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Why Spring ?. It is the first important biological event after shipwreck Bloom of phytoplankton in the area Spawning of many species of fishes and shellfish of commercial interest Effects on plankton ---- effects on food web. Source of Data.
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Why Spring ? • It is the first important biological event after shipwreck • Bloom of phytoplankton in the area • Spawning of many species of fishes and shellfish of commercial interest • Effects on plankton ---- effects on food web
Source of Data • Instituto Español de Oceanografia Core Project: Studies on Times Series of Oceanographic Data • Starting in 1988 in A Coruna • Several localities of study in the N-NW Coast of Spain • Pelacus Cruises • Cover the area from Portugal to France • OmexII Satellite Data • For the area in front of Rias Bajas • Satellite chlorophyll IEO • Gijon Radial
Area of study WBB NG EBB SG
Have effects on phytoplankton been observed after the Prestige oil spill during spring? • Effects on biomass (chlorophyll-a) • Effects on physiology (primary production) • Effects of taxonomic groups • Effects on main phytoplankton species
Effects on biomass during Pelacus Cruises Bf: 1999-2002 Af: 2003
Final Remarks No effects on phytoplankton at several levels Differences are the result of natural variabiliy of ecosystem
Low solubility of Prestige fuel Low concetrations in water Low concentations in plankton Low aromatic content High density--sinking Pristane/Phytane ratio no Prestige
Plankton mechanisms remove oil from surface waters Zooplankton: grazing on oil particles Fecal pellets sinking to bottom Diatoms: adsorption on silica wall eventual sinking to bottom Detritus and clay particles: adsorption Aggregates and eventual sinking
CONCLUSIONS • No effects have been observed on phytoplankton during spring blooms for biomass, production and community structure • We can not ascertain whether or not oil has affected phytoplankton • Large variability caused by meso and large-scale processes masks any effect • Effects reduced or short-lived. No effect on spring bloom
Acknowledgements • Technical assistance • Teodoro Patrocinio Ibarrola • Jorge Lorenzo Salamanca • Leticia Viesca Lombardia • Crew of R/V • IEO (Lura, Rioja, Navaz) • IFREMER (Thalassa) • Projects • CICYT Aes: Reconocimiento Oceanografico en la época de floración primaveral en Galicia y Cantábrico • IEO: Studies on Time Series of Oceanographic Data • EU: Pelasses and Sardyn