Response of Spartina alterniflora Vegetation to Oiling and Burning of Applied Oil

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 38; no. 12; pp. 1216 - 1220
• Main Authors: Lindau, C.W, Delaune, R.D, Jugsujinda, A, Sajo, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-12-1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; in situ burning; marsh habitat; oil spill; remediation; Spartina alterniflora; Louisiana; United States; North America; America; in situ burning; remediation; oil spill; marsh habitat; Oil spill; Halophyte; Subtropical zone; Monocotyledones; Growth; Biomass; Burning; Salt marsh; Pollution; Controlled environment study; Gramineae; Crude oil; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Spartina alterniflora
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/S0025-326X(99)00165-4

A field study evaluated Spartina alterniflora sensitivity to oiling and to in situ burning of applied crude oil. Experimental plots (2.4 m×2.4 m×0.6 m) were constructed in the salt marsh for control, oiling (natural clean-up) and oiling/burning treatments. South Louisiana Crude was applied to oiling and oiling/burning treatment plots at 2 l m−2 and the burn conducted. S. alterniflora responses (height, live stem density, carbon fixation and biomass) were measured for 50 weeks after the August burn. Oiling and oiling/burning had short-term detrimental effects on the salt marsh. One year after the late summer burn, S. alterniflora responses measured in the oiled and oiled/burned plots were not significantly different compared to control values. Results suggest that, under our experimental conditions, intervention may not be required for marsh recovery. However, if spill conditions require a rapid response to control contaminant spread or protect other sensitive resources, burning may be a clean-up operation to consider.