HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
Copyright Statement
All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.
Defense Date
1995
Document Type
Thesis - NSU Access Only
Department
Oceanographic Center
First Advisor
Bart J. Baca
Second Advisor
Charles Andrew Cole
Third Advisor
Richard E. Dodge
Abstract
On the morning of June 19, 1991, approximately 3, 790 L (1,000 gallons) of heavy fuel oil were spilled into the waters of Port Everglades, Florida. The oil impacted one of several mitigation sites located in John U. Lloyd State Park (JUL). These sites were planted with Rhizophora mangle and Spartina alterniflora prior to the spill. Laguncularia racemosa and Avicennia germinans had also established themselves through natural recruitment. After the spill, these seedlings were coated with oil in varying amounts depending upon their location relative to the intervening oil slick and their elevation within the intertidal zone. To assess the impacts of the oil on the mitigation site, measurements were taken on the three species of mangroves. These measurements included: survival, growth rate, development of leaves, foliation, branches, and roots. Results indicated that L. Racemosa seedlings were less tolerant to oil contamination than A. germinans and R. mangle seedlings. In addition, there were some cases where growth stimulations were found in the exposed seedlings. The results from this investigation may aid in the selection of appropriate mangrove species that are to be utilized for wetland restoration sites located near ports, terminals, or refineries which are at high risk for oil pollution.
ORCID ID
D-1699-2012
NSUWorks Citation
Brant W. Touchette. 1995. Sublethal Impacts of an Oil Spill on Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia germinans, and Laguncularia racemosa seedlings.. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Oceanographic Center. (341)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/341.