We are using ectoparasites and endoparasites of fishes as acute and chronic indicators of toxic spill effects by collecting fishes that will supplement our existing 12+ year collections from the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Studies have associated changes in parasite populations with marine pollution (including oil contamination). Shifts in parasite diversity, prevalence, intensity, population structure, and community structure resulting from the DHOS could indicate water quality changes linked to the spill and signal abundance and distribution changes of specific free-living marine invertebrates and vertebrates or alterations to the food web of the Gulf of Mexico.
Parasites comprise a large portion of marine biodiversity but have so far, we think, received very little attention as bioindicators within the Gulf of Mexico (which actually is a sea). The unprecedented nature of the present Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (DHOS) (estimated at ~2.5 million gall/day as of 19 June 2010) offers opportunity to gain critical new insights about parasites as bioindicators on a regional, basin scale while providing critical information regarding environmental “ripple effects” associated with the DHOS.
Here are some decent pictues of TLPs in the north-central Gulf.
Steal these photos (I took them, so you can use them!) for your PowerPoint or Keynote talks on oil spill related topics (right click, save as, -name file-).
At right, tension leg platform (TLP) "Ram Powell," located about 100 nautical miles S/SE of Ocean Springs, MS. It is 3,570 ft from the ocean floor to the so-called 'crown block' of the drilling rig.
Fish are not the only coastal aquatic organisms we are interested in studying. At left, specimens of Donax variabilis sampled from the high energy beach habitat of Gulf Shores Alabama. These "coquina clams" have been oiled (note brownish goo adhered to shell). We are using histopathology to document acute and (later) chronic effects of the DHOS on this littoral bivalve. D. variabilis inhabits of high energy beaches, burrowing in the sands of the swash zone. Hence, these tiny bivalves (and their parasites!) may be affected by the DHOS.
Another TLP of the north-central Gulf of Mexico. TLPs are known fish attractors, especially tunas. The Hatteras-style fishing boat on the horizon to the right is approximately 40' in length.
