Title

An analysis of the status of the Oplophorid shrimp assemblage in the vicinity of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill between 2011 and 2017

Location

Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center Facility

Start

1-31-2018 1:45 PM

End

1-31-2018 2:00 PM

Type of Presentation

Oral Presentation

Abstract

The family Oplophoridae is one the most abundant and diverse groups of pelagic decapod shrimps in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), and plays an important role in the pelagic food web. There are 24 species of oplophorid shrimp found in the GOM, and the data presented here will focus on those species that contribute >70% to the overall oplophorid assemblage, as well as one dominant pandalid specie. Presented here are results of analyses from samples collected around the vicinity of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (DWHOS), in 2011, one year after the spill and 2015-2017, five to seven years after the spill. There are no data available on the oplophorid assemblage in this region before the oil spill; therefore, to determine if significant changes were present in the assemblage structure, biomass and abundance of oplophorids, these parameters were compared between the 2011 samples and the 2015-2017 samples. Significant changes in these parameters may be indicative of a notable impact of the DWHOS. To eliminate seasonality as a confounding factor on assemblage structure, data from spring vs. fall samples were analyzed separately, and will also be discussed here. The information obtained from this study will act as a baseline against which to monitor changes in the assemblage of oplophorid shrimp.

Key words: Oplophoridae, pelagic decapod shrmips, seasonality

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COinS
 
Jan 31st, 1:45 PM Jan 31st, 2:00 PM

An analysis of the status of the Oplophorid shrimp assemblage in the vicinity of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill between 2011 and 2017

Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center Facility

The family Oplophoridae is one the most abundant and diverse groups of pelagic decapod shrimps in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), and plays an important role in the pelagic food web. There are 24 species of oplophorid shrimp found in the GOM, and the data presented here will focus on those species that contribute >70% to the overall oplophorid assemblage, as well as one dominant pandalid specie. Presented here are results of analyses from samples collected around the vicinity of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (DWHOS), in 2011, one year after the spill and 2015-2017, five to seven years after the spill. There are no data available on the oplophorid assemblage in this region before the oil spill; therefore, to determine if significant changes were present in the assemblage structure, biomass and abundance of oplophorids, these parameters were compared between the 2011 samples and the 2015-2017 samples. Significant changes in these parameters may be indicative of a notable impact of the DWHOS. To eliminate seasonality as a confounding factor on assemblage structure, data from spring vs. fall samples were analyzed separately, and will also be discussed here. The information obtained from this study will act as a baseline against which to monitor changes in the assemblage of oplophorid shrimp.

Key words: Oplophoridae, pelagic decapod shrmips, seasonality