Abstract
Following an oil spill in the marine environment, chemical dispersants, which increase oil droplet formation and distribution into the water column, are assumed to provide a net benefit to seabirds by reducing the risk of exposure to oil on the water surface. However, few data are available regarding acute, external impacts of exposure to dispersed oil. We evaluated the effects of known concentrations of dispersant and crude oil in artificial seawater on live Common Murres (Uria aalge). Waterproofing and microscopic feather geometry were evaluated over time and compared to pre-exposure values. Birds exposed to a high concentration of dispersant experienced an immediate, life-threatening loss of waterproofing and buoyancy, both of which resolved within 2 d. Birds exposed to oil, or a dispersant and oil mixture, experienced dose-dependent waterproofing impairment without resolution over 2 d. Alterations in feather geometry were observed in oil-exposed or dispersant- and oil-exposed birds and were associated with increased odds of waterproofing impairment compared to control birds. At a given contaminant concentration, there were no significant differences in waterproofing between oil-exposed and dispersant- and oil-exposed birds. We found that acute, external effects of oil and dispersed oil exposure are comparable and dose-dependent. Our results also indicate that a zero-risk assumption should not be used when seabirds are present within the dispersant application zone.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 315-328 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Journal of Wildlife Diseases |
| Volume | 54 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- Common Murre
- Corexit 9500A®
- Crude oil
- Dispersant
- Feather structure
- Oil spill
- Seabird
- Waterproofing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Ecology
Cite this
An experimental study of the effects of chemically dispersed oil on feather structure and waterproofing in Common Murres (Uria aalge). / Whitmer, Emily R.; Elias, Becky A.; Harvey, Danielle J; Ziccardi, Michael H.
In: Journal of Wildlife Diseases, Vol. 54, No. 2, 01.04.2018, p. 315-328.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - An experimental study of the effects of chemically dispersed oil on feather structure and waterproofing in Common Murres (Uria aalge)
AU - Whitmer, Emily R.
AU - Elias, Becky A.
AU - Harvey, Danielle J
AU - Ziccardi, Michael H
PY - 2018/4/1
Y1 - 2018/4/1
N2 - Following an oil spill in the marine environment, chemical dispersants, which increase oil droplet formation and distribution into the water column, are assumed to provide a net benefit to seabirds by reducing the risk of exposure to oil on the water surface. However, few data are available regarding acute, external impacts of exposure to dispersed oil. We evaluated the effects of known concentrations of dispersant and crude oil in artificial seawater on live Common Murres (Uria aalge). Waterproofing and microscopic feather geometry were evaluated over time and compared to pre-exposure values. Birds exposed to a high concentration of dispersant experienced an immediate, life-threatening loss of waterproofing and buoyancy, both of which resolved within 2 d. Birds exposed to oil, or a dispersant and oil mixture, experienced dose-dependent waterproofing impairment without resolution over 2 d. Alterations in feather geometry were observed in oil-exposed or dispersant- and oil-exposed birds and were associated with increased odds of waterproofing impairment compared to control birds. At a given contaminant concentration, there were no significant differences in waterproofing between oil-exposed and dispersant- and oil-exposed birds. We found that acute, external effects of oil and dispersed oil exposure are comparable and dose-dependent. Our results also indicate that a zero-risk assumption should not be used when seabirds are present within the dispersant application zone.
AB - Following an oil spill in the marine environment, chemical dispersants, which increase oil droplet formation and distribution into the water column, are assumed to provide a net benefit to seabirds by reducing the risk of exposure to oil on the water surface. However, few data are available regarding acute, external impacts of exposure to dispersed oil. We evaluated the effects of known concentrations of dispersant and crude oil in artificial seawater on live Common Murres (Uria aalge). Waterproofing and microscopic feather geometry were evaluated over time and compared to pre-exposure values. Birds exposed to a high concentration of dispersant experienced an immediate, life-threatening loss of waterproofing and buoyancy, both of which resolved within 2 d. Birds exposed to oil, or a dispersant and oil mixture, experienced dose-dependent waterproofing impairment without resolution over 2 d. Alterations in feather geometry were observed in oil-exposed or dispersant- and oil-exposed birds and were associated with increased odds of waterproofing impairment compared to control birds. At a given contaminant concentration, there were no significant differences in waterproofing between oil-exposed and dispersant- and oil-exposed birds. We found that acute, external effects of oil and dispersed oil exposure are comparable and dose-dependent. Our results also indicate that a zero-risk assumption should not be used when seabirds are present within the dispersant application zone.
KW - Common Murre
KW - Corexit 9500A®
KW - Crude oil
KW - Dispersant
KW - Feather structure
KW - Oil spill
KW - Seabird
KW - Waterproofing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045141763&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85045141763&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.7589/2017-01-016
DO - 10.7589/2017-01-016
M3 - Article
C2 - 29148886
AN - SCOPUS:85045141763
VL - 54
SP - 315
EP - 328
JO - Journal of Wildlife Diseases
JF - Journal of Wildlife Diseases
SN - 0090-3558
IS - 2
ER -