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Study of the long-term impact of the Braer oil spill on the benthic fauna of the Shetlands - AE0219
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Description
R&D
Summary objective:-
Determine the impact of the beneficial spill on the benthic
fauna of the Shetlands 18 months after the accident, by
relating spatial trends in the benthic community structure
to oil concentrations in the sediment.
Key customer purpose:-
Through improved understanding of the response of biota to,
and recovery from an oil spill enhance SOAFD's and MAFF's
ability to predict the environmental consequences of oil
spills. |
Objective
To assess the impact by determining spatial trends in faunal
community trends in relation to trends in sediment oil
concentrations and to attempt to explain the relative lack
of impact detected after the first survey. Specific
objectives include:
a) determination of the physical nature of the sediments in
the study area in relation to water depth and oil
contamination.
b) Identification and enumeration of the benthic fauna from
sample stations along transects through the contaminated
area.
c) Determination of benthic community structure by
univariate and multivariate analysis of species abundance
distributions over the transects.
d) Determination of recruitment success in key species
within the study area.
e) Determination of spatial trends in standing crop biomass
of the benthic in faunna.
f) Production of final report. |
Time-Scale and Cost
From:
1994
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To:
1995
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Cost: £58,180 |
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Contractor / Funded Organisations
Environmental Research Technology Ltd |
Keywords
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Fields of Study
Environmental Protection - Marine |