Integrated assessment of oil spill impact and recovery on Brazilian coastal habitats

Integrated assessment of oil spill impact and recovery on Brazilian coastal habitats Coastal habitats of the tropics and subtropics are critical to supporting subsistence and artisanal fisheries, and serve as breeding and nursery areas for many deeper-water species. But coastal ecosystems face growing threats from increasing population size, land-use changes, and industrial development . The risk of oil spills on the Brazilian coast increases with growing production and greater amounts of petroleum products being transported. Careful environmental management is crucial to maintain economic development while safeguarding valuable coastal resources. Here we propose to merge the Norwegian experience in developing strong environmental protection policies for the petroleum industry with the local expertise of Brazilian scientists to address this issue. Akvaplan-niva (Tromsø, Norway) and the Federal University of Parana (Brazil) have investigated the biological effects of an oil spill at multiple levels of biological organization levels in tropical coastal habitats over multiple time scales, and identified the modifications needed to adapt risk-assessment strategies developed in temperate areas for use in tropical areas. We have performed both field and laboratory experiments on marine tropical species in Brazilian coastal waters, quantified the community structural and functional changes associated with an oil spill, and measured selected sub-lethal effect parameters on individual species. The Norwegian research team has worked extensively on these issues in temperate and arctic areas of Norway, and the Brazilian scientists have pioneered the use of experimental approaches to oil-spill impacts in Brazil. The involvement of a PhD student and teaching exchanges have facilitated two-way transfer of expertise. By combining ecological, physiological, and biochemical approaches, we have provided crucial data on ecosystem response to oil spills in the valuable and relevant Brazilian coastal zone.

Coastal habitats of the tropics and subtropics are critical to supporting subsistence and artisanal fisheries, and serve as breeding and nursery areas for many deeper-water species. But coastal ecosystems face growing threats from increasing population si ze, land-use changes, and industrial development . The risk of oil spills on the Brazilian coast increases with growing production and greater amounts of petroleum products being transported. Careful environmental management is crucial to maintain economi c development while safeguarding valuable coastal resources. Here we propose to merge the Norwegian experience in developing strong environmental protection policies for the petroleum industry with the local expertise of Brazilian scientists to address th is issue. We will investigate the biological effects of an oil spill at multiple levels of biological organization levels in tropical coastal habitats over multiple time scales, and identify the modifications needed to adapt risk-assessment strategies de veloped in temperate areas for use in tropical areas. We will perform both field and laboratory experiments on marine tropical species in Brazilian coastal waters, quantify the community structural and functional changes associated with an oil spill, and measure selected sub-lethal effect parameters on individual species. The Norwegian research team has worked extensively on these issues in temperate and arctic areas of Norway, and the Brazilian scientists have pioneered the use of experimental approaches to oil-spill impacts in Brazil. The involvement of a PhD student and teaching exchanges will facilitate two-way transfer of expertise. By combining ecological, physiological, and biochemical approaches, we will provide crucial data on ecosystem response to oil spills in the valuable and relevant Brazilian coastal zone.