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One of the world's largest "blue carbon" ecosystems, Louisiana's tidal wetlands on the US Gulf of Mexico coast, is rapidly being lost. Louisiana's strong legal, regulatory, and monitoring framework, developed for one of the world's largest tidal wetland systems, provides an opportunity for a programmatic approach to blue carbon accreditation to support restoration of these ecologically and economically important tidal wetlands. Louisiana's coastal wetlands span ∼1.4 million ha and accumulate 5.5–7.3 Tg yr−1 of blue carbon (organic carbon), ∼6%–8% of tidal marsh blue carbon accumulation globally. Louisiana has a favorable governance framework to advance blue carbon accreditation, due to centralized restoration planning, long term coastal monitoring, and strong legal and regulatory frameworks around carbon. Additional restoration efforts, planned through Louisiana's Coastal Master Plan, over 50 years are projected to create, or avoid loss of, up to 81,000 ha of wetland. Current restoration funding, primarily from Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlements, will be fully committed by the early 2030s and additional funding sources are required. Existing accreditation methodologies have not been successfully applied to coastal Louisiana's ecosystem restoration approaches or herbaceous tidal wetland types. Achieving financial viability for accreditation of these restoration and wetland types will require expanded application of existing blue carbon crediting methodologies. It will also require expanded approaches for predicting the future landscape without restoration, such as numerical modeling, to be validated. Additional methodologies (and/or standards) would have many common elements with those currently available but may be beneficial, depending on the goals and needs of both the state of Louisiana and potential purchasers of Louisiana tidal wetland carbon credits. This study identified twenty targeted needs that will address data and knowledge gaps to maximize financial viability of blue carbon accreditation for Louisiana's tidal wetlands. Knowledge needs were identified in five categories: legislative and policy, accreditation methodologies and standards, soil carbon flux, methane flux, and lateral carbon flux. Due to the large spatial scale and diversity of tidal wetlands, it is expected that progress in coastal Louisiana has high potential to be generalized to similar wetland ecosystems across the northern Gulf of Mexico and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research investigating gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms from oil spill-related exposures is sparse. We evaluated prevalent GI symptoms among U.S. Coast Guard responders deployed to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup. Crude oil (via skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion routes), combined crude oil/oil dispersant exposures, other deployment exposures, deployment characteristics, demographics, and acute GI symptoms during deployment (i.e., nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and constipation) were ascertained cross-sectionally via a post-deployment survey (median time between deployment end and survey completion 185 days) (N = 4885). Log-binomial regression analyses were employed to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Effect modification was evaluated. In adjusted models, responders in the highest (versus lowest) tertile of self-reported degree of skin contact to crude oil were more than twice as likely to report nausea/vomiting (PR=2.45; 95 %CI, 1.85–3.23), diarrhea (PR=2.40; 95 %CI, 2.00–2.88), stomach pain (PR=2.51; 95 %CI, 2.01–3.12), and constipation (PR=2.21; 95 %CI, 1.70–2.89). Tests for trend were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Results were similar for crude oil exposure via inhalation and ingestion. Higher PRs for all symptoms were found with combined crude oil/dispersant exposure than with crude oil exposure alone. These results indicate positive associations between self-reported crude oil and combined crude oil/oil dispersant exposures and acute GI symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Kate Starbird and her team's efforts to track and correct election-related rumors in real time. Topics include the research team's approach to combating misinformation, the increasing connection between different rumor-spreading groups on social media, and Starbird's personal experiences with political attacks and harassment.

In the North Atlantic and the Northern Ocean, from the second half of 2010 to 2014, satellite imagery data showed increased surface water temperatures (in the Icelandic Depression area in September–October 2010, it was 1.3 °C higher than in 2009). The peak of the annual sum of mean monthly ocean surface temperatures near the Icelandic Depression in 2010 (109.3 °C), as well as the negative values of the monthly averaged North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) indices, estimated in the second half of 2010 and until March 2011, can be explained by the appearance of an additional film of oil origin on the water surface, formed after an oil spill accident at the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Insufficient evaporative cooling of surface waters near the Icelandic Depression related to the formation of an additive film due to the influence of pollution of the North Sea by oil can explain the earlier peak in the annual sum of mean monthly ocean surface temperatures near the Icelandic Depression in 2003 (107.2 °C). Although global warming is usually ascribed to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, ocean surface water pollution could increase the heat content of the ocean and explain the steady temperature stratification and desalination of these waters due to the melting of Greenland's glaciers. Thus, when analyzing the concept of global warming, it is necessary to take into account the aspects of pollution of the ocean surface waters to assess the changes in their capacity to accumulate solar radiation, as well as the changes in the heat content of the ocean mixing zone (~200 m). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the tension between critical analysis and advocacy in the field of religion and nature. It discusses the challenges faced by scholars in balancing the promotion of environmentalism with objective analysis of the relationship between religion and environmental behaviors. The author suggests that community-engaged research and teaching can help navigate this tension by fostering collaboration and addressing community needs. The article also addresses the history of academic exploitation in the Appalachian region and emphasizes the importance of scholars demonstrating long-term commitments to communities and being accountable to them. It highlights the intersection of religion and nature scholarship with community-engaged research and pedagogy, emphasizing the need for scholars to actively engage with communities and address environmental challenges. The text also raises questions about defining the "public" and "community" and encourages scholars to consider the impacts of their work on these groups. It concludes by emphasizing the role of scholars and universities in addressing societal challenges and promoting resilience and justice. [Extracted from the article]

Mercury (Hg) concentrations and their associated toxicological effects in terrestrial ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico are largely unknown. Compounding this uncertainty, a large input of organic matter from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill may have altered Hg cycling and bioaccumulation dynamics. To test this idea, we quantified blood concentrations of total mercury (THg) in Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima) and Marsh Rice Rats (Oryzomys palustris) in marshes west and east of the Mississippi River in 2015 and 2016. We also tested for a difference in THg concentrations between oiled and non-oiled sites. To address the potential confounding effect of diet variation on Hg transfer, we used stable nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) isotope values as proxies of trophic position and the source of primary production, respectively. Our results revealed that five to six years after the spill, THg concentrations were not higher in sites oiled by the spill compared to non-oiled sites. In both species, THg was higher at sites east of the Mississippi River compared to control and oiled sites, located west. In Seaside Sparrows but not in Marsh Rice Rats, THg increased with δ15N values, suggesting Hg trophic biomagnification. Overall, even in sites with the most elevated THg, concentrations were generally low. In Seaside Sparrows, THg concentrations were also lower than previously reported in this and other closely related passerines, with only 7% of tested birds exceeding the lowest observed effect concentration associated with toxic effects across bird species (0.2 µg/g ww). The factors associated with geographic heterogeneity in Hg exposure remain uncertain. Clarification could inform risk assessment and future restoration and management actions in a region facing vast anthropogenic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico, occurred in 2010 at 1525 meters depth, releasing approximately 507 M liters of oil. Research cruises in 2010 and 2011 were conducted to assess the initial and subsequent effects of the oil spill on deep-sea infauna. The spatial-temporal response of the deep-sea meiofaunal harpacticoid community composition to the DWH oil spill was investigated at 34 stations ranging from < 1 km to nearly 200 km from the wellhead in 2010 and 2011. The pattern of reduced harpacticoid diversity in impacted zones compared to non-impacted zones in 2010 persisted in 2011. However, an increase in Hill's diversity index (N1) and the family richness across the two years in some of the impacted stations could suggest a first signal of a tentative recovery and an improvement of environmental conditions. The multivariate analysis of harpacticoid family composition revealed the persistence of an impact in 2011 with moderately high values of turnover diversity in the harpacticoid communities through time (37%) and space (38–39%). The consistent presence in all years and stations of long-term tolerant families (e.g. Ameiridae), the sharp decrease of fast-responding opportunistic families (e.g. Tisbidae), and the increase of more sensitive ones (e.g. Ectinosomatidae, Canthocamptidae, Cletopsyllidae, and Laophontidae) lead to the preliminary conclusion that some initial signals of recovery are evident. However, as impacts were still evident in 2011, and because recruitment and succession rates can be extremely slow in the deep sea, full community recovery had not yet occurred one year after the DWH disaster. This study confirmed that harpacticoid copepod family diversity can offer an accurate assessment of oil-spill impacts on deep-sea benthic communities over space and time as well as a better understanding of the recovery mode of the system after an oil spill event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the portrayal of natural disasters and racial dynamics in Kate Chopin's novel, The Awakening. It argues that the novel fails to acknowledge the material damage caused by a hurricane and the racial injustices associated with it. The article also explores the novel's depiction of Grand Isle as an idyllic retreat, ignoring the ecological and racial realities of the region. Additionally, it analyzes the novel's emphasis on swimming as a symbol of freedom, overlooking the historical context of racial oppression and the monopolization of natural resources by white people. The article suggests that the novel's focus on individual turmoil rather than social crises highlights the dangers of prioritizing personal narratives over collective experiences. [Extracted from the article]

Oil spills are a frequent perturbation to the marine environment that has rapid and significant impacts on the local microbiome. Previous studies have shown that exposure to synthetic dispersant alone did not enhance heterotrophic microbial activity or oxidation rates of specific hydrocarbon components but increased the abundance of some taxa (e.g., Colwellia). In contrast, exposure to oil, but not dispersants, increased the abundance of other taxa (e.g., Marinobacter) and stimulated hydrocarbon oxidation rates. Here, we advance these findings by interpreting metatranscriptomic data from this experiment to explore how and why specific components of the microbial community responded to distinct organic carbon exposure regimes. Dispersant alone was selected for a unique community and for dominant organisms that reflected treatment- and time-dependent responses. Dispersant amendment also led to diverging functional profiles among the different treatments. Similarly, oil alone was selected for a community that was distinct from treatments amended with dispersants. The presence of oil and dispersants with added nutrients led to substantial differences in microbial responses, likely suggesting increased fitness driven by the presence of additional inorganic nutrients. The oil-only additions led to a marked increase in the expression of phages, prophages, transposable elements, and plasmids (PPTEPs), suggesting that aspects of microbial community response to oil are driven by the "mobilome," potentially through viral-associated regulation of metabolic pathways in ciliates and flagellates that would otherwise throttle the microbial community through grazing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objectives of this study were to compare population dynamics of Tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps before and after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in the north‐central Gulf of Mexico (GoM) as well as inside and outside the spill area in the western and southwestern GoM (off Mexico). Methods: Due to the availability of prespill samples of Tilefish, we were able to evaluate growth, mortality, and condition factors during two time periods (2000–2009 versus 2011–2017). Samples were derived from commercial landings and research vessel surveys using demersal longline fishing gear. Result: Although some von Bertalanffy growth parameters differed for fish caught before and after the spill within the spill area, confidence limits for predicted growth curves overlapped for ages >10, while predicted growth for ages <10 declined somewhat after the spill. Tilefish grew faster off Mexico than in the northern GoM. Total instantaneous mortality rates (Z), estimated from aggregate multi‐year catch curves, were highest off Mexico (0.39 ± 0.05 SE), lowest in the western GoM outside the spill area (0.21 ± 0.03), and similar before and after the DWH spill within the spill zone (0.32 ± 0.02). Conclusion: Although Z on the stock within the spill area apparently did not change, differences in fishing mortality may have compensated for changes in natural mortality. Because 90% of the fish that were aged after the spill were alive prior to the spill, their accumulated growth history may have masked postspill growth changes. As we are now 14+ years past the 2010 spill, comparisons of population dynamics from samples collected now and in the future may provide a clearer picture of the strength of incoming year‐classes and the long‐term implications of the spill on Tilefish populations. Impact statementAdult Gulf of Mexico Tilefish did not differ in growth or total mortality before versus after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Condition of postspill fish was lower than prespill. Mexican fish grew faster but had lower condition and higher mortality than U.S. fish. Postspill fish analyzed were predominantly born before the spill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the ongoing issue of hydrocarbon pollution and the need to harness the hydrocarbon-degrading microbiome to mitigate its impact on the environment. It highlights the various sources of hydrocarbon pollution, including industrial and petroleum activities, wildfires, and natural sources. The article also explores the microbial communities that inhabit hydrocarbon-contaminated sites and their role in hydrocarbon degradation. It discusses the challenges and potential of using synthetic biology approaches to design engineered microbial communities for bioremediation. The article emphasizes the importance of monitoring methods and holistic approaches for evaluating the effectiveness of bioremediation treatments. The research work of the authors was funded by various projects, and they declare no competing interests. [Extracted from the article]

This document presents the findings of a study on the occurrence and distribution of Rice's whales in the Gulf of Mexico. The study used acoustic recordings to detect the presence of Rice's whale calls at three different sites in the Gulf of Mexico. The results showed that Rice's whales were present in both U.S. and Mexican waters, indicating a transboundary range for the species. The study also highlighted the threats faced by Rice's whales, including vessel strikes, oil and gas exposure, entanglement in fishing gear, and habitat degradation. The authors emphasized the need for collaborative management and conservation efforts between U.S. and Mexican environmental agencies to protect the critically endangered species. Further research is needed to determine the full extent of the Rice's whale range and estimate the population abundance in the Gulf of Mexico. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Coral-associated microbiomes vary greatly between colonies and localities with functional consequences on the host. However, the full extent of variability across the ranges of most coral species remains unknown, especially for corals living in deep waters which span greater ranges. Here, we characterized the microbiomes of four octocoral species from mesophotic and bathyal deep-sea habitats in the northern Gulf of Mexico, Muricea pendula, Swiftia exserta, Callogorgia delta, and Paramuricea biscaya, using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. We sampled extensively across their ranges to test for microbiome differentiation between and within species, examining the influence of environmental factors that vary with depth (53–2224 m) and geographic location (over 680 m) as well as the host coral's genotype using RAD-sequencing. Results: Coral microbiomes were often dominated by amplicon sequence variants whose abundances varied across their hosts' ranges, including symbiotic taxa: corallicolids, Endozoicomonas, members of the Mollicutes, and the BD1-7 clade. Coral species, depth, and geographic location significantly affected diversity, microbial community composition, and the relative abundance of individual microbes. Depth was the strongest environmental factor determining microbiome structure within species, which influenced the abundance of most dominant symbiotic taxa. Differences in host genotype, bottom temperature, and surface primary productivity could explain a significant part of the microbiome variation associated with depth and geographic location. Conclusions: Altogether, this work demonstrates that the microbiomes of corals in deep waters vary substantially across their ranges in accordance with depth and other environmental conditions. It reveals that the influence of depth on the ecology of mesophotic and deep-sea corals extends to its effects on their microbiomes which may have functional consequences. This work also identifies the distributions of microbes including potential parasites which can be used to inform restoration plans in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Target lipid model (TLM) and toxic unit (TU) approaches were applied to ecotoxicity and chemistry data from low-energy WAFs (LE-WAFs) of source and weathered crude oils originating from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The weathered oils included artificially weathered oils and naturally weathered samples collected in the Gulf of Mexico after the spill. Oil weathering greatly reduced the concentrations of identified LE-WAF components, however, the mass of uncharacterized polar material (UPC) in the LE-WAFs remained largely unchanged during the weathering process. While the TLM-derived calculations displayed a significant decrease in toxicity (TUs) for the heavily weathered oils, copepod toxicity, expressed as LC10-based TUs, were comparable between LE-WAFs of fresh and weathered oils. The discrepancy between observed and predicted toxicity for the LE-WAFs of artificially weathered oils may be related to limitations by the chemical analyses or increased toxicity due to generation of new unknown compounds during the weathering process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North American Black Terns (Chlidonias niger) breed primarily in the Prairie Pothole region of southern Canada and the northern United States, winter in Central and South American waters, and often migrate through the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGoM). This species has exhibited long-term population declines and is exposed to a myriad of anthropogenic threats in the nGoM, including oil spills, with an estimated 800–1,000 injured during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, yet historical studies of Black Terns' use of the nGoM are sparse, with inconsistent spatial and temporal coverage. Using vessel-based observations collected from 2017 to 2019, we characterize Black Tern spatial and temporal occurrence in marine waters of the nGoM. We develop 2 separate habitat models: one describing spatial and temporal aspects of Black Terns occurrence and the other describing the relative density when present. In 10 months of survey effort, January–October, we observed Black Terns in 7 (Mar–May and Jul–Oct), predominantly on the continental shelf at <200 m depth. Relative densities were greatest in the fall, coinciding with Black Terns' southward migration. Spatial distribution and habitat models suggest an association with river mouths or ports, as well as cool, productive waters, frequently associated near the outflow of the Mississippi River and just off the coast from Corpus Christi, Texas. The enhanced understanding of Black Terns in the nGoM could inform the preparation for, and response to, future oiling events or provide insight into potential interactions with the installation of offshore wind farms and aquaculture. Les guifettes noires d'Amérique du Nord (Chlidonias niger) se reproduisent principalement dans la région des Prairies Pothole du sud du Canada et du nord des États-Unis, hivernent dans les eaux d'Amérique centrale et du Sud et migrent souvent à travers le nord du golfe du Mexique (nGoM). Cette espèce a montré des déclins de population à long terme et est exposée à une myriade de menaces anthropiques dans le nGoM, y compris les marées noires, avec environ 800 à 1 000 individus blessés lors de la marée noire de Deepwater Horizon, mais des études historiques sur l'utilisation du nGoM par les guifettes noires sont rares, avec une couverture spatiale et temporelle incohérente. À l'aide d'observations basées sur des navires recueillies de 2017 à 2019, nous caractérisons l'occurrence spatiale et temporelle de la guifette noire dans les eaux marines du nGoM. Nous développâmes deux modèles d'habitat distincts: l'un décrivant les aspects spatiaux et temporels de l'occurrence des guifettes noires et l'autre décrivant la densité relative lorsqu'elles sont présentes. Au cours des 10 mois d'enquêtes, de janvier à octobre, nous observâmes des guifettes noires en sept mois (de mars à mai et de juillet à octobre), principalement sur le plateau continental à <200 m de profondeur. Les densités relatives étaient les plus élevées en automne, coïncidant avec la migration de la guifette noire vers le sud. Les modèles de distribution spatiale et d'habitat suggèrent une association avec des embouchures ou des ports de rivières, ainsi qu'avec des eaux fraîches et productives, fréquemment associées près de l'embouchure du fleuve Mississippi et juste au large de Corpus Christi, Texas. Une meilleure compréhension de la guifette noire dans le nGoM pourrait éclairer la préparation et la réponse aux futures marées noires ou donner un aperçu des interactions potentielles avec l'installation de parcs éoliens offshore et l'aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the impact of climate change on how environmental history research is conducted. It describes ways in which historians have addressed conceptual and methodological challenges in studying the past due to climate change and biodiversity collapse, including collaborations with archaeologists, earth scientists and geographers, among others. It discusses links between historians' interest in studying human relationships with non-human life and natural science research.

In this study, we characterize the exopolymer produced by Halomonas sp. strain TGOS-10 –one of the organisms found enriched in sea surface oil slicks during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The polymer was produced during the early stationary phase of growth in Zobell's 2216 marine medium amended with glucose. Chemical and proton NMR analysis showed it to be a relatively monodisperse, high-molecular-mass (6,440,000 g/mol) glycoprotein composed largely of protein (46.6% of total dry weight of polymer). The monosaccharide composition of the polymer is typical to that of other marine bacterial exopolymers which are generally rich in hexoses, with the notable exception that it contained mannose (commonly found in yeast) as a major monosaccharide. The polymer was found to act as an oil dispersant based on its ability to effectively emulsify pure and complex oils into stable oil emulsions—a function we suspect to be conferred by the high protein content and high ratio of total hydrophobic nonpolar to polar amino acids (52.7:11.2) of the polymer. The polymer's chemical composition, which is akin to that of other marine exopolymers also having a high protein-to-carbohydrate (P/C) content, and which have been shown to effect the rapid and non-ionic aggregation of marine gels, appears indicative of effecting marine oil snow (MOS) formation. We previously reported the strain capable of utilising aromatic hydrocarbons when supplied as single carbon sources. However, here we did not detect biodegradation of these chemicals within a complex (surrogate Macondo) oil, suggesting that the observed enrichment of this organism during the Deepwater Horizon spill may be explained by factors related to substrate availability and competition within the complex and dynamic microbial communities that were continuously evolving during that spill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Urban Rehabilitation of Post-Disaster Scapes" is a book that examines the use of urbanscapes during the disaster process, focusing on the pre-disaster, disaster event, and post-disaster phases. The book includes 18 case studies of natural and man-made disasters from 1991 to 2022, covering various types of disasters such as floods, storms, earthquakes, wildfires, and sociological and technological disasters. The authors analyze the role of the urbanscape in each phase of the disaster process and discuss urban rehabilitation strategies. While the book provides a comprehensive discourse on disaster resilience and green growth approaches, it lacks case studies from the African continent. Overall, the book is recommended for researchers, students, and professionals in academia, disaster management, urban planning, and architecture. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: Environmental factors, maternal inheritance, and feeding success are influential factors in fish growth, especially during the larval stage, encompassing their early days of life. Growth rates play a crucial role in larval survival, particularly in species with high energy requirements such as the Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT). Our analyses of two patches of ABFT larvae collected in the Gulf of Mexico's spawning region during different years reveal variable larval growth, depending on prey availability. Larval growth also shows a direct relationship to maternal feeding. Estimates of larval trophic positions are primarily influenced by food web length and energy transmission efficiency, leading to differences in larval growth and underscoring the importance of considering trophic dynamics in interpreting results. These findings offer novel insights into how these factors affect ABFT larval growth, potentially informing conservation efforts and fisheries management strategies by governmental institutions. Two cohorts of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) larvae were sampled in 2017 and 2018 during the peak of spawning in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). We examined environmental variables, daily growth, otolith biometry and stable isotopes and found that the GOM18 cohort grew at faster rates, with larger and wider otoliths. Inter and intra-population analyses (deficient vs. optimal growth groups) were carried out for pre- and post-flexion developmental stages to determine maternal and trophodynamic influences on larval growth variability based on larval isotopic signatures, trophic niche sizes and their overlaps. For the pre-flexion stages in both years, the optimal growth groups had significantly lower δ15N, implying a direct relationship between growth potential and maternal inheritance. Optimal growth groups and stages for both years showed lower C:N ratios, reflecting a greater energy investment in growth. The results of this study illustrate the interannual transgenerational trophic plasticity of a spawning stock and its linkages to growth potential of their offsprings in the GOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill caused catastrophic damage to marine and terrestrial environments in and along the Gulf of Mexico. The DWH Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) estimated that 56,141-102,399 birds across 93 species were directly or indirectly injured, and breeding and foraging habitats suffered substantial damage. The 2016 DWH civil settlement allocated NRDA funds to Florida to replenish and protect DWH-injured bird species. Additional NRDA restoration funds were allocated Regionwide (i.e., all Gulf states) and to Open Ocean Restoration Areas. In addition, Florida was allocated funds through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF) to address DWH-injured living resources and habitats. NRDA and GEBF funds for bird restoration must be used in areas impacted by the DWH oil spill or in locations with clear connections to DWH-injured bird populations. We compiled and summarized literature and unpublished data to illustrate the coastal connectivity of 17 focal waterbird species between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast. We documented coastal connectivity for 13 of the 17 (76%) focal species. Rates of coastal connectivity derived from United States Geological Survey Bird Banding Lab data for populations anywhere on the United States Atlantic or Gulf coasts ranged by species from 0-22% of resighted individuals being observed on both coasts and ranged from 0-30% when restricted to coasts within Florida. The connectivity between the majority of Atlantic and Gulf coast focal populations is substantial, and the consideration of restoration projects on the Atlantic Coast should be determined on a case-by-case basis. Restoring living resources and breeding and foraging habitats along Florida's coastlines for the benefit of avian species that exhibit coastal connectivity will help create more resilient habitats for the benefit of at-risk species in the face of future catastrophes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The storage potential of hydrocarbon reservoirs in the central Gulf of Mexico (GOM) makes future development of CO2 storage projects in those areas promising for secure, large-scale, and long-term storage purposes. Focusing on the producing and depleted hydrocarbon fields in the continental slope of the central GOM, this paper analyzed, assessed, and screened the producing sands and evaluated their CO2 storage potential. A live interactive CO2 storage site screening system was built in the SAS® Viya system with a broad range of screening criteria combined from published studies. This offers the users a real-time assessment of the storage sites and enables them to adjust the filters and visualize the results to determine the most suitable filter range. The CO2 storage resources of the sands were estimated using a volumetric equation and the correlation developed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The results of this study indicate that 1.05 gigatons of CO2 storage resources are available in the developed reservoirs at the upper slope area of the central GOM. The Mississippi Canyon and Green Canyon protraction areas contain the fields with the largest storage resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the quiet mobilization of rural residents in British Columbia in response to environmental risks over time following the 2014 Mount Polley mine tailings dam failure. It discusses the concept of quiet mobilization adapted to the settler colonial context of predominantly white rural communities in the province's interior. It describes collective action tactics associated with quiet mobilization that emerged in the aftermath of the disaster and their evolution over time.

Potter, C. and Sukanna, T., 2024. Remote sensing of damage inflicted on coastal wetlands of southern Louisiana from tropical storms. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(2), 235–245. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Shoreline and wetland loss in Louisiana threatens the future of the state's economy, which is heavily dependent on coastal activities. This study builds on previous satellite remote sensing studies over the Mississippi Delta region to make increasingly detailed assessments of damage inflicted on coastal wetlands of southern Louisiana from tropical storms of different categories. To begin to identify and characterize coastal wetland damage from Hurricanes Katrina (Category 5 in 2005) and Gustav (Category 2 in 2008), Potter and Amer (2020) used a multiband-subtraction methodology developed by Amer, Kolker, and Muscietta (2017) that calculates a Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) from Landsat Operational Land Imager images. Analysis of biweekly Landsat NDWI images between the years 2000 and 2011 for the Mississippi River Delta study region suggested that there have been increases in water coverage (and corresponding losses of wetland coverage) over most of the marsh shorelines facing the Gulf of Mexico across the Barataria Basin. The extensive erosion of marshland edges in northern Barataria Bay has continued from 2013 to 2022. Oiling from the Deepwater Horizon spill event in 2010 has contributed to high erosion rates observed after recent tropical storms in Barataria Bay. The combination of Landsat NDWI trend mapping with high-resolution image segmentation of marshland edges and interior features indicates that different types of biophysical damage inflicted on coastal wetlands of southeastern Louisiana from tropical storms can be characterized using this combination of satellite and aerial remote sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The 2010 Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon was the largest oil spill in human history that occurred during a 12-week period in a region less than 100 km from the coast of Louisiana; however, after more than a decade of post-spill research, few definitives can be said to be known about the long-term impacts on the development and distribution of fishes in and around the region of the disaster. Here, we examine endemic Gulf of Mexico fish species that may have been most impacted by noting their past distributions in the region of the spill and examining data of known collecting events and observations over the last twenty years (ten years prior to the spill, ten years post-spill). Five years post-spill, it was reported that 48 of the Gulf's endemic fish species had not been collected and, with expanded methods, we now report that 29 (of the 78 endemic species) have not been reported in collections since 2010 (five of these are only known from observations post-spill). Although the good news that some previously 'missing' species have been found may be cause to celebrate, the lack of information for many species remains a cause for concern given focused sampling efforts post-spill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Deepwater Horizon disaster of April 2010 was the largest oil spill in U.S. history and exerted catastrophic effects on several ecologically important fish species in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Within fish, the microbiome plays a key symbiotic role in maintaining host health and aids in acquiring nutrients, supporting immune function, and modulating behavior. The aim of this study was to examine if exposure to weathered oil might produce significant shifts in fish gut-associated microbial communities as determined from taxa and genes known for hydrocarbon degradation, and whether foraging behavior was affected. The gut microbiome (16S rRNA and shotgun metagenomics) of sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) was characterized after fish were exposed to oil in High Energy Water Accommodated Fractions (HEWAF; tPAH = 81.1 ± 12.4 µg/L) for 7 days. A foraging behavioral assay was used to determine feeding efficiency before and after oil exposure. The fish gut microbiome was not significantly altered in alpha or beta diversity. None of the most abundant taxa produced any significant shifts as a result of oil exposure, with only rare taxa showing significant shifts in abundance between treatments. However, several bioindicator taxa known for hydrocarbon degradation were detected in the oil treatment, primarily Sphingomonas and Acinetobacter. Notably, the genus Stenotrophomonas was detected in high abundance in 16S data, which previously was not described as a core member of fish gut microbiomes. Data also demonstrated that behavior was not significantly affected by oil exposure. Potential low bioavailability of the oil may have been a factor in our observation of minor shifts in taxa and no behavioral effects. This study lays a foundation for understanding the microbiome of captive sheepshead minnows and indicates the need for further research to elucidate the responses of the fish gut-microbiome under oil spill conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a robust methodology for long-term offshore structural health monitoring (SHM) using the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The methodology relies on recently developed regional reference frames and single-receiver phase-ambiguity-fixed Precise Point Positioning techniques. The stable Gulf of Mexico Reference Frame 2020 (GOM20) provides a robust and consistent reference system for long-term offshore SHM in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Continuous GNSS observations (DEV1, 2010–2020) on a fixed platform in the Eugene Island 330 oil field are used to illustrate the methodology. The platform was installed in 1982 in 82-m water about 130 km away from the Mississippi Delta coastline. The major monitoring items include horizontal movements, seafloor subsidence, structure submergence, and seasonal oscillations. The stand-alone GNSS monitoring achieves 3- to 4-mm root-mean-square accuracy in the horizontal direction and 7 mm in the vertical direction for daily positions in the GOM region. According to this study, the GNSS antenna (DEV1) has moved 6 cm toward the northeast with respect to GOM20 since 2010; the ongoing structure submergence rate in the Eugene Island 330 oil field area is approximately 15 mm/year, a combination of seafloor subsidence (12 mm/year) and sea-level rise (2.6 mm/year) with respect to GOM20. The submergence in the future 40 years (2021–2060) would be greater than 0.6 m, likely between 0.8 and 1.0 m, but is unlikely to exceed 1.3 m. The peak-to-trough amplitudes of the seasonal movements at the top of the platform are below 5 mm in all three directions, comparable with the seasonal movements recorded by onshore GNSS in the Louisiana coastal region. The methodology introduced in this article can be applied to SHM in other offshore regions where stable regional reference frames are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The authors study the effect of increasing environmental awareness on shareholders' activism. Specificallly, this study aims to examine whether growing environmental awareness is reflected in more aggressive environmental shareholder proposals. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster as an exogenous event that increased shareholders' environmental awareness. This study analyzes the spill's effect on the tone of proposals about environmental issues and nonenvironmental topics. Findings: After the disaster, the tone of environmental proposals (i.e. the treatment group) is significantly more negative. In contrast, the tone of nonenvironmental proposals (i.e. the control group) is unaffected. This study interprets this finding as direct evidence that the oil spill led to increased shareholder environmental activism through proposals that targeted the environmental risks surrounding the business more aggressively. By contrast, this study finds no effect of the oil spill on the tone of managers' responses to the proposals, consistent with managers refraining from emphasizing environmental threats. Originality/value: Anecdotal evidence and recent studies suggest a link between environmental disasters and shareholder pressure for corporate change. However, no prior research has investigated the channel through which shareholders could have exerted such pressure or has looked for direct evidence of it in the negotiations between shareholders and managers. By finding such evidence in shareholder proposals, this study fills in this gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reef fishes have been utilized as food fish throughout the U.S. Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico waters for centuries, with increasing fishing effort in recent decades. As a result, many species have experienced declines in landings, including deepwater snappers such as queen snapper Etelis oculatus and blackfin snapper Lutjanus buccanella. However, little to no peer-reviewed published research exists on basic life history parameters for either species. Confirming the accuracy of an age estimation method for a fish species is essential for ensuring sustainable fisheries management. This is because in the assessment of fisheries species population age-based parameters, including longevity, age at sexual maturity, growth rate, mortality, age-specific reproductive output, and lifetime reproductive output, are important in understanding overall life history strategies of managed stocks. The past stock assessment on U.S. Caribbean queen snapper utilized an estimated longevity of 8 y, derived from length frequencies for fish from St. Lucia. Blackfin snapper has an estimated longevity of 27 y based on a relatively small study from offshore waters of the southeastern U.S. The focus of our investigation was to estimate maximum longevity of two data-poor species in the U.S. Caribbean. The accuracy of ageing methods was tested via bomb radiocarbon age estimation validation and effects of depth on Δ14C in otolith cores and eye lens core values were examined. Results from our work indicate a maximum validated age of 45 y for queen snapper, and 43 y for blackfin snapper. Our findings indicate queen snapper and blackfin snapper are long-lived (> 40 y). The resulting Δ14C comparison between eye lens cores and otolith cores has important implications for the study of age validation, specifically when deepwater species are involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analytical techniques for chemical analysis of oil, oil photochemical and biological transformation products, and dispersants and their biodegradation products benefited significantly from research following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster. Crude oil and weathered-oil matrix reference materials were developed based on the Macondo well oil and characterized for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, hopanes, and steranes for use to assure and improve the quality of analytical measurements in oil spill research. Advanced gas chromatography (GC) techniques such as comprehensive two-dimensional GC (GC × GC), pyrolysis GC with mass spectrometry (MS), and GC with tandem MS (GC-MS/MS) provide a greater understanding at the molecular level of composition and complexity of oil and weathering changes. The capabilities of high-resolution MS (HRMS) were utilized to extend the analytical characterization window beyond conventional GC-based methods to include polar and high molecular mass components (>400 Da) and to provide new opportunities for discovery, characterization, and investigation of photooxidation and biotransformation products. Novel separation approaches to reduce the complexity of the oil and weathered oil prior to high-resolution MS and advanced fluorescence spectrometry have increased the information available on spilled oil and transformation products. HRMS methods were developed to achieve the required precision and sensitivity for detection of dispersants and to provide molecular-level characterization of the complex surfactants. Overall, research funding following the DWH oil spill significantly advanced and expanded the use of analytical techniques for chemical analysis to support petroleum and dispersant characterization and investigations of fate and effects of not only the DWH oil spill but future spills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to analyse the impact of the armed conflict in Colombia on the environment, and in particular, terrorist attacks on the oil infrastructure and the phenomenon of oil spills in river basins in the department of Norte de Santander. The study covers the last decade, from 2010 to 2019, and is focused on one of the most violent departments in Colombia, through which the country's most important oil pipeline runs, connecting Caño Limón in Arauca and Coveñas in Sucre. Based on governmental and other reports, the papersituates these acts violence within within the wider dynamics ofarmed confllict. A model is also proposed pointing to the urgency of finding new variables and risk probability factors so that this threat to security in Colombia, currently as unpredictable as it is unresolved, may be effectively managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Deepwater Horizon disaster released 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Despite clear evidence of exposure and toxicity, there has been little evidence of population-level declines of most nearshore fish and invertebrate populations. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this paradox. Two possibilities include a fishing moratorium following the spill and reductions in predation pressure following predator die-offs. We tested both using mass-balance food web models to quantify direct and indirect population sensitivity to perturbations in fishing pressure and bird and dolphin mortality. In doing so, we developed a new method allowing us to quantify responses of one functional group to changes in fishing pressure across all fished groups. We inferred support for a compensatory mechanism, either release from fishing or predation, when populations modeled without any oil-induced mortality displayed large increases to negative perturbations in fishing or predation. We found the fishing moratorium to be the most likely potential mitigating mechanism, especially for penaeid shrimp, menhaden, and blue crabs. Dolphin mortality may explain the stability of small sciaenids. Increased seabird mortality did not lead to major changes in any functional group we examined. The consideration of indirect trophic pathways within the food web model produced a wide range of plausible population responses, especially responses to increases in predator mortality. Broadly, this work shows that oil spills are one driver of population dynamics within a broader socioecological system, and understanding oil spill impacts on populations requires consideration of this complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsurface nutrients on the Scotian Shelf, an ocean region at the convergence of the subpolar and subtropical western boundary currents (i.e., Labrador Current (LC) and Gulf Stream (GS)), are chiefly modulated by upstream shelf and slope waters. Yet little is known about long‐term fluctuations in the advective transport of nutrients to the shelf. Here, we synthesized nutrient and hydrographic data from 1975 to 2020 to characterize decadal changes in upper (60–150 m) and lower (150–200 m) subsurface nutrient availability across the shelf. Hydrographic and nutrient anomalies highlight a transition from a warm, saline, high‐nutrient GS‐dominated system in the 1980 to colder, fresher, lower‐nutrient LC‐dominated conditions in the late 1980 and early 1990. In the mid‐1990, an increase in excess silicate and phosphate (relative to nitrate) marks a shift in the LC contribution toward a strengthening of the inner shelf component relative to the outer shelf‐edge branch. Since 2010, rapid increases in subsurface temperature and salinity indicate the transition back to a GS‐dominated system, albeit with a distinct decline in dissolved nutrients relative to the previous warm period, which diverges from the nutrient increase generally associated with GS water. Declines in lower subsurface nutrient concentrations since 2010 are likely driven by a density‐related shift in the GS source water toward a less dense, lower‐nutrient GS contribution. This shift is evidenced by a decrease in excess phosphate amidst minor declines in excess silicate, reflecting the characteristic density‐related patterns of excess nutrients in GS waters. Plain Language Summary: The Northwest Atlantic continental shelf is a highly productive region, sustaining large ecologically and commercially important fisheries from the Grand Banks across the Scotian Shelf into the Gulf of Maine. This high productivity depends on the supply of bioavailable nutrients, which are essential components feeding phytoplankton growth and ecosystem productivity. On the Scotian Shelf, surface productivity is thought to be fueled by the vertical supply of nutrient‐rich subsurface water, deriving from upstream coastal waters, and the onshore transport of deeper slope waters. In this study, we used hydrographic and nutrient data from 1975 to 2020 to investigate long‐term trends in nutrient availability on the shelf. We show that over the past 45 years, subsurface properties have shifted from warm, salty, nutrient‐rich waters at the beginning of the time series to colder, fresher, lower‐nutrient conditions in the 1990/early 2000, and back to warm, salty, yet nutrient‐poor conditions after 2010 due to changes in the dominant source water advected onto the shelf. The significant decline in nutrients since 2010 suggests a shift to a less dense, lower‐nutrient source from the Gulf Stream compared to the previous warm period. Key Points: Subsurface nutrients on the shelf are modulated by advection of upstream coastal water, and offshore Gulf Stream and Labrador Slope WaterNutrient properties indicate a shift in Labrador Current contributions, with a strengthening of the inner versus outer branch in 1995–2010Enhanced contributions from lower‐density Gulf Stream water drive a warming and decrease in subsurface nutrient concentrations since 2010 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental load factor in commonly used offshore platforms design code, API RP-2A (American Petroleum Institute - Recommended Practice 2A), is developed based on the environmental conditions of American waters, especially the Gulf of Mexico, which have relatively extreme environmental conditions when compared to Indonesian waters. Case studies were conducted to determine environmental load factors in Indonesian waters, particularly the North Java Sea and Makassar Strait, categorized as shallow seas. This analysis was carried out on the performance criteria of pushover failure. In this study, the base shear was analyzed to describe the strength of the structure in the form of a collapse base shear (CBS) and the load in the form of a wave base shear (WBS). CBS was obtained through pushover analysis with yield strength randomness. WBS was obtained through in-place analysis with wave height randomness. This concept was applied to the structure of the Monopod and Braced Monopod types of offshore platforms located in the North of Java Sea and Makassar Strait waters which had been optimized for the WSD and LRFD design methods. The reliability of the structure was analyzed based on the CBS and WBS values using the First Order Reliability Method (FORM) II. The reliability analysis results were in the form of a reliability index (ß). North Java Sea gives a reliability index in the range from 3.58 to 4.38 for every design criteria. While Makassar Strait gives a reliability index in the range from 3.17 to 3.54 for every design criteria. With a high target safety level for the North Java Sea location, a 1.10 environmental load factor is recommended for further offshore structure design. But, for the Makassar Strait location, more studies need to be done to get better environmental load factor recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic-based drilling muds (SBMs) are complex mixtures of man-made fluids used during the drilling of oil and gas wells. SBM-derived chemicals can enter the environment through failed wells and routine or poor disposal practices, where they can persist and thereby warrant measurement. SBMs are commonly formulated with linear and methyl branched α- and internal-olefins mostly in the C14 to C20 carbon range, which are not native to crude oils. Thus, SBM-derived olefins can provide a basis to recognize the impact of these drilling wastes in the environment. However, the presence of abundant native hydrocarbons in oils and sediments can hinder the detection of trace level SBM-derived olefins by conventional organic sample preparation and analytical methods. Silver ion chromatography using silver nitrate (AgNO3) impregnated silica gel can serve to physically separate olefins from saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons native in crude oils, which can subsequently be analyzed and measured by conventional one-dimensional gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). In this study, SBM-derived olefins are measured in crude oils from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and in their laboratory mixtures to a detection limit of approximately 5000 µg/g (0.5 wt%). In oiled sediment, SBM-derived olefins were reliably detected at concentrations as low as 1 µg/g-dry. An application of this method is demonstrated through analysis of crude oils and oil-contaminated seafloor sediment from the Taylor Energy oil spill site in the northern Gulf of Mexico where SBM was historically used and discharged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article profiles three individuals who have found success in various roles within the Sea Grant program. Louis Heyward, Kayj Morrill-McClure, and Monica Wilson each share their unique career paths and the importance of networking and continuous learning. The article also offers advice to new graduates, encouraging them to explore different fields and make personal connections to increase their chances of finding employment. The author shares their own experience of the value of personal connections in securing a job. [Extracted from the article]

This document is an editorial from the Journal of Marine Science & Engineering, discussing the importance of novel oil-water separation technologies in marine environmental science. The editorial highlights the urgent need for efficient oil-water separation techniques to mitigate the devastating effects of oil spills on marine life and habitats. It also emphasizes the significance of these technologies in preserving marine biodiversity and maintaining the health of our oceans. The editorial introduces a special issue dedicated to showcasing the latest advancements and research breakthroughs in oil-water separation technologies within marine environments. It provides a brief overview of five published articles in the special issue, each focusing on different aspects of oil-water separation technology. The articles explore topics such as electric-field-enhanced oil-water separation, vortex finder depth in mini-hydrocyclones, efficiency enhancement of mini hydrocyclones, demulsification of water-in-oil emulsions, and pre-treatment core tubes for treating produced water in heavy oilfields. The editorial concludes by emphasizing the collective contribution of these articles towards sustainable marine resource management and the importance of technological advancements in addressing the challenges posed by oil spills and pollution in marine ecosystems. [Extracted from the article]

Environmental perturbations shape the structure and function of microbial communities. Oil spills are a major perturbation and resolving spills often requires active measures like dispersant application that can exacerbate the initial disturbance. Species-specific responses of microorganisms to oil and dispersant exposure during such perturbations remain largely unknown. We merged metatranscriptomic libraries with pangenomes to generate Core-Accessory Metatranscriptomes (CA-Metatranscriptomes) for two microbial hydrocarbon degraders that played important roles in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Colwellia CA-Metatranscriptome illustrated pronounced dispersant-driven acceleration of core (~41%) and accessory gene (~59%) transcription, suggesting an opportunistic strategy. Marinobacter responded to oil exposure by expressing mainly accessory genes (~93%), suggesting an effective hydrocarbon-degrading lifestyle. The CA-Metatranscriptome approach offers a robust way to identify the underlying mechanisms of key microbial functions and highlights differences of specialist-vs-opportunistic responses to environmental disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]