goes Deeper, Who Is at Risk? Community Structure, Distribution, and Connectivity of the Deep-Pelagic Fauna. In “Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills”, 403-418 p, doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12963-7_24.
• Romero I.C., Tracey Sutton, Brigid Carr, Ester Quintana-Rizzo, Steve W. Ross, David J. Hollander, Joseph J. Torres.^. 2018. A decadal assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mesopelagic fishes from the Gulf of Mexico reveals exposure to oil-derived sources. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02243
• Quintana-Rizzo et al. 2015. Changes in δ13C and δ15N in deep-living fishes and shrimps after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Gulf of Mexico. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 94(1-2), 241–250, doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.02.002

The distribution, fate, and transport of hydrocarbons deposited in northern and southern regions of the Gulf of Mexico

The main objective of this study was to investigate the deposition of hydrocarbons from different sources (e.g., terrestrial, oil exploration) at a more regional scale in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Specifically, we focused on the spatial and temporal evolution of petroleum constituents deposited on sediments from the Deepwater Horizon spill (DWH) in 2010 and from the IXTOC-I oil spill in 1979. The IXTOC-I incident that took place over three decades ago provides an important historical analog for predicting future impacts on benthic ecosystems in the northern GoM.

Results indicate that ~19,000 metric tons of weathered DWH-derived hydrocarbons (>C9 saturated and aromatic fractions) were deposited in 56% of the studied area (194,000 km2), containing 21± 10% (up to 47%) of the total amount of oil discharged and not recovered from the DWH spill. Several impacts on the environment and its recovery have been identified, but changes in the productivity of stocks at the population level may take several to many years to recover, depending on the specific life histories of target animals. This study was supported by C-IMAGE II Consortium – Dr. Steve Murawski and Dr. Dave Hollander (PIs). 

• Rohal M, Barrera N, Escobar-Briones E, Brooks G, Hollander D, Larson R, Montagna PA, Pryor M, Romero IC, Schwing P (2020) How quickly will the offshore ecosystem recover from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill ? Lessons learned from the 1979 Ixtoc-1 oil well blowout. Ecol Indic 117:106593. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106593
• Romero, Isabel C., Jeff Chanton, Brad Roseheim, Jagoš R. Radović, Patrick Schwing, Dave Hollander, S. Larter, T.B.P. Oldenburg. 2020. Long-term preservation of oil spill events in sediments: the case for the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. In “Deep Oil Spills: Facts, Fate, Effects”, 285-300 p, doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11605-7_17.
• Radović, Jagoš R., Isabel C. Romero, T.B.P. Oldenburg,  S. Larter,  and John W. Tunnell. 2020. 40 years of weathering of coastal oil residues in the Southern Gulf of Mexico. In “Deep Oil Spills: Facts, Fate, Effects”, 328-340 p, doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11605-7_20.
• Bosman SH, Schwing PT, Larson RA, Wildermann NE, Brooks GR, Romero IC, et al. 2020. The southern Gulf of Mexico: A baseline radiocarbon isoscape of surface sediments and isotopic excursions at depth. PLoS ONE 15(4): e0231678. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231678
• Eenennaam J.S., Melissa Rohal, Paul A. Montagna, Jagoš R. Radović, Thomas B.P. Oldenburg, Isabel C. Romero, Albertinka J. Murk, Edwin M. Foekema. 2019. Ecotoxicological benthic impacts of experimental oil-contaminated marine snow deposition. Marine Pollution Bulletin (141): 164-175, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.02.025
• Romero et al. 2017. Large-scale deposition and redistribution of hydrocarbons following a deepwater oil spill. Environmental Pollution, 228: 179-189, doi:org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.05.019
• Murawski et al. 2016. How Did the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Affect Coastal and Continental Shelf Ecosystems? Oceanography 29 (3): 161-173, doi:org/10.5670/oceanog.2016.80

Sediment biota and toxic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons interactions

 

Several collaborative studies in different biological fields showed the potential influence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the abundance and diversity of ciliates, foraminifera, and bacteria under natural and experimental conditions. The results obtained in these studies explain the complexity of interactions between toxic compounds and biology, with some species having the potential to enhance the toxicity of crude oil, while others are affected by it, or not affected at all. Indicator studies of complex microbial/benthic communities are encouraged for specific biological groups avoiding generalizations on impact responses among taxa. Chemical analysis of PAHs was conducted at the Paleoceanographic Laboratory – University of South Florida.

• Pulster Erin L., Adolfo Gracia, Susan M. Snyder, Isabel C. Romero, Brigid Carr, Gerardo Toro-Farmer, Steven A. Murawski. 2020.^. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Baselines in Gulf of Mexico Fishes. In “Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills”, 253-271 p, doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12963-7_15.
• Foekema, E.M., J.S. van Eenennaam, D. Hollander, A. Langenhoff, T.B.P Oldenburg, J. Radovic, M. Rohal, I.C. Romero, P. Schwing, A.J. Murk. 2020. Testing the effect of MOSSFA events in Benthic Multispecies Systems. In “Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills”, 288-299 p, doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12963-7_17
• Schwing et al. 2017. Characterizing the variability of benthic foraminifera in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon event (2010-2012). Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res, doi:org/10.1007/s11356-016-7996-z
• Moss et al. 2016. Molecular characterization of benthic foraminifera communities from the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico shelf and slope following the Deepwater Horizon event. Deep-Sea Research Part I 115: 1-9., doi:org/10.1016/j.dsr.2016.04.010
• Moss et al. 2016. Ciliate protists from the sediment-water interface in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Deep-Sea Research Part I 106: 85-96., doi:org/10.1016/j.dsr.2015.10.001
• Overholta et al. 2016. Hydrocarbon Degrading Bacteria Exhibit a Species Specific Response to Dispersed Oil while Moderating Ecotoxicity. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, DOI:10.1128/AEM.02379-15.

Sedimentary biogeochemical indicators of ecosystem change in the Northern Gulf of Mexico after 2010

 

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill on the seafloor as recorded in sediments of the DeSoto Canyon region in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Sediment cores were analyzed at high-resolution (at 2 mm and 5 mm intervals) to evaluate the concentration, composition, and input of hydrocarbons to the seafloor through a coupling of sedimentological, geochemical, and biological approaches.

Results showed that the upper ~1 cm depth sedimentary interval (corresponding to 2010-2011) is distinct with higher hydrocarbon concentrations and signatures than in previous years.  This study demonstrates, for the first time, the sink to the seafloor of oil-derived hydrocarbons from a submerged oil spill. Our findings underline the complexity of the depositional event observed in the aftermath of the DWH event regarding multiple sources, variable concentrations, and spatial (depth-related) variability. Also, we were able to test our sampling and geochemical approaches after a marine gas well blowout (Hercules 265), indicating the importance of ocean observing systems to coordinate rapid-response efforts to effectively assess environmental impacts resulting from accidental releases of oil contaminants. Analyses were conducted in Dr. Dave Hollander and Dr. Gregg Brook’s labs (PI’s), under C-IMAGE I and DEEP-C Consortia. 

Related Publications:

• Romero et al. 2016. Tracking the Hercules 265 marine gas well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico. J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 121, DOI: 10.1002/2015JC011037.
• Hastings et al. 2016. Changes in sediment redox conditions following the BP DWH Blowout event.  Deep Sea Research II., doi:org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2014.12.009
• Romero et al. 2015. Hydrocarbons in deep-sea sediments following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Blowout in the Northeast Gulf of Mexico. PLOSone,  doi:org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128371
• Brooks et al. 2015. Sediment Pulse in the NE Gulf of Mexico Following the 2010 DWH Blowout. PLOSone,  doi:org/10.1371/journal.pone.0132341

The Importance of Molybdenum Speciation to Nitrogen Fixation and Assimilation in Lakes

This study aimed to determine major nutrient controls on N2 fixation and NO3  uptake in three western U.S. lakes with varying trophic status (oligotrophic Lake Tahoe; mesotrophic Walker Lake; and eutrophic Clear Lake). We also studied nutrient controls on bacterial growth, phytoplankton biomass, and total CO2 fixation.

While previous studies have shown the important role of Fe and P in the N cycle of lakes, the dynamics of these nutrients cannot always explain observed rates of N2 fixation. Therefore, we also investigated trace metal co-limitation, including the potentially most bioavailable form of Mo, Mo(V). The results obtained in this study provide a new perspective on nutrient co-limitation in the N cycle of lakes. Analyses were conducted in Dr. Douglas Capone and Dr. Sergio Sanudo-Wilhelmy labs, PIs. 

Related Publication: Romero I.C., Klein N.J., Sañudo-Wilhelmy S.A., Capone D.G. 2013. Potential trace metal co-limitation controls on N2 fixation and NO-3 uptake in lakes with varying trophic status. Frontiers in Aquatic Microbiology, doi:10.3389/fmicb.2013.00054

The main goal of this study was to characterize the lipid and isotopic composition of leaf waxes in living salt marsh plants, to better understand how hydrogen isotope signatures in plants are affected by biological and environmental factors (e.g., climate change). 

This study explained the importance of directly measuring plant water isotopic composition and highlighted the role of transpiration in driving isotopic signals in subtropical ecosystems. Results from this study constrained the hydrogen isotopic composition of salt marsh organic matter, and further indicate the potential for plant leaf waxes to resolve paleoenvironmental change, including sea level change, in sediment cores from salt marshes. Analyses were conducted in Dr. Feakins’s lab (PI) and in the Laboratory of Stable Isotope Ecology of Tropical Ecosystems (L7) at the University of Miami.

Related Publication: Romero I. C. and Feakins S. J. 2011. Spatial gradients in plant leaf wax D/H cross a coastal salt marsh in Southern California. Organic Geochemistry 42: 618-629,  doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2011.04.001

 

Mangrove forests are among the most productive ecosystems playing a significant role in nutrient sequestration in coastal zones. The primary purpose of this study was to better understand the functional relationship among microorganisms, trees, and sediments. A combination of molecular, chemical, and statistical techniques was used to identify key biological and environmental factors directly controlling the community structure of microorganisms in mangrove sediments subjected to a long-term fertilization experiment with nitrogen and phosphorus (Twin Cays, Belize).

Results indicated significant disturbance not only in ecological patterns and processes of bacteria and microbial functional groups but also on plant-microbial interactions. This research further explored the ecology of marine microorganisms over different temporal and spatial scales, a necessary step to better understand the link between microbial communities and sediment geochemistry in coastal environments under disturbance. Analyses were conducted in Dr. Capone, Dr. Marilyn Fogel, Dr. Susan Ziegler, and Dr. Jed Fuhrman labs.

Related Publications:

• Romero et al. 2015. Phylogenetic Diversity of Diazotrophs along an Experimental Nutrient Gradient in Mangrove Sediments. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2015, 3, 699-719; DOI:10.3390/jmse3030699.
• Schaller et al. 2015. Variable nutrient stoichiometry (C:N:P) across trophic levels determines community and ecosystem properties in an oligotrophic mangrove system. Oecologia, doi:10.1007/s00442-015-3379-2.
• Romero et al. 2011. Long-term nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization effects on N2 fixation rates and nifH gene community patterns in mangrove sediments. Marine Ecology: 1-11. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0485.2011.00465.x.
• Fogel et al. 2008. Unusually negative nitrogen isotopic compositions (δ15N) of mangroves and lichens in an oligotrophic, microbially-influenced ecosystem. Biogeosciences 5: 1704-2008.

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