Assessment of Injury to Sea Ducks from Hydrocarbon Uptake in Prince Willaim Soundand the Kodiak Archipelago, Alaska, Following the EXXON VALDEZ Oil Spill. Volume 1. Bird Study Number 11. EXXON VALDEZ Oil Spill State/Federal Natural Resource Damage Assessm

摘要

This study investigated the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on six sea duckspecies, and the status and productivity of harlequin ducks in Prince William Sound, Alaska from 1989 to 1992. A survey of sea duck foods is consistent with the literature, showing diverse prey in harlequins and the importance of mussels to goldeneyes and scoters. Five of 151 tested ducks contained foods contaminated with crude oil. Bile samples had elevated concentrations of hydrocarbons in 74% of harlequins and 88% of goldeneyes. Initial spill mortality of harlequin ducks have been 423 in Prince William Sound and greater than 1,000 for the entire spill area. We suggest that harlequins suffered population-level effects through 1992, but spill effects and regional ecologies can not be separated.