How Did the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Affect Coastal and Continental Shelf Ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico?

摘要

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill originated at the base of the continental shelf in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM), but large quantities of the oil were transported to the shelf (<= 200 m water depth) and into coastal waters (herein defined as <= 15 km from the coast). Water-column effects were generally limited to the period of the ongoing oil releases, although, due to an extensive oil sedimentation event ("dirty blizzard"), effects on the benthos have the potential to be chronic, especially in soft sediments. Impacts on phytoplankton, zooplankton, and ichthyoplankton were relatively short-lived, and the abundance and species composition of planktonic communities returned to pre-spill conditions within a year of the event. Mortalities of larval fish were generally less than 20% of Gulf-wide species populations owing to the extensive and extended spawning periods of most species. Impacts on the productivity of the region's fisheries were also relatively short-lived and influenced by extensive fishery closures to protect seafood safety, although long-term effects may eventually alter the productivity of some stocks.