Abstract
Seagrass cores (6“ diameter, PVC, 10” long) of Ruppia maritima were collected in the Chandeleur Islands (Louisiana) and Estero Bay (Florida) to examine how the two populations responded to oil exposure (50% water accommodated fraction). Three cores from each site served as controls (no oil exposure), whereas three others served as treatment (50% WAF, diluted by half every day for 8 days). Seagrass response was measured via quantum yield (using a Dive PAM fluorometer) and seagrass blade color (using Munsell Plant Tissue color chips).
Purpose
To report data on the seagrass response to oil exposure from two sites: the Chandeleur Islands (Louisiana) and Estero Bay (Florida). The Estero Bay seagrasses were considered to be naïve to oil, as no oil extraction industry is present in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The Chandeleur Island seagrasses were assumed to be tolerant to (some) oil exposure, due the established petroleum industry in the northern Gulf.
DOI: doi:10.7266/N7DB8069
Suggested Citation
Michael Parsons, Allison Bury. 2018. Seagrass (Ruppia maritima) responses to oil exposure in mesocosms. Distributed by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7DB8069
Funded by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI)
Funding cycle: RFP-IV
Research group: Alabama Center for Ecological Resilience (ACER)
