Assessing the impact of major oil spills on seabird populations

Heubeck, Martin; Camphuysen, Kees; Bao, Roberto; Humple, Diana L.; Rey, Antonio Sandoval; Cadiou, Bernard; Bräger, Stefan; Thomas, Tim

doi:10.1016/s0025-326x(03)00098-5

Cited by 41 publications

(35 citation statements)

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“…The frequency of large oil spills has highlighted the fact that national authorities are often ill-prepared to manage such accidents (Camphuysen & Heubeck 2001, Heubeck et al 2003. Because spills can have major impacts on the marine environment, as well as on local economies and national politics, it is essential to reinforce preventative international conventions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The relative importance of these different effects is difficult to assess due to the large scales often involved and the logistical constraints in monitoring the fate of birds at sea. In this context, determining the origins of seabirds caught in an oil spill is critical for any attempt to assess its potential impact (Piatt & Lensink 1989, Heubeck et al 2003, Peterson et al 2003, and population genetic approaches could provide valuable information.…”

Section: Abstract: Assignment Tests · Dispersal · Microsatellites · mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first is based on the biometrical features of recovered birds (Hope Jones 1996, Stratford & Partridge 1996, Heubeck et al 2003. For instance, the common guillemot is classified into 6 sub-species distributed along a north-south gradient in the North Atlantic.…”

Section: Abstract: Assignment Tests · Dispersal · Microsatellites · mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Population genetics of the common guillemot, Uria aalge, in the North Atlantic: geographic impact of oil spills

Riffaut¹,

McCoy²,

Tirard³

et al. 2005

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Abstract: Assignment Tests · Dispersal · Microsatellites · mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Population genetics of the common guillemot, Uria aalge, in the North Atlantic: geographic impact of oil spills

Riffaut¹,

McCoy²,

Tirard³

et al. 2005

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…(NRC 2003;ITOPF 2011a). Certain aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons may also cause direct toxic impacts due to ingestion or penetration through body surfaces such as gills (Middleditch 1984;Jenssen 1996;Heubeck et al 2003). Many of the toxic as well as non-toxic hydrocarbons evaporate and are degraded by microorganisms quite rapidly (NRC 2003;ITOPF 2011b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oil Contamination in Ogoniland, Niger Delta

Lindén

Pålsson

2013

AMBIO

135

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The study shows extensive oil contamination of rivers, creeks, and ground waters in Ogoniland, Nigeria. The levels found in the more contaminated sites are high enough to cause severe impacts on the ecosystem and human health: extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (EPHs) ([10-C40) in surface waters up to 7420 lg L -1 , drinking water wells show up to 42 200 lg L -1 , and benzene up to 9000 lg L -1 , more than 900 times the WHO guidelines. EPH concentrations in sediments were up to 17 900 mg kg -1 . Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations reached 8.0 mg kg -1 , in the most contaminated sites. The contamination has killed large areas of mangroves. Although the natural conditions for degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons are favorable with high temperatures and relatively high rainfall, the recovery of contaminated areas is prevented due to the chronic character of the contamination. Oil spills of varying magnitude originates from facilities and pipelines; leaks from aging, dilapidated, and abandoned infrastructure; and from spills during transport and artisanal refining of stolen oil under very primitive conditions.

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“…More specifically, oil spills are known to be a major cause of mortality in seabirds (e.g. Rice et al 1996), although, surprisingly, the potential role of oil spills as selective agents of sex-specific mortality (Heubeck et al 2003) and their demographic consequences have not been previously considered.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex-specific mortality of European shags after the Prestige oil spill: demographic implications for the recovery of colonies

Martínez‐Abraín¹,

Velando²,

Oro³

et al. 2006

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Oil spills are extreme environmental perturbations (i.e. ecological catastrophes) affecting marine food webs and especially top predators, in which effects are likely amplified. As such, seabirds suffer from direct mortality and food depletion, with potentially important consequences for the population growth rate and probability of extinction. However, little is known about the effects of sex-skewed mortality (due to sex spatio-temporal differences in at-sea distribution) in seabird population dynamics. We analyzed the mortality of European shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis after the Prestige oil spill and its effects on breeding colonies in Galicia (southwest North Atlantic). Most adults found dead were females (85%). The year after the spill, Monte Carlo simulations of population trajectories predicted a reduction of 11% in the number of breeding pairs when skewed mortality was considered, and a lower rate (8%) when assuming random sex distribution of adult mortality. The further reduction predicted with the sex-biased mortality was probably the result of unmated adults unable to reproduce. This difference, although slight, is a concern for conservation owing that the colonies studied were already showing a 5% annual decline due to other factors also related to human activities.

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Assessing the impact of major oil spills on seabird populations

Cited by 41 publications

References 1 publication

Population genetics of the common guillemot, Uria aalge, in the North Atlantic: geographic impact of oil spills

Population genetics of the common guillemot, Uria aalge, in the North Atlantic: geographic impact of oil spills

Oil Contamination in Ogoniland, Niger Delta

Sex-specific mortality of European shags after the Prestige oil spill: demographic implications for the recovery of colonies

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