Understanding the Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Marine Ecosystems

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the University of New Hampshire's Hubbard Center for Genome Studies, in collaboration with Auburn University and the University of Texas at San Antonio, have received a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the diverse communities of minute organisms living in ocean sediments. The project aims to establish baseline information on these benthic communities before and after the spill, using high-throughput sequencing to identify the genetic makeup of these organisms. The research will inform future studies on the long-term impacts of the spill on marine ecosystems and provide crucial information for mitigation and bioremediation efforts.

Key Takeaways:

  • The project focuses on nematodes, fungi, and larval-stage mollusks, which are abundant and play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and the breakdown of hydrocarbons.
  • Researchers will use previously collected samples from 100 sites representing diverse habitats, which will be analyzed using high-throughput sequencing to generate large datasets of DNA sequences.
  • The DNA sequences will be used to reveal the genetic makeup of the organisms and compare pre- and post-spill data to assess the impact of the spill on the communities.
  • Studying the impact of the spill on these minute organisms is essential, as they are the base of the food chain in marine ecosystems and their loss can have significant cascading effects.
  • The project also aims to better understand the effect of the spill on nutrient cycling and the breakdown of hydrocarbons, which will inform mitigation and bioremediation efforts.

Statistics:

  • The grant is worth $200,000 from the National Science Foundation's RAPID program.
  • Researchers will analyze samples from 100 sites representing diverse habitats.
  • High-throughput sequencing will be used to generate large datasets of DNA sequences.
  • The researchers estimate that the data will tell them how many different organisms are present in a single sediment sample, informing the impact of the spill on the communities.

Sources:

  • Energy Weekly News editors (2010)
  • Hubbard Center for Genome Studies
  • National Science Foundation
  • Auburn University
  • University of Texas at San Antonio