Author Archives: Stephanie Ellis

Lesson Plan (Ages 4-14): The Great Plankton Race

Plankton are a very important part of the food chain in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico drift through the ocean carried by currents. Although plankton can’t control their movements against the current, they are able to maintain neutral buoyancy by increasing their surface area-to-volume ratio as well as by producing and releasing lipids (fats). In this activity, students use a variety of materials to construct various models of plankton to gain an understanding of neutral buoyancy.

The lesson plan includes a materials list, background educational information, instructions, and a link to a video demonstration of the activity.

The Great Plankton Race: A Hands-On Activity for Children Ages 4-14 (PDF)

Videos: The University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) Features RECOVER Research

The UTMSI released a series of four videos discussing research conducted by scientists with the Relationships of Effects of Cardiac Outcomes in fish for Validation of Ecological Risk (RECOVER) consortium.

Part 1: Port Aransas and Oil

RECOVER scientist Andrew Esbaugh explains why the area surrounding Corpus Christi and Port Aransas, TX, is ideal to study the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Part 2: Gone Fishing – Catching Red Drum for Science

See how scientists catch wild red drum to breed in captivity to answer questions about the way that oil impacts their offspring’s biology and social interactions.

Part 3: Fish Tattoos

Ph.D student Alexis Khursigara is looking at the effects of oil exposure on red drum and if it impacts how fish interact with one another.

Part 4: Fish Treadmills

Researcher Dr. Jacob Johansen is using “fish treadmills” to determine how oil exposure can effect the swim performance of red drum.

Videos: Oil Degradation and Fingerprinting in the Beach Environment

Biodegradation? Chromatography? While scientists toss these terms around with no problem, they can sound like a foreign language to others.

The Deep-C consortium partnered with CPALMS, an online toolbox providing free instructional resources for educators, to create a series of videos related to Deepwater Horizon research and the Gulf Oil Observers (GOO) project.

High School Students Work Alongside Woods Hole Experts

Watch how these high school students work alongside Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution experts conducting oil spill science. A CPALMS perspective Video by Catherine Carmichael.

Don’t cry over spilled oil. Take action instead!

Learn how scientists are studying what happens to spilled oil and over time how it affects the environment. A CPALMS perspective video by Catherine Carmichael.

How Crude Oil is Formed and How it Behaves in the Environment

Chris Reddy, an oil scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and research for DEEP-C, explains how crude oil is formed and how it behaves in the environment. A CPALMS perspective Video by Chris Reddy.

Using Oil Fingerprints to Explain the Origins of Spilled Oil

Humans aren’t the only ones who get their fingerprints taken. Learn how this scientist is like a crime scene investigator using oil fingerprints to explain the origins of spilled oil. A CPALMS perspective Video by Chris Reddy.

High School Teacher Holds Class on the Beach

What could be better than having class on the beach and conducting actual research to boot? See how Shawn Walker, a marine science teacher at West Florida High School, transforms his students into scientists. A CPALMS perspective Video.

Sea Grant Publication Explores Connections and Differences Between HABs and Oil Spills

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The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team released a publication that discusses the concerns that people had about harmful algae blooms (HABS) being triggered by residual oil from the Deepwater Horizon incident. HABs have occurred after oil spills in the past, but the relationship between the two is not always clear.

Read Oil Spills and Harmful Algal Blooms: Disasters with Shared Consequences for Communities to learn about the formation of HABS and the similarities and differences between HABS and oil spills, including environmental factors, duration and persistence, tools for tracking and forecasting their movement, response agencies, and community impacts (seafood and public health safety, economic toll on fisheries, tourism, and recreational activities). Also discussed are potential ways that the frequency of HABS might potentially increase due to sea level rise, increased rainfall, and rising ocean temperatures.

Check out these Sea Grant publications that also discuss the relationships among disasters and oil spills: Storms and Spills and Fisheries Landings and Disasters in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States.

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Fact Sheets: ACER Word Wednesdays Series

ACERLogo

The Alabama Center for Ecological Resilience (ACER) blog hosted a series of posts discussing the meaning behind various terms and concepts that are important to ACER research.

Diversity and Resilience

Ecosystem Services

Disturbance and Perturbation

Bacteria and Prokaryotes

Denitrification

Microplankton

Benthic Macrofauna

Food Webs

Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil and Chemical Dispersants

Genetic Diversity

Bioturbation

Primary Productivity

Top Down or Bottom Up?

Functional Diversity

Videos: Deepsea Research Technology

LBL Beacon Recovery Release

Middle School Student Anja Diercks learns about acoustic release operation to recover a Long Base Line (LBL) acoustic beacon after a successful AUV dive. These LBL beacons are necessary in aiding the Inertial Navigation System of the AUV while on survey on the ocean floor, sometimes at depths of 1600 m or more.

LBL Beacon Recovery

Middle School Student Anja Diercks helps recover the acoustic LBL (Long Base Line) beacon she had released from the ocean floor using an acoustic telemetry system minutes before. The Gulf of Mexico had a surprise for her too.

Fiberoptic Multicorer

Watch this successful collection of deep sea sediment cores during 7+ foot waves on a recent research cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. The Science team from National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology and Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute deployed a deep sea multicoring device in 1200 meters of water depth, attached to a fiberoptic winch cable. On the coring rig, they mounted several cameras and light sources. This spectacular mission was accomplished aboard the RV Pelican, during a recent research conducted for ECOGIG.

Credits: Diercks, A.; National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology (NIUST), Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute (MMRI) Ecosystem Impacts of Oil & Gas Inputs to the Gulf (ECOGIG) and Gulf of Mexico Research Institute (GOMRI).

Fact Sheets: Deep-C Science and Outreach Fact Sheets

The Deep Sea to Coast Connectivity in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico (Deep-C) Consortium released a series of publicly available and easy-to-read fact sheets detailing their scientific research and outreach initiatives:

Science: Deepwater Corals

What are corals? Where and how do they live? What are the threats to Gulf corals? Click here to download.

Science: The SailBuoy Project

Experimenting with a new marine device used for scientific observations in the Gulf of Mexico. Click here to download.

Science: Deepwater Sharks

Information about the bluntnose sixgill shark, one of the most common species in the Gulf. Click here to download.

Science: Tiny Drifters – Plankton

What are plankton? Why are plankton important? How did the oil spill affect Gulf plankton? Click here to download.

Science: Oil-Eating Plankton

Naturally occurring microbes in the ocean feed on the hydrocarbons in oil. Click here to download.

Science: Oil Fingerprinting & Degradation

What is oil? How does oil “weathering” occur? And what can oil samples tell us? Click here to download.

Outreach: Gulf Oil Observers

Deep-C’s citizen scientist initiative connecting high school students to ongoing oil spill research. Click here to download.

Outreach: Scientists in the Schools

Interactive visits to middle school classrooms by Deep-C scientists and educators. Click here to download.

Outreach: 2015 Annual ROV Training & Competition

Students from middle and high schools vying for ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) domination. Click here to download.

Videos: Gary Finch Highlights ECOGIG Research

Gary Finch Outdoors produced a series of videos highlighting various aspects of the Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf (ECOGIG) program, its science, and the important partnerships necessary to make ECOGIG successful. Many of these videos were used by local PBS affiliates in Gulf coast states and were available through the ECOGIG website and YouTube. All videos listed below were developed and produced by Finch Productions, LLC.

What Does ECOGIG Do? (PBS Part 1) (2:20)

Scientists aboard the research vessels R/V Endeavor and E/V Nautilus briefly describe the nature of ECOGIG research.

Collaboration Between Nautilus and Endeavor Tour (PBS Part 2) (2:06)

ECOGIG scientists discuss the research they are conducting on a recent cruise aboard the R/V Nautilus and E/V Endeavor.

ECOGIG R/V Atlantis/ALVIN Cruise: March 30-April 23, 2014 (2:00)

Researchers describe the crucial importance of ALVIN dives in assessing the ecosystem impacts of the Deepwater Horizon explosion.

Deep Sea Life: Corals, Fish, and Invertebrates (4:30)

Dr. Chuck Fisher describes his research examining the fascinating and long-lived deep sea corals impacted by effects of the Deepwater Horizon explosion.

The Eagle Ray Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) News Piece (5:12)

ECOGIG scientists use the Eagle Ray AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle) to map the seafloor and get visuals so they can better target their sample collecting for study. The National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology (NIUST) provides the submersible.

(Full Length)

(Shortened News Piece)

Food Webs in the Gulf of Mexico (4:30)

ECOGIG scientists Jeff Chanton and Ian MacDonald, both of Florida State University, explain their complementary work exploring the possibility that hydrocarbons from oil have moved into the Gulf food web. Chanton, a chemical oceanographer, tells of a small but statistically significant rise in fossil carbon, a petrochemical byproduct of oil, showing up in marine organisms sampled from Louisiana to Florida. In addition to the hypothesis that Deepwater Horizon oil might be the culprit, biological oceanographer MacDonald discusses other factors that could also be at play, including coastal marsh erosion, natural oil seeps, and chronic oil industry pollution. This is a Finch Productions, LLC video. For more information, visit ECOGIG.ORG. https://ecogig.org/

Landers Technology Development (4:30)

Most of the area around the Deepwater Horizon spill ranges from 900 – 2000 meters below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico. ECOGIG scientists Dr. Chris Martens and Dr. Geoff Wheat talk about Landers, a new technology developed at the University of Mississippi that allows scientists to study the ocean floor at great depths. Landers are platforms custom-equipped with research instruments that can be dropped to the exact site scientists want to study and left for weeks, months, or even years to collect ongoing data.

Marine Snow (4:30)

Dr. Uta Passow describes research she and her colleagues Dr. Arne Dierks and Dr. Vernon Asper conduct on Marine Snow in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil released in 2010 from the Deepwater Horizon explosion floated upwards. Some of this oil then sank towards the seafloor as part of marine snow. When marine snow sinks, it transports microscopic algae and other particles from the sunlit surface ocean to the dark deep ocean, where animals rely on marine snow for food.

Natural Seeps – Geology of the Gulf (4:30)

ECOGIG Scientists Dr. Joe Montoya, Dr. Andreas Teske, Dr. Samantha Joye, and Dr. Ian McDonald describe their collaborative research approach while preparing for the Spring 2014 cruise aboard the R/V Atlantis with research sub ALVIN. Long-term sampling and monitoring of natural oil seeps in the Gulf of Mexico, a global hot spot for these seeps, is crucial for understanding the impacts of oil and gas from explosions like Deepwater Horizon.

Remote Sensing & Modeling (4:30)

ECOGIG scientists Dr. Ian MacDonald and Dr. Ajit Subramaniam describe their work monitoring the health of the Gulf of Mexico via remote sensing. Using images from satellites and small aircraft flown by volunteers, MacDonald looks for signs of surface oil, which could be the result of a natural seep, anthropogenic seeps (chronic oil leaks from ongoing drilling operations), or a larger spill like Deepwater Horizon. Subramaniam uses the changes in light in these images to help him understand what is happening below the sea surface, with particular focus on the health of phytoplankton populations that make up the base of the marine food web. This is a Finch Productions, LLC video with additional footage provided by Wings of Care, a nonprofit that assists with volunteer filming operations.

ROVs in STEM Education News Piece (4:30)

ECOGIG’s Dr. Chuck Fisher describes the use of ROVs in researching deep -sea corals in the Gulf of Mexico, and Ocean Exploration Trust’s Dr. Bob Ballard explains the powerful impacts of ROVs in STEM education, as shown during a recent visit onboard the EV Nautilus by members of the Girls and Boys Club of the Gulf region.

(Full Length)

(Shortened News Piece)

Lesson Plan (Grades 6-8): Deep-Sea Science Middle School Teaching Modules

The Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf (ECOGIG) consortium worked with the Georgia Institute of Technology Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC) to develop and test three middle school teaching modules.

The modules developed are:
– (7th Grade) Life Science – Data Visualization: “Under the Sea” Deep Sea Ecosystems Challenge
– (7th Grade) Life Science – Experimental Design: “Oil Spill Drill” Oil Spill Challenge
– (8th Grade) Physical Science – Experimental Design: “Ocean Blizzard” Marine Snow Challenge

The modules are available upon request from the CEISMC website: https://ampitup.gatech.edu/curricula/ms/science.

Videos: “What’s That?” Series

ECOGIG LOGO

This series of videos entitled “What’s That?” to explain the oceanography techniques that researchers use to collect data in the Gulf of Mexico.

Videos in the series may be viewed in any order and include the videos below:

Lamont Oceanographic Biochemical Observer (LOBO)

Nitrogen and Carbon Fixation Methods

Phosphorus and Nitrogen Filtration Methods

Sampling the Water Column

Sediment Trap Deployment

Safety First!

Lesson Plan (6-12): The BP Oil Spill and Its Aftermath – Exploring Through Art

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“The BP Oil Spill and Its Aftermath – Exploring Through Art” is a middle and high school level lesson plan that utilizes art to explore oil spill science. During the lesson, students will engage in discussions about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, reflect on and create art related to the spill, and explore ongoing research into the spill’s effect.

The lesson plan was developed by Florida science teacher Alisha Stahl based on her experiences with the DEEPEND Teacher-At-Sea program. The program invites teachers who have completed the consortium’s Gulf of Mexico Exploration Teacher Workshop to join scientists aboard a several-day research cruise. Teachers recorded their at-sea experiences on the DEEPEND Blog and created curricula based on the onboard activities to share with the DEEPEND Education community.

A free downloadable version of the “BP Oil Spill and Its Aftermath – Exploring Through Art” lesson plan can be found HERE. The PowerPoint mentioned in Part 2 of the lesson can be found HERE.

Lesson Plan (Grades 9-12): Go with the Flow – Designing Ocean Drifters

This fun and creative lesson plan teaches students how researchers use oceanographic instruments called drifters to study ocean currents and then has them design and build a drifter of their own. The lesson typically spans five class periods (three for building, one for presentation, and one for testing). The lesson plan includes background information, a complete materials list, and a grading rubric.

“Go with the Flow: Designing Ocean Drifters” originally appeared in the Deep-C Multidisciplinary High School Curriculum and has been updated with the design process used to create the CARTHE Drifter.

A free downloadable copy of Go with the Flow: Designing Ocean Drifters is available here.

Visit the CARTHE website to learn more about their research.

Lesson Plan (Grades 6-12): Bay Drift – Tracking Ocean Pollution

This lesson plan teaches middle and high school students how ocean currents transport debris, spilled oil, and other pollutants through the ocean environment.

The lesson uses real data collected during the Biscayne Bay Drift Card Study (Bay Drift), a citizen science study that used Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE) GPS drifters and small wooden drift cards to observe local currents and pollutant transport.

Bay Drift: Tracking Ocean Pollution” can be completed in a single class period and provides teachers with background information on ocean pollution transport as well as step-by-step instructions for introducing students to the study. Students will learn how to: (1) analyze drifter data; (2) describe, compare, and contrast both types of drifters used in the study; and (3) use local currents to predict where drifters and pollutants will go. A Story Map of the Bay Drift study was developed to compliment the lesson: https://arcg.is/1e0T40.

A free downloadable copy of “Bay Drift: Tracking Ocean Pollution” is available here.

Visit the dedicated Bay Drift page on the CARTHE website to learn more about the study behind the lesson.

Sea Grant Publication Offers Tips for Effective Academic Engagement with Spill Response Community

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The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team released a tip sheet that discusses how academic researchers can become more familiar with priority oil spill research needs and with protocols for collecting data during response activities.

Using feedback from academic, industry, and response representatives, the publication offers specific recommendations for actions that academic researchers can take prior to a spill event so that they can better meet the response community’s needs as a spill unfolds.  

Read What to Expect in Response to An Oil Spill: A Tip Sheet for Academic Researchers to learn more about recommendations for developing an oil spill research plan and about the organization of  response efforts as outlined in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 .

Check out these Sea Grant publications for more information about oil spill response:

Read these articles to learn how scientific teams responded to oil and gas events:

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States.

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

By Stephanie Ellis. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Lesson Plan & Activity (K-12): Oil Spill Cleanup Challenge

The Oil Spill Cleanup Challenge lesson plan and activity are designed to get students thinking about oil in the ocean, especially the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster and the challenge of oil spill response. The activity is appropriate for a wide range of ages and uses a water-filled tray to represent the Gulf of Mexico and a set of easy-to-find materials that students can use to “respond” to the spill.

Note: Several versions of this activity are available online. The activity presented by the Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf (ECOGIG) consortium is adapted from a version developed by Cynthia Cudaback and was implemented by ECOGIG outreach staff during 2016-2018 summer camps and classroom visits.

Click here to download a free PDF of the Oil Spill Cleanup Challenge Activity Guide!

Classroom Activity: Deep-Sea Creatures Coloring Sheets

Six coloring sheets depict some of the diverse sea creatures that researchers encountered during research cruises.

These coloring sheets were developed in partnership with Whale Times, Inc. for a series of summer camps based on Deep-Pelagic Nekton Dynamics (DEEPEND) consortium research called Creep into the DEEPEND.

See below for free, printable PDFs!

Anglerfish Coloring Sheet

Benthic Octopus Coloring Sheet

Deep Red Medusa Coloring Sheet

Deep-Sea Squid Coloring Sheet

Glass Squid Coloring Sheet

Siphonophore Coloring Sheet

Videos: Squirt the Squid Teaches Kids about Deep-Sea Creatures

There are hundreds of deep-pelagic fish species in the Gulf of Mexico, and we are continuously learning about their diversity and behaviors. These short videos, hosted by kid’s science mascot Squirt the Squid, feature research into the diverse and fascinating deep-sea creatures inhabiting the Gulf of Mexico.

Video 1: Cephalopods

Join Squirt as he discusses different cephalopod species in the Gulf of Mexico.

Video 2: Counter-Illumination

Squirt teaches kids about counter-illumination, a natural camouflage strategy in which marine animals produce light that matches the brightness and wavelength of their surroundings, helping them to avoid predators.

Video 3: Dragonfish

Squirt teaches kids about dragonfish, a type of small bioluminescent deep-sea predator that lives in the Gulf of Mexico.

State Events to Showcase a Decade of Discovery with the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative

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Image courtesy of Tara Skelton, Oil Spill Science Outreach Team Communicator at the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium.

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team is pleased to announce and extend an invitation to attend Gulf Coast state events that will highlight GoMRI contributions to research, recovery, and resilience from a state-based perspective. Each event features scientists affiliated with their respective state who are involved with GoMRI research as well as members of the GoMRI Research Board and administration.

Established in response to the Deepwater Horizon incident, GoMRI has led an independent, 10-year, $500 million research program focused on the Gulf of Mexico, which has traditionally been underfunded, to study the effect of oil spills on the environment and public health. As the GoMRI program nears its conclusion, focus has turned to its legacy and the application of knowledge accrued to the long-term environmental health of the Gulf of Mexico.

Please join us as the Sea Grant oil spill outreach team hosts these state events, which can be viewed on Zoom or via Facebook Live. More details are provided below and also available at https://gulfseagrant.org/celebrating-gomri-around-the-gulf/.

Save the Date! Texas – September 25, Florida – October 16, Alabama – October 23, Mississippi – October 29, Louisiana – November 10.

GoMRI and Texas: Celebration of a 10-year partnership
September 25, 10 am-12:30 pm CDT/11-1:30 EDT
Register here to watch on Zoom or via Facebook Live.
Questions? Please contact Dani Bailey with Texas Sea Grant at danielle.bailey@exchange.tamu.edu or 361.825.6215.

Speakers and panelists
Rita Colwell, Chair of the GoMRI Research Board
Laura Bowie, Executive Director, Gulf of Mexico Alliance
Chuck Wilson, GoMRI Chief Scientific Officer
Raymond L. Orbach, GoMRI Research Board member from the state of Texas, The University of Texas at Austin
Larry McKinney, Senior Executive Director of Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
Antonietta Quigg, Senior Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, Texas A&M University Galveston
James Gibeaut, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (GRIIDC), Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
Tony Wood, Director of the National Spill Control School, Corpus Christi
Steve Buschang, Director of Research and Development/ Scientific Support Coordinator, Texas General Land Office
Pamela Plotkin, Executive Director, Texas Sea Grant

Ten years of GoMRI Science: Honoring discoveries, contributions, and legacies in Florida
October 16, 2020, 12–3 pm CDT/1-4 EDT.
Register here to watch on Zoom or via Facebook Live.
Questions? Please contact Monica Wilson with UF/IFAS Florida Sea Grant at monicawilson447@ufl.edu or 727.776.0831.

Speakers
Rita Colwell, Chair of the GoMRI Research Board
Laura Bowie, Executive Director, Gulf of Mexico Alliance
Chuck Wilson, GoMRI Chief Scientific Officer
William Hogarth, GoMRI Research Board member from the state of Florida, Florida Institute of Oceanography
Richard Dodge, GoMRI Research Board member from the state of Florida, Nova Southeastern University
Steve Murawski, University of South Florida
Tamay Ozgokmen, University of Miami
Tracey Sutton, Nova Southeastern University
Martin Grosell, University of Miami
Timyn Rice, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

Ten years of discovery: Celebrating the legacy of GoMRI in Alabama
October 23,2020, Reception 6 pm CDT/7 EDT, Program 6:30-8:30/7:30-9:30
The Lodge at Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, AL.
Register here to attend in person or remotely on Zoom/via Facebook Live.
Questions? Please contact Missy Partyka with Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium at m.partyka@auburn.edu or 251.348.5436.

Speakers and panelists
Rita Colwell, GoMRI Research Board Chair
Laura Bowie, Executive Director of GOMA
Chuck Wilson, GoMRI Chief Scientific Officer
Tina Miller-Way, Chair of Discovery Hall Programs, Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Patricia Sobecky, University of Alabama
Nikaela Flournoy, GoMRI Scholar, University of Alabama
Ruth Carmichael, Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Carl Cloyed, Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Carl Edmiston, US Coast Guard (retired)

A salute to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative’s contribution to the state of science in Mississippi
October 29, 1-3 pm CDT/2-4 EDT.
Register here to watch on Zoom or via Facebook Live.
Questions? Contact Tara Skelton at tara.skelton@usm.edu or 228.327.5284.

Speakers and panelists
Rita Colwell, Chair of the GoMRI Research Board
Laura Bowie, Executive Director, Gulf of Mexico Alliance
Chuck Wilson, GoMRI Chief Scientific Officer
David Shaw, GoMRI Research Board member from the state of Mississippi, Mississippi State University
Dennis Weisenburg, GoMRI Research Board member from the state of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi
LaDon Swann, Executive Director, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
Pat Fitzpatrick, Mississippi State University/Texas A & M
Jerry Wiggert, University of Southern Mississippi
Joe Griffitt, University of Southern Mississippi
Jessie Kastler, University of Southern Mississippi
Kemal Combazaglu, University of Southern Mississippi
Stephan O’Brien, Deakin University
Sabrina Parra, Johns Hopkins University
Missy Partyka, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium /Auburn University
Cheryl Lassitter, NOAA
Ryan Bradley, Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United, Inc.

Commemorating 10 years of GoMRI science in Louisiana
November 10, 2020, 2-4 pm CST/3-5 EST
Register here to watch on Zoom or via Facebook Live.
Questions? Please contact Emily Maung-Douglass with Louisiana Sea Grant at edouglass@lsu.edu or 225.578.9926.

Speakers and panelists
Rita Colwell, Chair of the GoMRI Research Board
Laura Bowie, Executive Director, Gulf of Mexico Alliance
Chuck Wilson, GoMRI Chief Scientific Officer
Richard Shaw, GoMRI Research Board member from the state of Louisiana, Louisiana State University
Debi Benoit, GoMRI Research Board member from the state of Louisiana, Nicholls State University
Stephen Sempier, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant
Emily Maung-Douglass, Louisiana Sea Grant
Vijay John, Consortium for the Molecular Engineering of Dispersant Systems (C-MEDS), Tulane University
Melissa Finucane, Consortium for Resilient Gulf Communities (CRGC), RAND Corporation
Nancy Rabalais, Coastal Waters Consortium (CWC), Louisiana State University
Natalia Sidorovskaia, Littoral Acoustic Demonstration Center-Gulf Ecological Monitoring & Modeling (LADC-GEMM), University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Additionally featuring:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Clean Gulf Associates

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Videos: One-Minute Views of Mahi Mahi Health Research

RECOVERThese short video clips depict the the diverse research methods that researchers use to examine how oil affects ecologically and economically important fish species.

Broodstock Capture (1:34)
This clip takes viewers aboard the University of Miami Rosenstiel School’s Yellowfin boat for a mahi mahi broodstock capture trip in the Florida Straits. All mahi mahi that are captured are brought to the University of Miami Experimental Hatchery. Wild-caught broodstock typically begin spawning regularly after an acclimation period of around two weeks, and their offspring are raised to various life stages (larval, juvenile, adult) for researchers to use in experiments examining how the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affected mahi mahi.

Broodstock Transfer (0:51)
This video depicts how RECOVER scientists safely and efficiently move wild-caught mahi mahi from the acclimation tanks to their permanent home in the spawning and maturation tanks. RECOVER scientists’ research requires facilities like the Hatchery that allow them to do this successfully. Once transferred to these tanks, the male and female mahi mahi broodstock begin to spawn regularly.

Creating Oil Dilutions (0:57)
This video provides a behind-the-scenes look into how RECOVER scientists create the oil dilutions used to study the impacts of crude oil on mahi mahi and red drum in the lab. RECOVER scientist Dr. Christina Pasparakis explains that oil dilutions are created in seawater using oil sampled from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, so that their research can parallel conditions present during the spill.

Zebrafish Fluorescence (0:55)
This video features RECOVER researcher Yadong Wang, who exposes zebrafish (a model organism for scientific research) to green and red flourscence proteins. When hit with light, the proteins fluoresce or emit a red and green light from their red blood cells and blood vessels, respectively. RECOVER researchers use this technique to observe vessel development in fish and hope to use this method in the future to study how oil impacts blood vessel formation in mahi mahi and red drum.

Grad Student Altomare Analyzes Health Risks to Children Playing in Oiled Beaches

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University of Texas Health Science Center Ph.D. student Tanu Altomare works with a child participant in the Beach Exposure And Child HEalth Study (BEACHES) project. (Photo by Helena Solo-Gabriele)

Deepwater Horizon oil impacted over 1,700 km of Gulf of Mexico coastline and prompted 89 beach closures, largely due to uncertainty about health risks associated with oil contamination. Compared to adults, children spend more time in the sand when at the beach and touch their face more often, increasing potential exposure to contaminants through skin contact or ingestion. Tanu Altomare analyzed data quantifying children’s beach behaviors to inform a model evaluating health risks to young children when playing on oil-contaminated beaches. Responders can use the model’s assessments when making decisions about beach closures and communicating risks to the public when future pollutant events happen.

Tanu was a Ph.D. student with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s School of Public Health and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Beach Exposure And Child HEalth Study (BEACHES).

Her Path

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Members of the Beach Exposure And Child HEalth Study (BEACHES) team during a field study at Seawall Beach in Galveston, Texas. (L-R): Rosalia Guerrero, Dr. Helena Solo-Gabriele, Lindsey Clark, Dr. Alesia Ferguson, Dr. Maribeth Gidley, Pauline Williams, Lonnie Jones, Larissa Montas, Devon Hood, Graham Reid, Tanu Altomare, Hanna Perone, and Kyra Rattler. (Provided by Tanu Altomare)

When Tanu was a microbiology student at the University of Houston-Downtown, a guest lecturer discussed environmental risk assessments of pollutants in or near residential homes. Tanu had been conducting laboratory experiments but wondered if the long stretches without human interaction were right for her. By contrast, the lecturer’s work that combined environmental science, epidemiology, and social and behavioral science fascinated her.

While researching graduate schools, Tanu toured the School of Public Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and subsequently accepted a graduate research position toward a Master of Public Health. She worked closely with Dr. Kristina Mena investigating the factors influencing microbial load (the number and type of microorganisms contaminating a water body) in two Galveston Bay marinas and hoped to complete a doctorate under her mentorship. Tanu described her research interests to Dr. Mena, who recommended the GoMRI-funded BEACHES project exploring how interactions between people’s behavior and the environment influence their health – concepts that first got Tanu interested in public health.

“I’ve lived in Houston for nearly 20 years, and I’ve been present for a variety of natural and man-made disasters, including Hurricane Harvey and the Deepwater Horizon spill,” said Tanu. “I’ve seen firsthand how those events affected my community, so I’ve always had a personal stake in better understanding the effects of disaster and behavior on health and wellbeing.”

Her Work

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Members of the Beach Exposure And Child HEalth Study (BEACHES) project attend the 2020 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference. (L-R) Dr. Helena Solo-Gabriele, Dr. Maribeth Gidley, Dr. Alesia Ferguson, Larissa Montas, Dr. Ashok Dwivedi, Dr. Kristina Mena, Tanu Altomare, Lara Tomenchok, and Junfei Xia. (Provided by Tanu Altomare)

The BEACHES team is developing an assessment platform that will provide health risk information on children playing at oil-contaminated beaches. The model currently uses benchmarks established in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Exposure Factors Handbook to determine health risk, but real-time data will help refine these benchmarks so that they are applicable to children of different ages, genders, and demographics. Tanu and her fellow BEACHES researchers video recorded children (with guardian permission) playing in Florida and Texas beach sands over a ten-day period. The team monitored behaviors that would affect children’s exposure risks, especially how often they touched their mouths, the frequency and length of time they spent in water and sand, and how much sand stuck to their hands and bodies when their skin was wet, dry, or had sunscreen on it.

Tanu analyzed the video data using a risk assessment software called Crystal Ball, which returns a best-case, worst-case, and most likely outcome for a scenario. Her preliminary analyses suggest that exposure frequency (how many days per year children go to the beach) had the greatest influence on health risk estimates out of the factors analyzed so far. This observation supports the expectation that factors with a wide range of variability like exposure frequency will influence risk estimates more strongly than variables like body weight or skin surface area, which show little fluctuation among children. However, she is eager to see how estimates change once data on soil intake rate (oral exposure), adherence factor (skin exposure), and inhalation rate are incorporated into the model.

“I think this model will be especially useful for agencies involved in communicating advisories and other health information to the public. Instead of blanket advisories, they can provide a more thorough explanation of how and why the public should or should not avoid certain beach-related activities following a disaster event,” said Tanu. “For example, [the observations about exposure frequency] can be valuable for families living in Gulf communities, because they tend to visit beaches more often than families who only go once or twice a year.”

Her Learning

Working with an interdisciplinary group showed Tanu how real-world science unfolds, with researchers relying on each other to fill in different pieces of a larger puzzle. A memorable moment for Tanu was hearing Dr. Alesia Ferguson’s observations about their video recordings, who commented that children behaved differently depending on if their mother, father, or siblings were present and that there were behavioral trends for children of different racial backgrounds. “At that moment, the multitude of factors that play into how a person interacts with their environment really hit home,” said Tanu. “Sometimes, I get narrowly focused on the scientific parts of the equations, like the chemical concentrations, but there is a human factor that has a profound effect on health outcomes.”

As a member of the GoMRI community, Tanu interacted with an extensive network of researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders. When she began her doctoral research, Tanu anticipated that her advisor would be her main mentoring resource, but she also received feedback from many GoMRI community members. She attended a graduate student luncheon at the 2020 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference, where she engaged with fellow students and experts from diverse fields. “The leaders of GoMRI have taught me a lot of what it means to be a researcher and collaborator,” she said. “The most important piece of advice I received at the luncheon was to always be open to new projects and opportunities, because it opens up so many new avenues for research and networking.”

Tanu also learned the importance of talking with her advisor about the future, even when she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. “A lot of students know they want to pursue a career in science but don’t know all their options, and that can be frustrating,” she said. “I had a vague, almost incoherent idea what I was interested in, but Dr. Mena helped me form a concrete idea. She took my interests and connected it to an awesome project!”

Tanu completed her Public Health doctorate and is seeking opportunities where she can continue working with the marine environment and children’s health.

Praise for Tanu

Dr. Mena described Tanu as an engaging student and a forward-thinking researcher, who asks the right questions about things that others may overlook. “Tanu was an integral part of the field work for this study as well as the risk assessment component,” she said. “She was not only a remarkable student, but she is also an exceptional person. I look forward to hearing about her future contributions.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Tanu Altomare and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Smithsonian Highlights Discoveries on the Super Powers of Oil-Degrading Bacteria

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An epifluorescence microphotograph of a complex bacterial community feasting on or associated with an oil floc (pink). Gammaproteobacteria (green) are the majority of cultured, well-studied alkane- and aromatics-degrading bacteria. Other bacteria (blue) thrive in close association with the oil particle and their gammaproteobacterial neighbors. (Photo by Luke McKay, Montana State University).

The Smithsonian’s Ocean Portal published an article that describes some of the discoveries that scientists have made about microbes in the Gulf of Mexico. Following Deepwater Horizon, researchers were armed with new genomic tools that enabled them to study marine microbes at sea, in their environment. 

Funded by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), these scientists discovered how diverse, specialized, and adaptive microbes can be. For example, some bacteria can thrive when crude oil is present and even seek it out. When they produce detergent-like substances into the oil, these bacteria can break it into small droplets, effectively serving as a natural oil dispersant.

You can read the Ocean Portal article titled A Bacterium’s Super Powers here: https://ocean.si.edu/conservation/gulf-oil-spill/bacteriums-super-powers.

Here are recent related stories:

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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GoMRI and the Smithsonian have a partnership to enhance oil spill science content on the Ocean Portal website.

The GoMRI is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies.  An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research.  All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available.  The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP.  For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Pandya Investigates How Wind and Waves Influence Airborne Transport of Oil

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University of Texas at Dallas Ph.D. student Yajat Pandya visits Arches National Park, Utah, after an experimental LiDAR campaign in summer 2019. (Provided by Yajat Pandya)

Hydrocarbons from oil slicks floating on the ocean’s surface can be aerosolized by evaporation, breaking waves and bursting bubbles. Variations in sea, wave, and atmospheric conditions can significantly influence the transport and dynamics of these aerosolized oil droplets. Accurate predictions of where and how far aerosolized oil pollutants will go can help us better understand potential human health impacts from oil spills, which was a concern during Deepwater Horizon.

Yajat Pandya collects and analyzes in situ wind, wave, and atmospheric data to help improve our understanding of how the marine atmospheric boundary layer, where the atmosphere meets and interacts with the ocean, affects how aerosolized oil droplets travel. His findings will help improve numerical Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) predictions of aerosolized oil droplets’ evolution from sea to coast, especially how different atmospheric and sea-wave conditions drive aerosols’ distribution and concentration as they travel.

Yajat is a Ph.D. student with the University of Texas at Dallas’s School of Engineering & Computer Science and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Transport of Aerosolized Oil Droplets in Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer: Coupling Wind LiDAR Measurements and Large-Eddy Simulations.

His Path

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University of Texas at Dallas Ph.D. students Lu Zhan (left) and Yajat Pandya (right) deploy a Halo Photonics Doppler Wind LiDAR. (Photo credit: Matteo Puccioni)

Yajat’s interest in fluid flows and mathematics as a teenager led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. As an undergraduate, he gained experience working with experimental fluid flows and focused his thesis project on small-scale wind turbines, which introduced him to complex atmospheric boundary layer flows. While exploring potential doctoral programs, he discovered that Dr. Giacomo Valerio Iungo was leading the Wind, Fluids, and Experiments (WindFluX) laboratory at the University of Texas at Dallas and had received a GoMRI-funded grant to investigate aerosolized oil transport. Yajat was excited to join Dr. Iungo’s lab team as a doctoral student.

“From a fluid dynamics perspective, anthropogenic large-scale atmospheric events are not understood well enough to develop confidence in predicting the harmful effects,” said Yajat. “The unfortunate Deepwater Horizon spill event provided me an opportunity to learn and share my understanding of oil droplets emerging from the coastal regions into the air and their transport via atmospheric motions.”

His Work

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Graduate student researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Houston deploy a Doppler wind LiDAR and a sonic anemometer at the shore of Galveston Island State Park. They conducted extensive instrumentation testing and monitoring before the experiment to confirm satellite connectivity for remote access and data transfer. (Photo credit: Yajat Pandya)

Yajat uses Doppler Wind LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to measure wind speed and aerosol backscatter within 2 km of its deployment location to determine aerosol transport by turbulent atmospheric flows. He participated in a five-month deployment of his team’s Halo Photonics LiDAR and a sonic anemometer (an instrument that measures instantaneous wind speed) from the coast of Galveston, Texas. Collaborating with Galveston Island State Park, their team set up an experimental site 100 m from shore that allowed them to remotely access and monitor the equipment from their Dallas laboratory. They collected measurements of wind speeds, wave conditions, atmospheric stability, and weather conditions from November 2018 to April 2019. Multiple LiDAR scanning procedures provided an overview of local wind and aerosol trends, which helped the team design specific scans to capture turbulent flow in the marine atmospheric boundary layer. These scans included determining the vertical and horizontal spatial distribution of aerosol plumes, characterizing the variability of wind speed and aerosol concentration with high-frequency resolution, and characterizing features of the boundary layer profile.

Yajat observed that winds moving from sea to land exhibited significantly higher backscatter than winds moving from land to sea, suggesting that marine aerosols travel mainly toward the coastline. In winds from sea to land with speeds greater than 10 meters per second, aerosol plumes in the surf zone rose as high as 50 m above sea level, indicating the occurrence of unexpected aerosol buoyancy and turbulent diffusion (the mixing and dispersion of aerosol plumes emerging from the sea surface). Yajat applied fundamental flow theories to the data and found that the total aerodynamic roughness length (a parameter quantifying sea surface perturbation based on wind activity) that the instruments measured was significantly higher than existing open-sea aerodynamic roughness models predicted. The aerodynamic roughness regime significantly affects predictions of the turbulent scales of a boundary layer flow. In this case, the model’s underestimation of roughness may explain the inaccuracy in predicting how aerosols disperse in the coastal zone.

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A Doppler wind LiDAR and sonic anemometer measure atmospheric turbulence and marine aerosol distribution in the Gulf of Mexico surf zone. (Photo credit: Yajat Pandya)

“This observation has led us to believe that there might be a dominant drag related to the roughness component, which is in turn dependent on implicit wind-wave processes,” explained Yajat. “Characterizing aerodynamic roughness length will help to provide more-efficient turbulent flow parameters for LES predictions of aerosol-particle transport.”

Next, Yajat will examine the correlation between atmospheric turbulence (small-scale, chaotic wind motions that vary in speed and direction) and aerosol backscatter. Based on a preliminary assessment of the data, he expects to find an inverse correlation between elevated wind turbulence and elevated aerosol concentrations. If confirmed by the research, he can use this correlation to create a model that can predict real-time aerosol structures in the marine boundary layer under varying wind speeds, wave heights, and atmospheric stratification.

His Learning

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Members of the University of Texas at Dallas Wind, Fluids, and Experiments (WindFluX) research lab. (L-R) Dr. Giacomo Valerio Iungo, Mortaza Pirouz , Yajat Pandya, Kori Harlan, Matteo Puccioni, Thomas Bennett, Jamie Eriksson, Jacob Perkins, Stefano Letizia, Benjamin William Weldon, Sara Frances Hartke, Samir Ahmedyari, Lu Zhan, Tristan Charles, Wasi Ahmed, and Brian Wei. (Provided by Yajat Pandya)

Dr. Iungo helped familiarize Yajat with the functionality and experimental procedures of the LiDAR and other analytical instruments and taught him data analysis techniques that focus on finding new insights. “One highlight of my research experience so far was realizing the deviation of my dataset from the known open-sea models and how much more we have to learn and solve,” said Yajat. While Dr. Iungo taught Yajat that scientific research often reveals valuable questions, whose answers can help strengthen one’s findings, he also emphasized the importance of not allowing new questions to distract from the main research goal.

“I feel special and blessed to be a part of a noble initiative aimed at minimizing the effects of devastating anthropogenic events like oil spills and marine pollution,” said Yajat. “The research has a unique purpose because everyone in the GoMRI community is motivated to save and preserve the ecosystem. As an experimentalist, it is particularly uplifting to see the incredible experimental efforts put forth by GoMRI researchers.”

Yajat hopes to find a research career where he can continue contributing to our understanding of aerosol turbulence under large-scale environmental events. He feels that successful scientific research results from training the curious part of your mind to be more focused and disciplined. “Many supplementary skills like problem solving and critical thinking are developed in the pursuit of your research goal,” he said. “Pushing the limits of human knowledge in your own unique way is fun and oddly satisfying!”

Praise for Yajat

Dr. Iungo reflected on Yajat’s research achievements, highlighting his significant contributions to the team’s LiDAR experiment in Galveston Island State Park. Yajat’s collaboration with his WindFluX lab mates resulted in a successful deployment of the mobile LiDAR station and the completely remote operation of their instruments. “I am very confident that his work will lead to new modeling strategies for predictions of marine aerosol concentration in the marine atmospheric boundary layer,” said Dr. Iungo.

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Yajat Pandya and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgment to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

ECOGIG Research Informs Development of Ocean-Based Video Game: Beyond Blue

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A screenshot of a scene in the Beyond Blue video game. Provided by E-Line Media

There is now a novel way to reach audiences and help spark their interest in ocean science that involves the very popular world of video gaming. Launched by E-Line Media in conjunction with the BBC and researchers involved with their Blue Planet II series, the single-player narrative adventure Beyond Blue takes players deep into our ocean’s mysterious and fascinating world.

Beyond Blue video game players join a research team that uses groundbreaking technologies to see, hear, and interact with the ocean through the eyes of Mirai, a deep-sea explorer and scientist who dives deep to learn more about the vibrant and otherworldly underwater environments. Samantha Joye, Regents Professor at the University of Georgia and Director of the ECOGIG consortium, served as a consultant during the development of this new gaming experience that explores the deep ocean.

Beyond Blue is more than a video game,” explained Joye, “It’s an immersive tour through a fascinating and magical world that will leave you wanting to know more — and to do more. The game will motivate all players to learn more about the ocean and for some, playing will inspire engagement in ocean advocacy. Surely some players will be motivated to pursue a career in ocean science.”

How popular are video games? More than 75% of Americans have a gamer in their household and 70% of American families have a child who plays video games, according to a 2019 report released by the Entertainment Software Association.

E-Line Media, who also published the game Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) that introduces players to little-known tales of native Alaskan culture, wants people to start thinking about the world beyond what they see. The company partnered with BBC Studios (developers of the acclaimed Blue Planet II), OceanX Media (world-class game makers), and some of science’s leading ocean experts to craft an experience through Beyond Blue that reflects the wonder and mystery of the deep ocean.

Beyond Blue features

  • Exploration and adventure within an untouched world;
  • A captivating and entertaining soundtrack featuring an original score and music from Miles Davis, The Flaming Lips, The Edisons, and more; and
  • Sixteen unique mini-documentaries called Ocean Insights that feature original footage and interviews with science’s leading ocean experts.

“Working with the E-Line team to ideate gaming scenarios and imagine futuristic ocean science technologies was an incredible and rewarding experience,” Joye said. “And this is only the beginning – Mirai and her team have a lot more exploring to do!”

View this trailer of the Beyond Blue video game:

Listen as scientists Samantha Joye, David Gruber, and Sylvia Earle talk about their participation as consultants during the Beyond Blue development and their fascination with the ocean at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GupPSblAxzo&feature=youtu.be

Get to know Mirai and the woman behind her character at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV_0to-ww6g&feature=youtu.be

The Beyond Blue video game uses several platforms (PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Apple Arcade) and is available for purchase ($19.99 USD) at https://beyondbluegame.com/.

The ECOGIG team has also helped produced a 4-part animated series on ocean science The Adventures of Zack and Molly.

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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This research was made possible in part by a grant from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) to the Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf-2 (ECOGIG-2).

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Sea Grant Releases Report on Fostering Researcher-Responder Collaboration

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team a new report that draws from five workshops hosted by the Team where emergency responders and oil spill science researchers from around the Gulf of Mexico gathered to learn from one another. Workshop attendees discussed the role of academia in oil spill response, the response sector’s contributions to research, and challenges and barriers to and solutions for working collaboratively. The workshop summary report is Fostering Emergency Responder and University Researcher Collaboration.

Attendees identified the lack of funding as the biggest challenge and barrier to collaboratively working with one another. There are diminished resources between major spills for research and for trainings, workshops, and events that bring these groups together. The next biggest challenge participants identified was lack of communication between the groups who operate under different timelines and priorities.

Responders would like to see scientists attend local Area Committee Meetings (ACMs) held by regional US Coast Guard Sectors, but it would need to be a continuous effort by scientists so that a trusted relationship is ongoing outside of actual spill response. Responders want to know about scientific findings related to oil spills and would like scientists to help communicate that with them and the public in a transparent manner.

Academic scientists want responders to share their data with the academic research community, particularly where there are known data and knowledge gaps so that scientists could plan projects to address those gaps. Scientists would like to attend industry and response organization trainings and drills so that they can learn about protocols and certifications needed to participate in response efforts.

Solutions that the groups offered included making research data, such as oceanographic surveys, easily available and for researchers to share published findings with industry members, state and local agency employees, and elected officials for developing response plans. The group supported meetings that provided opportunities for responders and researchers to gather, interact, and continue communications and to share research, data, and ideas.

The workshop report provides background information, such as pre-workshop surveys that guided workshop development, how the workshops were conducted (started in 2015 across the five US Gulf States), and details about discussions and results.

“The original workshop was so well-received by the researchers and responders in attendance we decided to make it into a Gulf-wide series,” said physical oceanographer Monica Wilson who is the Florida lead for the Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team. “These workshops provided a place for these two groups to come together and have a conversation about future collaborations. The information that was gathered from all those in attendance is a steppingstone in improving these relationships and keep these connections growing.”

The 26-page report is available at http://masgc.org/oilscience/Researcher-Responder-Workshop-Report.pdf

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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This work was made possible in part by grants from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative to the Sea Grant Oil Spill and Outreach Team and from the Sea Grant Programs in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi-Alabama, and Florida. Additional support came from the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center, NOAA Disaster Response Center, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Institute.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

How Grad Student Tang Observes Oil’s Big Impacts on Tiny Predators and Their Prey

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University of Texas at Austin Ph.D. student Chi Hung “Charles” Tang. (Provided by Chi Hung Tang)

Marine protists are single-celled planktonic creatures that form the base of the marine food web and perform important ecosystem services, including driving photosynthesis and the carbon and nitrogen cycles. Protist communities include energy-producing organisms, such as phytoplankton, that use sunlight or chemical reactions to generate their own food. Protists also include predators, such as microzooplankton, that eat the energy-producing protists.

After Deepwater Horizon, research found that spilled oil significantly lowered phytoplankton abundance and shifted the community species composition from ciliates and phytoflagellates to diatoms and cyanobacteria. Researchers also observed that chemically dispersed oil reduced the abundance of certain ciliate microzooplankton species that feed on energy-producing protists. Understanding how concurrent oil spill effects and altered predator-prey interactions influence these bacterial communities could help spill responders and ecosystem managers anticipate algal blooms and food web changes.

Chi Hung “Charles” Tang conducts oil exposure experiments on protistan predators and producers to examine how oil and dispersant affect their ability to carry out ecological functions and support the food chain. His findings will help determine the oil or dispersant concentrations that impact the growth and grazing interactions of Gulf of Mexico protist communities.

Charles is a Ph.D. student with the University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Marine Science and a GoMRI Scholar with the Dispersion Research on Oil: Physics and Plankton Studies III (DROPPS III) consortium.

His Path

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Ph.D. student Chi Hung “Charles” Tang at the University of Texas at Austin conducted outdoor mesocosm experiments exposing a natural microzooplankton community to petroleum pollution. (Photo credit: Chi Hung Tang)

As a biology undergraduate student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Charles conducted a senior research project that investigated the changing temporal and spatial patterns in phytoplankton community composition across a southern China estuary. Charles measured the physicochemical conditions of seawater, collected phytoplankton samples, and used statistical analysis to examine environmental drivers, which deepened his interest in the ecology of planktonic organisms.

Charles completed a biology master’s degree at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and began searching for a Ph.D. program studying phytoplankton and microzooplankton ecology. He read about Dr. Ed Buskey’s research on the relationship between Texas brown tides (algal blooms) and zooplankton grazing and asked Dr. Buskey about potential graduate research opportunities. Dr. Buskey felt that the GoMRI-funded oil spill research that he and his team were conducting was a perfect fit for Charles and would allow him to develop his own research focus. Charles joined Dr. Buskey’s lab as a graduate researcher investigating oil’s influence on microzooplankton grazing.

His Work

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University of Texas at Austin Ph.D. student Chi Hung “Charles” Tang prepares test media in glass bottles for incubation experiments that examine the feeding rates of protistan predators. (Photo credit: Chi Hung Tang)

Charles began his research using outdoor mesocosm experiments that exposed natural protist communities containing both producers (phytoplankton) and predators (microzooplankton) to dispersed crude oil. He determined rates of producer growth and predator grazing after two and six days of exposure. While microzooplankton’s grazing habits consumed ~40-60% of the energy that producers generated daily under normal conditions, he observed reductions in producer growth and predator grazing after two days of exposure. After six days, however, he observed recovery in producer growth but a continued reduction in predator grazing, suggesting that predator communities may be more susceptible to oil exposure than producers.

“My findings suggest that, because oil impacts their natural predators more severely, the less-susceptible phytoplankton producers may have a chance of unchecked proliferation, which could potentially lead to algal blooms under certain conditions,” explained Charles. “Additionally, the reduced feeding and, therefore, reduced growth of the protistan predator community could lead to reduced food sources for organisms at higher trophic levels, such as larger zooplankton, larval fish, and bivalves.”

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Ph.D. student Chi Hung “Charles” Tang at the University of Texas at Austin captured this microscopic image of a ciliated protistan predator. (Photo credit: Chi Hung Tang)

Charles’s current experiments examine how different oil and dispersant concentrations affect the population growth of both producers and the ingestion rate of predators and the prey. He conducts laboratory experiments that incubate protistan predators and producers separately under short- (24-hour) and long-term (days) exposure to environmentally realistic oil and dispersant concentrations that resemble conditions near the sea surface following an oil spill. His short-term experiments examine how crude oil alone, dispersant alone, and crude oil plus dispersant (20:1 oil to dispersant, the application ratio used during Deepwater Horizon) affect protistan predator grazing. Long-term experiments examine how crude oil plus dispersant concentrations ranging from 1 to 30 µL/L (reflecting conditions observed following Deepwater Horizon) affected the population growth of predators and producers.

Charles uses a compound microscope to observe prey ingestion and population growth and estimate the median inhibitory concentration (IC50, the concentration that causes a 50% drop in protistan population growth) of chemically dispersed crude oil for protistan species, which reflects their sensitivity to oil pollutants. He also applies DNA sequencing to determine which microorganisms are present in the water samples at the different time points, which can help him characterize how protistan predators feed on producers in oil-polluted water. “Since producers can be very tiny and morphologically indistinguishable, DNA sequencing can help identify what types of bacteria are present in oil-loaded seawater,” explained Charles. “Although bacterial producers are subject to grazing by small protistan predators, some producers can consume carbon and other components from biodegraded oil as an alternative food source and can therefore grow rapidly when oil is spilled in the water column.”

Charles is still collecting and analyzing his data, but his preliminary results suggest that grazing by protistan predators was significantly reduced at high concentrations of chemically dispersed crude oil (10 µL/L) when compared to control treatments. He hopes that his findings provide key evidence that will help us better understand the consequences of oil spills on marine ecosystems.

His Learning

Charles speculates that he may not have been able to conduct his self-developed experiments without Dr. Buskey’s mentorship and financial support. Dr. Buskey’s support for Charles’s projects taught Charles that scientific research is greater than one researcher and requires a dedicated and collaborative team. He experienced this collaboration on a larger scale at the annual Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference, where he met other GoMRI scientists to exchange ideas and identify new research methods. “I share the values of the GoMRI science community to improve our ability to understand, respond to, and mitigate the problems caused by petroleum pollution,” he said. “The conference is a good opportunity for us to collaborate and work together towards our goals.” He plans to seek a postdoctoral position, so that he can continue conducting marine science research.

Praise for Charles

Dr. Buskey explained that Charles’s hard-working personality shone when he faced and successfully worked through several challenges beyond his control, including the laboratory’s closures following Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and the ongoing COVID-19 response. Dr. Buskey said, “We recently learned that Charles is a recipient of the highly competitive Continuing Fellowship from the University of Texas at Austin Graduate School for summer 2020. Congratulations, Charles!”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Charles Tang and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the DROPPS website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Videos: E/V Nautilus Clips

These videos were developed to demonstrate research aboard the E/V Nautilus.

ECOGIG in 60 Seconds

Dr. Katy Croff Bell, Chief Scientist of the EV Nautilus crew, explains the mission of ECOGIG.

Imaging Deep-Water Corals (Nautilus Live)

As part of the ECOGIG project, the E/V Nautilus made its way to the site of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill to image affected corals. Using the ROV Hercules’ BEAST CAM, the scientists are able to capture extremely high resolution pictures. These pictures will be used to show change over time and growth rate.

ECOGIG and EV Nautilus Inspire Kids with ROVs

“It was really cool, because I want to be marine biologist when I grow older. So being able to see this and experience the boat and the submarines and how to work them and stuff like that, it was eye awakening. I really want to do this now.” As the Nautilus prepared to launch for a corals research cruise, led by Dr. Chuck Fisher, nearly 200-members of the Boys and Girls Clubs walked on deck to see how the remotely operated vehicles are used for deep sea research. They also built and tested their own miniature ROVs.

Grad Student Dandekar Examines How Ocean Layers Affect Microbial Motion Towards Oil

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Purdue University Ph.D. student Rajat Dandekar receives an award for Best Undergraduate Student from the Department of Engineering Design at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 2018. (Provided by Rajat Dandekar)

Hydrocarbon-degrading microbes living in ocean environments consumed and metabolized oil droplets following Deepwater Horizon, which significantly influenced the oil’s fate in the Gulf of Mexico. The ocean has layers of varying densities resulting from temperature or salinity gradients that can affect the motion of oil droplets and swimming microbes. Understanding the hydrodynamics of droplets and swimming microbes as they encounter these ocean layers is vital to understanding the biodegradation processes that follow an oil spill.

Rajat Dandekar uses mathematical theory to derive how stratified ocean environments affect the motion of flagellated organisms (microbes that move using a whip-like appendage called a flagella) and the movement of floating particles such as oil droplets. His research will improve our understanding about how stratified ocean environments influence the transport of oil droplets and microbial degradation processes.

Rajat is a Ph.D. student with Purdue University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Role of Microbial Motility for Degradation of Dispersed Oil.

His Path

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A group photo of Dr. Arezoo Ardekani’s complex flow lab team at Purdue University. (L-R, back row) Amir Raffiee, Nikhil Desai, Tianqi Guo, Soroush Aramideh, Ehsan Rahimi, Kushal Bhatija. (L-R, front row) Manish Kumar, Adib Ahmadzadegan, Vaseem Shaik, Md Monsurul Khan, Rajat Dandekar, Xiaoxu Xhong, Yuchen Zhang, Andres Barrio-Zhang, Shulin Wang, Arezoo Ardekani, Miad Boodaghi, Dingding Han, Rishabh More, Ziyang Huang. (Photo by Arezoo Ardekani)

During his childhood in Pune, India, Rajat discovered that he could use mathematics and a simple pen and paper to make logical deductions about nature. He recalls learning about the golden ratio and Fibonacci sequence in flowers and plants, finding satisfaction in applying mathematical principles to the natural world. He completed a Bachelor of Technology in Engineering Design and Master of Technology in Automotive Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, where he was introduced to fluid dynamics. “I learned that physical phenomena involving fluid motion can be understood by reducing their physics to a set of equations and then solving those equations,” he said. “The realization that mathematics, which already fascinated me, could be used to study real-world problems got me more interested in the field of fluid dynamics.”

Rajat began researching fluid dynamics Ph.D. programs and read several research papers detailing complex flow experiments conducted by Dr. Arezoo Ardekani at Purdue University. Dr. Ardekani’s lab team combined theoretical and computational techniques to investigate the motion of swimming microorganisms and transport of particles and droplets in aquatic environments. Rajat was intrigued by the group’s methods and joined Dr. Ardekani’s team conducting GoMRI-funded research investigating how oil-water interfaces affect marine bacteria’s motility as they move towards and attach to dispersed oil.

His Work

To understand Rajat’s research, it’s helpful to start with how microorganisms swim. “Humans swim by pushing through water with their body. However, microorganisms are typically very small and cannot exert such inertial forces on the fluid,” he explained. “Instead, these organisms have evolved so that they can propel themselves through ocean and lake environments. For example, some organisms rhythmically beat their flagella, while some synchronize cilia on their surface in such a way that the organism is able to move itself.”

Rajat focused first on understanding how stratified ocean environments affected flagellated organisms’ speed and energy consumption. He spent a semester conducting a literature review and learning more-nuanced mathematical techniques. He then derived equations using a mathematical technique called perturbation theory, which incorporated the complex Navier-Stokes equations that describe fluid motion into his calculations of flagellated organisms’ movement. He observed that density variations in the ocean significantly reduced flagellated organisms’ speed and caused them to consume more energy while swimming.

Rajat turned his focus next to calculating the transport of particles in stratified oceans, including their rotation and if they experience force and torque. He utilized his understanding of perturbation theory to develop a mathematical solution for calculating these particles’ rotation and the force and torque they experience in aquatic environments. “The theory can be applied for analyzing the motion of particles with any arbitrary shape [such as oil droplets],” explained Rajat. “An important application [of the theory] is the motion of droplets in aquatic environments, which can be used to understand oil droplets’ motion during an oil spill.”

Rajat’s theory revealed that even weak density variation generated more drag on particles than did fluid with a constant density. His calculations indicate that skew particles (particles that are highly deformed and asymmetric) experience hydrodynamic torque and rotate due to density stratification while non-skew particles (particles with shapes including spheres, ellipses, cubes, and rods) do not. He and his colleagues are now applying this theory to oil droplets (which can be skew or non-skew depending on their shape) to better understand their movement in stratified oceans.

His Learning

The friendly and motivating atmosphere in Dr. Ardekani’s lab created a positive environment that helped Rajat grow as a researcher and individual. He recalled having stimulating discussions with lab members about the research and each other’s philosophies and receiving encouragement from Dr. Ardekani to keep improving the research’s quality without stopping too early. Rajat further learned the value of discussing research with experts and other graduate students in the field when he presented his research at the 2019 American Physical Society’s Division of Fluid Dynamics Annual Meeting. His conference experience motivated him to pursue the next phase of his research: understanding the motion of flagellated microorganisms in heterogeneous media.

Rajat hopes to continue conducting research on exciting issues. “Many times, you are unsure whether the problem you are looking at is solvable with the scientific means at your disposal,” he said. “I am learning to embrace the uncertainty associated with conducting research.”

Praise for Rajat

Dr. Ardekani praised Rajat’s creativity, dedication, innovation, and theoretical skillset and described him as a brilliant student. She explained that Rajat’s research has made important contributions to the field of fluid dynamics by developing theoretical descriptions of particle transport and motile organisms in different fluid media. “Rajat joined my group when he started his Ph.D. in the fall of 2018,” she said. “Since then, he has impressed me in every meeting with his progress and productivity.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Rajat Dandekar and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Jacketti Enhances Modeling Capability to Track Sunken Oil

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Ph.D. students Mary Jacketti (left) and Chao Ji (right) present their research at the University of Miami College of Engineering Research Day. (Provided by Chao Ji)

Oil spilled in the ocean can sink to the seafloor due to its high density or by attaching to floating particulate matter, as happened during the Marine Oil Snow Sedimentation and Flocculent Accumulation (MOSSFA) event following Deepwater Horizon. Oil that reaches the seafloor can smother benthic organisms or the organisms can ingest it, causing long-term negative effects, as happened to some deep-water coral and foraminifera.

Advanced tools are needed to predict oil transport to shorelines or if it will sink to the seafloor and affect sensitive ecosystems. The Subsurface Oil Simulator (SOSim) model, originally developed by the NOAA Response and Restoration’s Emergency Response Division during Deepwater Horizon, uses statistics to infer the velocity and dispersion of oil spilled in the water column and predict oil’s transport. The model was initially developed to track only sunken oil (oil that has reached the seafloor) on flat bay bottoms following an instantaneous spill, conditions that represent only a portion of the Gulf of Mexico environment.

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University of Miami Ph.D. student Mary Jacketti presents her research at the 2020 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Research Conference. (Provided by Mary Jacketti)

Mary Jacketti is using field data and bathymetric data to develop computational codes that will expand the capabilities of the SOSim model so that it can track sunken oil from instantaneous and continuous spills in bay, river, coastal, and continental shelf environments. Simulations that incorporate these areas can help responders locate sunken oil during emergency spill response.

Mary is a Ph.D. student with the University of Miami’s Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Inferential/Parametric Forecasting of Subsurface Oil Trajectory Integrating Limited Reconnaissance Data with Flow Field Information for Emergency Response.

Her Path

Mary developed a love for science through her middle school’s annual science fair. She enjoyed identifying a scientific problem, developing methods to solve the problem, and analyzing results. During high school, she often participated in outdoor adventures and became passionate about the environment. While preparing for college, she realized that environmental engineering would allow her to use science and mathematics to develop new ways to lessen human impacts on the environments.

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University of Miami Ph.D. students Mary Jacketti (left) and Chao Ji (right) and project co-PI Dr. CJ Beegle-Krause (middle) at the 2020 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Research Conference in Tampa, Florida. (Provided by Mary Jacketti)

As an environmental engineering undergraduate student at the University of Miami, Mary served as the treasurer for the Society of Women Engineers. She participated in the group’s annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, which taught elementary school girls about diverse STEM careers. She also participated in a research internship documenting whale and dolphin behavior for the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center. During her internship, she conducted her own research project assessing water quality of waterbodies in Southern New Jersey. Mary later volunteered for an EPA-funded project using nanoparticles to filter antibiotic resistant contaminants out of drinking water.

“My undergraduate experiences showed me that I am passionate about conducting research that will better the environment and public health. I also found a great passion advocating for women in STEM fields to help narrow the gender gap in classrooms and the workplace,” said Mary. “I hope to be able to conduct research that will stand the test of time, while also motivating and illuminating the path for young women to conduct research in STEM.”

After completing her bachelor’s degree, University of Mami professor Dr. James Englehardt asked Mary if would join his GoMRI-funded research team developing a model that helps minimize how oil spills impact the environment. Mary knew she could directly apply skills she learned as an undergraduate student to improve the way scientists approach emergency oil spill response. She joined Dr. Englehardt’s lab as a Ph.D. student and is helping develop code that will allow the SOSim model to more accurately track sunken oil.

Her Work

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This graph depicts Subsurface Oil Simulator (SOSim) model predictions of sunken oil locations across various depths (dashed lines) 14 days after the initial spill (black cross). The model used field data (red dots) to identify areas with the highest relative conditional probability of finding submerged oil (yellow shades) and 95% confidence bounds (solid green lines). University of Miami Ph.D. student Mary Jacketti said the model successfully predicted sunken oil in the same location the field data was collected. (Provided by Mary Jacketti)

Mary explained that her research adds a new component to the team’s efforts to expand the SOSim model capability to track submerged oil (oil suspended in the water column). While the submerged oil model uses output from existing trajectory models (such as the SINTEF Oil Spill Contingency and Response, or OSCAR model) to identify which ocean layers will likely contain oil, the sunken oil model she’s working on uses bathymetric data to simulate a selected area’s seafloor depth. If submerged oil in the area’s water column eventually sinks, the sunken oil model can predict where it will settle.

Mary dedicated her initial efforts to learning about the Python coding language and Bayesian statistical theory, which quantitatively updates predictions as new information becomes available. She began developing simple modeling code to simulate pollutant location and concentration and then expanded the code to include sunken oil. Together, she and Dr. Englehardt developed a strategy to incorporate bathymetry data into the model with existing field data to inform the Bayesian statistical methods that infer unknown model parameters, including oil diffusion and velocity and how many oil patches are on the seafloor.

“Bathymetry plays a significant role in how the sunken oil will be transported, since oil will generally follow contours of constant depth, travelling to and residing in the deeper areas,” Mary said. “Including bathymetry into the SOSim model will help improve spatial and temporal maps of relative sunken oil concentrations for use during emergency response operations.”

Mary validates the new code using available synthetic data (data generated to help simulate certain conditions not seen in the field data) and field data from past spills. She generates SOSim hindcasts to determine if the model can correctly predict the location of the sunken oil and conducts future simulations to see if the model can provide reasonable results. Preliminary results showed that the inclusion of bathymetric data increased the model’s accuracy when predicting sunken oil’s location and transport. Despite relatively sparse sampling of sunken oil concentrations, the SOSim model can make viable predictions using available prior oil spill data to infer oil’s location. Mary acknowledged that having several days of sampled field data improves the model’s prediction accuracy.

“We hope that this model will aid responders in locating and tracking sunken oil [in future spills], resulting in quicker recovery of the oil from the bottom and minimizing the negative impacts the oil may have,” she said. “If SOSim is used during emergency response in the future, field data collected by oil spill responders can be used to further inform the model.”

Her Learning

Dr. Englehardt’s mentorship taught Mary to approach problems in increasingly critical ways and appreciate the power of asking questions. While he encouraged Mary to conduct her research independently and create her own solutions, he was always available to guide and assist. She learned that regardless of the research being conducted, scientists attempt to solve questions and discover new solutions to address problems.

When the team visited SINTEF Ocean in Trondheim, Norway, Mary was excited about the opportunity to work alongside researchers from international institutions. Presenting her research to these scientists improved her presentation skills and hearing their reports improved her knowledge about oil spill modeling. She utilized these skills when presenting her research at the 2020 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science (GoMOSES) Conference. “At the GoMOSES conference, I was able to attend a graduate student luncheon, where I discussed my research and future career endeavors with other scholars and experts in the field,” she said. “I will forever be grateful for the opportunity GoMRI gave me to conduct research on a topic I am passionate about, while showcasing my research to others in the field.”

As GoMRI comes to a close, Mary will continue her graduate student career through new projects. She plans to find an industry position in risk analysis and environmental modeling that will help her leave a lasting, positive impact on the environment, something she feels passionately about.

Praise for Mary

Dr. Englehardt first noticed Mary when she was a student in his senior-level solid and hazardous waste engineering course. He recalled that she consistently performed at the top of her class and had a positive “team spirit” attitude towards group projects. “When it came time [for Mary] to devise a course project with her classmate, the result was inspirational,” he said. “Mary and her partner conceived and designed a vessel to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that was at least partially self-propelled, effective, and sustainable. I was impressed with the design, which they developed almost entirely independently.”

Mary’s steady nature and self-imposed high standards prompted Dr. Englehardt to offer her a graduate research position with his team while she was still an undergraduate student. She continued to perform as a top student in Englehardt’s graduate courses while simultaneously battling the steep learning curve associated with her GoMRI research and completing an independent study developing a new microbial risk assessment method.

“Mary has mastered the advanced Bayesian probability and statistical inference skills required for our work and become a facile computational scientist. I depend on her qualifications and consistent commitment to excellence every day as we complete the development of our novel Bayesian model,” he said. “All of us on the team consider Mary a good friend, especially her close co-worker Chao Ji, with whom she runs marathon-style events in her spare time. Along with the rest of our team, I look forward to keeping in touch with Mary and following her career wherever it may lead.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Mary Jacketti and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Scientists Share Personal Experiences with Deepwater Horizon Research

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This image provided by Dr. Samantha Joye is from a Gulf of Mexico research cruise in the spring/summer of 2010. Joye describes it as “sunrise over a disaster scene,” the juxtaposition of nature’s beauty over waters where heavy fumes rose from oil slicks during the Deepwater Horizon incident.

Researchers who have spent a decade studying impacts from the Deepwater Horizon incident offered their personal perspectives as they reflected upon the oil spill’s 10th anniversary in an engaging series titled “Deepwater Diaries.”

Published by the research consortium studying Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf (ECOGIG), the diaries feature 10 scientists who candidly talked about what they were doing when the spill happened, what they have learned since then, what they wish they had known before the spill, how the Gulf of Mexico is doing now, and how the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) helped connect them to a larger research community.

Dr. Samantha Joye, ECOGIG Project Director and Regents’ Professor at the University of Georgia, shared her reflections at https://www.ecogig.org/news-item?type=N&id=207.

The scientists listed below shared their reflections at https://www.ecogig.org/news-item?type=N&id=206.

The ECOGIG consortium has a strong focus on engaging the public with science, and here are a few of their outreach products:

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

************

This research was made possible in part by grants from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) to The Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf consortia ECOGIG and ECOGIG-2.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Schwaab Investigates How Tuna and Billfish Respond to Oil

6710a
Madison Schwaab, a University of South Florida master’s student, stands in front of the gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer holding an almaco jack liver extract. (Provided by Madison Schwaab)

Marine ecosystems provide many valuable resources for humans, including seafood and petroleum. Conservation policies that protect marine ecosystems, especially pollution and petroleum-related policies, depend on accurate scientific data about the ways different marine species experience pollution. Madison Schwaab quantifies levels of toxic oil compounds in the bile and tissues (liver, muscle, and gonad) of fifteen pelagic Gulf of Mexico fish species to better understand how oil affects them compared to other species.

Madison is a master’s student with the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science and a GoMRI Scholar with the Center for the Integrated Modeling and Analysis of Gulf Ecosystems III (C-IMAGE III).

Her Path

Madison spent her childhood catching fish and blue crabs with her father on Chesapeake Bay, where she witnessed firsthand how human activities can negatively affect rivers, bays, and oceans. These experiences piqued her curiosity about quantifying those impacts. As a Temple University undergraduate student, she worked in Dr. Erik Cordes’ deep-sea ecology lab investigating how ocean acidification impacts cold-water coral physiology. She also worked at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center studying the behavioral avoidance of inland silversides in hypoxic and acidified environments. These research experiences showed her how changing conditions can negatively affect marine and estuarine animals.

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University of South Florida master’s student Madison Schwaab holds a yellowfin tuna caught for subsampling and subsequent contaminant analysis. (Provided by Madison Schwaab)

Madison wanted to conduct anthropogenic-related research and started researching graduate programs in Texas and Florida, where she knew there was ongoing oil spill research. The oil spill research conducted in Dr. Steve Murawski’s Population and Marine Ecosystem Dynamics Lab at the University of South Florida intrigued her, and she reached out to him before applying for a graduate research position there. He invited her to visit during a recruitment weekend, and she immediately clicked with the lab and the university. She joined the group as a master’s student conducting GoMRI-funded research quantifying petrogenic and pyrogenic contaminant concentrations in pelagic fish.

Her Work

Madison sampled fifteen pelagic tuna and billfish species collected as by-catch during benthic research cruises (2011 – 2017) and main catch during a pelagic cruise (2018). Because the collection includes different time points and regions, she compared differences in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations between these pelagic species and across different regional, spatial, and temporal scenarios. She also used data compiled by her fellow C-IMAGE researchers to compare PAH concentrations in the pelagic species with species living in other ocean habitats.

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(L-R) C-IMAGE Assistant Director Sherryl Gilbert, master’s student Brigid Carr, Ph.D. student Susan Snyder, Principal Investigator Dr. Steve Murawski, researcher Dr. Erin Pulster, and master’s student Madison Schwaab attend the opening of the University of South Florida’s Marine Environmental Chemistry Laboratory in November 2018. (Photo credit: Sean Beckwith)

Madison analyzed fish bile using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to semi-quantitatively measure PAH equivalent concentrations (parent compounds plus metabolites) of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and benzo[a]pyrene, which indicates short-term (hours to days) PAH exposure. She also prepared liver, muscle, and gonad tissue samples using the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) extraction process and applies gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) to assess concentrations of nineteen PAHs (including 16 considered priority pollutants by the EPA) and their alkylated homologues in fish tissue, which indicates long-term (months) PAH exposure.

Only eight of the fifteen pelagic fish examined yielded enough usable data to draw conclusions. Although Madison is still interpreting her data, her early results suggest that there are higher PAH equivalent concentrations in yellowfin tuna bile than the other seven fish species. These levels were similar to concentrations observed in the benthic golden tilefish, which are considered the highest known PAH equivalent concentrations in the Gulf of Mexico. These preliminary findings represent one of the first indications that pelagic fish species can be significantly affected by PAHs deposited into the Gulf of Mexico.

“Finding similar PAH equivalent concentrations in yellowfin tuna and the golden tilefish was unexpected, because the golden tilefish is a burrowing fish and is strongly linked to sediments, where about 21% of Deepwater Horizon hydrocarbons likely settled,” she explained. “Finding significant short-term PAH concentrations in yellowfin tuna several years later suggests that they are possibly being impacted by contamination sources other than Deepwater Horizon, such as the Mississippi River and the on-going natural oil seeps or small oil spills that frequently occur in the Gulf.”

Her Learning

Madison’s GoMRI work was her first experience conducting toxicology research. Her lab mates, especially Dr. Erin Pulster, taught her a great deal about common toxicological methods and operation of analytical instruments. While her lab work focused on the finer details, she experienced the larger implications of her research through field work. “Catching target pelagic species for our oil spill research just meters away from oil rigs highlighted the connection between my research and the bigger picture,” she said. Attending the annual Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference helped her learn from oil spill researchers in other fields and further connect her own findings to the entire ecosystem. “Being part of GoMRI allowed me to gain a holistic perspective on Deepwater Horizon’s short- and long-term impacts on Gulf ecosystems and surrounding communities.”

Madison has an increased appreciation for transferable scientific skills, such as statistics and programming, and for opportunities that improve scientific writing and communication. She hopes to find a career where she can use her background and experiences to synthesize scientific findings and inform practices and policies that protect vulnerable ecosystems from pollution and oil contamination.

Praise for Madison

Dr. Murawski explained that Madison’s Deepwater Horizon research has equipped her with broadened skills sets for investigating key contemporary threats to marine ecosystems, especially related to chemical pollution resulting from acute oil spills. “Her work on pollution levels in large pelagic fishes of the Gulf has opened up new venues of research and provided important new insights into how the Gulf of Mexico functions,” he said. “She has a bright future in marine science and policy, wherever her career takes her.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Madison Schwaab and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the C-IMAGE website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Fact Sheet: ACER Education & Outreach Fact Sheets

ACERLogo

The  Alabama Center for Ecological Resilience (ACER) Consortium fact sheet series highlights the project’s research groups and their scientific focuses. These materials can be used as a classroom resource for science teachers on in the northern Gulf Coast research and for those with a general interest in oil spill research.

Introduction to ACER

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A brief introduction to ACER and what they do. Click on the image or here to open the publication.

ACER’s Consumer Group

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The Consumer research group focused on the top predators of the northern Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Click on the image or here to open the publication.

ACER’s Wetland Group

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The Wetland research group focused on the flora and fauna of coastal wetlands. Click on the image or here to open the publication.

ACER’s Oyster Group

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The Oyster research group focused on the intertidal and subtidal oyster reefs along the northern Gulf Coast. Click on the image or here to open the publication.

ACER’s Nitrogen Cycling Group

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The Nitrogen Cycling research group focused on the processes that convert nitrogen from one form to another in coastal habitats. Click on the image or here to open the publication.

ACER’s Microplankton Group

The Microplankton research group focused on how plankton, specifically plankton between 0.02 – 0.2 mm in size, are affected by oiling and the response to oiling (i.e. the use of dispersants). Click on the image or here to open the publication.

Grad Student Tarpley Is Cracking the Code Between Oil Transport and Mud Flocs

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Virginia Institute of Marine Science Ph.D. student Danielle Tarpley holds a sediment core collected from the Lynnhaven River in Virginia. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Turner)

Oil that enters a marine environment can attach to particulate matter suspended in the water and form oil particle aggregates, which then sink to the seafloor. Some oil particle aggregates are created when microbial excretions cause particulate matter and oil to cluster and bind together, forming Marine Oil Snow or MOS. Others result when fine sediment particles adhere to oil without microbial involvement, forming oil sediment aggregates or OSAs. Following Deepwater Horizon, there was a large Marine Oil Snow Sedimentation and Flocculent Accumulation (MOSSFA) event that transported oil to the seafloor, impacting the benthic ecosystem. If an oil spill were to occur in shallower shelf waters where more sediment is suspended in the water column, OSAs would likely play an important role in transporting oil to the seafloor.

Danielle Tarpley is implementing and modifying code that calculates particle aggregation for the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave and Sediment Transport (COAWST) numerical model, helping improve predictions about vertical oil transport via flocculated mud particles, or mud flocs. Simulations from this model will help improve overall estimations of oil fate by predicting the amount and location of sinking OSAs.

Danielle is a Ph.D. student with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science’s Department of Physical Sciences and a GoMRI Scholar with the Consortium for Simulation of Oil-Microbial Interactions in the Ocean (CSOMIO).

Her Path

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(L-R) Virginia Institute of Marine Science Ph.D. students Danielle Tarpley and Jessica Turner and master’s student Cristin Wright hold sediment cores after a long day of fieldwork in the York River estuary. (Photo courtesy of Grace Massey)

In her early high school years, Danielle whizzed through her math classes. Hoping to advance her education, she enrolled at a math and science school for her junior and senior years and took a marine biology class that sparked her scientific curiosity. That experience motivated her to enter the marine science undergraduate program at Coastal Carolina University, which required students to study marine biology, geology, chemistry, and physical oceanography and helped her discover an affinity for the physical sciences. Later, she completed a master’s degree there in coastal marine and wetland studies, which included analyzing observational data using numerical model results.

When Danielle began her Ph.D. studies at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), she started working with the COAWST model to study the transport of mud flocs. There, she joined Dr. Courtney Harris’s Sediment Transport Modeling lab, which became part of a GoMRI-funded CSOMIO research team, developing a model framework describing oil transport. The oil transport model will account for biological and particulate interactions with hydrocarbons in the ocean. Danielle’s CSOMIO research adapts the flocculation model to account for the transport of settling oil within particle aggregates. “I find science challenging, like a puzzle – if the pieces are put together properly, then you can answer questions. It’s very satisfying when the pieces fall into place, because my curiosity has an answer as well as more questions,” said Danielle. “I like that there isn’t one set method to reaching an answer, and I enjoy learning or discovering different methods to produce results.”

Her Work

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Virginia Institute of Marine Science Ph.D. student Danielle Tarpley (left) pulls in the GOMEX box corer while collecting sediment samples from the York River estuary in Virginia. (Photo courtesy of Grace Massey)

Danielle and her colleagues are generating computer code that for the state-of-the-art COAWST numerical model originally developed by the US Geological Survey. Because the COAWST model is a community resource, hundreds of researchers use and contribute code to it, meaning that researchers outside of Danielle’s working group will benefit from her model developments. Her Ph.D. research began with developing code for the flocculation model (FLOCMOD) that runs within COAWST’s Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) sediment transport model. The modified code can now account for OSAs to help simulate the sedimentation of spilled oil. “There’s only about a half-dozen people working with the flocculation code in ROMS, and Danielle is one of them,” said Dr. Harris. “She knows how to get in there and figure out what the code is doing and make modifications as needed. Because she has the technical background in FLOCMOD, she’s been a huge help in developing what we call the Oil Particle Aggregate Model, or OPAMOD.”

Laboratory experiments conducted by fellow CSOMIO researchers at the University of Delaware inform the OPAMOD code. The University of Delaware team generates OSAs in jars and collects data about the particles’ properties, composition, size, settling speed, and growth rate. CSOMIO uses the OPAMOD within a comprehensive numerical model that accounts for Gulf of Mexico currents, wave activity, Mississippi River discharge, microbial oil consumption, and floc formation. The result of the model simulation should be comparable to the oil budget estimated following Deepwater Horizon.

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(L-R) Virginia Institute of Marine Science graduate students Jessica Turner, Cristin Wright, and Danielle Tarpley collect sediment samples using a GOMEX box corer on the York River estuary in Virginia. (Photo courtesy of Grace Massey)

The FLOCMOD and OPAMOD code that Danielle tested and uses will help COAWST users reveal how much of the budgeted Deepwater Horizon oil was transported to the seafloor rather than being consumed by microbes, accumulated in surface slicks, or more-widely dispersed by currents. She explained that the model needs to be tested in multiple scenarios, including a Deepwater Horizon oil spill hindcast, similar deep-water releases that favor transport onto adjacent shallow shelves and coastal areas, oil spills directly on the shelf or in hypoxic environments, and spills during cold winter conditions or large river discharge and/or storm events. “I hope the work I’m doing will provide confidence in the use of the FLOCMOD model and the expansion that allows both mud and oil to stick together,” she said. “The main goal is to model the amount and location of the oil and mud that falls to the bottom from an oil spill.”

Her Learning

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Virginia Institute of Marine Science Ph.D. student Danielle Tarpley presents her dissertation research at the 2019 Biennial Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) Conference in Mobile, AL. (Photo by Fei Ye)

Working with CSOMIO, Danielle collaborated with scientists from other institutions, including some whose work she had been following for years. Danielle visited other labs and observed how they collected data, gaining a better understanding about data comparison and factors that can limit observational data’s usability, such as equipment capabilities or sample source. Working with Dr. Harris helped Danielle become more confident in her abilities as a scientist, and she recalled the moment when she realized she was coming into her own as a researcher. “I remember sitting in Dr. Harris’s office updating her on my progress, when I realized that our conversation was more similar to a conversation between colleagues than between teacher and student,” she said. “That was definitely a turning point for me.”

Watching Dr. Harris teach, Danielle learned that regularly reviewing and updating lecture material and giving feedback with empathy fostered a better learning environment. She applied these skills when she mentored a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) student in the computer skills needed to analyze conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) and acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data from the Gulf of Mexico. The data that the student collects will help build input files to represent the Gulf of Mexico for the OPAMOD team. Danielle also worked as an assistant high school earth science teacher and developed a boardgame for the high school class using a water quality and environmental science theme based on the Chesapeake Bay.

Danielle discovered that persistence pays off, especially when preparing manuscripts. “I’ve learned that even though it may be frustrating, it’s always important to double- and triple-check your work with a critical eye,” she said. “Typos and minor formatting issues may still happen, but the science will be strong.” She has enjoyed sharing her research through local community outreach activities, such as the VIMS Marine Science Day and at a “Scientist Walks into a Bar” event in Williamsburg, Virginia.

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(L-R) Virginia Institute of Marine Science post-doc Linlin Cui, Ph.D. student Jessica Turner, master’s student Cristin Wright, and Ph.D. student Danielle Tarpley man a booth at the Institute’s Marine Science Day in May 2019. (Provided by Danielle Tarpley)

She’s also learned the importance of participating in research early in your college years through lab or field work, the REU program, or an internship or fellowship. She found it helpful to ask graduate students about their experiences and advice. “If you have the opportunity to attend a conference as an undergraduate, do it. Move between schools, because you’ll likely have a wider range of experiences, meet more people, and build a wider network.”

Danielle accepted a tentative job offer with a government research center that she anticipates will become an official offer once she graduates.

Praise for Danielle

Dr. Harris explained that Danielle entered her lab with experience limited to running numerical models and grew into a researcher who could also modify the model code and track down tricky technical issues within it. She praised Danielle’s tenacity and patience when tackling difficult problems. “[When she ran into an obstacle], she just kept trying different approaches until she finally got it to work,” she said. “A lot of people would have given up, but she would try something, set it aside for a few weeks, and then come back to it. Finally, after a year, she hit on an approach that worked. That shows that she has what it takes to do research, because we often do research because a problem isn’t easy to solve.”

Dr. Harris also praised Danielle’s willingness to go above and beyond, recalling an instance when Danielle conducted a two-week field collection offshore of Myanmar for another project not related to her research focus. “She has shown herself to be someone who, when asked to do something, tries her best to fit it into her schedule,” said Dr. Harris. “She took the two-week research cruise under very tough conditions and did a great job taking sediments cores, ADCP data, and CTD data. That work not only helped her gain field experience, but also earned her co-authorship of an upcoming paper.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Danielle Tarpley and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the CSOMIO website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Bickham Helps Capture A Clearer Picture of How Corals Respond to Oil

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Nova Southeastern University master’s student Dawn Bickham assists with the shipment of coral colonies to the Florida Coral Disease Rescue Project. (Provided by Abigail Renegar)

Coral reefs provide food, shelter, and habitat to thousands of organisms living in the Gulf of Mexico. However, their vulnerability to physical and toxicological damage increases corals’ risk during environmental disturbances, particularly in shallow water where dangers from coastline proximity include wastewater pollution, moving sediment, salinity and nutrient changes, scavengers, and boating and fishing activities.

Much research after Deepwater Horizon focused primarily on community-level impacts to corals in areas affected by the oil spill. A Florida-based science team is looking at individual effects at the coral tissue level and is seeking to improve assessments with more-consistent laboratory exposure methods, oil compounds used, and coral species examined.

Dawn Bickham is a master’s student with Nova Southeastern University’s Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, and she helps assess the health and recovery of shallow-water corals exposed to oil- and oil plus dispersant mixtures. Her findings will help fill knowledge gaps regarding sublethal oil spill effects on coral systems and help responders determine which aspects of the Gulf are most at-risk when an oil spill occurs.

Dawn is a GoMRI Scholar with the project Coral-Tox: A Species-Sensitivity Assessment of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Toxicity to Scleractinian Corals.

Her Path

Dawn’s journey to biological research took a long and unexpected road. After high school, she entered the United States Air Force as an Operations Resource Manager and later completed an Information Technology undergraduate degree at American InterContinental University’s Florida campus. Shortly after, she began training equestrian riders in Plantation, Florida, and shadowed equestrian industry leaders to acquire nutrition and sports medicine skills to help her clients. She also started diving and snorkeling and joked that if she wasn’t on a horse, she was in the water.

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(L-R) Nova Southeastern University Ph.D. student Nicholas Turner, project principal investigator Dr. Abigail Renegar, and Nova Southeastern University master’s student Dawn Bickham prepare the experimental setup for a hydrocarbon exposure trial. (Provided by Abigail Renegar)

Snorkeling sparked Dawn’s curiosity about coral biology, so she searched for local coral research opportunities and volunteered in Dr. Abigail Renegar’s scleractinian coral biology lab at Nova Southeastern University. She spent more than a decade volunteering in the lab and occasionally attended scientific conferences with Dr. Renegar, which further fueled her captivation with coral research. When a lab position became available, Dawn applied to the university’s biological sciences master’s program and joined Dr. Renegar’s GoMRI-funded coral research team. “My interactions with the oil spill community sparked my interest in oil- and dispersant-related research and cultivated a drive to educate the community about spilled oil’s impacts on our marine resources,” said Dawn. “When the opportunity to work with corals in the scope of oil spill response arose, I was excited to pursue it.”

Her Work

Dawn’s current research began with a previous collaboration between the Renegar lab and government and response community research partners to develop a standardized toxicity testing protocol for adult scleractinian corals (hard corals) that considers how different coral species respond to individual oil compounds. During that effort, the team successfully developed and applied the protocol to one species of shallow-water coral and demonstrated the lethal and sublethal impacts of a single hydrocarbon. The Renegar team is building upon that work by including more coral species and predicting the toxicity of other individual hydrocarbons using the critical body burdens (CBB) – the exposure levels that corals can experience before toxicity occurs, which can cause long-term negative health effects. Their results will help determine thresholds of acceptable/unacceptable impact on corals, help predict impact severity, and inform oil spill responders about the potential impacts of oil and various response methods on corals.

Dawn and her colleagues exposed five ecologically relevant coral species (Acropora cervicornis, Solenastrea bournoni, Stephanocoenia intersepta, Siderastrea siderea, and Porites astreoides) to different hydrocarbon concentrations commonly found in Gulf of Mexico crude oil (toluene, 1-methylnaphthalene, and phenanthrene) for 48 hours using a passive dosing method. They collected growth rate and Pulse-Amplitude-Modulation (PAM) data, which measures the corals’ photosynthetic health (how well it absorbs or reflects light), conducted transcriptomic analyses on the coral’s RNA, and determined CBB using visual assessments of coral condition. These metrics will help determine the concentrations at which each hydrocarbon begins negatively affecting the coral. The team also conducted exposures using increasing concentrations of crude oil to validate findings from the single-hydrocarbon experiment and conducted oil plus dispersant exposures to learn more about effects from dispersant use near coral reefs.

After each exposure treatment, Dawn wounded the corals with a dremel to simulate damage that might occur during response operations (from booms or other mitigation equipment) and took photos at different time points (at time of wound, 1 week after, 1 month after, and 3 months after). She is analyzing approximately 800 photos to determine if there is a correlation between oil concentration and the corals’ ability to repair wounds. Dawn’s team plans to generate a detailed understanding of oil toxicity for each coral species by combining the wound repair data, the PAM data, results from the coral’s RNA transcriptomic analysis, and CBB data from visual coral condition assessments. “All of our metrics are put together to address the big picture of coral health, and the outcome we’re starting to see is that corals may be much more resilient than we expected,” said Dawn.

The team will integrate their results into existing and emerging oil toxicity and 3D oil plume models that will visualize and predict how oil affects corals and inform decisions related to the impact severity of response treatments. “As long as we are using and processing oil, it’s not if we have another oil spill disaster, it’s when,” she said. “When we do our experiments, we want to give responders and industry the best information possible before a spill happens.”

Dawn expressed an interest in exploring the coral’s genetic data to observe if exposure triggered the upregulation or downregulation of any genes that might affect the coral’s ability to recover. She speculates that if the exposure triggered an upregulation of genes that help protect the coral, such as mucus production, there may not be enough energy left for the coral to repair itself when wounded. She hopes that future experiments explore this possibility.

Her Learning

The project’s ambitious experiment schedule required much planning and teamwork, which helped Dawn learn how to function as part of a larger research group. She learned skills in experimental design, workload sharing, and laboratory organization and was able to apply her computer science background to manage the project’s large quantities of data. She found that a big challenge of laboratory research is repeating certain tasks over and over, but she emphasized that it is important to conduct detailed analyses that validate one’s findings. “Completing specific tasks multiple times can cause some people to become complacent in those details,” she said. “We ensured that we maintained the same quality of work through the entire process.”

Dawn is thankful that the GoMRI program helped her expand her horizons and learn new skills. She learned the importance of having an advisor who is understanding, eager to teach, and encourages the use of existing knowledge to gain new knowledge. “I’m coming into this project as a second career and, since I don’t come from a biology background, I’m doing a lot of catch up,” she said. “Working with team members and collaborating with industry people and researchers from other projects has been amazing. I’ve found it a very reassuring place to be.”

Dawn hopes to find a position in industry where she can continue working in toxicology and investigate the sublethal effects of environmental disturbances on marine organisms.

Praise for Dawn

Dr. Renegar reflected on Dawn’s unique background as an Air Force veteran and computer scientist. She explained that Dawn’s experiences have granted her a level of maturity that allows her to mentor her fellow graduate students. Since joining the lab, Dawn has become an integral part of the lab culture and Dr. Renegar praised her eagerness to learn new skills and apply her previous knowledge to coral biology research. “Dawn has learned a great deal since joining the lab,” she said. “I have been very pleased with her progress as a scientist!”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Dawn Bickham and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Wigren Shows It Takes Guts to Explore How Oil Affects Fish’s Microbiomes

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Maggie Wigren is a master’s student at Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. (Photo used by permission from Pinpoint National Photography and Maggie Wigren)

The microbial community living in fish’s gastrointestinal tracts, also called the gut microbiome, are vital to their developing immune systems and can influence behaviors such as foraging. Studies conducted following Deepwater Horizon observed that crude oil exposure can shift the gut microbiome’s community structure to favor microbes that can degrade toxic oil chemicals. Determining if oil exposure triggers similar responses in other Gulf of Mexico fish species and if their foraging behaviors change is important to understanding their risk to oil exposure.

Maggie Wigren is investigating how toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in weathered oil affect the gut microbiomes and foraging behavior of sheepshead minnows, a small fish that lives in the estuarine environments surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. The presence of oil-degrading microbes in the minnows’ guts could serve as bioindicators of polluted areas and potentially decrease the bioaccumulated oil load in fish.

Maggie is a master’s student with Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Integrating Teleost Transcriptomes to Identify Ecologically Meaningful Responses Following Oil Exposure.

Her Path

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Purdue University master’s student Maggie Wigren and her labmates built and maintain this tank system to house and study sheepshead minnows for oil-exposure experiments. (Photo by Maggie Wigren)

As a child, Maggie was fascinated by fish and marine environments and spent most of her childhood swimming, fishing, and wading through streams. She developed a passion for understanding and protecting natural ecosystems that inspired her to pursue an ecology and environmental science undergraduate degree at Purdue University. There, she became interested in disease ecology and ecotoxicology in aquatic habitats and accepted a graduate student position in Dr. Marisol Sepulveda’s ecotoxicology lab conducting GoMRI-funded research that investigates how different fish species respond to oil exposure.

“When I heard about the devastation that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused, I felt helpless,” said Maggie. “I’ve always been passionate about preserving and protecting natural areas, so when I found an opportunity to do research that could help inform oil spill response efforts, I was eager to start. I hope that the more we know about the broad, negative impacts of oil spills, the more our society can work towards more environmentally friendly policies and cleaner forms of energy.”

Her Work

Maggie conducted experiments to observe how oil affects microbial communities in the minnows’ guts and examine minnow foraging behaviors before and after oiling. She used a high-speed blender to thoroughly mix 1 gram of weathered Deepwater Horizon oil in 1 liter of artificial seawater, creating a high-energy water-accommodated fraction or HEWAF (a homogenous oil-water solution). She exposed 5 fish to a 5% concentration of the HEWAF solution for 7 days, changing the water daily to maintain the oil dose and repeated this process three times.

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A group of female sheepshead minnows swim in the tank system designed by Purdue University master’s student Maggie Wigren and her labmates for oil-exposure experiments. (Photo by Maggie Wigren)

For the microbiome experiments, Maggie dissected and extracted DNA from the fish’s gastrointestinal tracts after the 7-day exposure. DNA analysis from 16S rRNA and shotgun metagenomic sequencing will tell her which bacteria are present and their functions. The data analysis is still ongoing, but early results show trends that suggest oil exposure alters the gut microbiome composition in sheepshead minnows and increases the abundance of oil-degrading bacteria.

For the foraging experiments, Maggie observed the number of prey items fish captured at the beginning and end of the 7-day exposure. She released 10 zooplankton (Daphnia magna) into the oil treatment and control tanks and mounted a GoPro action camera to record how many zooplankton the fish consumed within 3 minutes. Surprisingly, oil-exposed fish exhibited higher prey capture rates than control fish, the opposite of her initial hypothesis. She theorizes that the oil-exposed fish may be attempting to acquire more nutrients while in a stressed state and hopes that future studies will investigate this possibility further.

Maggie hopes that her research will help demonstrate the broad effects of oil exposure on non-game and sporting fish. “Although most people don’t think about minnows, they are an important foraging fish for other larger, more economically important fish species,” she said. “By observing oil’s effect on the minnows’ microbiome, we can create a broader toxicological profile for oil contamination in fish, which could help identify bacteria that are potential bioindicators of pollution.”

Her Learning

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Purdue University master’s student Maggie Wigren uses this experimental set up to examine how oil exposure affects the gut microbiomes and foraging behaviors of sheepshead minnows. Oil-exposed (top rack) and control (bottom rack) minnows collected from the main tank system are housed in these jars for the duration of the experiments. (Photo by Maggie Wigren) Purdue University master’s student Maggie Wigren generated this high-energy water-accommodated fraction (HEWAF) of oil, which she uses to conduct oil-exposure experiments examining oil’s effect on sheepshead minnow’s gut microbiomes and foraging behavior. (Photo by Maggie Wigren)

Maggie entered Dr. Sepulveda’s lab without any toxicology or microbial ecology experience and was initially overwhelmed with figuring out how to conduct microbiome research and dealing with equipment issues. Despite these obstacles, she found support in her peers, advisor, and advisory committee, finding that talking out her struggles cleared her mind, led her to solutions, and improved her communication and collaboration skills. “The whole process of designing, executing, and analyzing my own experiment has helped me grow significantly as a scientist and become more independent,” she said.

Maggie recalls that she felt intimidated the first time she attended a large scientific conference but learned from fellow attendees that everyone experiences imposter syndrome at some point in their career. “It was very eye-opening and refreshing to listen and talk to fellow scientists in the field,” she said. “I came back revitalized and ready to tackle the rest of my project with new ideas about how to analyze my results.” She is grateful that she can contribute meaningful research towards oil spill science and ecosystem preservation as a member of the GoMRI science community.

Maggie plans to move to Vancouver, British Columbia, after graduating and pursue a career in environmental consulting, marine conservation research, or outreach that fosters scientific literacy and environmental stewardship. She feels that it is important to learn from those in fields that interest you. “Take advantage of any and all resources that come your way and expand your network of fellow scientists,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it. There is no shame in reaching out for support among your peers and advisors.”

Praise for Maggie

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Purdue University master’s student Maggie Wigren generated this high-energy water-accommodated fraction (HEWAF) of oil, which she uses to conduct oil-exposure experiments examining oil’s effect on sheepshead minnow’s gut microbiomes and foraging behavior. (Photo by Maggie Wigren)

Maggie’s research is the first microbiome study conducted in Dr. Sepulveda’s lab, who explained that Maggie was instrumental in designing the experiment and developing and implementing the study’s different protocols, including the protocols for 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomics. “I have watched Maggie grow as a scientist over the past 2+ years,” she said. “I think her work is unique and will advance our field. She has a bright future ahead of her!”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Maggie Wigren and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

BioBlitz Provides Treasure Trove of Marine Biodiversity Data

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Students and volunteers pick sort marine specimens collected during the 2019 Texas BioBlitz, which resulted in a DNA census of the area’s marine organisms. Photo: MarineGEO https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/invertebrate-zoology/news-and-highlights/marinegeo-bioblitz-2019 Permission from Lesley Aldrich Public Relations Blackbaud Inc.

The Texas Gulf Coast is experiencing a rapid increase in oil refining and transport activities, which also increases the risk of spill-related impacts to its coastal bays and estuarine ecosystems. Marine researchers from several institutions converged on the Texas coast in June 2019 and conducted an intensive two-week biological survey, or BioBlitz, to establish a first-of-its-kind DNA census of the area’s marine organisms. This extensive library of unique DNA barcodes will help scientists efficiently assess changes in marine biodiversity in Texas coastal bay and estuarine systems affected by an oil spill or other environmental disturbances.

Nearly one-third of the United States’ oil refining capacity is situated along the Texas Gulf Coast. The Port of Corpus Christi exported a record 1.59 million barrels of crude oil per day in December 2019, which represents nearly half of all United States oil exports. Several new pipelines are under construction that will direct crude oil from West and Central Texas to a proposed site in northeast Corpus Christi Bay. Permits are under review that will deepen the Port of Corpus Christi’s ship channel to accommodate large oil tankers capable of carrying two million barrels of crude oil.

In a proactive effort to help the region be better prepared for an oil spill or other disturbance, the DROPPS III consortium and the University of Texas Marine Science Institute partnered with the Smithsonian’s Marine Global Earth Observatory (MarineGEO), the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi,  the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve for a DNA barcoding BioBlitz along the Texas Coastal Bend. Approximately 25 scientists, students, and volunteers collected specimens and constructed a DNA barcode library.

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Volunteers, students and scientists collect marine organisms on board the R/V Katy during the 2019 Texas BioBlitz, which resulted in a DNA census of the area’s marine organisms. Photo: MarineGEO https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/invertebrate-zoology/news-and-highlights/marinegeo-bioblitz-2019 Permission from Lesley Aldrich Public Relations Blackbaud Inc.

Using quantitative and qualitative sampling methods, the team collected 1,500 specimens from mud flats, seagrass beds, hypersaline lagoons, saltmarshes, oyster reefs, and mangroves at 68 sampling locations. They identified 396 unique taxa, including 318 invertebrates and 78 fishes, then photographed and sampled them for DNA analysis and prepared them for museum archives. Approximately twelve years of existing water quality, net ecosystem metabolism, nutrient, plankton, fish, invertebrate, and vegetation data provides an environmental context for the BioBlitz collections.

The teams deposited invertebrate specimens in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) Invertebrate Zoology Collection and Texas A&M University’s Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections and tissue samples in the NMNH Biorepository. When genetic sequencing is complete, the sequences will be publicly available via GenBank and the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD).

“All living things shed cells into the water that contain their DNA. With this data, a few small water samples will enable scientists to see how and why animal species change following extreme environmental events like oil spills or hurricanes,” said DROPPS Director Ed Buskey. “The environmental DNA inventory will be a treasure trove for scientists to quickly and efficiently measure who and what is living in Texas bays and estuaries. It’s a powerful tool to assess impact on marine biodiversity if a spill were to occur.”

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther and Stephanie Ellis. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments. Special thanks to Ed Buskey, Tracy Weatherall, and Sally Palmer with the University of Texas Marine Science Institute who provided material for this story.

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This research was made possible in part by a grant from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) to the consortium Dispersion Research on Oil: Physics and Plankton Studies III (DROPPS III).

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Samantha Joye and Simeon Pesch Tell Their Science Stories at Story Collider Event

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Microbiologist Samantha (Mandy) Joye (left) and engineer Simeon Pesch (right) shared their personal science stories at the 2019 Fall AGU Meeting’s Story Collider event. Photos by Lauren Lipuma, AGU. Used with permission from Story Collider.

A journey reveals that her voice matters. A trip changes his work motivation. The theme of disaster response frames both of these touching and inspiring science stories. Members of the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative community, Samantha (Mandy) Joye and Simeon Pesch, joined scientists Jessica Moreman, Laura Guertin, and Paula Buchanan and shared their personal experiences at the 2019 American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) Fall Meeting Story Collider event.

Senior Producers Ari Daniel and Shane Hanlon hosted the December Story Collider show at the Tabletop Tap House in San Francisco. Helping to organize the event were Liesl Hotaling and Assistant Director Sherryl Gilbert with the Center for the Integrated Modeling and Analysis of the Gulf Ecosystem (C-IMAGE).

The packed room of 75 attendees thoroughly enjoyed the event and now you can, too! Listen to their stories though these recordings provided by the Story Collider.

Visit the original story to hear the recordings!

You can also read about the Story Collider event held during the 2017 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystems Science conference: Story Collider Unites Community, Research, and Restoration.

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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This research was made possible in part by grants from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) to the Center for the Integrated Modeling and Analysis of Gulf Ecosystems III (C-IMAGE III) and the Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf-2 (ECOGIG-2) consortium.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Slayden Knows Age Is More Than a Number for Oil-Exposed Deep-Sea Fishes

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Nova Southeastern University master’s student Natalie Slayden holds a common fangtooth (Anoplogaster cornuta) that was collected during the DEEPEND consortium DP06 research cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo by Nina Pruzinsky)

The ocean’s deep-pelagic ecosystem is the largest and least understood habitat on Earth. In the Gulf of Mexico, it was the largest ecosystem affected by the Deepwater Horizon incident. Because there was very limited pre-spill data about deep-pelagic organisms’ biodiversity, abundance, and distribution, it is difficult to determine how oiling may have affected different deep-sea species.

Information about the longevity and age at reproduction of key Gulf of Mexico deep-sea fauna, such as lanternfish or fangtooths, is crucial to determine their vulnerability and resilience to disturbances such as oil spills. However, the depths at which these organisms live and the challenges involved with raising them in captivity or tagging them in the wild make collecting this data difficult.

Natalie Slayden uses ear stones, called otoliths, collected from fish living in Deepwater Horizon-affected waters to study the age and growth of nine Gulf of Mexico deep-sea fish species. Her research can be used to estimate the lifespan and age at which these deep-sea fishes reproduce to determine how quickly a potentially compromised assemblage might be replaced following an environmental disturbance.

Natalie is a master’s student with Nova Southeastern University’s Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences and a GoMRI Scholar with the Deep-Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND) Consortium.

Her Path

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Nova Southeastern University master’s student Natalie Slayden uses a mechanical pencil tip to illustrate the small size of an otolith collected from a lanternfish (Nannobrachium lineatum). (Photo by Natalie Slayden)

Natalie developed an appreciation for marine environments at an early age. Growing up near the Appomattox River in Virginia, she spent her childhood swimming and using kite string and doughballs to fish for catfish on her grandparents’ houseboat. Her family often traveled to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where they spent their days searching for fish, blue crabs, and hermit crabs in tide pools formed during high tides. These formative experiences inspired Natalie to pursue a biology undergraduate degree with a marine biology concentration at Old Dominion University. During that time, she participated in several research projects, including a Belize study abroad program researching coral reef ecology, a Cayman Islands internship researching lionfish diets, and a project with Dr. Mark Butler’s marine ecology lab investigating how climate change could affect the transmission of the Caribbean spiny lobster disease, PaV1 (Panulirus argus Virus 1).

When Natalie began her marine biology master’s studies at Nova Southeastern University, she volunteered in various labs searching for projects that included meaningful research. One of her volunteer experiences was with Dr. Tracey Sutton’s Oceanic Ecology Lab, and the numerous deep-sea questions and research focuses intrigued her. She joined his lab as a graduate student working on his GoMRI project investigating deep-sea fish’s resiliency to disturbances such as oil spills. “Deep-sea research appealed to me because of how rewarding it can be,” said Natalie. “While I’m currently studying the age and growth of Gulf of Mexico deep-sea fishes, there will always be an avenue for research [related to the deep sea].”

Her Work

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Nova Southeastern University master’s student Natalie Slayden counts otolith rings using a microscope-mounted camera. (Photo by Nina Pruzinsky)

Otoliths, located in the fish’s cranium, assist with hearing and balance and provide a natural, chemical tracer representing an organism’s lifetime record of environmental exposures. Because the otoliths Natalie works with are as small as a grain of sand, she removes them using fine tools and photographs and measures them using a microscope-mounted camera. She then grinds and polishes the otoliths to reveal rings that can help her determine the fish’s age, similar to tree rings. She estimates each specimen’s age as a range based on the unit (days, years, etc.) that the rings likely represent for each species. “The otolith rings can mean different things for each fish and could be counted as days, years, or even represent feeding events or different life stages,” explained Natalie. “So far, it seems that the rings in most of the species I am studying may represent different life events and feeding.”

When interpreting a fish’s age using life events, Natalie measures the fish’s length and compares it to the length at which larval fish swim to depth. Then, she looks for evidence that indicates this event in the otoliths (typically seen as a change in the rings’ darkness or width). She also looks for evidence of life events such as undergoing a transformation or, if a fish is a hermaphrodite, a change in sex. When interpreting the otoliths for feeding events, dark rings can represent starvation while lighter rings indicate a food event or digestion. However, interpreting a fish’s age based on feeding varies between species. For example, lanternfish migrate to the surface each night to feed and acquire daily rings that represent both one day and a meal. Fishes that feed less frequently are more complicated to age, and Natalie depends on existing data about their feeding habits to estimate age.

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Using a microscope, researchers can analyze rings in fish otoliths (pictured) to get historical information related to an organism’s age, life events, and environmental disturbances, similar to interpreting a tree’s history using tree rings. (Photo by Natalie Slayden)

The data that Natalie has collected on fish age can help estimate the average lifespans of different deep-sea species, which helps her interpret their resilience to disturbances. Species who more quickly repopulate due to their short life spans may also more quickly rebound from environmental disturbances like oil exposure. The data on fish age and lifespan from Natalie’s research will become input parameters for models that estimate how long their recovery from disturbances may take. “In an environment disturbed by an oil spill, fish populations with individuals that have a shorter lifespan would likely recover the fastest,” said Natalie. “If we know how old these oil-exposed fish are using the data recorded in their otoliths, it can help us understand how long the oil may have effects on populations.”

Her Learning

Natalie named DEEPEND’s DP06 research cruise in 2018 as her most rewarding experience participating in GoMRI research and recalled her excitement at seeing deep-sea organisms first-hand as they came out of trawling nets. She felt fortunate to work alongside scientists from diverse fields and learn new skills from other researchers, especially a team that often discovers new organisms. “The researchers were nice, welcoming, and fun to be around, and the crew was just as excited about our research as we were,” she said. “The cruise taught me the importance of comradery and simply being good to one another.”

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Nova Southeastern University master’s students Nina Pruzinsky (left) and Natalie Slayden (right) process samples collected from a deep-sea trawl during the DEEPEND Consortium DP06 research cruise. (Provided by DEEPEND)

Natalie presented her research at the 2019 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference and plans to present an updated talk at this year’s event. “I am incredibly thankful to be a member of the GoMRI science community,” she said. “It is an honor to be able to work alongside and learn from scientists who are at the top of their fields.”

Natalie is confident that the skills she learned working in Dr. Sutton’s lab will help her transition to the workforce. She also believes that gaining diverse skills and having a multidisciplinary background will expand her future options and plans to take additional course work in cyber security and computer programming after graduating. “It’s ok to be unsure of what exactly you want to do and to change the subject matter of your work,” she said. “I went from studying Caribbean Spiny lobsters to studying deep-sea fishes living a mile below the surface. There is no limit!”

Praise for Natalie

Dr. Sutton explained that Natalie represents everything that his lab and the GoMRI program promotes, especially scholarship, leadership, and character. He described her as being scientifically fearless, attacking the research with gusto. “She learned the intricacies of ageing fishes, then applied them to a group of fishes who are not only quite technically difficult (having small, aberrant otoliths) but also quite difficult to interpret, as they live below the daily signals of sunlight,” he said.

Dr. Sutton also praised Natalie’s leadership skills when she leads the lab’s daily operations and, by extension, the efforts of numerous DEEPEND research projects. He explained that she handles all things with grace and generosity and takes requests with a smile. “The word with Natalie is trust – when she handles a task, you know it will be done well and on time,” said Dr. Sutton. “She speaks softly and slowly but thinks quickly, creating a joyful, positive vibe in the lab for which I am extremely grateful.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Natalie Slayden and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the DEEPEND website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Fact Sheet: Ten Ways to Protect the Gulf/Ocean

These small, educational brochures each highlight ten practical lifestyle practices that individuals can adopt to take better care of the world’s ocean. They can act as hand-outs for people visiting a table, educational booth, or public event.

These files can be printed on card stock, cut, and folded into wallet-sized cards:

There is also a 5×7 postcard version available:

A Spanish-language poster is available for “Ten Ways You Can Help Protect the World’s Ocean”:

Classroom Activity (K-12): “Build-A-?” Teaching Activities and Guides – Deepsea Coral and Tubeworms

ECOGIG LOGO

These learning activities introduce students to different deep-sea organisms living in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Build a Deep-Sea Coral activity utilizes an easy craft project to get students thinking about the architecture of deep-sea corals (which is different from shallow-water corals) and the animals that live on or near the coral. Students can also discuss how corals that live without sunlight obtain their nutrition.

The Build a Deep Sea Tube Worm activity uses a simple craft to teach students about tube worm anatomy and its unique way that tube worms obtain energy from the deep sea.

Video: RECOVER Mini Mahi Tags Series

This three-part video series features the new and innovative satellite tagging research that scientists are conducting on captive mahi-mahi to research how the larger pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs) affect mahi-mahi swim performance and behavior. Wildlife Computers, who developed the PSAT tags, designed a scaled-down, non-data collecting “mini” tag specifically for the Relationships of Effects of Cardiac Outcomes in fish for Validation of Ecological Risk (RECOVER) consortium’s research.

This experiment and the data produced is beneficial for interpreting data collected during the MAHI cruise, a 17-day Gulf of Mexico research cruise in June 2019. During the cruise, 50 wild-caught mahi-mahi were tagged with PSAT and exposed to control (seawater) and experimental (oil-exposed seawater) recovery tanks before being released back into the Gulf of Mexico.

This series is comprised of three short parts:

  • Part One: Mini Mahi Tags introduces master’s student C.J. McGuigan, whose hatchery research assesses the behavioral changes and metabolism of captive mahi carrying the satellite tags.
  • Part Two: Tunnels and Tags highlights how RECOVER uses the mini PSAT to asses the metabolic cost of carrying a PSAT tag through swim chamber respirometry.
  • Part Three: Behavior and Tags highlights the behavioral impacts of satellite tags on captive mahi-mahi through video analysis captured using a GoPro camera affixed to the top of a large research tank.

Sea Grant Publication Explains How Oil Spills Affect Mangroves

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The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team released a publication that discusses various ways that oil exposure can impact mangroves, which have partially submerged root systems that make them especially sensitive to contaminants. Mangroves are widely distributed along Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea coastlines, and they provide important ecosystem services such as protecting shorelines, improving water quality, and providing shelter to fish and shellfish.

Read Impacts of Oil on Mangroves to learn about four types of impacts that mangroves may experience depending on how oil accumulates along shorelines. Also included are ways to protect mangroves, what history tells us about mangrove recovery, and issues related to restoration of damaged mangroves.  

Read these Sea Grant publications related to how oil spills affect coastal areas: Birds of a Feather: Coping with Oil , Oysters and Oil Spills, and Navigating Shifting Sands: Oil on our Beaches.

Read these summaries of studies related to oil spill impacts on marshes:  

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States. 

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently-held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2020 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Woodyard Assesses Vulnerability of Hundreds of Fish Species to Oil Exposure

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Arizona State University Ph.D. student Megan Woodyard (right) and Dr. Beth Polidoro (left) attend an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) workshop in Veracruz, Mexico. (Provided by Megan Woodyard)

Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, resource managers recognized the need for species-specific fish risk assessments to help identify which organisms and habitats would be most affected. However, because many marine species lack toxicological data needed for such assessments, researchers suggested an alternate way to help prioritize species with potentially higher sensitivity or risk to petrochemicals (chemicals in petroleum): a vulnerability index that ranks each species’ relative sensitivity or resilience using species-specific life history traits in combination with the likelihood of petrochemical exposure and any known toxicological responses.

Megan Woodyard is helping develop this petrochemical vulnerability index for more than 2,000 Gulf of Mexico marine species to support improved decision-making for marine resource management, mitigation, restoration, and recovery in United States, Mexican, and Cuban waters.

Megan is a masters’ student with Arizona State University’s College of Integrative Sciences and Arts and a GoMRI Scholar with the project A Comprehensive Petrochemical Vulnerability Index for Improved Decision-Making and Marine Biodiversity Risk Assessment in the Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem.

Her Path

Megan completed three undergraduate degrees (statistics, English, and history) at Arizona State University (ASU) as an honors college student, participating in faculty projects and completing a thesis on a statistical technique called random forest that classifies data using decision trees. Megan’s undergraduate mentor, Dr. Jennifer Broatch, suggested that Dr. Beth Polidoro’s research classifying species’ trait data for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species would align well with Megan’s thesis focus. After Megan successfully designed a random forest code to identify key traits associated with species’ Red List status, Dr. Polidoro offered her a graduate position on her GoMRI research team, which is developing a petrochemical vulnerability index for Gulf of Mexico marine species. Megan is co-advised by Dr. Polidoro and Dr. Steven Saul, who leads the statistical analysis aspects of their research.

Her Work

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(L-R) Master’s student Christi Linardich (Old Dominion University), Ph.D. student Kyle Strongin (Arizona State University, ASU), Dr. Beth Polidoro (ASU), and master’s student Megan Woodyard (ASU) attend the 2019 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Provided by Beth Polidoro)

Megan’s team developed a theoretical framework for the overall vulnerability index that will estimate each marine species’ vulnerability to petroleum chemicals based on their likelihood of exposure, relative sensitivity, and population resilience. Before the index can be applied, the team must compile the relevant data for over 2,000 marine species into a dataset that the index can use. Megan gathered available life history and other data for 1,600 Gulf of Mexico fish species from the IUCN’s Species Information Service, FishBase, academic literature, and other databases. She formatted the data and coded it for different key phrases and consistency across the dataset. “When you pull data from multiple sources, it can be phrased in all sorts of ways,” she explained. “Using the category of ‘diet’ as an example, these programs can search for key phrases about feeding preferences like ‘invertebrates’ or ‘fish’ and flag the species for that diet. This way, I can easily analyze and rank species efficiently and consistently from massive chunks of text.”

Megan is writing rules for the framework index to rank vulnerability based on the compiled data. To do this, the framework will need to classify available data using a numerical, weighted hierarchy that is summed to assign a vulnerability number for each species. Then, Megan can use the framework ranking methodology and results to develop predictions of how petrochemical exposure may impact marine species differently. She will also use the index to identify major knowledge gaps in species’ life history and other data.

Megan’s work, and her colleagues’ work on the more than 400 non-fish species datasets, will provide comprehensive petrochemical vulnerability rankings for over 2,000 Gulf of Mexico species as well as data on each species’ extinction risk and updated spatial distributions. “It’s critical that we develop methodologies to predict how petrochemical exposure will affect Earth’s species,” said Megan. “I hope to create a comprehensive petrochemical vulnerability index of fish species that can help us better understand oil spill impacts and more accurately target areas of concern during future disasters.”

Her Learning

Megan is thankful for the opportunities through GoMRI to work alongside scientists who inspire her, “Through GoMRI, I feel that I’m contributing to something important rather than simply conducting research for the sake of conducting research.” While attending a Red List workshop in Mexico, she watched as Dr. Polidoro and Ph.D. student Kyle Strongin competed to see who could name the most fish species in a tank without using the posted information placards. “A lot of fish species look very similar, but they could even nail the scientific names,” said Megan. “In that moment, I realized that my GoMRI and IUCN research had helped me become a part of this amazing group of scientists with incredible levels of focus, drive, and knowledge. I’m still learning, and I have never felt judged negatively for that. I can ask for help or advice from any member of the community, and they will take time out of their unbelievably busy schedules without complaint or expecting anything in return, just for the sake of science.”

Megan explained that, while the sciences can be intimidating, she has found that even experienced scientists struggle with and adjust their methods to overcome failures. “It may feel like there is an expectation that you will determine one single, exact answer to a question, but I’ve found that we often have to make situational judgement calls, since we are still trying to make our way toward those answers. There are so many ways to approach problems,” she said. Megan is applying to Ph.D. programs at ASU’s School of Sustainability, the first comprehensive degree-granting program in the United States that focuses on solutions to environmental, economic, and social challenges.

Praise for Megan

Dr. Polidoro praised Megan’s progress synthesizing and coding an enormous amount of data for over 1,600 fish species to complete their vulnerability rankings. She joked that she and Megan often briefly derail their research discussions to bond over their pet snakes, exchanging stories about their ball pythons, Peanut Butter and Steve, before jumping back into the science.

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Megan Woodyard and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-20120 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Sea Grant Publication Describes Technologies for Detecting and Monitoring Marine Oil Spills

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The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team released a publication on technologies that complement traditional ship, satellite, and mooring-based tools that researchers use to study oil spills, including Deepwater Horizon. These complimentary technologies include Unmanned Surface and Aerial Vehicles (USVs and UAVs), Saildrones, aerial drones, drifters, blimps, balloons, and advanced remote sensing technology.

Read In the air and on the water: Technology used to investigate oil spills to learn about the capabilities of these technologies and how researchers have used them. Included are factors that scientists consider when determining which unmanned vehicle is the best fit for their research.

Read these related Sea Grant publications that give more details on oil spill detection and monitoring technologies: Underwater Vehicles Used to Study Oil Spills and Predicting the Movement of Oil.

Read these related stories describing technologies to study oil spills:

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States. 

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently-held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Why Grad Student Keller’s Marriage of Polymers and Nanoparticles Causes Oil to Break Up

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Tulane University Ph.D. student Chris Keller works at the chemical fume hood, where he assembles and observes reactions between nanoparticles and polymers designed to help disperse spilled oil. (Photo by McKenna Redding)

Because oil and water don’t mix easily, oil droplets in the ocean environment tend to aggregate into larger masses, which hinders microbial degradation. Chemical dispersants used for oil spill response contain water-soluble and oil-soluble components that adhere to oil droplets and increase the oil and water’s compatibility, allowing oil to disperse more easily into the water column and enhancing microbial consumption. However, because chemical dispersants require constant energy input from waves, wind, and currents to keep the oil dispersed, they typically only slow oil’s coalescence rather than prevent it.

Chris Keller is developing a dispersant system that combines silica nanoparticles and polymer surfactants and doesn’t require energy input to generate stable oil emulsions. His goal is to identify which combination of these compounds will maximize oil entrapment and dispersion while minimizing harm to marine life. 

Chris is a Ph.D. student with Tulane University’s Department of Chemistry and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Designing Nanoparticle-Based Dispersants with Improved Efficiency and Biocompatibility.

His Path

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Tulane University Ph.D. student Chris Keller visually examines reactions between nanoparticles and a combination of polymers to disperse oil in water. If all of the nanoparticles settle to the bottom, it usually signals that the reaction was unsuccessful. (Photo by McKenna Redding)

Chris’s interest in science began with his Mandeville, Louisiana, high school chemistry teacher, whose passion for science and its ability to change the world inspired him. He discovered a knack for scientific research while performing basic lab experiments, often modifying the experimental conditions for efficiency. His interest in chemistry eventually evolved into a passion for polymer science.

As an undergraduate polymer science student at the University of Southern Mississippi, Chris investigated the drug delivery applications of different biopolymers in Dr. Daniel Savin’s polymer science lab. He recalls assisting Kyle Bentz, who was then a graduate student in the lab, with his GoMRI-funded research on nanoparticle-based oil dispersants. The research held great significance to Chris, who is from the Louisiana coast, where oil spills and chemical dispersants can affect the local ecosystem and marine life for years. “When I was accepted to Tulane University as a Ph.D. student, little did I know that I would be continuing that same GoMRI research under the direction of Dr. Scott Grayson,” said Chris. “By researching alternative methods to cleanup oil spills, I feel that I am contributing to measures that can help lessen their impacts and ensure that an oil spill isn’t a defining event for a region’s ecosystem.”

His Work

Chris is continuing the research of Dr. Kyle Bentz and Dr. Muhammad Ejaz investigating polymer-modified silica-based nanoparticles as a new system of oil dispersants. Chris’s team hypothesizes that once the nanoparticle system entraps the oil, the oil’s density will change so that it floats to the ocean surface for collection via skimming. This process could be repeated as many times as necessary to help spill response efforts. Chris is designing the nanoparticle system and observing the nanoparticles’ reactions with unimolecular micelles (single-molecule surfactant polymers that don’t require energy input to generate stable oil emulsions).

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Tulane University Ph.D. student Chris Keller is developing an oil dispersant system that combines nanoparticles with polymer surfactant molecules. This photo depicts (left) a stock solution of the nanoparticles he uses dispersed in water and (right) phase separated oil (top) and water (bottom) layers after stirring the stock solution with crude oil for 72 hours. (Photo by Dr. Curtis Jarand)

The nanoparticle system is made up of a silica-based core with a copolymer chain attached to it that contains both hydrophobic (oil-soluble) and hydrophilic (water-soluble) polymer molecules. The hydrophobic polymer drives the entrapment of oil while the hydrophilic polymer helps disperse the oil into the water column. Chris has found that there is a delicate balance between the ratio of these two polymers that dictates if the system will exhibit the right properties for real-world application. For example, too many hydrophobic molecules could trap oil too quickly, changing the oil’s density so that it rises to the surface earlier than desired, but too many hydrophilic molecules could slow the rate of oil entrapment and reduce the amount of oil that disperses. Too many polymer molecules overall could create particles that are too large to effectively disperse the oil and may affect marine organisms.

So far, Chris has observed preliminary evidence of oil entrapment and established the minimum number of hydrophilic molecules required to disperse the oil particles in water (up to tens of milligrams per milliliter of water). He is currently adjusting the ratio of hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules to identify combinations that will return the same or better results. To do this, he tests various nanoparticle-micelle mixtures under an inert (not chemically active) nitrogen atmosphere and observes their reactions over time. He examines if simple shaking will disperse the modified particles in water and, if so, records what concentrations are needed to prevent the particles falling to the bottom of the test vial. Each reaction’s success is determined by the amount of polymer that effectively attaches to the nanoparticle surface. He uses a centrifuge to isolate the nanoparticle system and collect the free polymers that did not attach during the reaction. Analyzing the unattached polymers can provide a rough approximation of the size of the polymers that attached to the nanoparticle surface.

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A photo of The Grayson Group students and researchers at Tulane University. (Top, L-R) Oluwapelumi Kareem, Dr. Scott Grayson, and Brennan Curole. (Bottom, L-R) Chris Keller, McKenna Redding, Molly Payne, and Dr. Farihah Haque. (Photo by Jessica Stephenson)

Chris sends batches of different polymer-modified nanoparticles to collaborating labs to be analyzed for toxicity and effectiveness in entrapping oil. He constantly adjusts his experimental set up based on his colleagues’ findings on the different formulations. “At the end of the day, it’s about a real-world application. Their results help me adjust the polymer makeup to find a system that will meet our goal: the most oil entrapment with the least environmental impact,” explained Chris. “Furthermore, Dr. Savin’s lab at the University of Florida is developing a different polymer-modified nanoparticle system to test against mine to see which one yields better results.”

Once the new dispersant system’s design is complete, Chris will fine-tune the system so that industry can scale it up for real-world application. While the system is being developed with oil spill mitigation in mind, there are other potential uses of the team’s nanoparticle dispersant system. “Future applications other than dispersants are going to largely depend on how ‘biofriendly’ we can make these,” explained Chris. “For example, an undergraduate student working on his senior thesis under my guidance is examining the use of sugar-based nanoparticles. If we can utilize a different core such as sugar instead of silica, I think we could potentially see some use as drug carriers or filtration devices later down the line.”

His Learning

Dr. Grayson taught Chris to take his research one goal at a time and emphasized collaboration’s important role in achieving those goals. Being a part of the GoMRI community keeps Chris mindful of the broader implications of his research. For example, Chris’s close focus on his laboratory research sometimes caused him to forget that, while his research has applications for oil spill response, research contributing to other applications is just as important. “When I go to the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference, I get to see the other researchers’ perspectives first-hand and consider things that I wouldn’t have thought about on my own,” he said. “It makes me a more well-rounded researcher.”

As Chris nears graduation, he prepares his research for the next cohort of graduate students to continue. “Science is a marathon, not a sprint, and is met with a lot of ‘brick walls’ and frustration,” said Chris. “Having patience, taking a step back, and looking at it from different perspectives [makes it possible to] change the world one small victory at a time. The experiments won’t always work, but that’s the point of research.”

Praise for Chris

Dr. Grayson praised how Chris tested the team’s theory that silica nanoparticles modified with surfactant polymers could successfully stabilize oil mixtures in water. He explained that Chris’s experiments built upon previous research to include more oil dispersion processes and remove high temperatures associated with synthesizing the polymers and nanoparticles. “Chris has done a great job working on this theory,” said Dr. Grayson. “It appears in these last few months that he will finally achieve everything that we had hoped for: an environmentally friendly, non-toxic oil dispersant.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Chris Keller and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Ji Helps Improve Tool to Locate Oil Beneath the Ocean Surface

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University of Miami Ph.D. student Chao Ji with the SOSim (Subsurface Oil Simulator) model. (Provided by Chao Ji)

When a marine oil spill occurs, it is vital to quickly determine where and when to dispatch response operations. Visualization and remote sensing techniques help locate oil on surface waters but have limitations in locating subsurface oil, such as oil that lingers in the water column or settles to the bottom. During Deepwater Horizon, researchers developed for the NOAA Response and Restoration’s Emergency Response Division an open-source predictive model that infers where submerged oil is and predicts where it will go using near real-time field sampling data. This model, called the inferential Subsurface Oil Simulator (SOSim) model, could assess sunken oil on relatively flat bay bottoms and continental shelves but only for a single complete discharge of oil.

Chao Ji is helping to develop a next-generation SOSim model that integrates reconnaissance, flow field, and bathymetric data to address a continuous spill situation and various seafloor topography. “The model’s output is a 3D map showing the probability of finding submerged oil in different locations,” she explained. “The updated SOSim model can provide a sampling plan that tells emergency responders where they can get a submerged oil sample in the event of a future spill.”

Chao is a Ph.D. student with the University of Miami’s Department of Civil, Architecture, and Environmental Engineering and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Inferential/Parametric Forecasting of Subsurface Oil Trajectory Integrating Limited Reconnaissance Data with Flow Field Information for Emergency Response.

Her Path

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University of Miami Ph.D. students Chao Ji and Mary Jacketti present their research at the University of Miami College of Engineering (UMCoE) Research Day. (Provided by Chao Ji)

Growing up, Chao found great joy in discovering answers to her questions about the world, which sparked her initial interest in science. The pollution of a clean river in her hometown motivated her to conduct research that could help make the world greener. One of Chao’s first efforts toward this goal was designing a zero-energy-consuming toilet that won second prize in the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Reinvent the Toilet Challenge & Expo in China. “This experience gave me a sense of achievement and encouraged me to believe that I am the ‘right person’ for science and engineering,” said Chao. “When I heard about the tragedy caused by the Bohai Bay oil spill in China and the Deepwater Horizon spill in Gulf of Mexico, I felt a sense of responsibility as an environmental engineer to help clean up the mess.”

Chao completed a water and wastewater science and engineering undergraduate degree at Chongqing University and an environmental engineering master’s degree from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. As a master’s student, she gained additional experience operating microscopy equipment through the Visiting Student Research Internship Program at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. While researching doctoral programs, Chao was fascinated by Dr. James Englehardt’s water quality engineering research at the University of Miami and named him as a preferred advisor on her application. Dr. Englehardt sent her information about his GoMRI-funded project on developing a model to track submerged oil and invited her to join his lab as a graduate researcher.

Her Work

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University of Miami Ph.D. student Chao Ji (far right) attends the 2018 International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainability in Shanghai, China as an invited speaker. (Provided by Chao Ji)

Oil that is chemically dispersed in the deep ocean forms small droplets that can become trapped in constant density layers, where the oil’s density is the same as the surrounding water’s density. Because these layers don’t always stay at the same depth, Chao’s research began with enhancing the SOSim model’s capability to predict the location of submerged oil within these moving layers for a continuous oil spill.

Using Bayesian statistical methods, she inferred previously unknown parameters in the oil trajectory model, including average velocity, the horizontal dispersion coefficient, and the mass fraction of oil patches (smaller oil masses that have detached from the initial spilled oil mass). She then used existing Deepwater Horizon data as a case study to validate the model’s ability to predict submerged oil transport. “The model is currently using inputs about the oil’s concentration and location to infer oil patches’ individual velocity and dispersion coefficient, but these parameters will be updated over time as new information is gathered,” she explained.

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An example of an oil prediction result from the SOSim (Subsurface Oil Simulator) model. The blue dots represent field observations of subsurface oil and orange dots indicate oil location predicted by the SINTEF OSCAR model. The solid green line represents the 95% confidence bound with 4% relative oil concentration. Red and green dashed lines represent the depths of subsurface oil. (Provided by Chao Ji)

Chao is currently developing a sampling plan for oil responders that will help them locate submerged oil during a spill. She is assessing four sampling plans: random sampling, even sampling, adaptive sampling, and the sampling strategy used during Deepwater Horizon response. For her experiments, the simulations from the SINTEF Oil Spill Contingency and Response (OSCAR) model serve as a ‘real’ oil spill dataset. She applies the different sampling plans to the OSCAR dataset and uses the enhanced SOSim model to infer the oil distribution resulting from each sampling approach. She then compares oil distributions from the SOSim model and the OSCAR model to determine which sampling plan approach returns the most accurate submerged oil distribution. “Although real spill observations are limited, we can use OSCAR model outputs as ‘real’ data and compare our predictions with the ‘real’ answer to determine which sampling plan is the most effective in real spill scenarios,” said Chao.

So far, Chao has completed her initial analyses for the sampling plan and will incorporate additional scenarios to determine if the plan changes for various submerged oil distributions. She hopes to further correct the SOSim model’s output and eventually enhance its capability to include oil fate.

Her Learning

Working in Dr. Englehardt’s lab, Chao experienced an atmosphere that encouraged independent and creative problem solving. “During the whole project, Dr. Englehardt asked me to think what scientific contributions will stand the test of time,” she said. “His slogan is ‘do whatever it takes,’ which inspires me to always prepare for the best.” She recalled a situation when applying Bayesian statistics where the model consistently returned strange results. Despite debugging the software dozens of times, she struggled to pinpoint the issues and worried that her project would fail. She continuously referred to her Bayesian materials and discussed various options with Dr. Englehardt until she finally discovered that a function in the model was returning a value smaller than the values the computer could represent. Relieved, she incorporated a new function to resolve the issue and started seeing results that made sense.

The GoMRI program gave Chao the opportunity to learn from and work with top international oil spill researchers, exposing her to new fields, methods, and tools. She and her colleagues presented their research at the 2019 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference and the 2019 AMOP Technical Seminar on Environmental Contamination and Response, where they received valuable feedback and advice from fellow researchers. The team also gave two international presentations for colleagues associated with Oil Spill Response Limited, an industry-funded oil spill response cooperative. “Before my Ph.D. research, I had no idea about subsurface oil modeling,” said Chao. “So far, I have learned the current research theories and techniques and developed an open-source application written in Python. The GoMRI project helped me develop skills to create new theoretical methods and to translate the theoretical models [for real use] in software applications.”

Chao plans to apply her oil spill and data science knowledge to other pollution issues, hopefully in academia where she can inspire students the way that she was with science and engineering. “There’s a saying: I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance,” joked Chao. “I will keep updating my knowledge and skills and hopefully create something that can withstand the test of time.” She believes that curiosity is a very important part of scientific research.

Praise for Chao

Dr. Englehardt praised Chao’s team-player attitude, explaining that she works so closely with her colleagues that their individual research can be difficult to differentiate. He describes her as someone who is eager to explore new approaches, challenge conventional wisdom, and come up with innovative solutions. “[Our team] has come to know and love her ever-cheerful and unselfish nature,” he said. “We look forward to watching her career successes in the future.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Chao Ji and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Sea Grant Updates Publication on Top 5 FAQs about Deepwater Horizon

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The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team released a publication that incorporates the latest science that answers the top five most frequently asked oil spill questions by people who depend on a clean and healthy Gulf of Mexico.

Read Top Five Frequently Asked Questions about the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill to learn about seafood safety, wildlife impacts, cleanup techniques, dispersants and beach safety, and oil fate. Included are graphics that show seafood testing results by state and the percent of oil fate by category.

Read these related Sea Grant publications that give more details on oil spills and…

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States. 

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently-held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Bonatesta Examines How Oil Exposure Affects Fish Kidneys

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University of North Texas Ph.D. student Fabrizio Bonatesta prepares a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) plate to asses transcriptional changes in zebrafish kidney development. (Photo credit: Ed Mager)

Following Deepwater Horizon, there was concern about how the oil spill might affect marine life. Since then, scientists have learned more about how polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) affect marine organisms, especially commercially and recreationally important fisheries. For example, they found that that exposure to PAHs during a fish’s early life stages (embryo and larvae) can induce sublethal impacts, such as reduced cardiac function, that affect the organism’s overall fitness and health.

Fabrizio Bonatesta is contributing to this research by conducting genetic analyses on oil-exposed zebrafish embryos to assess effects on kidney development and function. “Although a freshwater fish, the zebrafish represents an excellent model for this study because the normal development of the zebrafish kidney is well-characterized,” Fabrizio explained. “We plan to follow-up with similar studies on ecologically and economically relevant species native to the Gulf of Mexico coast, such as red drum.”

Fabrizio is a Ph.D. student with the University of North Texas’s Department of Biological Sciences and a GoMRI Scholar with Relationship of Effects of Cardiac Outcomes in Fish for Validation of Ecological Risk II (RECOVER II).

His Path

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University of North Texas Ph.D. student Fabrizio Bonatesta. (Photo credit: RECOVER)

Fabrizio grew up in Brindisi, Italy, a small port town where he often spent his free time scuba diving, snorkeling, and enjoying the natural beauty of the beach. Due to its strategic location on the Italian Peninsula and Adriatic Sea, Brindisi is now a popular location for industrial businesses, including chemical and petroleum industries. Despite the economic swell, the influx of these businesses has affected the area’s coastal environment and its residents. “Over the years, I’ve witnessed multiple beached marine mammals and marine fauna degradation possibly related to anthropogenic impacts on the Adriatic Sea ecosystem,” Fabrizio said. “These damages to the marine habitat I hold so close to my heart motivated me to improve my understanding of the circumstances harming the Brindisi coast.”

Fabrizio completed dual undergraduate degrees in biology and marine science at the University of Miami, where he developed a strong foundation in aquatic toxicology and a broad understanding of marine ecosystems. As he anticipated graduate studies, Fabrizio toured the university’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and chatted briefly with Dr. Edward Mager, who was an assistant researcher at the time. Later, when Fabrizio applied to graduate school, he learned that Dr. Mager was now at the University of North Texas and assembling his lab team. Fabrizio reached out and was surprised that Dr. Mager remembered their brief conversation, which led to Fabrizio joining Dr. Mager’s team as his first graduate student and pursuing an environmental science degree with a toxicology focus. “I feel that achieving this degree will allow me to maximize the contributions I can make to preserve the aquatic environment,” said Fabrizio. “If I can better understand the impact that toxicants are having on the environment, I will be able to help develop solutions to improve the quality of aquatic life in Brindisi and other regions.”

His Work

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University of North Texas Ph.D. student Fabrizio Bonatesta operates a microinjector that injects fish larvae with a fluorescence solution so he can measure kidney clearance capacity. (Photo credit: Ed Mager)

Fabrizio conducts transcriptomics studies using early life stage zebrafish, which previous research showed that exposure to Deepwater Horizon oil may alter or impede transcription related to kidney health. Transcription, the important first step of DNA gene expression, occurs when a DNA segment is copied into RNA and encodes at least one gene. “The kidney is an osmoregulatory and excretory organ found in vertebrates, including fish, that controls the internal solute concentration and helps excrete waste products,” said Fabrizio. “Due to its vital physiological functions, any potential negative outcome to the kidney’s development and functions could have adverse impacts on the organism potentially leading to mortality.”

Fabrizio exposes zebrafish embryos to a water-crude oil mixture (at concentrations similar to those observed during Deepwater Horizon), isolates their RNA, and quantifies differences in gene expression using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) compared to controls. So far, he and his colleagues have analyzed 15 target genes (3 genes selected based on previous mahi transcriptomic results and 12 hypothesis-driven genes), including their various transcription factors, signaling proteins, and structural and functional proteins involved in kidney development.

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Using immunohistochemistry fluorescence techniques at the University of North Texas laboratory, Ph.D. student Fabrizio Bonatesta observes kidney structure in a zebrafish larva. (Photo credit: Fabrizio Bonatesta)

Although Fabrizio is still analyzing the collected data, he observed that exposed zebrafish embryos exhibited significant changes in transcription factors and structural and functional proteins compared to controls. The transcription factors tended to exhibit decreased mRNA expression, while functional and structural proteins related to kidney development tended to exhibit increased mRNA expression.

Fabrizio is also using immunohistochemistry techniques to examine zebrafish kidney morphology. Using an antibody against sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (a transporter enzyme highly expressed in the kidney), he generates florescent staining within the kidneys. Then, he examines the kidney’s structure using a fluorescence microscope to see if there are morphological defects, which could suggest possible direct or indirect impacts from oil exposure.

The next phase of Fabrizio’s research will examine how changing salinity concurrent with oil exposure affects kidney function by subjecting oil-exposed fish to salinity transfer challenges (exposure to abrupt salinity changes). “The Gulf of Mexico coast is characterized by estuaries and brackish waters, where the salt concentration frequently fluctuates,” he said. “These changes might represent a stress to the fishes inhabiting these waters. If it is not compensated for, the salinity stress may interfere with the organism’s physiological homeostasis and various biological processes, which could be lethal to some.”

His Learning

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A group photo of University of North Texas scientists involved in RECOVER consortium research. (L-R) Ph.D. student Fabrizio Bonatesta, Dr. Jason Magnuson, Dr. Dane Crossley, Dr. Aaron Roberts, Dr. Ed Mager, Dr. Kristin Bridges, and Ph.D. student Derek Nelson. (Photo credit: RECOVER)

Working with Dr. Mager taught Fabrizio that scientific research requires a meticulous approach and the ability to troubleshoot problems as they arise. Dr. Mager’s work ethic and enthusiasm for their research greatly strengthened Fabrizio’s dedication to his own research goals. “It is my duty as a scientist to review previous research papers and study their methods to improve my own [methods],” said Fabrizio. “I enjoy the process of uncovering new information and bonding with my peers over the review process.”

Fabrizio said that GoMRI gives scientists who are interested in researching the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem an opportunity to collaborate. “Being able to connect and share our findings is crucial in the scientific world,” he said. “The cooperation of all the people involved with GoMRI research can provide important insights to prevent future spills and restore the environment.”

Fabrizio would like to work with a private company in the United States before returning to Italy. Eventually, he hopes to apply his education towards creating an Italian organization of scientists from a broad range of fields. He envisions that the organization would help define environmental problems, inform public discussion surrounding those issues, and support solutions improving environmental conditions and related affects on human health.

Praise for Fabrizio

Dr. Mager describes Fabrizio as a quick-learner and a dedicated worker whose independence exceeds that of other students at similar stages in their research. “Fabrizio is very professional, considerate, insightful, and a true team-player. It is a pleasure to have him in my lab,” he said. “I believe he is a very promising young environmental scientist, and I look forward to helping him progress through his Ph.D. and observe his career beyond.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Fabrizio Bonatesta and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the RECOVER website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Montas Assesses Oil Spill Health Risks to Children During Beach Play

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University of Miami graduate student Larissa Montas. (Photo provided by Larissa Montas)

The Deepwater Horizon incident affected more than 1,700 km of Gulf of Mexico coastline. Chemical compounds from the oil spill posed a risk to human health, especially children whose play behaviors often bring them in direct contact with sand and water. To better understand these risks, researchers are quantifying how children play at the beach and combining those data with the different types and levels of oil spill compounds that reached shorelines.

Larissa Montas is developing an algorithm to predict the concentrations and distributions of oil compounds along beaches. Her novel algorithm will contribute to a larger risk assessment platform that assesses cumulative and aggregate risks to children’s health from oil spill compounds. These assessments can help inform future spill response decisions, including beach closures.

Larissa is a Ph.D. student with the University of Miami’s Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering Department and a GoMRI Scholar with Beach Exposure And Child HEalth Study (BEACHES).

Her Path

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The Beach Exposure and Child Health Study (BEACHES) research team. (L-R) Rosalia Guerrero (research scientist), Dr. Helena Solo-Gabriele (Principal Investigator), Lindsey Clark (master’s student), Dr. Alesia Ferguson (Co-Principal Investigator), Dr. Maribeth Gidley (research scientist), Pauline Williams (community volunteer), Lonnie Jones (community volunteer), Larissa Montas (Ph.D. student), Devon Brown, Graham Reid (community volunteer), Tanu (Uppal) Altomare (Ph.D. student), Hanna Perone (master’s student), and Kyra Rattler (undergraduate student). (Photo provided by Larissa Montas) University of Miami Ph.D. student Larissa Montas (left, blue shirt) helps collect information about children’s beach play behavior. The team videotaped children pressing their hand on a sand tray and used a digital scale to record the hand press and determine how much sand adhered to the hands. They also traced each child’s hand on paper and photographed it to measure hand surface area. Here, Montas holds the video camera while University of Miami MD/MPH student Hanna Perone (foreground) holds a hand trace and University of Houston undergraduate student Leslie Rojas assists a child participant. (Photo provided by Larissa Montas)

Larissa describes science as her “first love” and can’t recall a time when she wasn’t involved with science in some way. Growing up in a seaside town, she created strong ties to the beach. The more she learned about beach ecosystems, the more her curiosity about environmental science deepened. Later, she completed undergraduate degrees in civil and environmental engineering and a master’s degree in environmental engineering at the University of Miami. While applying to doctoral programs, Larissa received an email from one of her previous professors, Dr. Helena Solo-Gabriele, advertising a graduate research opportunity with her lab. Larissa applied and joined Dr. Solo-Gabriele’s team investigating children’s health risks to oil spill compounds in beach environments.

“I am deeply interested in exploring the integrated relationship between the environment and human health, so our team’s research was a perfect match to my interests,” said Larissa. “Children’s environmental health is a topic close to my heart, as children are more vulnerable to environmental health issues.”

Her Work

Following Deepwater Horizon, responders and researchers collected tens of thousands of seawater, sediment, and atmospheric samples. The first phase of Larissa’s research was to sort this historical data. Using the General NOAA Operational Modeling Environment (GNOME)’s predicted timing of oil spill impacts, she categorized the data by time and space: impacted sites prior to oil impact, impacted sites after oil impact, and unimpacted sites. She also assisted efforts led by Dr. Alesia Ferguson to video record (with guardian permission) children’s beach play activities and patterns to characterize children’s interactions with sand and other potential sources of oil contamination. She is currently developing an algorithm that will utilize a fate and transport model’s outputs for future predictions of concentrations of individual toxic oil compounds that might reach nearshore waters and sand.

The second phase of Larissa’s research focuses on analyzing oil compounds associated with Deepwater Horizon that were identified as toxic. Using an oil spill fate and transport model, she tracks how long it will take each compound to reach the beach environment. Then, she incorporates existing data about the compound’s physical and chemical properties to predict how much it should be degraded when it reaches the nearshore environment. “Some of the oil compounds won’t get there at all because they will be completely degraded or become airborne before arrival,” explained Larissa. “But, most of them will, and we need to know how much and what health risks are associated with those concentrations.” She uses her results to generate concentration-frequency distributions, a type of histogram that represents how often a measured concentration falls within a certain range in sand/marsh sediment, water, and tar. She then compares concentration ratios of the different compounds to the original source oil to identify changes in the oil’s overall composition by the time it reaches the beach environment.

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University of Miami Ph.D. student Larissa Montas (left, blue shirt) helps collect information about children’s beach play behavior. The team videotaped children pressing their hand on a sand tray and used a digital scale to record the hand press and determine how much sand adhered to the hands. They also traced each child’s hand on paper and photographed it to measure hand surface area. Here, Montas holds the video camera while University of Miami MD/MPH student Hanna Perone (foreground) holds a hand trace and University of Houston undergraduate student Leslie Rojas assists a child participant. (Photo provided by Larissa Montas)

The third phase of Larissa’s research uses atmospheric remote sensing to estimate the impacts of toxic airborne compounds associated with Deepwater Horizon on beach environments. She assists Dr. Naresh Kumar to assess changes in remotely-sensed parameters immediately before and after the spill, collocated with meteorological conditions and adjusted using region specific regression. Using this approach, researchers can develop beach-specific concentrations of airborne compounds for future oil spill exposure studies.

Larissa’s research will contribute to an assessment platform providing health risk information for children swimming or playing at oil-impacted beaches. “Children’s behavioral patterns make them more vulnerable than adults, and they have more-intimate contact with the sand due to play activities such as burying themselves in the sand,” said Larissa. “Our risk assessment platform aims to help improve estimations about children’s exposures and risks to toxic oil compounds and inform decision makers and first responders about toxic compound concentrations when an oil slick approaches the nearshore environment.”

Her Learning

Working with Dr. Solo-Gabriele taught Larissa that the rigorous scientific process can also be an exciting, creative, and collaborative process. One of Larissa’s favorite memories was assisting with fieldwork that quantified children’s beach play activities. The team worked from early morning to late evening collecting data on over 100 children playing at four beaches in Florida and Texas. “The whole BEACHES team came together, and the PIs worked hard side-by-side with the students,” said Larissa. “It was collaboration at its best and gave me the opportunity to learn about the work that Co-PIs Dr. Alicia Ferguson and Dr. Kristi Mena are leading.”

Larissa’s journey has shown her that exploring different fields and seeking guidance from mentors are important goals for students considering a scientific career. “Students’ motivations are as varied as they are as individuals,” she said. “A good way to start is to take initiative and volunteer for a project that matches your interests. Many professors like giving advice. Don’t be afraid to seek out mentors who can help you understand where to take that first step.”

After graduating, Larissa wants to continue interdisciplinary research investigating environmental contaminants and human health.

Praise for Larissa

Dr. Solo-Gabriele said that Larissa was at the top of her list when recruiting graduate students for her GoMRI project. She described Larissa as having “an engineering mind,” praising her methodical approach to research and detailed-oriented personality. She explained that Larissa’s laboratory experience gave her an advantage when analyzing the complex chemical composition of oil in air, water, and sediments. “She understands the details of the analytical techniques and the difficulties that may occur when trying to compare the results from different laboratories,” said Dr. Solo-Gabriele. “Larissa has submitted a peer-reviewed journal article [based on her research] that provides insight to the natural background concentrations of oil spill compounds, which is useful for identifying the excess risks associated with oil spill impacts along coastal regions.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Larissa Montas and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Rayle Examines Changing Meiofauna Biodiversity in Oiled Marshes Using Bioinformatics

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Patrick Rayle, a master’s student at Louisiana State University AgCenter, sets up a sample transect at a marsh site that has not experienced shearing. (Photo by Claudia Husseneder)

Shearing typically occurs along coastal marshes when strong storms rip away the plants at the marsh edge. Because oiled shoreline sediment is in a weakened state and less able to securely hold plants in place, some Louisiana marshes that were heavily oiled following Deepwater Horizon are experiencing more shearing than usual. The loss of vegetation adversely affects the entire marsh ecosystem.

Patrick Rayle uses metabarcoding methods to examine differences in meiofauna biodiversity in oiled and unoiled Louisiana marshes that have experienced shearing. His research can help us better understand how meiofauna communities respond to these co-occurring stressors. He also wants to help answer questions about whether losing the marsh edges through erosion will diminish the diversity of this unique intertidal ecosystem.

Patrick is a master’s student with the Louisiana State University AgCenter’s Department of Entomology and a GoMRI Scholar with the project A Study of Horse Fly (Tabanidae) Populations and Their Food Web Dynamics as Indicators of the Effects of Environmental Stress on Coastal Marsh Health.

His Path

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Patrick Rayle (left), a master’s student at Louisiana State University AgCenter, takes GPS coordinates as research associate Erin Stevens (right) sets up sample transect marker poles at a marsh site that experienced shearing. (Photo by: Claudia Husseneder)

Patrick’s father is a biologist for a Louisiana environmental consulting firm, which made biology a common dinner table topic that Patrick really enjoyed growing up. Later, while completing a marine-focused biological sciences undergraduate degree at Louisiana State University, Patrick worked with Dr. Ken Brown, a Coastal Waters Consortium team member investigating how Deepwater Horizon oiling affected marsh microbial communities. Afterwards, he eagerly accepted a graduate research position with Dr. Lane Foil and Dr. Claudia Husseneder, who were also investigating Deepwater Horizon impacts on Louisiana marshes.

“I’ve lived my entire life just outside of New Orleans, and the various disasters that the community experienced over the years had a large impact on my life,” said Patrick. “When the oil spill hit, it was extremely frustrating that, as a teenager, there really wasn’t much I could do about it. Working on this research examining long-term effects of the spill has been cathartic for me – it feels like I can make a difference in the response the next time something like this happens.”

His Work

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A close-up of a marsh edge suffering plant loss due to oiling. (Photo by: Claudia Husseneder)

Patrick collects soil samples from six Barataria Bay marsh sites using a Barrett soil coring device equipped with replaceable acrylic cores for extracting large, consistently-sized soil samples with minimal cross-contamination risks. He collects five samples at each site from increasing elevations that are .05m apart. Then, he extracts DNA from the samples and uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the short eukaryotic 18S region of the DNA and capture DNA sequences for the microscopic meiofauna living in the soil.

Patrick applies Illumina Hi-seq DNA sequencing techniques to the amplified region to reveal the exact sequence of each organism in the sample. Using bioinformatics algorithms, he matches the regions with previously identified and sequenced species available in a public DNA database. This process generates a table of all the species matched to the collected organisms, which Patrick uses to examine biodiversity differences between healthy and sheared sites that experienced oiling.

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The marsh work group returns after a long day of field work. (L-R) Research assistant Mike Becker and master’s students Patrick Rayle and Ben Aker. (Photo by Claudia Husseneder)

Patrick’s early results show that sheared sites exhibited lower biodiversity than intact sites, which he hypothesizes may have been caused by plant loss associated with oiling. He is conducting a similar study examining biodiversity differences between sites that experience different salinity conditions. “I want to focus on salinity as well, because of the proposed mid-Barataria Bay freshwater diversions,” he explained. “These diversions are intended to help rebuild Louisiana marshes by reconnecting them to the Mississippi River’s sediment input. However, they will have a wide variety of effects on the marshes simply by changing the salinity regime. I want to determine what changes in meiofauna biodiversity are likely to happen in marsh areas with changing salinity.”

His Learning

Patrick is grateful to Drs. Foil and Husseneder for their mentorship, which improved important skills for his future scientific career. He recalls that Dr. Foil hosted a writing course to hone his writing skills for academic journals and that Dr. Husseneder patiently shared her extensive genetics knowledge with him. They also encouraged Patrick to attend the Second Benthic Invertebrate Taxonomy, Metagenomics, and Bioinformatics (BITMaB-2) Workshop, which gave him a solid foundation to conduct analyses using specialized bioinformatics programs.

“To me, GoMRI is about learning from and mitigating a major environmental disaster,” said Patrick. “The Deepwater Horizon spill is too large of an issue to be solved by any one researcher, but collectively we can make new discoveries that can aid in the recovery and prevention of issues like this in the future.”

Patrick also realized that his early research experiences helped him as a graduate student. “There are numerous opportunities available to students at the undergraduate level, but you have to look for them,” he said. “Many citizen science programs can give you a better idea of what type of work is required to do research.”

Moving forward, Patrick wants to pursue an environmental science position in industry or government.

Praise for Patrick

Drs. Foil and Husseneder praised Patrick’s adaptability in difficult conditions, saying that he applied his Eagle Scout skills and values to many aspects of the research. “He confidently navigated the Gulf of Mexico estuary, trekked through muddy marshes in all weather conditions, fought through the jungle of bioinformatics, and showed great perseverance in his endeavors,” said Dr. Husseneder. “Patrick is on his way to becoming a well-rounded biologist, i.e., not afraid to tackle mucky field work, big data, and computer command lines.”

Dr. Husseneder said that Patrick’s work is an example of the collaborative nature of the GoMRI program since his research is integrally linked with his fellow graduate students’ projects. “Data from Patrick’s study dovetail with projects of former GoMRI scholars, including food web studies on horse flies (Devika Bhalerao), marsh insects (Ben Aker), and sea side sparrows (Allison Snider).”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Patrick Rayle and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

How Grad Student Kurpiel Uses Radium to Monitor Spilled Oil

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Master’s student Matthew Kurpiel, Coastal Carolina University, pours oil and seawater into a funnel that separates the fluids. (Used with permission from photographer Jason Gonzales iamjgvisuals.com.)

Scientists can use radium isotopes, which are released from oil in seawater and decay at a specific rate, as geochemical tracers to investigate marine processes involved in oil degradation. Matthew Kurpiel is investigating how radium isotopes in surface oil slicks and underwater oil plumes release into the surrounding seawater over time. His findings will help develop a tool to determine how long oil spill material will persist in the marine environment after it is released and track where it goes.

Matt is a master’s student with Coastal Carolina University’s Department of Coastal & Marine Systems Science and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Radium Isotope Release from Oil Degradation: Development of an ‘Oil Clock.’

His Path

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Coastal Carolina University master’s student Matthew Kurpiel (right) separates seawater from crude oil while his advisor Dr. Richard Peterson (left) supervises. (Used with permission from photographer Jason Gonzales iamjgvisuals.com.)

As a teenager, Matt was afraid of open water but challenged himself to go scuba diving during a family trip to Mexico. The surreal experience inspired him to pursue a science career where he could continue having exciting and challenging experiences. As a marine science undergraduate student at Coastal Carolina University, Matt assisted Dr. Richard Peterson on projects using radium isotopes as tracers for various marine processes. Dr. Peterson invited him to continue this work as a graduate student. “Many times, I recall vivid images of the Deepwater Horizon spill that were shown in the media. The memory of the horrific impacts that such a disaster can have motivates me to work towards research that can help mitigate future oil spill events,” said Matt. “This project is the culmination of an idea that Dr. Peterson has been working on for years. I’m just glad to be a part of it and learn from him and the process.”

His Work

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Coastal Carolina University master’s student Matthew Kurpiel (right) separates seawater from crude oil while his advisor Dr. Richard Peterson (left) supervises. (Used with permission from photographer Jason Gonzales iamjgvisuals.com.)

Matt’s research utilizes archived oil collected directly above the Macondo wellhead and oil collected by the ROV Odysseus from a natural seafloor oil seep field (GC600). He prepared oil-seawater mixtures (1 g oil to 10 L seawater ratio, approximating hydrocarbon concentrations measured in Deepwater Horizon sub-surface plumes) for each oil type, incubated them, and observed how radium isotopes released into the surrounding seawater over time and under different conditions. The incubations included an ocean surface treatment (outdoors in ambient sunlight) or a deep-sea treatment (5° C in dark refrigerators) to control for photodegradation processes and with live or compromised microbes to control for microbial biodegradation. Matt measured radium levels at multiple time points using alpha and gamma spectrometry.

Matt focuses on the radium isotope Ra-224, one of the only radium isotopes found in oil that is abundant and detectable immediately after sample collection. His observations so far revealed that the Ra-224 release signature exhibited only minor differences between the surface ocean and deep-sea treatments. This outcome surprised Matt and his colleagues, who predicted that the combined photodegradation and biodegradation processes in surface conditions would yield much higher Ra-224 activity than sunless, cold conditions. Treatments using compromised microbes showed higher Ra-224 activity than expected, including in deep-sea treatments where lack of light and microbes should have inhibited most or all degradation. “These results were surprising, as we expected degradation processes driven by sunlight and microbes to be the main control on radium release,” said Matt. “Our results suggest that degradation processes may play some role but other factors, such as ion exchange, may be at play as well.”

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The ROV Odysseus collects oil from a natural oil seep in the GC600 seep field at 1,185 meters deep. (Photo credit: Pelagic Research Services)

Matt observed that, for both oil types, Ra-224 activity typically peaked within the first 24 – 48 hours followed by a decline for the remaining incubation period. However, mixtures using Macondo wellhead oil showed consistently higher Ra-224 activity than mixtures using freshly collected oil from a seafloor seep. “We currently hypothesize that different oil sources (presumably from different subsurface reservoirs) vary in inherent radioactivity,” said Matt. “Previous literature shows that biodegradation does happen in the oil reservoir itself before the oil ever touches the water column, so one theory is that the oil from the natural seep field is already further degraded than Deepwater Horizon oil as a result of their source reservoirs.”

Matt will use the radium measurements to derive an activity ratio representing how much time oil spends in seawater based on the radium’s degree of decay. He is also developing a methodology for determining the time-dependent radium signatures of different oil sources. His research will support the project’s goal to create a conceptual model (dubbed the “oil clock”) that uses the activity ratios to determine oil’s exposure time in the ocean. “The oil clock tool can aid researchers in other fields, such as those studying the timing of microbial responses to oil spills,” said Matt. “It also provides oil spill cleanup managers with a critical piece of information that will help them make the best decisions on cleanup strategies.”

His Learning

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Coastal Carolina master’s students Matthew Kurpiel (left) and Elana Ames (right) collect bucket cast samples of an oil sheen above the GC600 seep field. (Provided by Matthew Kurpiel)

Dr. Peterson helped Matt think like a scientist, conduct objective investigations, and communicate his research with other scientists and the public. Matt credited Dr. Peterson’s faith in him as key to helping him grow as a scientist. He also treasures Dr. Peterson’s professional and personal advice, which he expects will help in future endeavors.

Matt admired how scientists within the GoMRI community help one another, such as when ECOGIG Principal Investigator Dr. Mandy Joye served on his thesis committee and lent her expertise to their project. Matt also recalled how grateful he and his colleagues were when, during preparations for Tropical Storm Gordon, Dr. Leila Hamdan and her team safely secured gear that they stored at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Marine Research Center.

“None of this research would be possible without a massive amount of help. Dr. Peterson, his current graduate students (my labmates), the captain and crew of the R/V Point Sur, the Pelagic Research Services ROV team, and GoMRI’s funding for this project all made this research and the experiences I have had as a result possible,” said Matt. “I want to extend my gratitude to all these people and groups, and probably many more that I am forgetting right now, for all the effort they put into making this project a success. Science is never a one-person job.”

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Dr. Richard Peterson of Coastal Carolina University, his students, and a colleague from Dr. Mandy Joye’s University of Georgia research lab during an oil collection cruise. (L-R) Dr. Richard Peterson and students Charlotte Kollman, Alec Villafana, Matthew Kurpiel, Elana Ames, Andy Montgomery (University of Georgia), and Jianna Wankel. (Provided by Richard Peterson)

The two weeks that Matt spent at sea collecting oil samples was his most memorable experience where he dealt with the strenuous conditions aboard a research vessel, including seasickness, unusual sleep schedules, and showering during 11-foot swells. However, it was worth it to Matt to get first-hand deep-sea research experience. “The Gulf of Mexico is a beautiful, biodiverse, and economically critical body of water for both the United States and Mexico. Looking through the eyes (i.e., cameras) of the ROV was incredible. The sights that my colleagues and I were able to see on those two cruises are something that very few people get to experience,” he said. “Through this research, I’ve been given the opportunity to work towards protecting the Gulf, and I’m very grateful for that opportunity.”

His Future

Matt hopes to find a research position that includes travel, working in a dynamic setting, and being an active environmental steward. He suggests that students considering a scientific career get involved with research as early as possible, saying that the real learning happens through hands-on experience. “Whether that experience is in fieldwork, lab work, computer work, or a combination, working with real data and real samples to answer questions is what environmental science is all about,” he said. “Don’t let high-level mathematics and technical jargon intimidate you, like they initially did me. If you can think critically, proactively solve problems, and work hard, you can learn anything you put your mind to.”

Praise for Matt

Dr. Peterson praised Matt’s critical and creative thinking skills and his ability to make the research his own as he discovered novel insights and developed creative hypotheses. “Matt’s enthusiasm drives him every single day to learn more, try new analyses, and improve his skills. He never bends to adversity – in fact, he uses it as motivation!” said Dr. Peterson. “I’m proud of the scientist that Matt has become while working on his master’s thesis through this GoMRI project!”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Matthew Kurpiel and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Deng Investigates How Marine Microbes Move When Oil is Present

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Ph.D. student Jiayi Deng prepares a bacterial suspension at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. (Provided by Tianyi Yao)

Oil-water interfaces, such as those formed by marine oil spills or natural ocean oil seeps, are teeming with bacterial activity. Some bacterial species in those interfaces form biofilms that help break up oil, which enhances biodegradation. The interfaces themselves can also significantly influence how bacteria behave, often trapping them or altering their natural movements.

Jiayi Deng tracks different bacteria movement patterns at the point where oil and water meet to explore key processes involved with interactions between oil spills and marine microorganisms. Information that she is uncovering about bacterial propulsion, structure, and interactions with interfaces and other bacteria can help researchers design bio-mimic microrobots and develop strategies to guide their motion towards oil spills for oil collection.

Jiayi is a Ph.D. student with the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a GoMRI Scholar with the Dispersion Research on Oil: Physics and Plankton Studies III (DROPPS III) consortium.

Her Path

Jiayi’s parents are engineers who sparked her desire to solve real-world problems at a young age. She described chemical engineering as an art that uses fundamental ideas and physics to interpret natural processes and can be applied to all aspects of human life, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and energy and environmental engineering. Jiayi completed a chemical engineering undergraduate degree at Dalian University of Technology and a chemical and biomolecular engineering master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania.

As a master’s student, Jiayi learned about soft matter (such as liquids and colloids) while working with polymers in Dr. Daeyeon Lee’s Soft Materials Research and Technology lab. She later took a course taught by Dr. Kathleen Stebe, a co-principal investigator with the GoMRI-funded DROPPS consortium, that described how surface energy can dominate some interfacial phenomena and what that means for designing functional materials.

“I was fascinated by the complex structures formed on interfaces and how these phenomena can be explained using the physics and fundamental concepts of colloid and interface science,” said Jiayi. “I contacted Dr. Stebe and gained a great opportunity to join her GoMRI research into bacterial dynamics at the oil-water interface as a Ph.D. student.”

Her Work

Jiayi studies the swimming behavior of lab-cultured Pseudomonas aeruginosa (strain PAO1), a marine species that forms an elastic biofilm at the oil-water interface and consumes hydrocarbons. She conducts her experiments in a 1-centimeter cylinder with an aluminum bottom half and a Teflon top half that intersect in the middle, creating a planar interface. After adding bacteria suspended in an aqueous solution and then hexadecane to form an oil-water interface, she uses an upright bright-field microscope and a high-speed camera to observe the interfacial interactions and capture one-minute videos at 60 frames per second.

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University of Pennsylvania chemical and biomolecular engineering Ph.D. student Jiayi Deng.

Next, Jiayi interprets the bacteria’s position in each frame using a multiple particle tracking algorithm to determine their motion. She observes several metrics that provide insight into bacterial swim behavior: swim speed, the curvature of their circular path, how fast they complete a circular path, time spent moving forward and backward, and the dynamics of different bacteria types. So far, she has observed four distinct trajectories affecting how bacteria move: (1) movement driven by collision, (2) swimming in curly paths, (3) swimming in pirouette motions, and (4) interactions with other bacteria that enter and exit the interface freely.

Jiayi developed a method to analyze hydrodynamic interactions between the bacteria and the interface. She places passive tracer particles at the interface before adding hexadecane and then measures the correlated motion between bacteria and passive tracers to determine how active bacteria displace tracer particles. “This displacement field shows how bacteria interact with passive colloids (inactive suspensions of particles) and small molecules,” explained Jiayi. “By measuring their correlated motions, we can directly measure the hydrodynamic flow field around the swimming bacteria at small time scales.”

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This diagram shows University of Pennsylvania Ph.D. student Jiayi Deng’s experiment set up. She uses a 1-cm cylinder made of aluminum and Teflon to recreate an oil-water interface in the lab and analyzes how the interface alters bacterial movements. (Provided by Jiayi Deng)

Using this method, Jiayi found that swimming microbes greatly enhance interfacial mixing by a factor of three. She observed two main dynamics: (1) bacteria that are trapped at the interface perform curly, diffusive, and pirouette motions and (2) bacteria that freely enter and exit the interface closely interact with the trapped bacteria. “The persistent curvilinear trajectories (i.e., curly or pirouette trajectories) of interface-trapped particles differ significantly from motions in the bulk. Interface trapping makes these motions quite stable, creating a convective flow around the swimmers,” explained Jiayi. “These microswimmers can generate flows in both the interface and the surrounding phases, breaking the oil spill into smaller droplets that are easier for microbes near the interface to digest.”

Her Learning

Dr. Stebe helped Jiayi understand the value of being passionate and thinking creatively beyond the original research goal, which typically becomes broader as an experiment develops. Jiayi and her colleagues discovered additional bacteria behaviors at the interface related to their adhesion state and hydrodynamical interactions with the oil-water interfaces. “We were excited by their different modes of motion and studied these motions using hydrodynamics and interfacial science, but we also wanted to explore their applications on interfacial transport,” said Jiayi. “Interacting with people from other fields and breaking the patterns and traditional ways of thinking helped us reach more creative solutions.”

Her Future

Jiayi hopes to find a post-doctoral position in academia where she can continue conducting chemical or biological engineering research.

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Jiayi Deng and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the DROPPS website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

How Grad Student Bodner Uses Theoretical Math to Add Turbulence to Transport Predictions

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Abigail Bodner, a Ph.D student at Brown University, observes surface waves in Plymouth, Massachusetts with her son Micah. (Photo by Eyal Guzi)

Predicting where oil will go can be one of the most challenging aspects of marine oil spill response. Following Deepwater Horizon, research showed that strong currents capable of transporting oil often appear along ocean fronts (the interface between river like-water masses that have different temperatures, salinities, or densities). However, our limited understanding about ocean front formation and the influence of turbulence, upper ocean mixing, and submesoscale currents (which can cause floating material to cluster and then spread out) inhibits the accuracy of ocean transport prediction models. Abigail Bodner uses mathematical theory and large eddy simulation (LES) models to improve our understanding about how different turbulence and mixing processes affect the behavior and development of ocean fronts.

Abigail is a Ph.D. student with Brown University’s Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences and a GoMRI Scholar with the Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbons in the Environment III (CARTHE-III).

Her Path

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Ph.D. student Abigail Bodner created this visualization depicting a theoretical ocean front with an along-front current (associated with surface transport) and cross-front circulation (bringing light water over dense). Red indicates a less buoyant front; blue indicates a more buoyant front. The front is shown to become infinitely thin, which is the theoretical prediction if turbulence is not included. (Provided by Abigail Bodner)

Abigail grew up in Israel, where she taught and tutored high school math before pursuing theoretical mathematics at Tel Aviv University. Although she enjoyed her studies, she felt like something was missing. She added earth sciences as a second major and fell in love with atmospheric and oceanic fluid dynamics, which allowed her to use mathematical tools to describe natural phenomena. She completed an atmospheric dynamics master’s degree at Tel Aviv University, where she researched how large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns can cause blocking events associated with temperature fluxes for certain topographies.

Although her master’s research focused heavily on theoretical models, its applications extended to pressing environmental concerns such as heat waves and harsh cold winters. Abigail felt motivated to find a physical oceanography doctoral program that would allow her to combine theory and modeling for research addressing environmental impacts. A professor working with Dr. Baylor Fox-Kemper at Brown University recommended that Abigail contact Fox-Kemper related to his research adapting LES modeling for float, tracer, and surfactant applications.

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Abigail Bodner, a Ph.D. student at Brown University, attended the 2017 summer school course “Fundamental Aspects of Turbulent Flows in Climate Dynamics” at the L’École de Physique des Houches in Les Houches, France. (Photo by Bar Guzi)

“After contacting Dr. Fox-Kemper, he responded within minutes, and we set up a Skype meeting where he told me all about the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative,” Abigail said. “I was eager to be part of a larger research community working hard to help protect Gulf of Mexico ecosystems and coastal communities from environmental disasters.” She joined Dr. Fox-Kemper’s research group as a Ph.D. student, while also working towards a second master’s degree in applied mathematics.

Her Work

Abigail’s research started with paper, a pencil, and mathematical theory. She knew that previous research established a numerical theory that describes general ocean front dynamics but also knew that it lacked turbulence parameters. She modified the theory to include her hand-written equations that account for submesoscale (typically 102 – 104 meters in length and lasting hours to days in time scales)    turbulence and then consulted a numerical computer program to solve the higher-level equations. As she used numerical methods to resolve the modified theoretical equations, she noticed an interesting pattern: turbulence from vertical mixing processes appeared to strengthen the front, while turbulence from horizontal mixing processes appeared to weaken it.

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Ph.D. student Abigail Bodner (center) and Research Assistant Laura Messier (right) helps undergraduate student Daniel Gates (left) measure Narraganset Bay water properties during a Save the Bay cruise for Brown University’s Summer@Brown course “Studying the Ocean from the Classroom to the Bay”. (Photo by Jenna Pearson)

“It’s important to note that whether this pattern is true or not in a more realistic environment isn’t clear because the theory is very idealized. Factors like waves, wind, and cooling and heating can all be very chaotic, and in order to apply them cleanly in the theory you have to simplify them,” explained Abigail. “By distinguishing them into horizontal and vertical processes, we’re able to quantify their roles in affecting the front. But, if we really want to understand what they are doing, then we need a model like the LES that can simulate each of these processes.”

Abigail is validating her modified theory using a LES developed by Dr. Fox-Kemper and his collaborators (Dr. Jim McWilliams, University of California Los Angeles; Dr. Peter Sullivan, National Center for Atmospheric Research; and Dr. Luke Van Roekel, Los Alamos National Laboratory). She incorporates as many missing parameters as possible into the simulation and compares its results with the results of her modified theory.

Abigail explained that, while LES can help validate her numerical theory, her theory can also help researchers understand the LES results. “My theoretical equation can give us a road map of how to interpret these large eddy simulations. It can help us understand what is happening with the vertical and horizontal processes by stripping away their complexity and presenting them in a more-simplified world,” she said. “If we look at the LES’s more-complicated scenarios but still have in mind what we know happens under simpler conditions, it can provide clarity and help us be more focused when we analyze these complex simulations.”

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Ph.D. student Abigail Bodner teaches students about climate models during Brown University’s Summer@Brown course “Studying the Ocean from the Classroom to the Bay”. (Photo by Jenna Pearson)

Abigail plans to implement her theory into global climate models as an improved submesoscale parameterization that contributes to more accurate climate model predictions. Climate models use submesoscales to help determine the depth of the ocean mixed layer (the uppermost ocean layer), which helps define how the atmosphere and ocean will interact. Abigail explained that her two-year-old son is her greatest source of motivation to help enhance climate models. “Looking forward at climate predictions, it is hard to imagine what kind of world my son and future generations will have,” she said. “Being part of climate research is exciting, but it also comes with a sense of obligation to improve our current understanding of the climate system, including climate theory and predictions.”

Her Learning

Dr. Fox-Kemper has been a constant support and motivator for Abigail and has helped her strengthen her writing and communication skills. She further honed these skills teaching oceanography and climate science courses through Brown University’s Summer@Brown program.

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Ph.D. student Abigail Bodner (front, left) and the Fox-Kemper research group at Brown University celebrate former graduate student Qing Li’s successful thesis defense. (Provided by Abigail Bodner)

Working with Dr. Fox-Kemper taught Abigail that she must dig deep to gain a more complete understanding of a scenario’s underlying physics while also connecting with bigger picture questions, existing literature, and community interests. Abigail’s experiences helped her gain a deeper appreciation for the scientific and peer-review processes involved in publishing. “[In research], you don’t always end up doing what you set out to do, but the result will probably be more interesting than anyone could have anticipated. It is exciting and confusing, which is part of what makes it so great,” said Abigail. “It is inspiring to be part of a community that cares deeply about the science as well as the coastal communities and ecosystems, which is what brings the GoMRI community together.”

Her Future

Abigail hopes to find a postdoc position that includes teaching and research where she can connect science to people’s lives, especially research related to sea level rise and its effects on coastal communities. She encourages students considering a scientific career not to feel intimidated by unfamiliar terminology. “It’s important to remember that, although it may be a slow learning curve, eventually you will learn how to use these terms yourself,” she said. “Have confidence in yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most everyone will be excited to discuss their work with new students. You just need to work up the courage to ask. No question is a dumb question!”

Praise for Abigail

Dr. Fox-Kemper praised Abigail’s sharp mathematical mind. He recalled that initially she was more comfortable manipulating equations than interpreting data but quickly grew into an astute data analyst. “She is very quick to appreciate the significance of subtleties between different approaches to solving problems and has developed some new methods to address problems that have stumped theoreticians for decades – as well as finding some new problems of her own!” he said.

Dr. Fox-Kemper expressed admiration for Abigail’s ability to balance family and work, a feat he says was often difficult for him. “She keeps making progress on research and finding time to take opportunities to teach [while also spending time with her family],” he said. “She is a great role model for her kids and for other students thinking about becoming parents.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Abigail Bodner and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the CARTHE website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Sevigny Improves Meiofauna Genomic Analysis to Inform Oil Spill Recovery

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Ph.D. student Joe Sevigny conducts bioinformatics analyses at the University of New Hampshire Hubbard Center for Genome Studies. (Photo by Steve Simpson)

Meiofauna are microscopic marine organisms that live between grains of sand in ocean, coastal, river, and stream sediments and provide important services such as recycling organic material in the sediment that contribute to healthy marine ecosystems. Additionally, meiofauna are intermediary consumers between microbes and prey of larger organisms in marine food webs, and as such, can be early indicators of environmental disturbances, such as oil spill pollution, that could affect broader ecosystem health.

Joseph Sevigny uses genetic research techniques to expand our knowledge about meiofauna taxonomy and improve the way we analyze and monitor these communities. His work to develop novel methods for efficient genomic analysis can reduce the time it takes researchers and responders to survey and monitor how meiofaunal communities recover from environmental disturbances.

Joseph is a Ph.D. student with the University of New Hampshire’s Hubbard Center for Genome Studies and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Genomic Responses to the Deepwater Horizon Event and Development of High-Throughput Biological Assays for Oil Spills.

His Path

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Ph.D. student Joe Sevigny (back row, second from right) is a member of the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies research group at the University of New Hampshire. (Photo by Ashlee Warzin)

Joe has been fascinated with understanding how the natural world works since he was a child. Reading scientific authors such as Matt Ridley and Richard Dawkins sparked his interest in the engaging world of genetics, genomics, and computational biology. He began his undergraduate career as a Biology and Environmental Science dual major at New England College and conducted bioinformatics and genetics research full-time during the summer of his junior year. He collaborated with several institutions, including the University of New Hampshire’s Hubbard Center for Genome Studies, where he learned about Dr. Kelley Thomas’s GoMRI-funded research characterizing the taxonomy of benthic organisms such as meiofauna.

Joe’s work during that summer solidified his passion for comparative genomics research, and he later joined Dr. Thomas’s lab as a Ph.D. student. “Meiofauna don’t have the means to move to a different location after an environmental disturbance – they are stuck dealing with whatever comes into their homes,” he explained. “I want to help improve the way we analyze and monitor these communities through DNA sequencing and highlight their importance for investigating the impacts of oil spills.”

His Work

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Participants in the Train the Trainers (T3) bioinformatics course at the MDI Biological Laboratory in Salisbury Cove, Maine. T3 trains university instructors and faculty members across the country how to teach bioinformatics in an undergraduate curriculum. (Photo by Devin Thomas)

The first and most challenging step of Joe’s research was collecting and preparing the meiofauna for genomic analysis. Because most meiofauna species have not undergone genetic sequencing, he had to start from scratch. Joe and his colleagues developed techniques to sequence trace amounts of DNA from meiofauna but still needed to taxonomically identify them before they could proceed.

Since they are investigating a broad group of meiofauna (26 of the 35 known animal phyla), they needed help from taxonomic experts, so the team coordinated workshops such as the Benthic Invertebrate Taxonomy, Metagenomics, and Bioinformatics (BITMaB) with invited meiofaunal taxonomists from around the world. During the workshop, attendees collected and identified Gulf of Mexico meiofauna, which allowed them to sequence an extremely broad range of meiofaunal groups.

“This monumental task would have been impossible without collaborating with traditional taxonomists, who collect and identify individual animals using light microscopy and other techniques,” said Joe. “Through the workshops, the taxonomists got to learn how we analyze the data during bioinformatics sessions, and we were able to learn a lot about the process of collecting and identifying a diverse array of meiofaunal species. It was a win-win for us all!”

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Ph.D. student Joe Sevigny and other researchers participate in the 2018 Benthic Invertebrate Taxonomy, Metagenomics, and Bioinformatics (BITMaB) workshop at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. (Photo by Larry Hyde)

Joe extracted and prepared DNA from the identified specimens for genetic sequencing, which provided him with short DNA fragments. He then used bioinformatics principles to develop his own computer code for existing software to analyze the genetic data. His program assembled the short DNA fragments into complete genomes, expanding them to the size of a chromosome. He then analyzed the genes in the large sequences to determine what functions the meiofauna have, the biochemical processes they are capable of, and their evolutionary relationships.

Joe’s research will help reduce the time and effort involved in monitoring meiofaunal communities. Rather than going through the expensive, time-consuming taxonomic identification process, future researchers can sequence DNA directly from an environmental sample, link the resulting sequences to the database, and infer which meiofauna are present. “This process will allow for faster, broader, and more-accurate scale analyses of meiofaunal communities and populations than ever before, allowing us to determine which areas of the Gulf are most severely impacted and focus our recovery efforts on those places,” explained Joe. “Over time, we can utilize the same data to monitor how these communities are recovering and construct baseline data across the Gulf and around the world.”

Video Caption: Ph.D. student Joe Sevigny and his colleagues discuss the research they conduct at the University of New Hampshire’s Center for Genome Studies. (Video by the University of New Hampshire)

His Learning

Joe worked on different projects during his time with Dr. Thomas, including research focusing on animal phylogeny and evolution, speciation, and developmental expression experiments. These diverse projects helped balance his background in computational genomics. The genomic workshops gave Joe an opportunity to share his computational methods knowledge while learning from experts in different fields and were a highlight of his graduate studies.

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Ph.D. student Joe Sevigny participated in the 2018 Benthic Invertebrate Taxonomy, Metagenomics, and Bioinformatics (BITMaB) workshop. (Photo by Larry Hyde)

“I find it extremely rewarding that I can incorporate my skillset in molecular biology towards increasing our understanding and awareness of anthropogenic impacts,” he said. “Teaching a topic I really enjoy and sharing my knowledge with the next generation of scientists is extremely rewarding and motivating. These experiences have really shown me how much science benefits from an environment in which scientists from an extremely broad set of backgrounds come together for a common goal.”

His Future

Joe plans to continue his genomics research as a post-doc and eventually serve in a faculty position.

Praise for Joe

Dr. Thomas explained that Joe has a “uniquely engaging quality” that makes it easy for him to work alongside diverse collaborators from other fields. He particularly recalled Joe’s appreciation for the taxonomists and ecologists who participated in the workshops and their reciprocal appreciation for Joe’s ability to teach them the bioinformatics needed to utilize his team’s genomic data. “I believe his success stems from the fact that Joe is genuinely interested in their work,” he said.

Dr. Thomas also praised Joe’s teaching ability. Joe teaches a week-long summer course for college instructors called Train the Trainers (T3), which is based off of the bioinformatics workshop he helped develop for the GoMRI project. “Joe loves what he does, and it shows. He always receives rave reviews and requests to teach,” said Dr. Thomas. “He has contributed mightily to our GOMRI project and has a great career ahead of him using the skills that he developed during this project.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Joe Sevigny and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

How Grad Student Lu Uses Statistics to Monitor Reef Fish Populations

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Xuetao Lu (R) and his advisor Dr. Steven Saul, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at Arizona State University (Polytechnic Campus) discuss his statistical research progress on the spatial analysis of Gulf of Mexico reef fish. (Provided by Xuetao Lu)

Authorities closed large portions of the Gulf of Mexico following Deepwater Horizon to minimize oil contamination of fish and seafood products. Changes in commercial and recreational fisher behavior during the closure may have caused biases in the 2010 fisheries data used to assess fish populations and establish annual quotas and catch limits.

Xuetao Lu is developing a novel modeling approach that uses statistics and computer science techniques to predict the spatial distribution of fish species. His work is part of a larger effort to expand an existing West Florida Shelf simulation model to include more fish species and fishing fleets and increase its simulated range across the Gulf. The expanded model will help researchers predict the spatial patterns of fleets and marine species under various scenarios, including oil spill events.

Xuetao is a Ph.D. student with the Arizona State University Tempe’s Statistics program and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Avoiding Surprises: Understanding the Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the Decision-Making Behaviors of Fishers and How This Affects the Assessment and Management of Commercially Important Fish Species in the Gulf of Mexico Using an Agent-Based Model.

His Path

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Xuetao Lu presents his statistical methods for the spatial analysis of Gulf of Mexico reef fish abundance at the 2018 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Provided by Xuetao Lu)

Xuetao’s favorite pastime as a teenager was playing maze games, searching for the best route as well as the correct one. While working towards his systems engineering undergraduate degree at the National University of Defense Technology in China, he realized that his fascination with mazes stemmed from a passion for understanding complex systems. “I’m fascinated by the beauty of statistics, which is the origin of many methodologies for working with complex systems,” he said. “My strong sense of curiosity led me to pursue a doctoral degree in statistics.”

Later, Xuetao was searching for graduate research opportunities, and a friend recommended that he look into Dr. Steven Saul’s research investigating quantitative approaches to Gulf of Mexico natural resource management. The team’s focus on how fisheries closures and oil pollution may have affected resource management following Deepwater Horizon excited Xuetao and made him eager to see his statistical research inform policy development and resource management decision-making. He applied for a doctoral research position in Dr. Saul’s lab and joined his team in 2017.

His Work

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A flyer describes Xuetao Lu’s presentation at the Science and Mathematics Colloquium Series, Arizona State University College of Integrative Sciences and Arts. (Provided by Xuetao Lu)

Xuetao’s ultimate goal is to develop spatial distributions of fish abundance by species, which the team will use in their model simulations of fish abundance and biomass locations. His approach utilizes bottom longline survey data (for deep water species) and video survey data (for shallow water species) collected by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). NMFS conducts independent video surveys each year to measure fish abundance; however, low detection rates generate data that is zero inflated, meaning that zero or near-zero fish appear in each sample. As a result, it is difficult for researchers calculating spatial distribution to utilize this valuable data.

Xuetao addressed this challenge by developing statistical models based on empirical maximum likelihood analysis, a technique that estimates how many fish live in an area despite low detection rates. Then, he developed a random smoothing method that uses variance and credibility factors to identify and eliminate uncertainty within the data and generate high-quality data without high uncertainty. The random smoothing method also converted the maximum estimate number of fish into the maximum estimate density of fish, which researchers can use to determine spatial distribution.

Xuetao combined the improved data with habitat information (such as depth, sediment type, or rugosity) gathered from oil company surveys so that his model could determine how different habitat features affect fish’s spatial distribution and how this relationship can predict spatial distribution in unsampled areas. The model utilized and integrated the results of thirty-three machine learning models designed to handle non-linear problems such as the relationship between habitat and spatial distribution. Finally, Xuetao ran his results through a hierarchical Bayesian model combined with the Gaussian process to correct a prediction bias that did not account for pollution and overfishing.

Comparing traditional linear model results and non-linear model predictions, Xuetao found that his non-linear model provided a more accurate and reasonable ecological overview and offered higher-resolution patterns than traditional linear predictions. His next step is to expand his non-linear model to analyze spatial distribution over time, which will help researchers track long-term distribution changes.

His Learning

Xuetao views Dr. Saul as a role model and mentor who taught him important research techniques to break down complex systems, including asking simple but meaningful questions. “Most importantly, Dr. Saul taught me how to improve my communication skills, how to collaborate with others, and how to build up my own networking,” he said. He applied these communication skills at the 2018 and 2019 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conferences, where he presented his research. “I appreciate these opportunities to engage and communicate with scientists from the GoMRI science community,” he said. “The most exciting moments were when I got feedback and suggestions from other experienced researchers. The peer recognition inspired and encouraged me to keep walking forward.”

His Future

Xuetao looks forward to using his statistics background in a wide range of scientific and technological applications, especially as a university postdoc or faculty member. “As celebrated mathematician and statistician John W. Tukey said, the best thing about being a statistician is getting to play in everyone’s backyard. That makes being a statistician so much fun!” said Xuetao. “My advice? Interest is the best teacher. Find the field that you are most interested in – the sooner the better!”

Praise for Xuetao

Dr. Saul praised Xuetao’s hardworking personality and ability to work independently or in a group. He highlighted Xuetao’s communication skills, particularly his clear delivery and ability to distill complex information to an understandable level for various audiences and his intelligent and creative approaches to the team’s research. “Xuetao is able to independently distill a difficult quantitative problem down into its components and creatively apply statistical theory to solve the problem,” said Dr. Saul. “His innovative contributions and deep knowledge of mathematical and statistical theory play a critical role in the success of our project.” He emphasized that Xuetao’s methodologies represent important contributions toward a novel approach for understanding and computing the spatiotemporal abundance of living marine resources. “Xuetao is an emerging early career mathematician and statistician, who will be successful in whichever endeavor he pursues. I very much look forward to continued collaborations with him,” concluded Dr. Saul.

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Xuetao Lu and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the [consortia website] to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Pruzinsky Uses Morphological Patterns to ID Young Tuna for Population Assessments

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Nina Pruzinsky holds a juvenile little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus) that she identified on the DEEPEND DP06 cruise. (Photo by Natalie Slayden)

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill overlapped with the spawning activities of many ecologically and economically important tuna species. However, the significant knowledge gap regarding early life stage tuna taxonomy and distribution makes it difficult to understand how the spill may have affected them.

As a graduate student, Nina Pruzinsky examined the abundance, distribution, and morphological characteristics of larval and juvenile tunas (Scombridae) and identified primary drivers of their distribution to help fill this gap and inform future management and conservation efforts.

Nina, who recently completed her graduate studies, was a master’s student in Nova Southeastern University’s Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences and a GoMRI Scholar with the Deep-Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND) Consortium.

Her Path

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(L-R) Dr. Isabel Romero, Nina Pruzinsky, and Natalie Slayden sort samples from a DEEPEND DP06 cruise aboard the R/V Point Sur. (Photo by Heather Judkins)

Nina discovered her interest in environmental research during high school class trips to Virginia and Jamaica. She and her classmates surveyed diverse environments, such marshes and coral reefs, and learned about the marine and terrestrial organisms living in them. These hands-on experiences along with a freshman ocean science class at the University of Delaware prompted her to pursue an environmental science degree. As an undergraduate student, she studied in the Cayman Islands, obtained an AAUS Scientific Diver certification, and interned in Dr. Mark Warner’s Algal Physiology Research Laboratory, where she studied coral symbiotic dinoflagellates. However, Nina realized that she was most interested in researching poorly studied fish taxa.

After reading several of Dr. Tracey Sutton’s deep-sea research articles, Nina applied for an open graduate research position at his Nova Southeastern University Oceanic Ecology Lab. When she began working with Sutton, he was leading the DEEPEND Consortium, which had just begun their work assessing how the Deepwater Horizon oil spill may have damaged the Gulf of Mexico’s little-explored deep-sea ecosystems. “My personal goal is to provide information that can help maintain and assess populations and ecosystems,” said Nina. “Seeing how DEEPEND was designed for new discoveries and assessing the oil-damaged water column drove my decision to work with Dr. Sutton.”

Her Work

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Nina Pruzinsky prepares elongated bristlemouth (Sigmops elongatus) specimens for tissue sampling at sea. (Photo by Natalie Slayden)

Juvenile tunas are particularly difficult to identify to the species level (there are 15 tuna species worldwide). Although larval tunas are well-described, juveniles grow out of many diagnostic larval characteristics but have not yet developed the adult features needed for identification. Nina examined the morphological characteristics of over 900 larval and juvenile tuna (Scombridae) specimens collected during seven northern Gulf of Mexico research cruises in 2010 – 2011 and 2015 – 2017. She identified each larval and juvenile tuna specimen to the lowest taxonomic level possible and confirmed her identifications using genetic barcoding. Then, she identified physical characteristics unique to each undescribed juvenile tuna species, finding that body ratios and spine/fin ray counts were key morphological characteristics for identification.

Nina calculated species-specific body ratios using measurements of the head, upper jaw, snout, eyes, and fins. She then observed if and how these ratios changed as early-life-stage tuna matured. Combining reported ratios and her new ratios, she determined the definitive physical characteristics that can be used to identify different juvenile tuna species. “Species-specific body ratios can either be used in conjunction with morphological characteristics or on their own,” said Nina. “For example, a known diagnostic feature of larval and (now) juvenile Acanthocybium solandri (wahoo) is that their snout is twice the size of their eye diameter. However, A. solandri can also be identified using fin ray counts. Both approaches are useful, depending on the condition of the specimen.”

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Jason Mostowy and Nina Pruzinsky rinse the catch from the bongo nets into the codend on a DEEPEND ichthyoplankton cruise aboard the R/V Pelican. (Photo provided by Nina Pruzinsky)

Nina determined the faunal composition and standardized abundance for tuna samples collected during the seven research cruises. She observed that Euthynnus alletteratus (little tunny), Thunnus atlanticus (blackfin tuna), Auxis thazard (frigate mackerel), and Katsuwonus pelamis (skipjack tuna) were the most-abundant species in the analyzed samples. Using sampling location, Nina modeled the distribution of these species and statistically compared their abundance patterns to variables that may drive early life stage assemblage structure and distribution, including location and depth, time of day and year, and oceanographic features such as salinity and temperature. Although each tuna species exhibited a different vertical, seasonal, and horizontal distribution pattern, Nina observed that seasonality and species-specific environmental preferences (such as salinity level) were the main drivers of spatial distribution across the Gulf of Mexico.

“More oil rigs are being added throughout the Gulf, especially in waters that overlap with tuna spawning sites, increasing the chance of another spill. As larvae are planktonic [only float, not swim], they will not be able to avoid an oil spill,” said Nina. “Understanding the distribution, drivers of assemblage structure, and faunal composition of Gulf of Mexico tunas will assist management and conservation efforts, help assess how an oil spill impacts vulnerable early life stages, and potentially predict future year class strength.”

Her Learning

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Nina Pruzinsky identifies a larval tuna on a DEEPEND ichthyoplankton cruise on the R/V Blazing Seven. (Photo by Jessica Lee)

Nina participated in two deep-sea research cruises and two DEEPEND ichthyoplankton research cruises while working in Dr. Sutton’s lab. During these expeditions, she led the data management and cruise planning efforts, interacted with colleagues from other institutions, and gained hands-on experience with the sample collection process. “Working with DEEPEND, there is always a chance to see something new, whether that is new to science, new to the Gulf, or new to my own personal experiences,” she said. “The excitement and comradery among the science crew was contagious, and I was constantly learning through either my own experiences or from hearing my colleagues’ stories. I would not trade that experience for the world!”

Nina said that being a part of the GoMRI community was extremely rewarding, especially learning from and sharing her research with scientists from other fields and projects. She said, “So far, I have presented at several conferences and was an invited speaker at the 2019 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference in New Orleans, LA. It is an incredible experience learning about the research going on within the Gulf of Mexico and telling my own story.”

Her Future

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Nina Pruzinsky holds a dragonfish (Echiostoma barbatum) specimen in the ship’s laboratory. (Photo by Natalie Slayden)

Nina completed her master’s degree in 2018 and is continuing her DEEPEND research as a Research Associate and lab manager in Dr. Sutton’s Oceanic Ecology Lab. When she isn’t on a research cruise, she manages multiple large databases, oversees sample collection and processing, writes cruise reports, participates in education and outreach efforts, and trains graduate research assistants, students, and volunteers. She hopes to continue working with people within and outside of academia and apply her growing research and managerial skills to her future career.

Nina suggested that students pursuing an environmental science or marine biology career should volunteer or intern in different laboratories to gain experience in various scientific fields. She reflected that her own career began working with dinoflagellates but eventually led her to deep-sea and tuna research. “Get involved!” she said. “You never know where your interests will take you.”

Praise for Nina

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DEEPEND team on the DP06 cruise, July 2018. (Photo credit: Dr. Danté Fenolio)

Dr. Sutton said that Nina impressed him from her first interview with her academic record, writing skills, talent, drive, and joyful personality. “After I advertised the first two research assistant positions for DEEPEND, I sorted the applications into two folders: Nina Pruzinsky and everyone else,” he joked. It was no surprise to him when Nina became a pillar in his lab while also tackling challenging morphological analyses and conducting advanced biophysical modeling.

“Simply put, if I had a nickel for every time a troubled student or even a DEEPEND co-PI uttered the phrase ‘I’ll ask Nina,’ I could probably fund another student,” said Sutton. “I was dreading the thought of lab operations without her after she defended her thesis and was so overjoyed when she chose to stay with us as a Research Associate. I feel comfortable speaking for both myself and every co-PI when I say that she has been one of DEEPEND’s brightest stars.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Nina Pruzinsky and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the DEEPEND website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

New Sea Grant Bulletin on Birds and Oil Spills

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team released a publication that outlines what scientists have learned about how oil exposure affects birds. Using peer-reviewed research that covers oil spills around the world, the bulletin describes various effects ranging from birds directly exposed to oil to impacts on breeding and migration habits.

Read Birds of a Feather – Coping with Oil to learn how  scientists are studying how birds respond to pollution. The bulletin includes research from the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process during Deepwater Horizon that details the types and numbers of birds affected by that event. It also includes information that can help inform response to future oil spills, such as lessons learned from cleaning oiled birds.

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States. 

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently-held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Aker Counts on Insects to Assess Marsh Health

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Ben Aker collects insects in Louisiana marshes using a sweep net. (Photo credit: Claudia Husseneder)

Estuarine marshes in coastal Louisiana face numerous threats such as sea-level rise, salt water intrusion, and contamination threats such as oil spills that can lead to marsh loss and changing habitats. Ben Aker collects insects from different habitats within coastal marshes and assesses their abundance and biodiversity. His research will help identify potential marsh health indicator species and generate baseline data for future research into marsh loss and habitat restoration efforts.

Ben is a master’s student with the Louisiana State University AgCenter’s Department of Entomology and a GoMRI Scholar with the project A study of horse fly (Tabanidae) populations and their food web dynamics as indicators of the effects of environmental stress on coastal marsh health.

His Path

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(L-R) Master’s students Darrius Davis and Ben Aker, Ph.D. student Mike Becker, research associate Erin Stevens, master’s student Patrick Rayle, and worker Julian Lucero travel to Louisiana marshes for insect collection. (Photo credit: Claudia Husseneder)

Ben’s interest in science was fueled by the passionate professors he met as a biology undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. “I’ve never talked to a professor who wasn’t enthusiastic about their research, and I want to have a similar level of excitement about my work,” he said. Ben pursued a degree in ecology, evolution, and animal behavior and conducted undergraduate research on the distribution of predatory robber flies. He is continuing entomology research as a Louisiana State University master’s student studying coastal insects and their salinity-related distributions with Dr. Lane Foil and Dr. Claudia Husseneder’s coastal insect ecology team, which studies Deepwater Horizon impacts on Louisiana marshes.

“I want to use interesting organisms to help answer important ecological questions,” said Ben. “Our research seeks to highlight the importance of coastal insects and their potential use as tools for marsh conservation and ecological research.”

His Work

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Ben Aker dries out his boot after falling through a hole in the marsh while sweep netting. (Photo credit: Claudia Husseneder)

Ben’s research examines plant and insect biodiversity along salinity gradients using data collected during a year-long study (July 2018 – June 2019). He focuses on 18 Louisiana marsh sites in Barataria Bay and Caillou Bay designated as either low-, mid-, or high-salinity based on historical data. Using sweep nets, he collects insects monthly and identifies each insect to the family level. He also assesses average ground cover, dominant plant life, and biodiversity differences between salinity levels at all sites. He then uses the EstimateS biodiversity software to determine biodiversity in areas with different salinities and creates a rarefaction curve for each salinity level. Rarefaction curves plot the number of families observed in relation to the sample size and the estimated total families to determine if a sampling effort can sufficiently assess diversity.

Preliminary results from data collected during the first five months show that each salinity level had differences in overall plant composition, but Spartina cordgrass species consistently dominated ground cover (Spartina patens at low- and mid-salinity sites and Spartina alterniflora at high-salinity sites). Chironomids (non-biting midges) were the most abundant insect family at low-salinity sites but were replaced by Delphacids (plant hoppers) as salinity increased. Results from the insect biodiversity indices suggest that family-level biodiversity decreased with increasing salinity. Further sampling is required to adequately assess insect diversity, which will come as Ben processes the remaining data. “Overall, we captured a conservative estimate of approximately 89.3 – 99.3% of families present,” explained Ben. “This high percentage of families collected is expected to increase as we complete a full year of sampling.”

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A black-headed melyrid (Collops nigriceps) from the Melyridae family, one of the many insect families Ben Aker identified during his marsh research. (Photo credit: Nathan Lord)

Ben utilizes his research findings to identify potential bioindicators of marsh health. He observed that most insect families appeared at all salinity levels and that only rare species were unique to a single salinity level. Since rare species are inefficient bioindicators, he instead uses a specificity measure (how well the potential bioindicator predicts the salinity level) and a fidelity measure (how likely it is that the potential bioindicator will be encountered at that salinity level) to associate insect families with different salinities. So far, he has associated fifteen insect families among the different salinity levels and combinations of salinity levels.

“It is likely that these insect families are associated with [certain] salinities due to life cycle requirements or herbivory of specific plants,” said Ben. “For example, two families associated with low-salinity sites (Chironomidae and Coenagrionidae) have aquatic juveniles to which higher salinity levels may be detrimental, and a family associated with high-salinity sites (Blissidae) is represented in our collection by a single species that feeds primarily on Spartina alterniflora.”

Ben is currently identifying members of the associated bioindicator families to the species level. He and Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Claudia Husseneder will conduct DNA barcoding on key species within indicator families, which will allow students or researchers with minimal taxonomic training to easily identify important insects for future coastal studies. The insect inventory generated by Ben’s research also provides comparative baseline data that researchers can use to observe how insect communities change following stress-induced marsh loss or following marsh recovery resulting from habitat management.

His Learning

Dr. Foil’s multidisciplinary background showed Ben that being well-read across multiple fields could help him contextualize his research in the greater picture. He put this concept into practice at the annual Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science (GoMOSES) conference, which facilitates interdisciplinary and cross-institutional collaboration. “The most important aspect of the GoMRI science community to me is the ability to interact and cooperate with other GoMRI associated labs,” Ben said. “Following the 2018 GoMOSES conference, I participated in a Seaside Sparrow workshop with the Taylor and Stouffer labs from Louisiana State University’s School of Renewable Natural Resources (see Smithsonian Highlights CWC Research on Seaside Sparrows). Because they focus on the Seaside Sparrow diet, I am providing a DNA barcode database of salt marsh insects to compare their samples against.”

His Future

Ben plans to pursue a Ph.D. and continue his insect and ecology-related education. He advises students considering a scientific career to take statistics and scientific writing courses when they are available, “It’s easy to focus just on the research occurring in your specific field and overlook the importance of study design and being able to communicate your results.”

Praise for Ben

Dr. Foil praised Ben’s ability to adapt to challenging work conditions. He explained that Ben did as the locals do to handle the brutal heat and harsh conditions (hats, sunscreen, hydration, seeking shade) during two-day biweekly boat trips to collection sites, implementing two collection strategies, and sorting thousands of insects. While baseline animal population data prior to Deepwater Horizon was severely lacking, Dr. Foil said that Ben and his fellow graduate students are addressing these gaps using various techniques that mix DNA sequencing with classic taxonomy. “Saltwater intrusion and fresh water diversions are inevitable in the changing coastal habitats,” said Dr. Foil. “Hopefully, Ben will provide valuable data for use in evaluating these effects on biological communities.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Ben Aker and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Podcast: The Loop Podcast [English + Español]

loop-logo-final_smallThe Loop podcast takes a deep dive into the Gulf of Mexico with the researchers studying the processes, mechanisms, and impacts of oil spills.

Researchers from the Center for Integrated Modeling and Analysis of Gulf Ecosystems (C-IMAGE) discuss their studies with David Levin of Mind Open Media. C-IMAGE is an international research group studying mud, microbes and mammals after two mega spills, Deepwater Horizon and Ixtoc I. The goal of C-IMAGE is to advance understanding of the fundamental processes and mechanisms of marine blowouts and their consequences, ensuring that society is better-prepared to mitigate future events.

Episode 1: Overview of C-IMAGE
C-IMAGE PI Dr. Steven Murawski talks to David Levin about C-IMAGE’s research goals and the importance of integration when tackling large scale impacts. This episode is available in English and Spanish. (Transcript: English, Español)

Español:

Episode 2: The Mud and the Blood
C-IMAGE PIs Steven Murawski and David Hollander talk to David Levin aboard the R/V Weatherbird II in August 2012 about looking for Deepwater Horizon‘s impacts on Gulf of Mexico mud and fish. This episode is available in English and Spanish. (Transcript: English, Español)

Español:

Episode 3: The “Not-So-Visible” Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the Gulf of Mexico
Three years after the BP oil well disaster, scientists are struggling to understand the effects on the Gulf ecosystem. David Levin reports on the oil’s impact on the tiny creatures that form the base of the food chain. (Transcript: English)

Episode 4: Fitting the Gulf of Mexico Inside a Computer: How to Build an Ecosystem Model
David Levin talks with C-IMAGE members Cameron Ainsworth, Jason Lenes, Michelle Masi, and Brian Smith about building an ecosystem model of the Gulf of Mexico to describe how oil spills impact marine life. (Transcript: English, Español)

Episode 5: The Pressure is On!
David Levin talks with C-IMAGE PI Steven Murawski and scientists from the Technical University of Hamburg at Harburg Michael Schluter and Karen Malone about their ongoing experiments examining oil and gas droplets under high pressure to learn more about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. (Transcript: English, Español)

Episode 6: Oil – It’s What’s for Dinner…
C-IMAGE scientists want to know more about how oil-eating microorganisms behave in the cold deep ocean to learn more about what happened to the oil from the Deepwater Horizon blowout. High-pressure experiments underway at our high pressure facility at the Hamburg University of Technology focus on how these microbes use oil and what happens to them in the process. Results from these studies may lead to a new way to clean up spills by eliminating its most poisonous ingredients. (Transcript: English, Español)

Episode 7: The Ixtoc Spill – Reflections
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill happened just a few years ago, but it might be possible to predict its impact on the Gulf by studying another major spill, one that happened in 1979. “These are two of the largest spills in the world’s history as far as blowouts go, and they were both in the Gulf of Mexico.” Wes Tunnell is a marine biologist who is looking at the aftermath of both spills. It’s almost like he’s looking at the same crime scene, separated by more than three decades. How? Give a listen. Mind Open Media producer David Levin talks to Wes Tunnell and John Farrington about their experiences during the 1979 Ixtoc spill and the applications to new blowouts thirty years late. This episode is available in English and Spanish. (Transcript: English, Español)

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Episode 8: In the Mud in Mexico
“We were of the mind that with studying the Deepwater Horizon in the northern Gulf we weren’t getting a full Gulf of Mexico perspective.” Geochemist David Hollander is traveling with an international team of scientists aboard a Mexican research vessel. Over the last few years, his team has studied the effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill. But today, they’re looking back at a spill that happened 35 years ago and what they learn on this trip might help them understand the future of the Gulf. Mind Open Media producer David Levin talks to David Hollander, Joel Ortega Ortiz, Isabel Romero, Adriana Gaytán-Caballero, and Travis Washburn about their experiences on the RV Justo Sierra in the southern Gulf of Mexico during the research on the Ixtoc spill. (Transcript: English, Español)

Episode 9: Forensic Oceanography
Listen to learn how scientists reanalyzed remotely sensed data taken in the late 1970s to study the Ixtoc 1 oil spill. Dr. Chuanmin Hu and his graduate student Shaojie Sun use the Landsat and Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) data to develop “treasure maps” of oil from the IXTOC-1 spill to steer field studies. Listen in to find out how they did it. This episode is available in English and Spanish. (Transcript: English, Español)

Español:

Episode 10: The Risks for Fish
What happened to the fish in the days and weeks after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill? With a suite of exposure studies, C-IMAGE researchers are monitoring fish health after oil exposure in order to find out. Dr. Dana Wetzel and Kevan Main of Mote Marine Laboratory give fish a small does of oil through either their food, water, or the sea floor sediments, then analyze how their bodies recover. (Transcript: English, Español)

Episode 11: The Cuban Connection: Spills, Science Diplomacy
C-IMAGE collaborated with researchers from the University of Havana for the first join U.S.-Cuban expedition in over 50 years. (Transcript: English)

Episode 12: MTS TechSurge
When research and industry can communicate effectively when responding to an oil spill, both the environment and oil industry benefit from shared knowledge and new technologies. (Transcript: English)

Episode 13: For a Few Dollars More – Costs and Ecosystem Services after Spills
When oil spills are assessed through an economic viewpoint, both environmental and human impacts must be considered to provide a full picture. (Transcript: English)

Episode 14: Modeling Arctic Oil Spills
Understanding the long-term effects of arctic spills like this one could be even more urgent now than ever, as oil exploration makes its way to the North Slope of Alaska (including inside the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge). C-IMAGE has developed a computer model of the entire Gulf ecosystem, so they could test how future spills would affect the region. And now, they’re applying those tools farther north. (Transcript: English)

Episode 15: Asphalt Ecosystems
At the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, some truly bizarre ecosystems are hiding in the darkness among the asphalt volcanoes and supporting huge colonies of unique life. C-IMAGE has been analyzing these ecosystems and reveals that if chemosynthetic communities are harmed, it could affect other environments as well. The microbes that power those communities don’t just eat chemicals in oil or asphalt—they also eat up a lot of free-floating carbon that would otherwise escape to the rest of the ocean… and eventually, get into the atmosphere, adding to global climate change. (Transcript: English)

Episode 16: Panel Discussion
For the past several years, The Loop covered the work of scientists studying the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The research is winding down and this is The Loop‘s last podcast with C-IMAGE! (Transcript: English)

How Grad Student Niles Gets to Know Crude Oil at a Molecular Level

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Sydney Niles holds a jacketed beaker containing Macondo oil on water after photo-irradiation in the Atlas solar simulator (right). (Photo credit: Stephen Bilenky)

When an oil slick is exposed to sunlight, photo-oxidation processes break the oil down and incorporate oxygen into the petroleum molecules. When the incorporated oxygen reaches a certain amount, the petroleum can dissolve in water and potentially affect marine organisms and ecosystems. Sydney Niles is investigating how photo-oxidation alters the oil’s molecular composition and if that process forms toxic water-soluble oil compounds that may affect environmental and public health. Her research may help the response community better understand oil’s molecular-level effects on ecosystems and communities and inform future clean-up and restoration efforts.

Sydney is a Ph.D. student with the Florida State University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and a GoMRI Scholar with the project The State-of-the-Art Unraveling of the Biotic and Abiotic Chemical Evolution of Macondo Oil: 2010-2018.

Her Path

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(L-R) Sydney Niles, Dr. Ryan Rodgers, and Dr. Martha Chacon at Florida State University’s National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab). (Photo credit: Stephen Bilenky)

As a child, Sydney was curious about how things work and enjoyed finding the answers in her science classes. She discovered a love for chemistry in high school, when she learned that chemical reactions can explain the molecular-level activities behind phenomena such as color changes in oxidized metals. As an undergraduate chemistry major at the University of Michigan, she gained lab experience while working on a Parkinson’s study and later in an environmental research lab focusing on analytical chemistry. She was amazed that scientists could use electron microscopes and analytical techniques to clearly observe micron-size aerosol particles and determine which elements were present. The experience sparked her desire to use analytical chemistry to benefit the environment and public health.

Sydney joined Dr. Alan Marshall’s research group at Florida State University as a graduate student hoping to work with the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory’s mass spectrometers (instruments that can measure the mass of individual compounds). She began working more closely with Dr. Ryan Rodgers after deciding to focus her research on petroleum applications.

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Dr. Martha Chacon (left) and Sydney Niles (right) stand next to the custom-built 9.4 Tesla FT-ICR MS used for molecular-level analysis of petroleum compounds. (Photo credit: Stephen Bilenky)

“Growing up in Michigan, I loved being in nature and taking summer trips to the Great Lakes, where we have beautiful beaches and clean, clear water. I couldn’t imagine an event like Deepwater Horizon happening to the ecosystems I enjoyed back home,” said Sydney. “I was initially wary about working with petroleum, as I have always been passionate about wildlife and taking care of the planet. However, I realized Dr. Rodger’s group was also focused on environmental applications involving petroleum, and I became passionate about using the tools at my disposal to contribute to GoMRI’s research goals.”

Her Work

Sydney mimics in situ oil photo-oxidation in the lab using a solar simulator and oil collected directly from the Macondo well during spill response. She analyzes the oil before and after irradiation using Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). This process describes oil samples on a molecular level and allows her to compare oil compounds present before and after sunlight exposure. Since molecular composition is closely tied to oil’s tendency to aggregate and form emulsions and deposits, identifying the compounds present after irradiation can help determine how petroleum will behave in the environment. She conducts similar analyses on oil sheens and tar balls collected from oiled beaches and compares them to lab-irradiated samples. She found that lab-irradiated samples strongly resemble those collected from oiled beaches but do not resemble lab-generated samples created using biodegradation. This suggests that sunlight created oxygenated compounds identified in field samples rather than processes associated with oil-degrading bacteria.

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(L-R) Dr. Alan Marshall, Sydney Niles, and Dr. Ryan Rodgers stand in front of the 21 Tesla FT-ICR MS used to analyze photo-oxidized oil samples. (Provided by Sydney Niles)

So far, Sydney has observed that photo-oxidation forms oxygenated oil- and water-soluble compounds that are not present in the samples prior to irradiation. Some of the oil-soluble compounds act like surfactants that cause oil slicks to swell with seawater and form strong, mousse-like emulsions. The emulsions’ oil- and water-soluble components are difficult to separate, which can impede clean-up efforts. “Typically, the densities of oil and water are different enough that you can easily scoop up an oil layer without disrupting the water layer,” she explained. “Separating the oil and water is much more difficult if an emulsion has formed (imagine shaking up oil and vinegar dressing and then trying to isolate the two layers). These mousses can be several feet thick, and the incorporation of water makes them heavier and increases the volume of material that needs to be cleaned up.” While both oil- and water-soluble compounds contain potentially toxic hydrocarbons, water-soluble compounds are of specific interest to Sydney’s research because they travel more freely throughout marine ecosystems.

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Sydney Niles holds an oil sample at the 2018 National High Magnetic Field Laboratory open house. (Photo credit: Leda Eaton)

Sydney will test the toxicity of water-soluble compounds formed through the irradiation process using microtox bioassays, adding bioluminescent bacteria to a water sample containing the irradiated compounds and measuring luminescence at given time points. Luminescence will decrease when bacteria are killed by toxic compounds, allowing her to correlate luminescence with toxicity in the sample. “Petroleum hydrocarbons have known toxicity, and we are curious to see if they are released into the environment as water-soluble compounds after photo-oxidation,” she explained. “Understanding how different weathering processes contribute to the oil’s chemical and physical changes in the environment is the best way to plan better clean-up strategies for future spills.”

Her Learning

Sydney’s experiences conducting GoMRI research often reminded her of why she came to love chemistry. She recalled an experiment that placed dark brown oil into a solar simulator for several days, transforming it into a light brown fluffy emulsion with a peanut butter consistency. She viewed the samples in the FT-ICR and saw dramatic changes in the oil molecules after photo-oxidation. “These results were just as fascinating to me as my high school chemistry class, where a reaction represents how molecules change and a physical change is also observed,” she said.

Her Future

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Sydney Niles presents a poster about the formation of ketone-containing photo-oxidation transformation products in petroleum at the 2018 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference. (Photo credit: Huan Chen)

Sydney hopes to continue researching petroleum and the environment with an industry or at a national lab. She suggests that students considering a scientific career should participate in undergraduate research before pursuing graduate school, “Research is very different than classes, so make sure you like doing research before applying to graduate school.” She explains that finding a research project that sparks true passion in you is the best motivator for a science student. “If you are doing something you feel is important for society or the environment, you will be much more motivated in the lab,” she said. “Dr. Rodgers is very passionate about how our research can impact human health, animal health, and the environment, which helped me to see the bigger picture every step of the way.”

Praise for Sydney

Dr. Marshall recalled that Sydney immersed herself in the research from the moment she arrived at Florida State University. He describes her as a multi-tasker who often works on several projects at once, including mastering the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory’s custom-built FT-ICR MS. Her research has led to 14 poster and oral presentations at major scientific conferences, and her Ph.D. dissertation promises to yield multiple journal articles. “Her first paper, soon to appear in Environmental Science & Technology, provides definitive evidence that ketones and aldehydes generated in weathered petroleum essentially derive completely from photo-oxidation, not biodegradation,” he said.

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Sydney Niles and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Smithsonian Highlights Technology that Tracks the Ocean’s Flow

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Guillaume Novelli (L) releases a Phatom 4 pro drone from the RV Walton Smith while Cedric Guigand (R) operates the flight controls during the CARTHE SPLASH experiment. High-resolution cameras on the drone collected aerial observations of floating bamboo drift plates and fast-evolving fronts at 1 meter – 200 meters scales. Photo by Tamay Ozgokmen, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

Many factors affect how the ocean moves, and it is especially difficult to know exactly how it will behave in a specific area, as was evident with challenges in predicting oil transport during Deepwater Horizon. The Smithsonian’s Ocean Portal published an article that describes tools scientists use to track currents on and just beneath the ocean’s surface, such as drifters, autonomous underwater vehicles, planes, and video equipment attached to ship-tethered balloons and drones.

Read the article Five Methods For Tracking The Ocean’s Motion featuring the Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE). Their research is helping us learn more about how currents and waves move water and floating material (such as spilled oil and plastics).

Read these related stories:

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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GoMRI and the Smithsonian have a partnership to enhance oil spill science content on the Ocean Portal website.

The GoMRI is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies.  An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research.  All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available.  The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP.  For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Video + Lesson Plan: The Adventures of Zack and Molly [English + Español]

5831The Adventures of Zack and Molly is a four-part animated short video series that tells the story of a young man, Zack, who is more interested in the small world of his smartphone than the larger world around him. Zack’s online request for a roommate is answered by Molly, a tech-savvy Dumbo Octopus on a mission to tell the world about the importance of the deep ocean. Molly wants to use Zack’s apartment for her global communications headquarters, but Zack is skeptical. To win Zack over, Molly takes him to her deep ocean home in the Gulf of Mexico to see its unique features and diverse marine life and help him understand how human activities threaten its health. In episode 4 (added in March 2020), the duo takes a field trip to the deep sea ecosystems in the Gulf of California to see some amazing underwater features and meet an underappreciated superhero.

These educational videos are intended for adults and children ages 10-18 and are accompanied by a Learning Guide providing discussion points, connections to Next Generation Science Standards, hands-on activities, and further resources.

Free Learning Guide PDF:
Learning Guide – English!
Guía de Aprendizaje – Español!

The Adventures of Zack and Molly Three-Part Compilation:

Las Aventuras de Zack y Molly – Subtitulos en Español:

Episode 4 – The Amazing Beggiatoa:

Las Aventuras de Zack y Molly #4 – la Increible Beggiatoa [Subtitulos en Español]:

Grad Student Grossi Uses Artificial Intelligence to Map Ocean Flows

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Matt Grossi, meteorology and physical oceanography Ph.D. student with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (Photo credit: Simge Bilgen).

Our knowledge about ocean transport comes primarily from ocean circulation models that use field observations and theoretical motion equations to simulate ocean dynamics. Ocean models can depict large-scale circulation features accurately, but resolutions high enough to capture all scales of motion entail significant computational time and cost and are challenging or even impossible for most modern supercomputers.

Matt Grossi is developing an alternative approach that uses an artificial neural network algorithm, a type of artificial intelligence, to predict ocean transport based on information it automatically learns from field observations. This type of machine learning is considerably less computationally expensive than conventional circulation models, and Matt believes the network’s ability to digest data for skilled ocean forecasts will have many real-world applications, such as predicting oil dispersion in specific locations.

Matt is a meteorology and physical oceanography Ph.D. student with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and a GoMRI Scholar with Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbons in the Environment III (CARTHE-III).

His Path

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University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science researchers (L-R, Laura Bracken, Matt Grossi, Conor Smith, and Mike Rebozo) aboard the R/V Argus during the 2017 Submesoscale Processes and Lagrangian Analysis on the Shelf (SPLASH) experiment. (Photo credit: Laura Bracken)

Matt credits his physical oceanography path to an eighth-grade field trip to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where his class spent four days learning about the Cape’s geology, fauna, flora, and maritime history. A trip activity asked students to measure the speed and direction of the Cape Cod Canal surface current using a tape measure, a stopwatch, and oranges. “We hadn’t grown up near the ocean, so we had no idea that the relentless spring wind ripping through the canal could make the water appear to flow in the opposite direction of the strong tidal current,” said Matt. “Imagine how surprised we were when we tossed our oranges into the water, waited for them to float past our stopwatch, and observed them floating in the ‘wrong’ direction!”

The experience inspired Matt to pursue an undergraduate degree in physical oceanography and meteorology at the Florida Institute of Technology and then a master’s degree at the University of Delaware’s Ocean Exploration, Remote Sensing, and Biogeography lab. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred while he was finishing his master’s thesis, and his lab provided targeted regional satellite products and glider resources to aid response efforts. He recalls his advisor uploading the latest satellite imagery into their models and remarking that recovery from the spill would take years – he was right. Roughly a decade later, Matt is continuing his education studying the same disaster.

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(L-R) CARTHE researchers Laura Bracken, Matias Alday, Mike Rebozo, Matt Grossi, and Conor Smith prepare to deploy CARTHE drifters from the R/V Argus during the 2017 Submesoscale Processes and Lagrangian Analysis on the Shelf (SPLASH) experiment. (Photo credit: Guillaume Novelli)

After his master’s research, Matt operated regional ocean observation systems at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology. Hoping to return to data exploration and research, Matt learned about Dr. Tamay Özgökmen’s GoMRI-funded ocean transport research during a recruitment visit to the University of Miami. Özgökmen described the unprecedented ocean circulation data his team had collected that was waiting to be analyzed, and Matt was excited about the broad research possibilities and the opportunity to help conduct a month-long drifter campaign in the Gulf of Mexico. He joined Özgökmen’s lab as a meteorology and physical oceanography Ph.D. student. “I am excited to engage in cutting-edge research,” said Matt. “There is a growing appreciation for the importance of the world’s ocean in understanding many of the 21st Century’s greatest environmental challenges.”

His Work

Matt is exploring how an artificial neural network (ANN) can improve predictions of ocean transport using information it learns from observational data. Rather than depending on a preexisting machine learning package, he and his colleagues are designing their own network. Unlike ocean circulation models, which use field observations to establish initial conditions and then apply theoretical algorithms to predict what should happen, their network will digest and learn from data depicting what actually happens to buoyant ocean particles.

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Matt Grossi prepares to deploy a CARTHE drifter into Biscayne Bay, Florida. (Photo Credit: CARTHE)

“Instead of forcing selected data into a theoretical ocean model, why not use as much field data as possible and learn what we can from it? Data-driven modeling techniques such as ANNs provide promising ways to do just that,” said Matt. “ANNs look for statistical relationships between different data sets – the more data available, the more the neural network can learn. Once trained, the network can make skilled predictions about cases not seen during training.”

The ANN’s success is dependent on (1) the data’s degree of predictability and (2) the amount of data available. Matt is currently addressing the first criteria through a proof-of-concept study assessing what information the ANN can learn about particle trajectories. He advects simulated particles in various known flow regimes, tracks their trajectories, and trains the ANN to predict where the particles will end up. So far, the group’s ANN has learned to use a particle’s previous trajectory to predict its final destination. “Our ANN’s predictions have struggled in more complicated scenarios, such as interacting scales of motion, but our model is the simplest kind of neural network and there is plenty of room for fine-tuning,” he said. “The preliminary results from these test domains have been optimistically promising, and we are now beginning similar tests using realistic oceanic flows produced by an ocean circulation model.”

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Matt Grossi explains ocean observation, marine technology, and CARTHE research to visiting high school students during an outreach event at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. (Photo credit: Laura Bracken)

Matt’s next research step will address the second criteria concerning the amount of data available to train the ANN. While global observational ocean data are sparse, he hopes that regional observation systems and targeted field experiments will provide enough information to begin assessing machine learning’s applications for oceanography. CARTHE’s Gulf of Mexico field expeditions (the Grand Lagrangian Deployment or GLAD, the Surfzone Coastal Oil Pathways Experiment or SCOPE, the Submesoscale Processes and Lagrangian Analysis on the Shelf or SPLASH experiment, and the Lagrangian Submesoscale Experiment or LASER) represent the largest coordinated field campaigns to-date that assess interactions between mesoscale and submesoscale ocean dynamics. Matt plans to use the campaigns’ unprecedented quantities of data to assess how much oceanographic data the ANN requires to produce an accurate simulation.

While it is too early to say exactly how ocean forecasting will implement machine learning algorithms, Matt envisions a more complete picture of ocean dynamics using a network of ANNs trained for different regions and seasons. “It may sound complicated, but this is the essence of artificial intelligence: multiple machine learning algorithms working on different parts of a complex problem to achieve a common goal,” said Matt. “It’s just like people: a trained individual can only accomplish so much, but a team of trained individuals working together is always more productive.”

His Learning

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(L-R) CARTHE researchers Matt Grossi, Simge Bilgen, Laura Bracken, Sharon Chinchilla, and John Lodise prepare for a BayDrift deployment at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. (Photo credit: CARTHE)

Matt said that working with Dr. Özgökmen taught him to think like a scientist and collaborate on a large research team involving multiple institutions. He was particularly grateful for his experiences working on the 2017 SPLASH experiment. “Being part of an international team of scientists working together to conduct one of the largest coordinated field campaigns to date is undoubtedly a highlight of my career,” he said. “Without the support of GoMRI, none of this would have been possible.”

His Future

Matt hopes to enter a post-doc position that will help prepare him for a research career in government, academia, or the private sector. He encourages students considering a scientific career to take advantage of any available opportunities, even if the focus isn’t related to one’s current research. He explained that opportunities to get involved are almost always available if you reach out and ask, even if they aren’t explicitly advertised. “You never know what will come of it,” said Matt. “My career started with throwing some oranges into the water in eighth grade. Many years later, I’m still throwing things into the water in the name of science, only now they’re bigger, more expensive, and have GPS tracking devices on them. I still don’t know where they’re going to go once we toss them in, but that’s what keeps things exciting – and keeps researchers employed!”

Praise for Matt

Dr. Özgökmen recruited Matt as a Ph.D. student because of his experience collecting and organizing observational data. He explained that he and Matt began considering machine learning algorithms for processing oceanic data around the same time. Matt immediately took some machine learning courses and began developing codes for processing CARTHE data, which Özgökmen expects will be instrumental to their project. Matt’s work will also help their team’s recently awarded Department of Defense Multi University Research Initiative project (with colleagues at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California Los Angeles, Florida State University, and Duke University) centered on using machine learning for ocean submesoscale flows. “Submesoscale flows and machine learning for ocean data are concepts that did not really exist until the 21st Century,” said Özgökmen. “Matt is making great progress and is likely to advance oceanography in quite an exciting and different direction than usual. I hope that a lucrative career is awaiting him in the future.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Matt Grossi and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the CARTHE website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Mullane Puts Oil-Degrading Microbes Under Enormous Pressure

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Kelli Mullane’s poster titled “Insights into the Adaptation of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Microbes to Life at High Pressure: The Role of Motility and Chemotaxis” won an Outstanding Research Award at the Southern California Branch of the American Society of Microbiology (SCASM) 2019 meeting. (Provided by Kelli Mullane)

There are currently over 30 active deep-sea drilling platforms and more than 600 areas where oil naturally seeps from the Gulf of Mexico seafloor. A massive microbial response coincided with the Deepwater Horizon subsurface oil plume, leading researchers to question how pressure may have impacted the hydrocarbon degraders. Kelli Mullane is investigating how high-pressure and low-temperature affect oil-degrading microbes’ ability to detect and move toward hydrocarbon compounds. Her research will help inform how scientists and responders apply bioremediation rates to models of deep-sea hydrocarbon fate and transport.

Kelli is a Ph.D. student with the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Role of Microbial Motility for Degradation of Dispersed Oil.

Her Path

Kelli grew up dreaming of becoming a marine biologist but struggled to decide which direction to take. As an environmental science undergraduate student at Rutgers University, she gained hands-on experience working in a marine biology lab studying African cichlid fish. She had just left this lab group when she was invited to complete a George H. Cook Scholar Honors Thesis, which required her to participate in ongoing lab research.

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Kelli Mullane utilizes a high-pressure microscope system developed by collaborator Dr. Masayoshi Nishiyama to study how high pressure affects microbial motility. (Provided by Kelli Mullane)

“A program director told me to search the Marine Biology department’s website for anything I thought was interesting, and I came across Dr. Costantinto Vetriani’s Deep-Sea Microbiology lab studying extremophiles (organisms that thrive in extreme conditions) at deep-sea hydrothermal vents,” said Kelli. “My microbiology knowledge was limited, but Dr. Vetriani took a chance on me and today I’m working as a Ph.D. student in a microbiology lab at one of the world’s leading oceanographic institutions.”

Kelli wanted to continue studying extremophiles in graduate school and discovered Dr. Douglas Bartlett’s high-pressure microbiology lab at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Their GoMRI-funded research investigates how the high pressure at the Deepwater Horizon site affected the movement of oil-degrading microbes. She was intrigued about using molecular and physiological approaches to answer questions about high-pressure environments.

“Imagine 200 elephants standing on the tip of your thumb. That’s how much pressure these deep-sea microbes experience, yet they are able to grow, divide, and interact. That’s when my curiosity kicked in!” said Kelli. “The idea that something so small survives and excels under extreme environmental conditions that would easily kill a human is mind-boggling to me.”

Her Work

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Kelli uses multiple pressure vessels in the walk-in cold room to simulate low temperature for microbial growth and motility studies. (Provided by Douglas H. Bartlett)

Kelli investigates how high hydrostatic pressure and low temperature influence the motility (independent movement) and chemotaxis (movement towards or away from something) of deep-sea hydrocarbon-degrading microbes. She and her colleagues work with pressure-tolerant microbial strains isolated from the Gulf following Deepwater Horizon. Her findings will help explain how pressure influences microbial bioremediation rates and inform deep-sea hydrocarbon fate and transport models.

“It’s not surprising that the microbes that responded to Deepwater Horizon are pressure-tolerant rather than piezophillic (pressure-loving),” she said. “Deepwater Horizon pressures were approximately 10 – 15 MPa, which is relatively quite low considering the high pressures our lab studies. There are natural oil seeps at much deeper depths than Deepwater Horizon, and the potential for a future anthropogenic oil spill in much deeper waters is definitely there. We wanted our research to look at Deepwater Horizon-relevant pressures as well as pressures present at greater depths.”

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The Douglas Bartlett lab team, 2019. (Provided by Kelli Mullane)

Kelli’s first experiment examined how high pressure and low temperature affect microbe motility. She worked with Kyoto University’s Dr. Masayoshi Nishiyama, who developed a small high-pressure microscopy chamber with glass windows. Kelli exposed microbes in the chamber to pressures equaling or greater than Deepwater Horizon conditions and low temperature (7°C) and recorded their movement using a high-resolution microscope. She analyzed the collected video for quantitative changes in the number and speed of swimming bacteria and observed that both factors significantly decreased microbe motility, though temperature had a greater impact on motility than pressure.

Kelli’s chemotaxis experiments will assess if in situ pressure levels inhibit microbes’ movement towards hydrocarbons (decreasing their ability to degrade hydrocarbons efficiently) or enhance it (making deep-sea biodegradation more efficient). “Researchers have investigated differences in chemotaxis-related gene expression at atmospheric and high pressure, but nobody has directly measured increased or decreased chemotaxis activity under high-pressure conditions,” she said. Kelli is developing a method to adapt previous chemotaxis studies for high-pressure research. She also plans to use transposon mutagenesis to obtain motility and chemotaxis mutants, which may help her identify genes and gene clusters important for high-pressure motility and chemotaxis.

Her Learning

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Kelli Mullane. (Provided by Kelli Mullane)

Working in Dr. Bartlett’s lab, Kelli has learned that researchers need to wear many hats. Her roles included mentoring seven undergraduate students, conceptualizing her own projects and fellowship applications, troubleshooting new protocols, and making sure the lab is well-stocked. “There is a lot that falls on my shoulders as the only Ph.D. student in the lab,” she said. “While it’s been a ton of work, it’s also made me the scientist I am today, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.”

Kelli realized the value of the GoMRI science community during the 2018 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science (GoMOSES) conference, her first time connecting with researchers from many fields. “Getting a full sense of the community that gathered to study this oil spill was really exciting for me,” she said. “I was overjoyed to return to GoMOSES in 2019 and share the progress I’d made over the last year.” Kelli’s oral presentation at the 2019 GoMOSES conference was awarded a James D. Watkins Student Award for Excellence in Research.

Kelli believes that STEM outreach and science communication are extremely important to a scientist’s success. She currently acts as the volunteer coordinator for the Scripps Community Outreach for Public Education (SCOPE) program. The program offers free campus tours to foster scientific curiosity and environmental stewardship, provides STEM education opportunities to youth and the public, and helps graduate students improve their scientific communication and outreach skills. Kelli is also the lead coordinator for the Scripps Student Symposium (S3), a one-day conference that allows graduate students from diverse scientific backgrounds to present and discuss their research and engage in interdisciplinary collaboration.

Her Future

Kelli hopes to find a post-doc position that balances teaching and lab work so she can expand her skills and develop her long-term goals. She emphasizes to younger students that it’s okay to not know exactly what interests you, “Try something, jump in, and get your feet wet. If you realize along the way that that particular research field isn’t for you – that’s okay! Move on to a new opportunity until you find where your passion lies.”

Praise for Kelli

Dr. Bartlett said Kelli has tremendous organizational and leadership skills, including those associated with lab operations and mentoring undergraduate students. He described her as a gifted communicator able to relay her science to other researchers and to the public. “Kelli’s work performing high-pressure microscopic analyses of the motility behavior of oil-degrading Gulf of Mexico bacteria has provided an important new perspective on the factors that influence oil degradation in the deep sea.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Kelli Mullane and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Smithsonian Highlights Research on Tiny Marine Organisms

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Dispersed oil droplets bound to marine detritus and plankton collected in northern Gulf of Mexico waters during Deepwater Horizon (2010). (Photo courtesy of David Liittschwager)

The Smithsonian’s Ocean Portal published an article that describes how scientists are using the In Situ Ichthyoplankton Imaging System (ISIIS) to photograph zooplankton organisms and gather information about salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and light levels. The detailed imagery that the ISIIS collects is helping researchers understand how incidents such as Deepwater Horizon may affect the microscopic organisms that live in the Gulf of Mexico’s dynamic coastal waters, where biomass and plankton are highly concentrated.

Read the article What the Big Picture Can Teach Us About Tiny Ocean Creatures featuring scientists Adam Greer and Luciano Chiaverano (University of Southern Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the Consortium for Oil Spill Exposure Pathways in Coastal River-Dominated Ecosystems or CONCORDE). They describe how biologic data is combined with physical oceanographic modeling to track zooplankton, make links to important fish species and coastal processes, and improve understanding of the shelf ecosystem.

Read these related stories:

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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GoMRI and the Smithsonian have a partnership to enhance oil spill science content on the Ocean Portal website.

The GoMRI is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies.  An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research.  All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available.  The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP.  For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

New Sea Grant Fact Sheet Answers Dispersant FAQs

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The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team released a product that concisely summarizes recent science regarding how dispersants work, how they are used, and how they affect sea life. The fact sheet also includes information on existing policies for chemical dispersants and how dispersants were used during Deepwater Horizon.

Read Frequently Asked Questions: Dispersant Edition and learn about dispersant-related research and how scientists are investigating how laboratory-based results relate to the ever-changing conditions in nature. 

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States. 

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently-held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Jasperse Examines Oil Spill Effects on Marsh Fish and Dolphins

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Lindsay Jasperse moves sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) into exposure tanks. (Provided by Milton Levin)

Following Deepwater Horizon, researchers have been conducting multi-year studies on the health of Gulf of Mexico marine life. As part of this effort, Lindsay Jasperse recently studied how marsh fish respond to combined oil exposure and environmental stressors and is currently investigating the immune systems of oil-exposed bottlenose dolphins.

Lindsay is a Ph.D. student with the University of Connecticut’s Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and a GoMRI Scholar with the Consortium for Advanced Research on Marine Mammal Health Assessment (CARMMHA).

Her Path

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Lindsay Jasperse uses flow cytometry to assess the proportion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the blood of bottlenose dolphins. (Provided by Milton Levin)

Lindsay grew up in New Jersey, where she spent her summers at the beach and developed an interest in marine research. She was an undergraduate student at the University of Connecticut when she discovered her love for lab work. Most science classes for her Molecular and Cell Biology major and Physiology and Neurobiology minor included a lab component, and she loved applying classroom lessons to hands-on experiments.

As part of her undergraduate Honors Thesis requirements, Lindsay joined Dr. Sylvain De Guise’s lab team, who was funded through the Morris Animal Foundation, to investigate how eastern oysters respond to oil and Corexit exposure. She loved the research and continued with De Guise’s lab team as a pathobiology Ph.D. student on their GoMRI-funded sheepshead minnow and dolphin research project.

Her Work

Lindsay’s research spans two GoMRI-funded research efforts. Her dissertation research was with the project The Combined Effect of Environmental and Anthropogenic Stressors on Fish Health, which investigated effects on sheepshead minnow reproduction and development. “While fish can adapt to variable estuary conditions, it is not well understood how fish respond to the additional stress of oil exposure,” she explained. “Moreover, environmental conditions such as dissolved oxygen levels and salinity can have a major influence on the uptake and outcome of contaminants in fish.”

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Lindsay Jasperse isolates immune cells from bottlenose dolphin blood samples. (Provided by Milton Levin)

Lindsay and her colleagues conducted experiments with sheepshead minnows using high-energy water accommodated fraction or HEWAF under different environmental stressors, including hypoxia and low salinity. They counted eggs produced and fertilized to monitor reproductive success and analyzed eggs for heart rate, length, and survival. They observed that hypoxia and low salinity intensified HEWAF effects on minnow reproduction, perhaps contributing to developmental problems in their offspring. Two generations of minnows showed impaired ability to capture prey, suggesting possible transgenerational effects on this species. “These data indicate that environmental stressors need to be considered in oil spill risk assessments,” said Lindsay. “We hope that the data from my dissertation can inform remediation efforts following a future oil spill.”

While completing her dissertation, Lindsay became involved with CARMMHA’s investigation on bottlenose dolphin health. Dr. De Guise’s team previously observed that oil-exposed dolphins exhibited immune system impairment, including abnormal proliferation of T lymphocytes (T cells) and a cytokine shift towards a T helper 2 (Th2 cells), which could alter the dolphin’s infection resistance and increase its susceptibility to diseases. “T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity,” explained Lindsay. “T helper 1 (Th1) cells stimulate cell-mediated immunity to help combat intracellular pathogens, Th2 cells stimulate antibody-mediated immunity to help combat extracellular pathogens, and regulatory T cells (Treg) dampen the immune response and are critical for immune tolerance.”

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(L-R) Dr. Sylvain De Guise, Lindsay Jasperse, and Dr. Milton Levin at the 2019 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference. Lindsay won a James D. Watkins Student Award for Excellence in Research for her presentation. (Provided by Milton Levin)

Dr. De Guise’s team is now developing techniques to determine the pathways involved in immune system alterations. Using blood samples collected from a reference dolphin population, Lindsay’s team validated novel methods that identify and quantify Treg cells. The team also demonstrated how specific cell-signaling proteins called cytokines can help researchers better understand how T cell subsets function, including how they stimulate dolphin T cells and induce increased Th1 and Treg gene expression. They are using these new tools to determine subtle differences in immune system functioning in oil-exposed and reference dolphins. Lindsay and her colleagues are investigating if in vitro T cell exposure to oil alters T cell proliferation or subset function and using an in vivo mouse model to assess immune system impairment and the potential relationship between Tregs and reproductive failure.

“All of these methods allow us to determine the specific pathways being affected by oil exposure,” explained Lindsay. “This can help us predict what health effects the dolphins are likely to have after oil exposure and how likely (or not) they are to recover.”

Her Learning

Lindsay’s work with Dr. De Guise taught her diverse immunology and toxicology assessment techniques and showed her the value of collaborative science. Their team’s projects are highly collaborative, involving institutions from across the country and overseas. “I’ve seen first-hand how much more can be accomplished when labs work together towards a common goal,” she said.

Lindsay gained valuable experience presenting her research at scientific meetings, helping her become a more effective and confident communicator. She received a James D. Watkins Student Award for Excellence in Research at the 2019 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference. Lindsay described a particularly memorable experience when a large ice storm passed through Mobile, Alabama, during the 2014 conference, “Being from the Northeast, I’m used to snow and ice, but I have never seen anything like that before! The entire city was covered in a sheet of ice.”

Her Future

Lindsay will defend her thesis in May 2019 and then hopefully obtain a post-doc or other research-oriented position. She said that students considering a science career should practice their written and oral communication skills, because effectively communicating one’s research is an important component of the scientific process.

Praise for Lindsay

Dr. De Guise said Lindsay’s exceptional progress as a scientist was rewarding to observe, but not surprising. Even as an undergraduate volunteer, she impressed De Guise and his fellow researchers. “A colleague told me ‘you better keep her!’ She was that much more focused, eager, and fast learning than most undergrads coming through the lab,” he said. He praised Lindsay’s ability to balance working independently with working as a team and keeping focused on the project’s goals. He described her as quick to volunteer and assist others, while managing her own experiments and deadlines with ease. “Lindsay is certainly an exceptionally talented and driven young scientist, with a promising career in front of her,” said De Guise.

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Lindsay Jasperse and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the CARMMHA website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Bociu Digs into How Long Buried Oil Persists in Sandy Beaches

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Ioana Bociu holds a salt marsh core while conducting research at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. (Photo credit: Dr. Ryan Moyer)

Petroleum hydrocarbons buried in sandy beaches are protected from tides and UV light and, thus, may persist longer in the environment than oil on the beach surface. As a graduate student, Ioana Bociu’s research focused on determining the degradation rates for large sediment-oil clusters buried in Florida beaches following Deepwater Horizon. Her findings will help inform environmental managers about the persistence of buried oil in the environment, which could affect recovery after an oil spill.

Ioana, who recently completed her graduate studies, was a master’s student with the Florida State University Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science. During that time, she was a GoMRI Scholar with the project A Systems Approach to Improve Predictions of Biodegradation and Ecosystem Recovery in Coastal Marine Sediments Impacted by Oil Spill.

Her Path

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A standardized agglomerate sample inside a mesh tea strainer used during the biodegradation experiment. (Provided by Ioana Bociu)

Growing up in Romania and then the United States, Ioana was curious about and interested in nature and conservation. She began her undergraduate studies at Florida State University with a double-major in International Affairs and Japanese, but felt drawn to environmental issues. She switched her major to Environmental Science and began taking environmental science, geology, and oceanography classes. Her first class with Dr. Jeffrey Chanton got her interested in the carbon cycle and the need for filling gaps in ocean science research. Later on, a class with Dr. Ian MacDonald introduced her to oil biogeochemistry and Ph.D. candidate Brian Wells. She told Wells she wanted to do volunteer laboratory work, and he invited her to assist with his research investigating oil biodegradation in the Gulf of Mexico under Dr. Markus Huettel.

After completing her undergraduate degrees, Ioana conducted field work at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute for two years, which solidified her passion for carbon cycle research and sparked her desire to pursue graduate school. “When I had the chance of returning to Dr. Huettel’s lab, I was very enthusiastic to begin the GoMRI project as a master’s student,” she said. “I enjoy doing environmental research and learning about natural processes and mechanisms. My drive comes from wanting to understand what is happening in the environment after a long-term disturbance like the Deepwater Horizon oil blowout.”

Her Work

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A lab vial containing an aggregate sample after being concentrated to 1 mL for GC-MS analysis. (Provided by Ioana Bociu)

Shortly after the oil spill, the Huettel team conducted an experiment using 100 round metal tea infusers filled with homogenized, weathered oil-sand mixtures (agglomerates) collected from Florida beaches. They buried the agglomerates in Florida beaches in sets of ten in sand at 10-50 cm depth at 10-cm intervals, retrieved the agglomerates at pre-determined intervals over 3 years, and then froze the samples until analysis.

Ioana’s team analyzed the agglomerates for weight loss and change in diameter, which could indicate microbial biodegradation of the oil. A noticeable change in the agglomerates’ color over time prompted Ioana and her team to conduct a color and fluorescence analysis. They applied an elemental analyzer coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer to evaluate temporal changes in carbon content and carbon type (stable isotopes) in the agglomerates. Using a gas chromatograph coupled to a gas mass spectrometer, the team assessed temporal changes in the samples’ petroleum hydrocarbon compositions. Because environmental samples can contain thousands of compounds, Ioana and her team focused only on hydrocarbons considered harmful to humans by the Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency of Research on Cancer. In total, her team evaluated 30 saturated hydrocarbons and 33 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Based on these analyses, Ioana estimated that the golf-ball-sized aggregates buried in beach sands would degrade within 3 decades. She further observed that the half-lives (the time required for a quantity to reduce to half its initial value) of saturated hydrocarbons varied between 100 – 568 days and correlated to carbon chain length, with longer (heavier) carbon chains degrading more slowly than shorter carbon chains. The half-lives of PAHs varied between 94 – 836 days, depending on the compound. In comparison, reference agglomerates kept in the dark for approximately 7.4 years without sediment exposure degraded three-times more slowly than agglomerates buried in situ.

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(L-R) Dr. Peter Berg, Tom Bartlett, Dr. Markus Huettel, Amelie Berger, Alireza Merikhi, and Ioana Bociu during a trip to the Florida Keys to conduct field work. (Photo credit: Keys Marine Lab)

“The most critical part of our study is understanding the rate of degradation of buried oiled material, as most studies address oil degradation only in surface sediments. Buried material can persist for longer periods,” explained Ioana. “The more we can learn about what is going on in the environment, the better prepared we can be in the future. A significant part of my motivation comes from wanting to help resolve future issues by providing useful information to the greater public.”

Her Learning

Working in Huettel’s lab had a significant impact on Ioana’s growth as a scientist. Analyzing sediment-oil agglomerates involved a sophisticated extraction and measuring process that required a team effort to complete. This teamwork taught Ioana how to effectively interact with other researchers. She also gained leadership experience while teaching undergraduate students involved with the oil extraction process about the procedures and problem-solving techniques. Ioana’s conversations with Dr. Huettel had a great impact on her growth as a researcher, “Dr. Huettel was very patient with me, as there were quite a few times I walked into his office with a nervous laugh, struggling with something. I realized that verbalizing what I was thinking helped a lot in solving the issues I had. From brief conversations with him, I was able to proceed with the task at hand.”

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Ioana Bociu presents her thesis defense. (Provided by Ioana Bociu)

Presenting her research at the 2018 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference was an especially memorable experience for Ioana. Although she initially felt intimidated by the many experienced researchers present, she found that the conference community was extremely supportive and provided helpful feedback, leaving her feeling revitalized and ready to tackle the next steps of her master’s work.

Her Future

Ioana completed her master’s degree in spring 2018 and is searching for a government agency position conducting research on coastal or carbon cycle topics, broadening her experience and becoming a well-rounded scientist. She said that science students should consider the direction they want to go and the sacrifices they are willing to make at every step of their career. “There will be monotonous days when you have to redo samples or go through large batches of data, but in my opinion the reward of having data that can tell us something we didn’t know about Earth really pays off,” said Ioana. “As with everything in life, there are pros and cons – you just have to learn to find happiness in your choices.”

Praise for Ioana

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(L-R) John and Liliana Bociu (Ioana’s parents), Dr. Markus Huettel, and Ioana Bociu at Ioana’s thesis defense. (Provided by Ioana Bociu)

Dr. Huettel praised Ioana’s enthusiasm and motivation, stating that her attitude had an immediate and positive affect on everyone in his lab. He said that Ioana optimized the hydrocarbon extraction line beyond factory-specified efficiency and became the lab’s expert in running the GC-MS. He explained that she kept a cool head throughout the group’s research and impressed him with her ability to evaluate the complex data sets produced by the GC-MS, despite frequent software crashes. “I guess she could eliminate any research frustration as she honed her aerialist skills while practicing and performing,” he joked.

Huettel noted that when the lab brought on undergraduate students, Ioana became their dedicated supervisor. “It was great to see how, even at this early stage of her career, she managed her own lab group, making sure that high-quality standards were maintained, work was completed on time, and that everybody always stayed well-hydrated,” he said. “She is a born leader, fun to work with, and a role model for her peers.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Ioana Bociu and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

GoMRI-Sponsored Special Issue of Current: The Journal of Marine Education

5702Outreach coordinators from Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) consortia partnered to produce a special issue of Current: The Journal of Marine Education, published by the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA). The GoMRI-sponsored special issue – titled “Special Issue Featuring the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative: Research Resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill” – features synthesis articles on oil spill science and educational resources that educators can use to incorporate oil spill science into their curriculums. The goal of the issue is to convey the scientific process using the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and GoMRI as an example.

Click here for a free PDF copy of the issue (hosted with permission from NMEA).

The special issue includes:

  • A Current Log (forward) from GoMRI Research Board Chair Dr. Rita Colwell
  • An introduction highlighting the issue’s goals
  • Descriptions of each of the GoMRI-funded consortia + links to external communications partners
  • Five main articles discussing: (1) where oil went after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill; (2) the story of marine oil snow; (3) the spill’s impacts on organisms and habitats; (4) technological advancements resulting from the spill and the GoMRI investment; and (5) a feature on data sharing, data transparency, and the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC).
  • Lesson plans, classroom activities, and other educational resources related to the research discussed

Jessie Kastler (Consortium for Oil Spill Exposure Pathways in Coastal River-Dominated Ecosystems, CONCORDE), Katie Fillingham (GoMRI Management Team), Sara Beresford (Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf consortium, ECOGIG), and Teresa Greely (Center for the Integrated Modeling and Analysis of the Gulf Ecosystem, C-IMAGE) served as co-editors and co-authors for the special issue.

Laura Bracken (Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment, CARTHE), Murt Conover (Coastal Waters Consortium, CWC), Emily Davenport (ECOGIG), Dan DiNicola (formerly Relationships of Effects of Cardiac Outcomes in Fish for Validation of Ecological Risk consortium, RECOVER), Sandra Ellis (GRIIDC) and Rachel McDonald (Alabama Center for Ecological Resilience, ACER) also served as co-authors.

Permission has been granted to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) to reprint the special issue of Current: The Journal of Marine Education featuring the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (Vol. 33, No. 1, Winter 2019) published by the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) ©2019. For more information about the NMEA, please visit www.marine-ed.org.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit http://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

Grad Student Lodise Deconstructs Drifter Velocities to Understand How Wind Influences Currents

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John Lodise releases a drifter during a BayDrift experiment near the Rosenstiel School campus. (Photo credit: Diana Udel)

Many ocean forecast models treat the upper 1 meter of the water column, which plays a central role in ocean material transport, as a single layer. However, recent research shows that currents act differently at various depths within this meter.

The use of ocean drifters is the oldest way to measure currents, and recent design advances are providing more detailed and accurate ocean current data than ever. John Lodise analyzes data from these improved drifters to observe near-surface currents at multiple depths and explores how wind-driven velocities influence them. “If we know exactly how the wind is going to affect surface currents, then we can analyze forecasted wind and wave conditions to better predict the movement of surface currents and the pollution being transported by them,” he said.

John is a Ph.D. student with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and a GoMRI Scholar with Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment II (CARTHE II).

His Path

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John Lodise deploys a drifter in Gulf of Mexico during the LASER experiment, January 2016. (Provided by John Lodise)

John grew up on Long Island, New York where the ocean was part of his life through fishing, beach trips, and surfing. John, as an undergraduate at the University of Delaware, explored scientific fields related to ocean science and ultimately chose physical oceanography. “Being able to understand the movement and circulation of the ocean is so important to solving many of today’s environmental issues,” he said. “I thought physical oceanography was an avenue where I could really make a contribution to the current scientific understanding.” He graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in environmental science and concentrations in atmospheric science and physical oceanography.

While researching potential graduate programs, John was immediately impressed and motivated by the CARTHE research taking place at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. He applied to the program and accepted a position in Dr. Tamay Özgökmen’s ocean sciences lab, where researchers are conducting studies on ocean transport of floating material such as Deepwater Horizon oil. “I’ve always felt a connection to the ocean, and with that comes an obligation to try and protect it and all the resources it provides,” said John. “What’s most important for me is being part of a community that’s actively working towards protecting oceans, beaches, the ecosystems that exist there, and oceanic resources that humans depend on.”

His Work

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John Lodise helps a drone piloted by Dr. Dan Carson take off from a small boat in the Gulf of Mexico during the SPLASH experiment. Drones were used to take photos and videos of drift cards deployed by scientists to track surface currents. (Provided by John Lodise)

John deconstructs surface currents using data from drifters deployed during the Lagrangian Submesoscale Experiment (LASER), which used a fully-coupled atmosphere-wave-ocean model to calculate the physical variables involved in currents. John first applies the Lagrangian Variational Analysis (LAVA) tool to estimate velocity fields in the study region when wind and wave action is minimal. Doing so allows him to capture the underlying circulation patterns not driven by wind and waves. He then analyzes how drifter velocity changes when wind and wave activity increase and defines the total surface current into separate components driven by wind, waves, and underlying circulation patterns.

Drifters used during LASER had drogues (an attached flexible tether with sensing instruments that collected data 60 cm below the surface); however, a significant number of them lost their drogues due to bad weather and only collected data 5 cm below the surface. John assesses data from drifters with and without drogues to calculate wind-driven currents at these different depths. “The ocean surface is very difficult to sample, but it’s where buoyant pollutants like oil reside,” he said. “Including data from undrogued drifters, which sit right at the surface, can provide needed insight into this area.”

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John Lodise practices piloting a drone in preparation for the SPLASH experiment. (Provided by John Lodise)

So far, John has observed that wind and wave forcing caused significant changes in water column velocity as his calculations neared the ocean surface, consistent with recent CARTHE studies (Laxague et.al., 2017 and Haza et al., 2018). Undrogued drifters traveled approximately 1.5 times faster than drogued drifters due to wind and wave influence. Furthermore, while wind-driven currents are known to travel to the right of the wind direction, he observed that currents deeper in the water column traveled further to the right than shallower currents.

John plans to investigate if convergence zones transport or hold surface debris between different water masses and how large wind and wave events change the structure of existing ocean currents and what happens after the wind and waves subside. He also plans to compare LASER data with data collected during the Grand Lagrangian Deployment (GLAD) and Submesoscale Processes and Lagrangian Analysis on the Shelf (SPLASH) experiments to explore how factors such as seasonality and regional effects influence surface drifter transport.

His Learning

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John Lodise releases drift cards near the Rosenstiel School campus for the BayDrift experiment, which studies pollution transport pathways off the coast of Miami and south Florida. (Photo credit: Diana Udel)

Working with Dr. Özgökmen provided John the opportunity to participate in major Gulf of Mexico field experiments that used technologies such as GPS-equipped ocean drifters, drones, planes, and satellites to measure ocean currents. He gained experience assembling and deploying drifters during the LASER project and took part in small boat operations, drifter deployments, and drone experiments during SPLASH. Prior to these large field experiments, there were months of preparation and collaboration. “It was an amazing experience being out on the Gulf of Mexico, living aboard a ship, and building and deploying ocean drifters with the whole scientific team,” he said. “Being part of this large group of scientists working towards a common goal was not only a lot of fun but also made me proud to be part of the CARTHE group and work on the leading edge of oceanography.”

His Future

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CARTHE team members after completing a BayDrift experiment. (L-R) Laura Bracken, Simge Bilgen, Matt Grossi, Cedric Guigand, Guillaume Novelli, and John Lodise. (Provided by John Lodise)

John plans to seek a position at a university, government agency, or private environmental agency after completing his Ph.D. and hopes to continue his current research path. “The career I’ve chosen has given me amazing opportunities to travel while conducting and presenting my research,” he said. “I love the work that I do.”

Praise for John

Dr. Özgökmen praised John’s work with the consortium’s LASER and SPLASH experiments, which provided data to John’s ongoing Ph.D. research. He explained, “[Our research] is a very special project, facilitating collaboration at an unprecedented level and duration across oceanographic sciences and communities.”

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John Lodise presents his research at the 2017 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Provided by John Lodise)

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like John Lodise and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the consortia website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Lesson Plan (K-12): How Does Oil Affect Dolphins?

5687Previous research has shown that dolphins in regions affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill have poor body condition, reproductive failure, lung disease, and adrenal system injury. The Consortium for Advanced Research on Marine Mammal Health Assessment (CARMMHA) outreach plan was shaped by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative’s (GoMRI) mission to improve society’s ability to understand, respond, and mitigate impacts of petroleum pollution and related stressors on the marine and coastal ecosystems, with an emphasis on conditions found in the GoM.

The materials in this lesson plan were developed as a workshop in partnership with the Girl Scouts of America and follow the Girl Scout patch model of Discover, Connect, Take Action. The materials are designed to be presented together as a two-hour educational workshop, but can also be used independently.

Materials

CARMMHA Guide for Educators (K-12): This guide contains the overall lesson plan and explains how to use the included materials and activities.

CARMMHA Education & Outreach Workshop Presentation Slides: A slideshow developed to introduce students to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, its effect on marine mammals, and the CARMMHA research consortium.

Activities (instructions contained in Guide for Educators): Four engaging, hands-on activities designed to be scientifically accurate and incorporate real information from CARMMHA field projects, including an oil spill demonstration and clean-up, a fin ID card matching game, a mock dolphin health assessment, and a bioaccumulation relay game.

  1. Activity #1 – Oil Spill Simulation and Clean-Up
  2. Activity #2 – Fin ID Matching Game
  3. Activity #3 – Mock Dolphin Health Assessment
  4. Activity #4 – Bioaccumulation Relay

Worksheets:

  • Dolphin Coloring Page (K-6 Grade): This worksheet is designed to engage young students and get them thinking about how dolphins may be exposed to environmental oil. It can be used as part of the workshop or as an independent activity.
  • Learning to Analyze Graphs (Grades 7-12): This worksheet highlights the population modeling component of the CARMMHA consortium and challenges students to understand the parts of the graph as well as its interpretation and biological implications. It can be used as part of the workshop or as an independent activity.
  • Medical Exam Checklist (for use in Activity #3 above): This worksheet is used during the Mock Dolphin Health Assessment activity and reviews the major components of a real dolphin health assessment along with the associated Dolphin Health Assessment Presentation slides.

Fact Sheets (Grade 6-8): “Notes from the Field” Young Scientist Newsletter

Notes from the Field is an educational newsletter created for middle school students that focuses on issues relevant to coastal communities in southeast Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico. Exploring topics ranging from periwinkle snails to tropical storms to coastal erosion, each issue includes educational hands-on activities, puzzles, term glossaries, interviews with scientists, and scientific research.

Click the newsletter covers below to download the PDF!

Marsh Periwinkles (January 2016)

Marsh Periwinkles (Jan 2016)

Marsh Erosion (March 2017)

Marsh Erosion (March 2017)

Migratory Birds (May 2017)

Migratory Birds (May 2017)

Tropical Cyclones (August 2017)

Tropical Cyclones (Aug 2017)

Salt Marsh Food Webs (Dec 2017)

Saltmarsh Food Webs (Dec 2017)

Indicator Species (July 2018)

Indicator Species (July 2018)

Gulf Hypoxia (October 2018)

Gulf Hypoxia (October 2018)

Grad Student Pearson Resolves Statistical Conflict in Submesoscale Ocean Processes

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Jenna conducts a rotating tank experiment to illustrate Ekman dynamics for the Summer@Brown course “Studying the Ocean from Blackboards to Drones.” (Photo by Abigail Bodner)

Ocean models that utilize surface drifter data can provide oil spill responders with important information about the floating oil’s direction and speed as it moves along the ocean surface. However, surface drifters, like the floating material they represent, tend to cluster along strong fronts and eddies. This clustering can result in important consequences for surface drifter turbulence and transport data at smaller scales. Jenna Pearson is investigating the extent that material clustering impacts the accuracy of turbulence calculations and searching for potential factors or processes involved.

Jenna is a Ph.D. student with Brown University’s Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences and a GoMRI Scholar with the Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment II (CARTHE II).

Her Path

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Jenna (front), Henry Chang (left), and Andrew Smith (right) prepare to launch drift cards and then aerially observe them using a drone during the SPLASH experiment. (Photo by Brodie Pearson)

Jenna developed her scientific interests as an undergraduate student at Northeastern Illinois University. While working as a math tutor, she decided to major in Mathematics after a pre-calculus professor encouraged her to pursue it as a career. She added Earth Science as a second major after serving as an Army National Guard medic in Iraq during her undergraduate studies. “I was only deployed for about a year, but I was a medic for eight years in total,” she said. “I transitioned from being a medic to a math and science major because there were more tools at my disposal to help global populations, rather than just treating a handful of individuals at a time.”

Jenna gained experience using math and science to solve larger problems through summer research programs. She participated in the 2013 Harvard School of Public Health Summer Program in Epidemiology with Dr. Alkes Price, where she used statistical methods to infer consistency across genetic variants associated with increased Type II Diabetes risk. The following year, she spent two summer months with Dr. Bjorn Sandstede at Brown University’s Division of Applied Mathematics, where she modeled microscopic and macroscopic traffic flow. While there, she learned about various tools used for modeling dynamic systems and how to apply data assimilation schemes.

During her summer at Brown University, Jenna met with Dr. Baylor Fox-Kemper who felt that her skillset would fit well with his CARTHE research, and she joined his team as a Ph.D. student in 2015. “The transition to CARTHE-related work was natural because of my desire to look at environmental problems,” said Jenna. “My summer research at Brown involved incorporating Eulerian and Lagrangian data into traffic models, which led me look specifically at the drifters and think critically about the types of statistics we were looking at.”

Her Work

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Jenna conducts an experiment investigating pressure heads and their hydrostatic relation for the Summer@Brown course “Studying the Ocean from Blackboards to Drones.” (Photo by Abigail Bodner)

When examining fluid motion, researchers use a Lagrangian approach (such as drifters) to trace how ocean surface waters flow through an area over time and a Eulerian approach (such as a fixed buoy or weather station) to observe fluid dynamics at a specific location. Jenna initially studied drifters similar to those deployed during CARTHE’s Grand Lagrangian Deployment (GLAD) experiment and Lagrangian Submesoscale Experiment (LASER). She assessed the drifters’ behavior using velocity structure functions to better understand turbulence in a study area. She and her colleagues compared their statistics to those from a Eulerian model and noticed that the drifter-derived Lagrangian functions represented unrealistic conditions compared with other CARTHE research.

Jenna used an algorithm to determine that this disagreement occurred because surface drifters are “biased” at smaller scales when compared to Eulerian calculations, meaning that they don’t sample the velocity field equally at all times. She observed that the convergence of drifters into special flow structures, such as fronts, skews the Lagrangian statistics away from the Eulerian ones. “Previous studies show that drifters tend to cluster in regions of strong frontogenesis or can remain trapped in persistent eddies, leading them to only sample certain portions of the velocity field at a given time,” she explained. “We have found that velocity structure functions are biased below 10 km, but agree at scales above that mark. This means good things for people who would like to know mesoscale statistics, but also means that statistics below 10 km need to be cautiously interpreted.”

Jenna’s team is currently working on an observational study that pairs data from LASER drifters and X-band radar to validate these findings and determine the extent that clustering impacts results. Their preliminary results are consistent with their previous observations. They plan to incorporate more descriptive statistics and probability density functions to determine why bias occurs at smaller scales and how much of the Eulerian-Lagrangian difference can be contributed to this sampling bias. Jenna hopes that her research will help researchers collect and interpret drifter data more accurately, particularly for use in tracking spilled oil and algal blooms.

“A suite of biogeochemical floats is currently being released in various parts of the global ocean. There is then a question as to whether or not we can trust that these drifters represent the entire velocity field or if the statistics we wish to calculate from them may be biased because of their sampling behavior,” said Jenna. “Alongside my assessment of the Eulerian-Lagrangian differences, I am also developing a new theory related to structure functions and spectra that allows us to use biogeochemical data in a similar fashion to conservative tracers like temperature. This will hopefully give a better picture of what is happening in the upper ocean.”

Her Learning

Jenna’s time at the Fox-Kemper lab was a positive experience that helped her grow academically and as an individual. Conducting field work and attending conferences with her colleagues highlighted the deep connection between her interests in public health and ocean health and sparked her desire for future coastal dynamics and ocean biogeochemistry projects. Teaching opportunities during her doctoral research helped her develop a strategic and tested teaching method while learning more about her own field. “I also fine-tuned my music skills by singing and playing guitar in our Fox-Kemper Lab-wide band!” she said.

Her Future

Jenna is applying for post-doc positions and hopes to continue teaching and conducting research as a professor. Before she graduates, she will return to the Summer@Brown Program and teach the course “Studying the Ocean from Blackboard to Drones” to college-bound high school students. She encourages high school students to take diverse science courses and speak with researchers in different fields to get a good sense of what a scientific career path may entail. “We are always learning and questioning our environment, and it can take some time for you to find what makes you get up in the morning,” she said. “Remember: it is your path, and you should define it.”

Praise for Jenna

Dr. Fox-Kemper described Jenna as an incredibly hard-working and determined student and researcher whose work addresses a fundamental paradox of the CARTHE research: that Lagrangian statistics (from drifters) and Eulerian statistics (from gridded models) seemed to disagree at the submesoscale range. He explained that her research was initially difficult to publish, and she received skeptical feedback from reviewers because her results had substantial implications for drifter-based science. Jenna pushed through the obstacles, resulting in a stronger paper and important realizations about removing model uncertainties.

Dr. Fox-Kemper also reflected on her creative and fun-loving nature around the lab, “She’s famous for making science-themed cakes to celebrate defenses and prelims! A recent one involved green-colored goldfish crackers to indicate the effects of hypoxia. She’s a great presence in our lab.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Jenna Pearson and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the CARTHE website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Smithsonian Highlights Research on Oyster Resilience During Oil Spills

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Oysters, credit Louisiana Sea Grant College Program Oyster Art 2004.

The Smithsonian’s Ocean Portal published an article that describes how oysters (that filter up to 50 gallons of water a day) fare under hazardous environmental conditions. One such hazard was the 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident that was followed by several riverine freshwater releases in an attempt to keep oil away from vulnerable Louisiana shores, which support several seafood industries.

Read the article How to Survive an Oil Spill: Oyster Edition featuring scientist Sean Powers (University of South Alabama and the Alabama Center for Ecological Resilience or ACER). Powers has uncovered three key factors – salinity levels, genetic diversity, and presence/absence of dispersant – that affected whether oysters exposed to Deepwater Horizon oil died or survived.

For more information:

  • Read the recent Sea Grant oil spill science brochure Oysters and Oil Spills.
  • View this short video (an excerpt from the film Dispatches from the Gulf by Sreenscope Productions) where Sean Powers describes his oyster research.

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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GoMRI and the Smithsonian have a partnership to enhance oil spill science content on the Ocean Portal website.

The GoMRI is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies.  An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research.  All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available.  The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP.  For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2019 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Khursigara Examines How Oil Exposure Alters Fish Behavior

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Alexis measures a red drum for her study. (Provided by Alexis Khursigara)

Many fish that were exposed to Deepwater Horizon oil survived; however, they may have experienced later-in-life impacts that affected their ability to survive longer than fish that did not experience oil exposure. Alexis Khursigara investigates if oil-induced latent effects in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) alters behavior, particularly the ability to learn and compete with other fish, which are critical to fish survival. Her research addresses hypotheses concerning sublethal effects of oil and may help inform long term population health and fishery management.

Alexis is a Ph.D. student with the University of Texas at Austin’s Marine Science Institute and a GoMRI Scholar with the Relationship of Effects of Cardiac Outcomes in Fish for Validation of Ecological Risk (RECOVER) consortium.

Her Path

Alexis’s parents introduced her to the scientific world at a young age. She spent her childhood summers in her father and step-mother’s neuroscience labs, working with Schwann (neurilemma) cells, helping care for mice and rats, and conducting her own chemical interaction mini-experiments using milk powder and dry ice. Her mother sparked her interest in fish and marine science through trips to the aquarium, where Alexis would spend hours.

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Alexis and her lab mates after running the Beach to Bay relay marathon in May 2018. (L-R) Angelina Dichiera, Leighann Martin, Ben Negrete Jr., Andrew Esbaugh, Alexis Khursigara, and Joshua Lonthair. (Provided by Alexis Khursigara)

Alexis later completed undergraduate and master’s degrees in secondary educational biology at Fairfield University and enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin’s marine science doctoral program. Wanting to focus on how environmental stressors affect fish physiology and behavior, she joined Dr. Andrew Esbaugh’s fish lab researching how oil-induced changes in fish physiology and behavior affect their performance.

“My love for the ocean, fish, and the environment are really what connects me to my research. I love being able to study how human activity impacts our environments and how fish react to those changes,” said Alexis. “I’ve been very fortunate to have parents and people in my life who have always encouraged me to pursue my passions.”

Her Work

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Alexis displays the removed brain of a red drum. (Provided by Alexis Khursigara)

Alexis examines the performance of oil-exposed fish compared to control fish as they compete for food and dominance, and conducts long-term group experiments where growth indicates competitive success.

In the one-on-one trials, fish are individually fitted with an elastomer and acclimated in a tank without food for 48 hours. She then observed each fish for 15 minutes, twice a day, for 5 days recording their location in the tank, food acquisition, and interactions such as attacks or avoidance. She also took images of their fins before and after the trials to assess fin damage caused by attacks from other fish. These metrics provided an overall behavior score; the fish with the highest score was deemed dominant while the lower score was the subordinate fish. In group trials, dominance was primarily assessed through specific growth rate (how much a fish grew per day). Fish that obtained more food and had a faster growth rate were considered dominant. In both scenarios, she found that oil-exposed fish tended to be subordinate when there were limited resources.

Alexis is currently conducting week-long fish experiments using a maze with rewards such as food or another fish at the end to understand how oil-induced changes in neurological function may alter fish behavior. She measures fish’s learning ability by observing the amount of time, distance swam, and number of wrong turns each fish takes to reach the reward. She also conducts trials on fish traits such as boldness or sociability to determine changes in a fish’s personality. While these trials are still being conducted, early results indicate that sociability-related behavior changes occur following oil exposure. “While these tests themselves don’t tell us the state of a fish’s neurological function, shifts in performance in these tests can indicate altered function,” explained Alexis. “For example, if oil-exposed fish aren’t able to learn at the same rate as unexposed fish or if a fish demonstrates certain personality traits before exposure that change after exposure, it may indicate some neurological impairment.”

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Alexis Khursigara.

Alexis is currently considering her results in the context of findings from other RECOVER researchers. So far, she has noticed that aerobic scope is an important factor in dominance hierarchies and that fish with a higher aerobic scope (the difference between minimum and maximum oxygen consumption rate) often become dominant. She explained that when oil reduces an individual fish’s aerobic scope, it also reduces their ability to compete in social settings, predisposing them to social subordination. “A major reason for my investigation into personality and learning behaviors came from transcriptomics data run by another group in the consortium,” said Alexis. “They saw that pathways related to neurological and cognitive function were altered following oil exposure, so we’re using personality and learning behaviors to understand how.”

Her Learning

Working in Esbaugh’s lab taught Alexis communication and collaboration skills and introduced her to new techniques that made her a better researcher. Before joining Esbaugh’s team, she felt hesitant about conducting molecular research due to lack of experience and training. However, his encouragement and insistence on learning molecular techniques eventually led her to a project examining oil-exposed and control fish’s gene expression rates of corticoid receptors as indicators of chronic stress. “I spent months trying to design a primer that would work with our species. Finally, after weeks of failure, I finally found primers that worked,” recalled Alexis. “While this was a really big moment for my research, it was also a big moment for me personally. It showed me that if I get past my hesitations about what I can and can’t do, I can open myself up to some really cool things.”

A memorable experience for Alexis was working with her University of Texas community following Hurricane Harvey. Although the storm caused a lot of damage, personal loss, and hard times, she grew closer to others in her lab and her department. She also learned how to recover should another storm hit – a very real possibility when working in coastal facilities. “People were helping others pack up their stuff, getting rid of destroyed belongings, finding new places to live, and replacing lost items,” she said. “We’ve always had a strong sense of community here at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI), but going through something like that made us even closer. I’m incredibly grateful for the leadership and guidance I received not only from my advisor, but the faculty and administration at UTMSI in getting through that difficult time.”

Her Future

Alexis hopes to enter a post-doc position after graduating and find a university position that would allow her to teach and run a research lab. She offered some advice for students considering a career in science: love what you do, build a strong science base, take advantage of any and all resources and opportunities, and, most importantly, have a strong support system.

Praise for Alexis

Dr. Esbaugh described Alexis as a bright and hard-working student who is eager to try new projects and methods and takes constructive criticism well. He praised her contributions to his lab and to the RECOVER consortium, particularly their research direction. “Her project started as an intuitive ecological extension of a well-known oil effect in fish – cardiac impairment – but through her own observation and initiative, it moved into a new and exciting direction,” he said. “She’s been the driving force for an area of research that our entire consortium is embracing. As a student, I could not have asked for more.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Alexis Khursigara and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the RECOVER website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Hiron Investigates Loop Current Flows to Improve Oil Transport Models

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Luna Hiron holds an Autonomous Profiling Explorer (APEX) float aboard the R/V Walton Smith for deployment in the Gulf of Mexico. (Provided by Luna Hiron)

During the Deepwater Horizon incident, some models predicted that oil would reach the Florida coastline. However, much of the oil became trapped in cyclonic-like currents, which are eddy flows associated with the Loop Current, and exited the Gulf of Mexico without reaching the Florida coast. To improve model representations of the Loop Current, Luna Hiron utilizes in situ and satellite data to investigate interactions between the Loop Current and its associated eddies and how they affect the Loop Current’s variability, which can improve predictions for where floating material such as oil may travel.

Luna is a Ph.D. student with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) and a GoMRI Scholar working on the project Three-Dimensional Gulf Circulation and Biogeochemical Processes Unveiled by State-of-the-Art Profiling Float Technology and Data Assimilative Ocean Models.

Her Path

From a young age, Luna often questioned the “why” of things. This natural curiosity and a passion for the ocean, like her father had, inspired her to become an oceanographer when she was an elementary school student. Her inspiration continued, and she completed a bachelor’s degree in oceanography at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil and became a research technician collecting and analyzing data for the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences’ Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study (BATS). “My experience with BATS gave me new insights about the career of an oceanographer,” said Luna. “I developed a good understanding of large scale oceanography and wanted to broaden my horizons [through further education].”

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Luna Hiron and her research colleagues aboard the R/V Walton Smith during a Gulf of Mexico research cruise. (Provided by Luna Hiron)

Luna searched for a Ph.D. program where she could learn more about mesoscale ocean processes, which are complex and crucial to understanding ocean dynamics. She was drawn to Dr. Nick Shay’s research about the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current and accepted a Ph.D. position in his lab at the University of Miami. “It is exciting to explore new problems that have not have been solved yet,” she said. “The Loop Current system is complex and involves both large and mesoscale features. My goal is to bring some insight into these dynamics and help better understand the Loop Current system.”

Her Work

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Luna Hiron sampled the Gulf of Mexico water-column using a CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) rosette on the R/V Walton Smith. (Provided by Luna Hiron)

The Loop Current has several life cycle stages, which can be tracked by satellite, that include retracting (the Loop Current goes directly from the Yucatan Channel to the Florida Strait), bulging (the Loop Current grows and enters the Gulf of Mexico and forms a “loop” before exiting through the Florida Strait), and shedding (the Loop Current becomes unstable and sheds an eddy. Luna combines satellite data from 2009 – 2011 that documented the Loop Current’s evolving stages and its associated eddies with water column data on temperature, salinity, and velocity (surface to 2900 m depth). Her analyses show that cyclone eddies often become stronger near the Loop Current, attracting the surrounding flow to the eddy’s center and strengthening the Loop Current as they interface. She also observed that cyclone eddies appear to interact with the Loop Current during all of the Current’s life stages and not just the shedding stages, an important insight into Loop Current dynamics.

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(L-R) Luna Hiron with Dr. Johna Rudzin and Dr. Benjamin Jaimes of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science on NOAA’s WP-3D Orion aircraft. Dr. Jaimes is holding probes for deployment during a post-Hurricane Nate ocean survey. (Provided by Luna Hiron)

Luna’s observations about how eddies intensify or dissipate are crucial to forecasting oil transport and demonstrate the importance of sampling the ocean during all Loop Current life stages. “If an eddy is in a stage of intensification near an oil patch, it will attract the oil to the cyclone’s center and push it downwards, capturing the oil within the eddy and preventing it from reaching the coast, which is what happened during the Deepwater Horizon spill,” she said. “However, if the eddy is starting to break up, it will spread the oil at the surface and increase the area contaminated.”

Her Learning

Luna’s work in Dr. Shay’s lab exposed her to a wide range of research topics, such as air-sea interactions and ocean dynamics, which enriched her learning and provided her with multidisciplinary knowledge. She learned new approaches to the scientific process, especially the importance of identifying knowledge gaps and generating a hypothesis before attempting to answer questions. She explained that the lab’s collaborative nature taught her about teamwork, communicating science to the public, and conducting science with integrity and honesty.

Luna shared her most unforgettable experiences working with Dr. Shay. “A memorable moment was when I flew in the WP-3D aircraft from NOAA during the post-Hurricane Nate survey. It was incredible to be in a plane that flew through so many strong hurricanes,” she said. “Another great memory was when we were on a cruise deploying floats in the Gulf of Mexico and about seven dolphins were swimming in front of the ship for at least 30 minutes – it was amazing!”

Her Future

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Luna Hiron and Josh Wadler of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science stand in front of the WP-3D Orion “Hurricane Hunters” aircraft at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center facility in Lakeland, Florida. (Provided by Luna Hiron)

Luna hopes to pursue advanced studies or a position in a research institute after graduation. For students considering a science career, she suggests that they stay motivated, find what they love to do, and believe in themselves. “It is important to not be intimidated by other students or professors – ask questions and make contact! All of this is part of the learning process, and we always have more to learn and exchange with each other.”

Praise for Luna

Dr. Shay described Luna as a talented and energetic student and praised her collaboration with students and researchers across various disciplines and institutions. He explained that she is a productive team member working with Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) mooring data, generating model simulations that investigate Loop Current-associated eddies, and helping collect shipboard measurements using EM-APEX (Electromagnetic-Autonomous Profiling Explorers) floats.

“Luna is preparing a manuscript for submission to a top tier journal and has submitted an abstract for presentation to the 2019 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science,” said Shay. “Her work is central to understanding the dispersion of hydrocarbons from a subsurface oil spill in the vicinity of strong subsurface currents.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Luna Hiron and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Setta Studies Microbial Interactions to Inform Oil Spill Response Strategies

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Samantha “Sam” Setta conducts DNA extractions with help from collaborators on the ADDOMEx team at Mount Allison University in Canada. (Photo by Laura Bretherton)

Phytoplankton and bacteria in the northern Gulf of Mexico interact closely at the food web base and provide vital food and nutrients to marine life at higher trophic levels. During the Deepwater Horizon incident, these pervasive organisms played an important role in oil bioremediation before and after the application of chemical dispersants, which broke up surface slicks into smaller droplets and enhanced microbial degradation. Samantha “Sam” Setta, who recently completed her master’s degree, used molecular-level techniques to learn how oil and dispersant exposure affects the abundance of and interactions between Gulf bacteria and phytoplankton.

Sam recently graduated from the Texas A&M University at Galveston’s Marine Biology Department and was a GoMRI Scholar with the Aggregation and Degradation of Dispersants and Oil by Microbial Exopolymers (ADDOMEx) consortium.

Her Path

Sam’s interest in a scientific career was sparked by a high school aquatic science class that emphasized marine science and conservation. As a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, she changed her major from chemistry to biology to physics and ultimately settled on marine biology with a focus on freshwater.

“Growing up in Austin, I was surrounded by parks, lakes, and natural springs that influenced my thinking of the world and led me to an interest in conservation, especially water conservation,” said Sam. She enhanced her undergraduate education by conducting research in Mexico and working with a graduate student at the university’s Marine Science Institute, which provided work experience and insight into graduate student life.

However, Sam was still unsure about pursuing a graduate degree and decided to explore different fields to pinpoint her passion. She worked as a research technician on algal biofuel in Texas and later as a research associate with Dr. Brian Roberts studying the Deepwater Horizon’s effects on Louisiana salt marsh vegetation and biogeochemistry. The oil spill research inspired her to pursue graduate school, and she began her master’s studies with Dr. Antonietta Quigg at Texas A&M University at Galveston investigating  the spill’s effects on microbial community composition.

Her Work

Phytoplankton are microscopic photosynthesizers that transform atmospheric carbon dioxide into food for grazers and other microscopic heterotrophs. Bacteria then recycle the used carbon into a form that heterotrophs can eat again, starting a microbial loop of recycling and reusing organic carbon. Sam’s research as a master’s student was to learn how oil and dispersant may have affected these microbial interactions.

Sam and her colleagues incubated Gulf of Mexico microbial communities with different oil and oil plus dispersant concentrations in large tanks that mimicked conditions around the spill area. She extracted DNA from bacteria in tank water samples, amplified identifiable DNA regions using polymerase chain reactions, and measured and recorded nucleotides using DNA sequencing techniques. Sam is using the sequencing data to characterize the composition of bacterial and phytoplankton communities under different exposure scenarios.

Samantha is now a Ph.D. student at the University of Rhode Island and continues her oil spill research in her free time. She is currently analyzing the bacteria-phytoplankton interactions for each exposure using a network analysis that correlates community composition over time under different oil and dispersant exposures. Her findings will ultimately identify taxa that play a key role in oil bioremediation, their correlation with certain phytoplankton and other eukaryotic organisms, and how oil and dispersant exposure change these taxa.

“Highlighting the key players that respond to spilled oil will help better direct future studies and oil spill mitigation,” explained Sam. “This information can be used to target key taxa in other laboratory studies and provide more information to policy makers on the pros and cons of using dispersant in the event of an oil spill.”

Her Learning

Sam’s research provided her with frequent experience working in a collaborative environment. She described her time with Dr. Quigg’s group as encouraging and enriching, “I found that the tank experiments we did once a year with the entire research consortium were the best time to collaborate and get to know the research everyone else was doing as part of the project. Everyone involved in the ADDOMEx consortium has been very supportive.”

Her Future

Sam recently began Ph.D. studies in oceanography at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. She suggests that students use their time in graduate school to learn where their interests lie before committing to a specific scientific career.

Praise for Samantha

Dr. Quigg described Sam as a student who is smart, determined, and fun to work with. She explained that despite Sam’s complex master’s research for the ADDOMEx consortium and her tremendous determination and ability to work well with others made her project a success. “Sam was one of those students who you meet and immediately know they will be both a great scientist and colleague,” said Quigg. “Her research required her to work on the cutting edge of a variety of disciplines, and she rose to the challenge and even finished her master’s in two years. I look forward to watching her continue to develop her craft as she starts her Ph.D. at the University of Rhode Island this fall.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Samantha Setta and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the ADDOMEx website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Aiyer Shows How Oil Droplets Evolve Under Deep-water Conditions

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Aditya Aiyer (left) explains the Lagrangian dynamic Smagorinsky model that his team uses in their Large Eddy Simulations. (Provided by Aditya Aiyer)

Oil, gases, and bubbles jet out together during a deep-ocean petroleum blowout, and the oil quickly breaks up into different-sized droplets. Predicting the sizes of these droplets is critical to determine how long it will take the oil to reach the ocean’s surface and the resulting oil slick’s size. Aditya Aiyer is developing a new approach for state-of-the-art models that simulate oil’s behavior as it moves through turbulent flows and track the subsequent different-sized oil droplets’ breakup and coalescence. The improved simulations of the fate and evolution of oil droplets in deepwater plumes can inform decisions about dispersant application.

Aditya is a Ph.D. student with the Johns Hopkins University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. He is a GoMRI Scholar working on the project Transport and Fate of Oil in the Upper Ocean: Studying and Modeling Multi-Scale Physical Dispersion Mechanisms and Remediation Strategies Using Large Eddy Simulation.

His Path

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Aditya Aiyer explains the basic ideas of his research to a fellow student. (Provided by Aditya Aiyer)

Aditya developed an interest in science from his father, an enthusiastic physics professor who loved to explain the world around him. Seeing his father’s passion inspired Aditya to pursue a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, one of India’s leading private institutions. He became attracted to the practical applications of fluid dynamics while working towards a master’s degree in physics. Looking at everyday things, such as water flowing from a faucet or cream being added to coffee, from a physics perspective fascinated him. Aditya later took a research associate position at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research to study atmospheric flows and cloud formation, an unsolved problem when conducting climate modeling. Wanting to delve further into unresolved questions in his field, Aditya began exploring Ph.D. programs and joined Dr. Charles Meneveau’s team researching oil spills.

“After my time at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, I wanted to further explore how I could use my knowledge of physics and fluid dynamics to help make an impact on our lives,” said Aditya. “I’m very excited to work with oil spills, as the results of our research could have a tremendous impact on the environment.”

His Work

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Dr. Meneveau (right) discusses the results from an oil droplet simulation with Aditya Aiyer and Genevieve Stark. (Photo by the Johns Hopkins University Department of Mechanical Engineering)

Aditya uses Large Eddy Simulations to investigate the dynamics between oil droplets and turbulent flows. These model outputs allow him to accurately depict turbulent flows and their effects on oil breakup, either as an oil jet (similar to a deep-water blowout) or in a less-turbulent environment. “Traditional models use Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes Equations, which need a separate model for turbulence. Using the Large Eddy Simulations, we can capture the effects of turbulence directly, making our simulation closer to what is actually happening in a blowout,” said Aditya. The combination of simulations and equations better depicts the concentration of oil droplets and how they change due to breakup, coalescence, and advection.

Aditya and his colleagues use existing data from similar experiments to validate their model. He explained that their model can predict oil concentrations and size distributions at a given location and time during a blowout. The droplet size distribution tells him how many droplets of different sizes have been generated due to breakup and coalescence, allowing him to infer the droplet’s fate. “Larger droplets would move quickly to the surface, while smaller ones would be more influenced by the local turbulence and might remain underwater. We can also evaluate how much of the oil volume would reach the surface and the time it would take them to do so,” explained Aditya. “Such results can be used to build simpler, better models that can give responders an idea of where they should apply dispersants or other chemicals to deal with the spill.” He hopes to expand his team’s simulation models to include other factors that may affect oil fate, such as dispersant application, to better inform responders’ decision making.

His Learning

Working with Meneveau taught Aditya the importance of approaching problems from the foundation up. He learned to approach problems in sections, starting with the issue’s first principles and then continuously incorporating the issue’s more complex aspects until he reaches his goal. Aditya also reflected on his experiences in the GoMRI science community and engaging with other scientists at the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference, “There are hundreds of people [in the GoMRI community] working on a myriad of topics from the chemistry and physics of the oil all the way to the ecological effects and effects on local aquatic life. It was humbling to see that my research is also playing a small role in saving our environment.”

His Future

Aditya plans to work towards a university faculty position, where he can apply his love for teaching and working in a research environment, or towards conducting research in a federal or industry position. He said that students interested in a scientific career should remember the importance of having strong fundamentals, “Most ideas a scientist comes up with aren’t due to them knowing some esoteric part of the field, but by having very strong basics. The ability to think clearly and make good inferences based on the fundamental principles of your field is a skill I think every student pursuing science must cultivate and make a part of their repertoire.”

Praise for Aditya

Dr. Meneveau praised Aditya’s contributions to his research team, particularly his development of their new approach to the Large Eddy Simulation toolset. “Thanks to Aditya’s work, we are now able to model the evolution of the entire size distribution,” he said. “Aditya has contributed excellent ideas and done careful tests of the approach he has developed. We look forward to applying the model to realistic flow conditions.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Aditya Aiyer and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Viamonte Puts Pressure on Microbial Oil Degradation

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Juan Viamonte. (Provided by C-IMAGE)

When the Deepwater Horizon incident occurred, not much was known about how conditions in the deep sea would affect oil biodegradation. Juan Viamonte uses high-pressure reactors that simulate conditions at depth to observe microbial degradation and help predict what might happen should another deep-ocean oil spill occur.

Juan is a Ph.D. student with the Hamburg University of Technology’s Institute of Technical Biocatalysis and a GoMRI Scholar with the Center for the Integrated Modeling and Analysis of Gulf Ecosystems II (C-IMAGE II).

His Path

Juan discovered his love for science when he was eighteen and searching for a career path. Unsure of what he wanted to study, he chose chemistry on a rather unorthodox basis – because a girl he liked was studying chemistry. “When I was in high school, many people already knew that they wanted to be, but I had no clue. I didn’t know that I wanted to be a scientist my whole life – I guess you could say science found me!” Juan laughed. He began a chemical engineering degree at the University of Zaragoza in his hometown in Spain. However, he believes he truly fell in love with his work while conducting undergraduate research at the University of Denmark. There, Juan discovered an exciting “new world” with many opportunities to share research and learn and grow as a scientist, inspiring him to pursue a master’s degree.

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Juan Viamonte uses high-pressure reactors made from stainless steel and bronze to cultivate hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria at high pressures. (Image provided by Martina Schedler)

Juan completed his master’s in chemical and bioprocess engineering at the Technical University of Hamburg (TUHH). He was already working on his Ph.D. in chemistry there when his advisor Dr. Andreas Liese received GoMRI funding and offered him a graduate position researching biodegradation under high-pressure conditions. Juan accepted, thinking about how several past oil spills had significantly impacted the Spanish coastline’s flora and fauna. “One day we’ll have to turn to renewable energy, but right now humanity depends on crude oil,” said Juan. “I’m interested in what is going to happen in the crude oil industry once we reach a point where we can’t extract any more or have to do dangerous things like fracking to extract it. Many problems are arising from these more extreme methods, and I want to help understand all of this dynamic change.”

His Work

Oil-degrading microbes require oxygen to metabolize oil compounds. Juan and fellow C-IMAGE graduate students Steffen Hackbusch and Nuttapol Noirungsee combine microbes collected near the Deepwater Horizon site with oil and seawater inside high-pressure reactors that simulate conditions at 1,500 meters depth and 4° C. Juan observes the oxygen consumption of microbes and monitors their biodegradation process. When oxygen depletion, he assumes that the microbes have consumed all the oil that they can. Juan then uses gas chromatography mass spectrometry to analyze the reactor’s contents to determine the amount of oil that the microbes degraded.

Juan explained, “Imagine that you put in one drop of crude oil at the beginning of the process, and after one month the microorganisms have finished eating the oil. Well, the microbes don’t eat all of the oil – they only eat [certain compounds in it]. If you can determine how much of the oil has been consumed in that time period, you can predict what may happen to the crude oil in a realistic oil spill scenario.”

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Concentration profiles for target hydrocarbons before and after biodegradation at different pressures: n-alkanes and terpenoids (top) and BTEX and PAH (bottom). (Provided by C-IMAGE)

Juan is incorporating other variables, such as methane gas and Corexit dispersant, into his high-pressure experiments to learn how microbial oil degradation may change under different conditions. He also developed a high-pressure system that can be regulated to 4,000 m depth to test and compare possible differences in microbial degradation between 1,500 and 4,000 m. Juan’s experiments are ongoing, but he plans to develop prediction models based on his data that account for these biodegradation variables. “Before Deepwater Horizon, we didn’t know how quickly oil was going to degrade at high-pressure. Now, we have a hint,” said Juan. “With many other deep-water oil ventures planned for the future, I hope my research can help us estimate what percentage of oil would be degraded and to what extent if this or a similar accident happened again.”

His Learning

Juan listed teamwork, interdisciplinary collaboration, and knowledge sharing as the most important lessons he has learned through his GoMRI research. Being a member of a large consortium, he networked with scientists across many fields and learned the value of communication. “If we don’t share this knowledge, we aren’t going to grow as humans or as scientists,” said Juan. “The most important thing about science is you cannot hide a secret. We are discovering how nature works – communication is essential.” Dr. Liese commented that Juan reflects these values in the way he conducts his research, saying “Juan is a very open-minded person, who is always watching out to integrate [with our collaborative] partners.”

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The Institute of Technical Biocatalysis group in 2017. (Provided by Juan Viamonte)

Juan also discussed how learning about the biological aspects of his work opened his eyes to a broader scope of his research. Trained in chemical engineering, Juan had a limited background in biology but was fascinated when he learned that certain microorganisms bloomed in the presence of oil because they were able to consume and degrade it. “I was used to taking Chemical A and Chemical B and a solvent and mixing them all together to get a result. I wasn’t really aware that those actions would cause organisms to do all of these really cool things. It was an exciting realization for me!”

His Future

Juan hopes to continue his research after graduation. Whether his scientific career is in industry or academia, he wants to continue pursuing what he calls the most exciting part of his career – crude oil research. He advises that students considering a scientific career follow a similar mindset. “Whatever it is that makes you happy, chase it. Don’t be convinced by society what an acceptable or more worthy career is. In the end, you’ll be happier and more successful doing something you love than doing something you think you ‘should’ be doing.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Juan Viamonte and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the C-IMAGE website to learn more about their work.

By Stephanie Ellis and Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

************

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

New Sea Grant Publication on Oysters and Oil Spills

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The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team released a publication about how oysters, which play a critical role in a healthy coastal wetland, fare when faced with oil exposure. The outreach publication also discusses how the Deepwater Horizon incident and subsequent response efforts affected oysters, a vital part of Louisiana’s seafood industry which is the nation’s second-largest seafood supplier.

Read Oysters and Oil Spills to learn about how oysters and oyster reefs respond to extreme natural and manmade events. The publication also highlights oyster restoration projects.

By Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact maggied@ngi.msstate.edu with questions or comments.

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The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States. 

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently-held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Keating Surveys Children and Families for Long-Term Oil Spill Impacts

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Kathryn Keating. (Provided by Kathryn Keating)

Following the Deepwater Horizon incident, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness surveyed households in highly-affected areas of Louisiana to track the event’s impacts on the physical and social health of coastal families and their communities. Kathryn Keating facilitates subsequent surveys to assess long-term impacts and identify attributes of children and families that are associated with resilience or vulnerability to negative oil spill impacts. The survey’s longitudinal data will help explain how people recover and rebound after a disaster and provide guidance to those who create disaster response plans and organize community support.

Kathryn is a Ph.D. student with the Louisiana State University’s Department of Sociology and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Understanding Resilience Attributes for Children, Youth, and Communities in the Wake of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

Her Path

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Kathryn Keating, Tim Slack, and field personnel in New Orleans after completing the second survey wave. Front: Jyaphia Christos-Rodgers; Back (L-R): Aspen Nero, Liz Cutright, and Nikki Fernandes, Kathryn Keating, and Tim Slack. (Provided by Kathryn Keating)

Kathryn grew up in Indiana and Central Florida, molding her into a “proud Hoosier” with ties to the Gulf of Mexico. She entered an undergraduate program at Indiana University as a non-traditional adult student after nearly a decade away and discovered her interest in sociology during a “Deviant Behavior and Social Control” course. She took classes in sociology and social work, including a year-long practicum at a local hospital that sparked her interest in medical social work. Kathryn also worked part-time at the county’s emergency youth shelter and volunteered at local social service agencies. She graduated with dual bachelor’s degrees in sociology and social work in 2015.

Kathryn entered Portland State University’s Master of Social Work program in 2015, where she completed a practicum for training mental health professionals to work with underserved populations. While working at a rural Oregon primary care clinic, she developed a passion for working in healthcare and crisis settings in rural areas, where access to and interaction with health and mental health care systems can be significantly different than urban settings. Kathryn decided to continue her development as a “hybrid scholar” through a sociology doctoral program at Louisiana State University in 2016. Once in Louisiana, she became a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). She joined Dr. Tim Slack’s GoMRI-funded project Resilient Children, Youth, and Communities (RCYC) as a research assistant at Louisiana State University and completed a second sociology master’s degree while conducting her Ph.D. research.

“As a person who has lived and worked in rural places for most of my life, I prefer work that allows me to engage with people living in small communities and rural areas,” said Kathryn. “Once I got the ball rolling with my education, I wanted to do right by myself and those who have supported me by making the most of the opportunities I’ve been given while staying true to my values and remembering where I’m from.”

Her Work

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Group photo in May 2018 following a week-long intensive training for field personnel involved in the third survey wave. Back (L-R): Adele Tennyson, Jeremy Brooks, Kathryn Keating, Ingrid Bradford, Terrance Johnson; Middle (L-R): Elizabeth Gelvin, Amelia Bowers, Sharon Foret; Front (L-R): Barbara Redding, Jyaphia Christos-Rodgers (Photo by Jonathan Sury)

Kathryn’s research utilizes longitudinal surveys of Louisiana families that build on 2014 data collected by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation-funded Gulf Coast Population Impact Study (GCPI), led by the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Earth Institution, which surveyed households in randomly selected coastal communities who experienced high rates of oiled shorelines and BP compensation claims. The RCYC group conducted a second wave of follow up surveys with the GCPI cohort in 2016 – 2017, and a third wave that is currently underway. “A repeated cross-sectional survey can tell you how the overall population of interest is changing, but not about changes within units of analysis such as individuals, families, or households,” explained Kathryn. “A longitudinal panel survey is a particular type of design where the same sample of people are surveyed at different points in time. By providing repeated measures from the same people at different time points, this type of survey allows us to assess changes in the experiences of individuals over time.”

Kathryn helps coordinate and manage an eight-person field team, who collects follow-up data from families across seven Louisiana parishes. The team conducts face-to-face interviews in participants’ homes with the same parent every two years and collects information about their spill-related experiences, including economic changes, physical and mental health symptoms, healthcare access, neighborhood and community characteristics, and social media use. She and her team also host hour-long focus groups with study participants in each affected community to collect more in-depth qualitative information related to the survey topics.

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Tim Slack and Kathryn Keating during a poster presentation of first- and second-wave data analyses at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Rural Sociological Society. (Provided by Kathryn Keating)

Kathryn’s master’s research included results from the first- and second- wave surveys and focus groups on how affected families access and interact with community healthcare resources. She used this data to examine how federal and state entities define healthcare need and how these definitions relate to the actual needs of those affected by Deepwater Horizon. She then integrated her findings with data from the Health Resources and Services Administration to further establish how community-level health needs relate to individual recovery from the spill. Her Ph.D. research builds on her master’s work and includes third-wave survey data and qualitative focus group responses to examine change-over-time in child and family disaster outcomes and the role of healthcare and primary care resources in disaster resilience. Kathryn recently participated in a brief interview highlighting her perspectives on RCYC research and their current activities.

Her Learning

Working with Dr. Slack and the RCYC project, Kathryn gained first-hand experience conducting social research with an interdisciplinary team and learned important lessons about communicating research to stakeholder groups. She explained that her background in direct-service provision had provided little experience in the professional side of academia. Dr. Slack’s mentorship helped her navigate institutional processes and understand norms in the field of sociology. “From the start, Dr. Slack conveyed a sense of trust and support for me as a graduate student that gave me confidence to take on responsibility and challenge myself within our team,” said Kathryn. “I hope to be involved in mentoring and advising others someday and plan to afford them the same respect and trust.”

Kathryn’s experiences as a member of the GoMRI science community helped her develop specialized research skills and meaningful relationships with south Louisiana residents. She participated in the annual Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference and gained experience in sharing her research, contributing her interdisciplinary perspective as a sociologist and social worker, and learning to better understand multiple aspects of the Deepwater Horizon incident. “Several members of the RCYC team are either in New Orleans or at Columbia University in New York, so a great deal of our communication is remote,” she added. “Some of my best memories have been when we are able to collaborate in person. I enjoy being able to see my colleagues in real life, laugh with them, and have space for slower conversation.”

Her Future

Kathryn was named a 2018 – 2019 Gulf Research Program Science Policy Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences, which is separate from her RCYC research. She will spend one year as a fellow working at the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council in New Orleans, where science and policy intersect in the region. “The upcoming fellowship and my time with RCYC have given me a chance to build ongoing relationships and generate knowledge with people in the Gulf region and specifically south Louisiana – these ties are an important consideration for me going forward.”

Kathryn hopes to work in policy-oriented and applied research related to social services, public health, and mental health. She would love to teach or mentor social science students in their research methods. She suggests that students who are interested in a social science career should focus on cultivation instead of competition. “Cultivation is the intentional choice to focus your energy on the parts of your work and non-work life that enliven your spirit and reflect your personal values, including your skills, relationships, and habits,” explained Kathryn. “Everyone’s path is unique. Many learners become involved in a field like social work out of desire to enact social change. For those with a propensity towards empirical inquiry, policy-oriented research can be an exciting and surprising way to engage.”

Praise for Kathryn

Dr. Slack described Kathryn as a mature, conscientious, and dedicated researcher and student. He noted that her social work background and advanced social sciences training illustrates her abiding interest in bridging research and practice. He described her work as “invaluable” as the project’s study coordinator, which included managing human resources, accounting, logistics, and team-building for field interviewers and handling procedures for respondent incentives and organizing focus groups.

“Kathryn has been very adept at understanding the technical side of data collection while also staying attuned to the human side of research team management and human-based research,” said Slack. “Many people can do one or the other, but Kathryn has shown a unique capacity to balance these different dimensions of her job. I cannot emphasize enough how important she is to the success of this effort.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Kathryn Keating and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

By Stephanie Ellis and Nilde Maggie Dannreuther. Contact sellis@ngi.msstate.edu for questions or comments.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Karthikeyan Uses Genetics to Understand Microbial Oil Degradation in Beach Sands

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Smruthi Karthikeyan inoculates cultures of the Macondimonas isolate recovered from oiled Pensacola beach sand. (Provided by Smruthi Karthikeyan)

Petroleum hydrocarbons released by oil spills can accumulate on beaches and in nearshore sediments, potentially creating health risks for humans and coastal organisms. However, the highly variable conditions of beach environments make it difficult to determine the long-term behavior and fate of hydrocarbons in sands and sediment. Smruthi Karthikeyan combines bioinformatics and oil degradation data to examine microbial responses to oil in beach environments and identify populations that act as bioindicators of oil degradation and toxicity. Documenting microbial indicators and producing oil degradation models for environmental managers can help with future oil spill response plans for coastal zones.

Smruthi is a Ph.D. student with the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a GoMRI Scholar with the project A Systems Approach to Improve Predictions of Biodegradation and Ecosystem Recovery in Coastal Marine Sediments Impacted by Oil Spill.

Her Path

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A microscopic image of an oil droplet with Macondimonas bacteria inside it. (Image by Patrick Heritier-Robbins)

Smruthi grew up in Chennai, India, near one of the largest beaches in the world, which sparked her interest in environmental health. Later, she completed an undergraduate chemical engineering program at Anna University because of its practical applications. She then transitioned to Columbia University for her master’s environmental engineering studies, which she considers an ideal interdisciplinary field that unites science and technology. “Being in the environmental engineering field gives me a lot of opportunities to view the environment from different perspectives,” she said.

Smruthi’s Ph.D. advisor Dr. Kostas Konstantinidis introduced her to the microbial world during one of his classes. She was intrigued about using bioinformatics to elicit information from such tiny creatures and was curious about the microbial role in environmental pollutant biodegradation. Konstantinidis received GoMRI funding in 2016 to research how microbes respond to oiling and identify indicator species for oil degradation and toxicity in beach sands. Accepting a position on his team made Smruthi excited about combining her love of environmental preservation with microbial genomics.

Her Work

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Mesocosms of three oiled (left) and three unoiled (right) chambers elucidate the links between microbial community signatures and oil biodegradation in beach sands. (Photo by Smruthi Karthikeyan)

Smruthi conducts laboratory mesocosm experiments that mimic the in situ conditions found in the beach environment. She incubates Pensacola beach sand collected at different times during the Deepwater Horizon incident in six acrylic chambers (three with oiled sand and three with pristine sand) and replicates the tidal cycle by periodically adding and removing water overlying the sand. While sensors monitor pH, oxygen, nutrient, and temperature levels inside the chambers, she collects sand samples at designated time intervals and analyzes the microbial community’s DNA and RNA.

“Thanks to recent developments in cultivation-independent and next-generation sequencing methods, we are able to see microbial communities at a much higher resolution than ever before and identify their activities and nutrient limitations,” said Smruthi. “We can answer not only ‘Who is there?’ but also ‘What are they doing?’ from less than a gram of sand sample.”

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Researchers dug trenches in oiled Pensacola beach sands. (Photo by Markus Huettel)

Smruthi’s analyses identify microbial populations with reduced abundance after oil exposure and observe if they return after oil is completely removed. Populations that do not return could warrant further investigation to assess how long it may take an ecosystem to recover after oiling. Her analyses also examine the gene content of individual microbial populations and compare them to hydrocarbons used in the experiment to determine which oil-degrading genes the microbes possess. A microbe that is more abundant after oil exposure may be a viable bioindicator of oil presence and biodegradation processes. Smruthi hopes that comparing her microbial data to the in situ sensor data can help develop an integrated conceptual model that allows predictions of pathways and oil degradation rates needed for future forecasts of recovery pathways.

Smruthi’s analyses have revealed a previously undiscovered microbial genus that was below detection in clean sands but rapidly increased to 30% of the total microbial community in oiled sands. According to publicly available databases, the species appears consistently in oil-contaminated sediments worldwide, particularly as a responder to other major oil spills, while being notably absent in unoiled environments. The microbe is metabolically versatile and can feast on oil and get the nitrogen it needs from the atmosphere, eliminating the need to add potentially harmful fertilizers that encourage microbial oil degradation. “It appears that this microbe belongs to a new genus of keystone oil degraders that has gone unnoticed so far and thus could represent a new model organism for oil bioremediation efforts,” said Smruthi. “We proposed to name this new bacterial genus “Macondimonas,” as we recovered it from the Macondo oil spill.”

Her Learning

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Patrick Heritier-Robbins, Minjae Kim, and Smruthi Karthikeyan review the design of their latest sediment sampling system. (Provided by Smruthi Karthikeyan)

Smruthi’s experiences conducting GoMRI research opened her eyes to many different perspectives of oil spill research. Working with her advisor and their project’s principal investigator Dr. Markus Huettel helped her see the multifaceted aspects of her research, while interacting with scientists from different disciplines broadened her scientific perspective. “As someone who did not have a background in computational biology and marine ecology initially, this GoMRI grant has greatly helped my venture into this new and fascinating area,” she said. “It showed me that there’s a whole new realm out there filled with these microscopic marvels while at the same time integrating my engineering background.”

Her Future

Smruthi hopes to become a professor after completing her Ph.D. She encourages students considering a career in science and technology by telling them, “It is a rewarding and satisfying experience to actually see that your work can someday help the environment and society in whatever little way it can.”

Praise for Smruthi

Konstantinidis said that Smruthi is a hard worker with strong analytical abilities and a tremendous capacity and desire to learn new things. Her contributions helped his team explore new research ideas that resulted in important discoveries, such as the new oil-degrading bacteria. “[Our work with Smruthi] happened due to a bit of good luck,” he said. “When the advisor that Smruthi was working with initially decided to retire, I talked to Smruthi about the GoMRI project, and she got really excited and wanted to join our research team. It was good luck for all of us, I think!”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Smruthi Karthikeyan and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Smithsonian Rolls Out New Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Webpage

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NASA satellite image on April 29, 2010 of the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico. NASA picture ID: GSFC_20171208_Archive_e002071

The Smithsonian’s Ocean Portal recently redesigned their website, and it now includes a page dedicated to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

The page includes some information about how the spill and response unfolded, links to Smithsonian articles covering research from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, and perspectives from two scientists about other spills.

Check out the  Ocean Portal’s new webpage Gulf Oil Spill!

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GoMRI and the Smithsonian have a partnership to enhance oil spill science content on the Ocean Portal website.

The GoMRI is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies.  An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research.  All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available.  The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP.  For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student O’Brien Analyzes Sediment Movement to Help Predict Oil Transport

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Stephan O’Brien collects water samples at Main Pass, Alabama, for suspended sediment laboratory analyses. (Photo by Brian Dzwonkowski)

Oil spill material that enters the water column may adhere to resuspended seafloor sediments and be transported to other areas. Stephan O’Brien is investigating how physical factors, such as wind and waves, affect the suspension and subsequent transport of sediments in the Mississippi Sound and Bight. “Inorganic matter such as sediment is one of the methods by which oil can be transported,” said Stephan. “By improving our understanding of sediment dynamics, we can provide first responders with information that can help them interpret how moving sediment may affect oil transport.”

Stephan is a Ph.D. student at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Division of Marine Science and a GoMRI Scholar with the Consortium for Oil Spill Exposure Pathways in Coastal River-Dominated Ecosystems (CONCORDE).

His Path

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Stephan assists CONCORDE’s small boat team release surface drifters at Main Pass, Alabama. (Photo by Brian Dzwonkowski)

Stephan’s brother chose a scientific path in high school, sparking Stephan’s interest in science. Schools in Stephan’s home of Trinidad and Tobago follow the British system, where students choose a focus such as arts or sciences when they enter high school. Then they narrow that focus to a more specific field during their final two years before entering university studies. When he was 14, Stephan followed his brother’s example and chose math, physics, chemistry, and biology as his primary focuses and later narrowed his scope to math and physics.

As an undergraduate at the University of the West Indies, Stephan discovered his interest in hydrography after taking two hydrography classes. Later, he applied to the University of Southern Mississippi and started studies in their Hydrographic Science master’s program. His final master’s project was planned to be a survey of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, in summer 2010. However, his intended survey region was closed following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and Stephan moved his survey to Pearl River, Mississippi.

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Stephan presents his work at CONCORDE’s Citizen Scientist Program with the Vietnamese fishing community. (Photo by Jessie Kastler)

Stephan returned to Trinidad and Tobago to teach at the University of the West Indies. While there, he realized that his island was suffering from coastal erosion. This realization inspired him to return to the University of Southern Mississippi as a Ph.D. student to research sediment movement. While working with his advisor Dr. Jerry Wiggert, their team became a part of the CONCORDE research group investigating sediment movement and its relationship to oil transport. “There is a lot of erosion that occurs along the eastern coast of our island country because of the wave action,” said Stephan. “Just being aware of that problem helped with the decision of what I’d like to do for my Ph.D.”

His Work

Focusing on the Mississippi Sound and Mississippi Bight, he analyzes NASA’s remote sensing reflectance data () and uses an algorithm to estimate surface sediment concentrations. He filters surface water samples collected at the same time and location to quantify suspended sediment concentrations and uses an in situ optical back-scatter instrument called a Laser In-Situ Scattering and Transmissiometry (LISST) to measure particle sizes.

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CONCORDE researchers at the 2017 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference. (Photo by Jessie Kastler)

Stephan uses the in situ suspended sediment concentrations to ground truth the accuracy of a numerical model (Coupled-Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment transport model) that characterizes how water masses move within the study domain. Particle sizes can be varied in the model and forcing factors such as wind or wave action can be varied and/or removed from the simulation. This allows Stephan to analyze how each forcing factor changes over time and how each environmental factor contributes to the direction and volume of sediment transported within each sediment size class. “The numerical model is similar to a weather forecast,” he explained. “While weather forecasts use measurements to describe weather patterns over time, this numerical model uses water column and atmospheric measurements to describe how different physical factors affect ocean current movements and, as a result, how much and in which direction sediment will be transported.”

Stephan’s preliminary observations show elevated in situ sediment and increased salinity in Spring 2016, suggesting a link between shoreward advection from the continental shelf and subsequent sediment resuspension. However, Stephan’s model results suggest that the environmental factors driving sediment resuspension and transport in Spring 2016 originated from Lake Borgne and moved east to the Mississippi Bight rather than originating from the continental shelf as initially hypothesized.

His Learning

Stephan considers himself a “scientist-in-training,” and his work with researchers from different backgrounds has helped him learn other research techniques. During the consortium’s spring 2016 cruise, he conducted research alongside Naval Research Laboratory scientists, who showed him how to operate an optical sensor. “Although it was not the same optical instrument I was using to collect my samples, getting to know the details about the sensor helped me get a better understanding of the measurements I was taking in the Sound,” he said.

His Future

Stephan hopes to find a post-doc position with a strong focus on sediment transport, perhaps in Holland or Germany, to gain additional research experience before returning home. He hopes to apply his research skills and experience towards addressing Trinidad’s and Tobago’s coastal erosion problem with Trinidadian government agencies.

His suggestion to students who are interested in science is to speak with other researchers/scientists to get a better understanding of what their fields entail. They should consider gaining some experience through internships or volunteer positions to get a better understanding of actual scientific jobs. “Science is so broad – once you get experience, you can see the different scientific avenues available,” he said.

Praise for Stephan

Wiggert believes that Stephan’s personality and temperament are best captured by the concept of “quiet competence.” He praised Stephan’s diligent, self-motivated, and hard-working approach to his research, which helped Stephan develop a diverse set of observational, programming, and data management skills during his dissertation work. Wiggert also praised Stephan’s determination to share his science, explaining that he has been extremely active in presenting his research findings at scientific meetings and participating in community outreach.

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Stephan O’Brien and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the CONCORDE website to learn more about their work.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Sea Grant Releases One Pager on Where Deepwater Horizon Oil Went

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The  Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team released a Fact Sheet that uses easy-to-understand graphics and descriptions about how some oil accumulated at shorelines, on the ocean’s surface, in an underwater plume, and on the seafloor.

Where did the oil go? A Deepwater Horizon fact sheet provides a public-friendly resource for all who are interested in a healthy marine environment. The publication highlights the important points made in the more detailed eight-page bulletin Deepwater Horizon: Where did the oil go?

Oil also provided a food source for certain microbes who increased their numbers where oil was present to ingest it. Learn more about the role that microbes play in oil fate: Microbes and oil: What’s the connection?

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States. 

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently-held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

New Sea Grant Fact Sheet on Storms and Oil Spills

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team released a publication that provides helpful information about storms and oil spills. Oil and chemicals from damaged rigs and vessels can form slicks that can pollute marine and shoreline ecosystems. If there is an existing oil slick offshore during a storm, high winds and rough seas can help to break up the slick before it comes ashore. If there is already oiling along coastlines, storm surges can push the oil further inland.

Read Storms and Spills to learn what to do and who to contact if a storm causes a spill near you.  You can also read about oil spills from past storms in 1989 (Hugo), 2005 (Katrina and Rita), 2012 (Isaac and Sandy), and 2017 (Maria).

Read more about research related to storms and spills:

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States. 

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently-held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Seeley Investigates the Longevity of Toxic Oil Compounds in Coastal Environments

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Meredith Evans Seeley and Dr. Hernando Bacosa maintain the Py-GC-MS machine. (Provided by Meredith Evans)

Oil is a complex mixture of chemicals with different degradation behaviors and toxicity levels. Understanding how the compounds in spilled oil, particularly toxic compounds, change with weathering is important to predicting oil’s persistence in the environment. Meredith Evans Seeley analyzed how oil compounds are preserved or removed over time in coastal systems that have different hydrographic activity levels. Her research will help determine which coastal environments are more likely to retain toxic compounds and require more attention from responders.

Meredith was a master’s student with The University of Texas at Austin’s Marine Science Institute and a GoMRI Scholar with the Dispersion Research on Oil: Physics and Plankton Studies (DROPPS I & II) consortium.

Her Path

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An oil slick near one of Meredith’s sampling sites in Grand Isle, Louisiana. (Photo by Brad E. Rosenheim)

Meredith grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast and loved learning how different systems work in her science classes. She discovered an interest in marine science during a scuba diving trip with her older brother. The ocean and coral reefs they visited were unlike anything she had ever seen, and she wanted to learn everything about the marine world.

As an undergraduate at the University of Oklahoma, Meredith worked in a lab investigating invasive aquatic species and was able to travel the country conducting coastal restoration projects. After completing a biology bachelor’s degree, she knew she wanted to study threats to ocean health, so she applied for and entered the master’s program in marine science at the University of Texas at Austin. There, she worked in Dr. Zhanfei Liu’s lab researching Deepwater Horizon oil’s chemical evolution in coastal Louisiana for the DROPPS consortium.

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Meredith Evans Seeley presents her research at the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation’s 2015 conference. (Provided by Meredith Evans Seeley)

“I’ve always been most motivated by what makes logical sense to me. The oceans play a critical role in the functionality of our climate, so logically we should preserve the integrity of the oceans as best we can,” said Meredith. “Truthfully, though, I am also a very empathetic person. When I see that species and ecosystems are at risk, I really sympathize and want to help fix the problem. These fit together to make me keenly interested in understanding threats such as oil spills and protecting the Gulf for future generations.”

Her Work

Meredith initially focused on the weathering of petroleum hydrocarbons in oil-soaked sand patties, tar, and oil sheens collected from three different coastal environments: a high-energy beach front, a low-energy sandy inlet, and a very-low-energy back-barrier marsh. She measured the concentrations of individual oil compounds, including n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylated PAHs, in samples using gas chromatography (GC).

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Meredith Evans Seeley accepts the James D. Watkins Award for research excellence at the 2015 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference. (Provided by Meredith Evans Seeley)

She observed that the magnitude of hydrocarbon depletion was most influenced by the environment’s hydrographic activity, with high-energy environments exhibiting significantly higher hydrocarbon depletion than lower-energy environments. The very-low-energy marsh environment consistently exhibited high concentrations of the same chemicals that experienced depletion in other environments over time, suggesting that oil compounds from sources other than the Deepwater Horizon incident accumulated into patties, tars, and sediments. Her results suggest that oil chemicals may be preserved for longer time periods in low-energy marsh environments than in high-energy environments, potentially threatening marine organisms and coastal ecosystem health.

“This research can be used to prioritize the type of shorelines we protect in future oil spills based on how likely they are to retain toxic compounds over time,” said Meredith. “However, it is important to recognize that petroleum is a very complex mixture, and traditional analysis techniques can identify only about 25% of compounds in Deepwater Horizon crude oil.”

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Meredith Evans Seeley talks to a local news company about the DROPPS research at UTMSI. (Provided by Meredith Evans Seeley)

Meredith turned her focus to utilizing a unique analysis technique called ramped pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) to improve traditional hydrocarbon analysis. Py-GC-MS uses high-temperature pyrolysis to extract compounds within different temperature ranges from samples right before GC analysis without any sample preparation. “With this technique, we can achieve the same traditional analysis results while also gaining insight into high-molecular-weight or polar compounds that are difficult to identify,” she said. “In particular, we can use the oxygen output in the high-temperature zone (>370 °C) to estimate concentrations of oxygenated hydrocarbons, which previous studies suggest might be more bioavailable to marine species.”

Her Learning

Dr. Liu taught Meredith many scientific principles, but she was most influenced by his belief that one must always address “what’s new?” and formulate research questions to yield results that add something to the scientific community. Networking with other researchers at conferences and annual GoMRI meetings pushed Meredith to think about her research in new ways to present her work effectively. “Conferences motivated me to talk with scientists outside of my usual circle so that I could broaden my research goals and ideas through collaboration,” she said. “These connections and experiences, as well as learning under Dr. Liu, afforded me many benefits that I still reap today.”

Her Future

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Meredith Evans Seeley and her advisor Zhanfei Liu at her master’s defense reception. (Provided by Meredith Evans Seeley)

Meredith is currently a Ph.D. student at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science researching microplastic pollution. During her DROPPS research, she became curious about using Py-GC-MS to study microplastic polymers and found that there are many similarities between plastic and petroleum pollutants, including complex environmental fates.

She says it is important for students who are pursuing science not to be shy. Rather than feeling intimidated or being afraid to ask questions, she found that the best way to learn and grow as a scientist is to ask about potential opportunities. “The scientific community is the most supportive working environment I could imagine. Don’t be too timid to make those connections by asking to collaborate or just asking for help,” she said. “If you try to get involved with research that excites you, I guarantee someone will help you get there.”

Praise for Meredith

Dr. Liu described Meredith as one of the top graduate students he has ever worked with and praised her organization, communication, and research skills. Liu highlighted Meredith’s ability to communicate complicated data in simple language, which he finds to be a rare skill among early-stage graduate students. He believes these skills contributed to her winning the James D. Watkins Award for Excellence in Research during the 2016 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science conference and her invitation to present a GoMRI webinar the same year.

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The Liu research group celebrates Dr. Liu’s tenure at a local restaurant. (L-R, top) Nick Reyna, Hernando Bacosa, Jason Jenkins, Jiqing Liu, and Kaijun Liu. (L-R, bottom) Shuting Liu, Zhanfei Liu, and Meredith Evans Seeley. (Provided by Meredith Evans Seeley)

Liu said Meredith made significant contributions to the university’s broader community impacts when she worked with a K-12 program at Port Aransas Elementary School. He also praised her work as a summer teaching assistant, noting that she organized his course’s entire lab component. “In her teaching experience, Meredith demonstrated superb skills in organization and great attention to detail, he said. “She clearly is one of the top TAs I have ever seen, and without her excellent work I would not have been able to do it!”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Meredith Evans Seeley and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the DROPPS website to learn more about their work.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Smithsonian Highlights How Scientists Study Fish Hearts’ Response to Oil

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Derek Nelson performs open-heart surgery on a cobia fish. Photo credit: Dan DiNicola

The Smithsonian’s Ocean Portal published an article that gives readers a fascinating look at how scientists monitor the heartbeat, blood flow, and blood pressure of mahi-mahi before and after oil exposure. Mahi-mahi, an important commercial fisheries species, rely on strong hearts to swim fast for long periods, and recent studies suggest that oil can weaken their hearts. A weak heart could lead to them not getting enough to eat or becoming the meal of a bigger predator.

Read the article Fish Heart Out of Water and meet scientists Rachael Heuer (University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science) and Derek Nelson (University of North Texas) who are figuring out how Deepwater Horizon oil might impact mahi-mahi and other fishes’ health.

Read summaries of recently published papers on fish response to oil exposure:

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GoMRI and the Smithsonian have a partnership to enhance oil spill science content on the Ocean Portal website.

This research was made possible by a grant from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) to the RECOVER consortium (Relationships of Effects of Cardiac Outcomes in fish for Validation of Ecological Risk).

The GoMRI is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies.  An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research.  All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available.  The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP.  For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student Richards Uses Fish Muscle Tissue to Explore Deep-Sea Food Web Structure

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Travis sorts through Neuston net samples looking for the Sargassum frogfish (Histrio histrio) aboard the R/V Point Sur. (Provided by DEEPEND)

The deep-pelagic habitat (200 m depth to just above the seabed) is the largest habitat in the Gulf of Mexico, yet we know very little about it compared to coastal and shallow-water habitats. Our limited understanding of this major marine habitat makes it extremely difficult to assess the effects of disturbances such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Travis Richards seeks to better understand the structure of deep-pelagic food webs by tracing the energy flow from the food web base through higher trophic levels. His research will help expand our understanding of the deep-pelagic habitat and serve as a reference point for future studies and response efforts.

Travis is a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University at Galveston’s Marine Biology Department and a GoMRI Scholar with the Deep-Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND) consortium.

His Path

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Travis holds a large mahi caught during a fishing break between sampling efforts. (Provided by DEEPEND)

Travis discovered his interest in biology through the many scientists and science educators in his family who exposed him to diverse habitats and species through frequent camping, fishing, and hiking trips. His family’s travels took him to sites across the United States, including several trips to the Gulf of Mexico coastline. During his undergraduate and graduate career, he explored a variety of marine ecology opportunities and developed a specialization in marine food webs. He had just completed an ecology and evolutionary biology master’s degree at Florida State University when Dr. David Wells at Texas A&M University at Galveston contacted him about a Ph.D. student position researching deep-sea food webs. He eagerly accepted and joined Wells’ lab team working on the DEEPEND project.

Travis explained that the immersive outdoor experiences of his childhood have become a large part of his identity and are a driving force behind his research interests. “Those transformative experiences give conducting research on marine Gulf of Mexico organisms a personal significance,” he said. “I now have a career pursuing a field that interested me since childhood and contributing to our understanding of an ecosystem that played a significant role in my life.”

His Work

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Travis catalogues tissue samples in the R/V Point Sur lab for a large barcoding project. (Provided by DEEPEND)

Travis helps collect deep-pelagic organisms using a Multiple Opening and Closing Net with Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS) that is towed from surface waters to 1500 m depth. He analyzes natural chemical tracers called stable isotopes (variants of chemical elements that have a distinct signature as they transfer from prey to predator) in different organisms’ muscle tissues to identify their position within the food web. He can then piece together the food web’s structure to trace the initial food source and document the natural flow of energy through the food web.

Travis will use the data to describe variation in food web structure, identify the number of deep-pelagic trophic groups with different functions, and determine how much deep-pelagic organisms contribute to the diets of demersal (near the seabed) and epipelagic (surface to 200 m depth) predators. So far, Travis has observed that deep-pelagic food webs are more complex and nuanced than researchers have previously thought. His preliminary results indicate that the food web’s structure varies both seasonally and across horizontal and vertical spatial scales. Researchers can use this information to make better predictions about the ways that removal of targeted species by fisheries or disturbances such as oil spills will affect the food web and the greater pelagic ecosystem.

His Learning

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Researchers aboard the R/V Point Sur pose in front of a large waterspout during a summer 2015 research cruise. (Provided by DEEPEND)

Travis has learned that productivity matters to success in academia. One must always make progress on some aspect of their research, and there is always a paper that needs work or an experiment that can be set up. He said that seeing the contributions of one’s research is a motivating reward for the hard work. “I’m continually impressed with the research being conducted within the different GoMRI funded projects. When you attend a GoMRI meeting, you get a real sense for how much we’re learning about the Gulf of Mexico. It’s exciting to know that our work is contributing to a new and more complete understanding of the Gulf.”

One of Travis’s most memorable experiences working with the DEEPEND consortium is conducting field work – a rare opportunity due to the challenging logistics and expensive nature of deep-sea sampling. “You never know what you’ll bring up in the nets,” he said. “With each research cruise, I’ve been able to see incredibly unique organisms, such as anglerfishes, lanternfishes, and cephalopods, that I never imagined I’d get to see in person.”

His Future

Travis hopes to conduct research as a post-doc and eventually take a position at a liberal arts college teaching and leading a small research program. He advises that students considering a scientific career take advantage of every research opportunity available to them, even those not focused on their exact interests. “Do the best possible work you can at each position you take,” he said. “Once you demonstrate your ability to perform well at a variety of positions, more opportunities will start to open up for you.”

Praise for Travis

Dr. Wells commended Travis’ commitment to leading the deep-sea trophic ecology component of the project’s research, noting that he often puts in extra time to make his research responsibilities his primary task. “He is always willing to participate on cruises and be involved in meetings and present his results,” said Wells. “He recently published his first dissertation chapter in ICES Journal of Marine Science (Trophic Ecology of Meso- and Bathypelagic Predators in the Gulf of Mexico) and is clearly on track to do great things with his project.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Travis Richards and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the DEEPEND website to learn more about their work.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

New Sea Grant Publication Describes Underwater Research Technology

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Have you ever wondered how scientists ‘see’ under water? The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative is pleased to announce a new Sea Grant publication about the technology scientists use to look at and study the deep ocean, specifically manned and unmanned vehicles.

Scientists have used remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and submarines, including human-occupied vehicles, to locate Deepwater Horizon oil and monitor its impacts below the water’s surface and on the seafloor.

Read Underwater Vehicles Used to Study Oil Spills to learn about how these underwater robotic devices work and how researchers have used them in the Gulf of Mexico. Included is a chart that gives the cost of use, type of use, advantages, and disadvantages for each of these technologies.

Read more about recent deep ocean research:

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States. 

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently-held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Student Researcher Blogs Highlight Exciting Deep-Ocean Discoveries

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Corinne Meinert holds a deep-sea fish collected during a research cruise. Corinne studies the biodiversity of fish eggs and larval fish that drift in ocean currents. (Provided by DEEPEND)

The Gulf of Mexico is one of four “super-diverse” ecoregions in the world; yet, we don’t know much about how its deep environment changed after Deepwater Horizon because very little was known about it before the spill. Since the spill, the data about deep-ocean life are growing as scientists with the DEEPEND research consortium study the deep Gulf’s organisms and processes. Their findings will help develop a baseline to monitor future changes.

Master’s-level graduate students working alongside DEEPEND scientists are writing a weekly blog series about their research contributions. “When these disasters occur, the deep sea is not often thought of – it is kind of an out of sight, out of mind situation,” said student Devan Nichols. “The deep sea is a mysterious place, and scientists still have a lot to learn about its complexity and the organisms found there.”

Here are some deep-ocean research areas that these students have written about, which can help inform management decisions to predict, protect, and increase recruitment for future populations.

Gulf Shrimp

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Sergestes corniculum, one of the species Richard Hartland studies. The sergestids are important members of the oceanic community, both as consumers of zooplankton and as prey for higher trophic levels. (Provided by DEEPEND)

Devan Nichols, Richard Hartland, Ronald Sieber, and Nathan LaSpina at Nova Southeastern University are studying potential impacts to Gulf shrimp (family Oplophoridae, family Sergestidae, family Euphausiidae and family Benthesicymidae). They are examining data collected in 2011, comparing them to data collected in 2015, 2016, and 2017, and identifying changes in abundance, biomass (weight), and vertical migrations.

The data are beginning to show a sharp decrease in abundance between 2011 and 2015 – 2017 and that the warm water input from the Loop Current may affect abundance. Further analyses are required to verify if the Current affects migration habits.

Young Fish

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Corinne Meinert displays a snake mackerel (Gempylus serpens) on her fingertip to demonstrate ichthyoplankton’s tiny sizes. She and her research group have collected and identified over 18,000 individual larval fish across 99 different families. (Provided by DEEPEND)

Corinne Meinert (Texas A&M University at Galveston), Sebastian Velez (Florida Atlantic University), and Nina Pruzinsky (Nova Southeastern University) are researching the biodiversity, dispersal processes, and spatial distribution of early life stage fishes.

Meinert uses genetic methods to analyze oceanic ichthyoplankton – fish eggs and larval fishes that drift in ocean currents – and learn about their biodiversity and population dynamics. This information gives insight into the status of the oceanic environment, since higher fish diversity typically indicates a healthier ecosystem.

Velez focuses on larvae from nearshore species (snappers and groupers) that utilize offshore habitats (up to 1,500 m depth). He observed strong biodiversity in these expatriates and found that some species, such as the Wenchman snapper, have the ability to stall their settlement, likely in search of a suitable habitat. “When you walk into a restaurant and order sushi or a fish dinner […] the odds against a particular animal making it to a harvestable size are astounding,” said Velez. “These fishes [often] represent multi-million dollar industries in the form of commercial and recreational fisheries. Understanding the biology and life history of [these] species is imperative in informing future management decisions.”

Pruzinsky studies the spatiotemporal distributions of early life stage tuna to learn about their habitat preferences and help compile key identification features for juvenile tuna species. These features include pigmentation patterns, body shape, ratios of different body parts, and fin ray counts. She developed high-resolution models of larval and juvenile tuna distributions as a function of habitat. These models represent some of the first for juvenile tunas (as opposed to the better-known larvae and adults).

Adult Fishes

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One of the largest (>15cm) ever recorded specimens of the Bullis’s Barracudina (Stemonsudis bullisi). This endemic species had previously only been known from two juvenile specimens around 6 cm long. (Provided by DEEPEND)

Characterizing the behaviors and distribution of deep-sea fishes is a major focus of DEEPEND. Rich Jones at Florida Atlantic University is researching the important but poorly known fish family Paralepididae (barracudina), whose unique bioluminescence is derived from liver tissues. Using data from large pelagic trawls (NRDA ONSAP sampling), he observed that barracudina actively avoid smaller, research-sized nets, suggesting that we have probably underestimated their abundances and importance historically. He also noted distinct differences in diet and water column distribution between barracudina species.

Nova Southeastern University student Kristian Ramkissoon researches the composition, abundance, and vertical distribution of the bristlemouth fish genus Cyclothone, the most abundant vertebrate on the planet. He has observed that these fishes do not vertically migrate, but instead occupy relatively predictable and distinct depth ranges. He is attempting to assess the impact of hydrographic features such as the Loop Current and its eddies on Cyclothone distribution.

Fellow Nova student Natalie Slayden studies otoliths – ear stones whose rings  represent a fish’s age. She plans to describe and correlate otolith ring patterns with the fish’s life history and estimate the ages of various mesopelagic and bathypelagic fishes, most for the first time.

Max Weber at Texas A&M University at Galveston uses genetic methods to investigate if population size fluctuations in deep-sea fishes mirror those of coastal species. Stable populations reflect a stable environment, yet Max’s preliminary analyses reveal population declines and expansions that indicate the environment is more volatile than previously assumed.

Eating Habits

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Examples of microplastics ingested by deep-pelagic fishes and crustaceans in the Gulf of Mexico: (A) microbeads, (B-E) microfragments, and (F) microfibers. (Provided by Ryan Bos)

Three Nova Southeastern University students analyze fish gut contents as part of their focus on food webs. Mike Novotny is researching bathypelagic fishes called “Tubeshoulders” (family Platytroctidae) to explore their feeding behaviors and prey preferences – the first known study into the diet of this important family. He observed that these creatures are zooplanktivores that feed on gelatinous animals (e.g., jellyfishes and relatives), something not previously known.

Ryan Bos focuses on fish and shrimp ingestion of microplastics (ranging 1 μm – <5 mm), which can cause false feelings of fullness, obstruct feeding appendages, decrease reproductive fitness, and premature death. He identified microplastics (which burn, melt, curl up, or repel when touched with a hot needle) and observed that nearly one-third of the fishes and crustaceans tested ingested at least one piece of plastic. These findings highlight the ubiquitous influence of anthropogenic pollutants in the deep ocean.

Matt Woodstock is studying mesopelagic fishes to better understand the ecology of endoparasites, which live within another organism (a host) and travel through the food web to complete their life cycles. The presence of many different parasites suggests that the fish’s diet may have shifted over time or may come from many different prey. These results will help researchers make conclusions about the connectivity and stability of different ecosystems.

Rare Finds

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Imaging demonstrating the cranial pigmentation that Kristian Ramkissoon uses to differentiate between Cyclothone species. (Provided by Kristian Ramkissoon)

Many of the students’ research projects focus on little-studied Gulf of Mexico organisms and processes and are the first studies of their kind. For example, three of the nineteen barracudina species captured for Jones’s research represent the first records of those species, and Woodstock is the first person to record parasites within the species he studies.

“Some of the fishes we have identified have only been seen by a handful of people before in oceanographic history,” said Rich Jones. “The opportunity to study the habits of these rare animals with a comprehensive suite of data, let alone hold them in your hand, is a unique pleasure of working with DEEPEND.”

Learn more about DEEPEND research:

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This research was made possible in part by a grant from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) to the Deep-Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND) consortium.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Smithsonian Presents Interactive Story Map to Learn Where Deepwater Horizon Oil Went

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A satellite image of the Gulf of Mexico showing the oil slick on the surface of the water. Image: NASA

The Smithsonian’s Ocean Portal published an interactive tool featuring maps and graphics showing where Deepwater Horizon oil traveled. The story map also includes locations for where responders applied chemical dispersants on the Gulf’s surface and other sources where oil enters the Gulf, such as offshore oil and gas platforms and natural seeps.

Try out the story map Where Did the Oil Go in the Gulf of Mexico?  Ocean Portal developed this research-based tool using data from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Environmental Response Management Applications (ERMA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and others.

Learn more about the oil spill and how it traveled:

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GoMRI and the Smithsonian have a partnership to enhance oil spill science content on the Ocean Portal website.

This research was made possible in part by a grant from BP/The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) to the Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf 2 (ECOGIG 2) consortium, the Florida Institute of Technology, and to the Center for the Integrated Modeling and Analysis of Gulf Ecosystems II (C-IMAGE II).

The GoMRI is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies.  An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research.  All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available.  The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP.  For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Sea Grant Releases Fact Sheet on Helping Oiled Animals Recover

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The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team released a publication that provides helpful tips for what to do if you come upon an oiled animal in the wild, including phone numbers for state-level animal-specific rescue authorities. Since even a small oil spill or leak can put certain migratory marine animals at risk for oil exposure, people working and playing along the coast might run across an affected bird, dolphin, whale, or sea turtle that move through a wide range of habitats.

Sea Grant, in response to requests from resource managers, emergency responders, and concerned coastal residents, prepared the Helping Oiled Animals Recover: Gulf of Mexico fact sheet that lists four actions a person should take if they find an oiled animal. The publication includes information about a NOAA marine mammal smart phone app for stranded dolphins and whales at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/outreach_and_education/mm_apps/.

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States. 

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently-held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

How Grad Student Schlenker “Sniffs Out” Oil’s Effects on Mahi-Mahi

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Lela Schlenker holds a device used to outfit captured mahi-mahi with data-collecting tags. (Provided by RECOVER)

Laboratory studies at the University of Miami suggest that exposure to Deepwater Horizon oil may have negatively affected heart function in mahi-mahi, reducing their ability to swim efficiently. Lela Schlenker is expanding that research to investigate if and how oil exposure alters the way mahi-mahi migrate and respond to predators and prey in the wild. She conducts her research using different approaches: one focusing on mahi-mahi’s ability to smell and another that uses satellite tagging to monitor mahi-mahi’s behavior after encountering oil.

Lela is a Ph.D. student with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and a GoMRI Scholar with RECOVER.

Her Path

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Researchers test an anesthetized juvenile mahi-mahi using the electro-olfactogram experimental setup. (Photo by Lela Schlenker)

Lela began her environmental undergraduate studies at Smith College but wasn’t sure if she felt more drawn to terrestrial biology or marine science. A study-away maritime science program with the Williams-Mystic Program gave her the opportunity to experience marine science hands-on and inspired her to continue on that path. She designed an independent project for the course that involved collecting samples aboard a commercial fishing vessel. “It was an eye-opening experience to see all the amazing critters that we were catching and getting to talk to fishermen who have an incredible knowledge base and skillset. The intersection of the biological and human aspects of the fishing really struck me,” said Lela.

The experience inspired Lela to pursue various fisheries-based jobs after completing her undergraduate degree. One of these jobs brought her to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab just months after the Deepwater Horizon incident occurred. Seeing the spill’s initial effects first-hand inspired her to someday explore the oil’s impacts on Gulf ecology and fishing communities. While completing a master’s degree in fisheries science at the College of William and Mary, she learned about Dr. Martin Grosell’s mahi-mahi research at the University of Miami and contacted him about a possible student research position. Grosell thought Lela would be a good fit for his lab; however, he couldn’t hire her unless his proposed RECOVER project received GoMRI funding.

“Whether or not I could come to Rosenstiel and do my Ph.D. completely hinged on that grant,” said Lela. “I got an email from him right after the grant came in asking me to come for an interview. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for GoMRI funding. GoMRI has been instrumental in my career – having funding like this is a really rare and exciting opportunity!”

Her Work

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Rachael Heuer (left) and Lela Schlenker take water quality measurements and check tagged mahi-mahi in a recovery tanks aboard the R/V Walton Smith in summer 2017. (Photo by Dan DiNicola)

Lela assesses how oil exposure affects mahi-mahi’s ability to smell using an electro-olfactogram. She sedates the fish and removes a thin layer of skin from the nostril (septum) to uncover the olfactory rosette – finger-like projections covered in neurons. The fish is fitted with highly conductive electrodes that attach to the animal’s skin and on the rosette. She then delivers seawater with different scents (unscented, prey-scented, and predator-scented) directly to the rosette and measures voltage changes in the neurons in response to each smell. Greater changes in voltage indicate a stronger neurological response and, therefore, a stronger ability to detect the scent. She then dilutes the scent incrementally to determine how faint the smell must be before the fish can no longer detect it.

The next phase of Lela’s olfactory research will expose mahi-mahi to oil and observe if and how their sense of smell changes compared to control fish. A diminished ability to track prey and sense predators via smell could have significant implications for the fish’s survival, migration patterns, and spawning behavior.

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Lela Schlenker and John Stieglitz use a sling to transport a tagged mahi-mahi out of the recovery tank and preparing to release it in the Florida straits, June 2017. (Photo by Dan DiNicola)

Lela will also be conducting satellite tagging experiments that build upon previous tagging field experiments. This summer, her team will capture wild mahi-mahi, rest them in water tanks containing seawater or seawater plus oil, fit the fish with satellite-enabled tags, and release them from the same location. The tags will relay temperature, depth, light level, and location information back to the researchers, who will use it to identify differences in swimming speed, spawning behavior, and migration patterns between the control and oil-exposed fish. “Our tagging research will help us understand how [previous findings that oil affects mahi-mahi physiology] would manifest in the wild and, if the fish were exposed to oil during a spill, how they would cope and what recovery may or may not look like,” she said.

Her Learning

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John Stieglitz and Lela Schlenker release a mahi-mahi back into the ocean after tagging and recovering for 24 hours. (Provided by RECOVER)

The greatest lesson that Lela has learned working alongside Grosell is the importance of being an optimist and making bold choices. Previous studies documenting mahi-mahi behavior experienced many challenges from limited resources to difficulties handling and tagging the wild fish, something Lela was aware of when her team’s research began. She was inspired by Grosell’s determination to improve the research methods to collect better data and include oil as an additional variable. “It was a little scary when he told me we were going to take this thing that no one else has been able to do and then make it harder by adding the oil,” said Lela. “It was a good lesson that sometimes you just have to be bold and go for it and if you can figure out a way to make it happen, then you’re going to conduct exciting research that no one else has been able to do.”

Her Future

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A tagged adult mahi-mahi swims away from the R/V Walton Smith after recovering from the catch-and-tag procedure, June 2017. (Photo by Dan DiNicola)

Lela hopes to continue working in a collaborative research environment after graduation, particularly in a position that also allows her to teach and spark the passion she feels for science in others. She advises students considering a scientific career to explore different avenues before entering graduate school to help solidify which aspects of science they want to pursue. “Taking the time to do different jobs and figure out exactly what you like about scientific research can be really helpful,” said Lela. “It’s not bad to try a lot of different things, especially when you’re in college or right out of college. There’s a lot of different experiences out there, and you never really know where things will lead.”

Praise for Lela

Dr. Grosell commended Lela’s unique dissertation research, which spans several levels of biological organization and offers a refreshing, integrative view of oil impacts on large marine pelagic organisms. He added that she previously led a research cruise and will act as lead scientist for an upcoming cruise in the Gulf of Mexico this summer. “As lead scientist, Lela demonstrates a rare talent for leadership and pursuing challenging directions while promoting a supportive and collegial atmosphere,” said Grosell. “I am grateful to have Lela in my group and continue to learn from her.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Lela Schlenker and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the RECOVER website to learn more about their work.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

C-IMAGE Celebrates Teacher @ Sea Program

C-IMAGE-IIIIn honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, the consortium highlighted the efforts of Gulf Coast teachers who have accompanied Mud & Blood expeditions, gaining hands-on experience dissecting fish and processing sediment cores.

Learn more about the Teacher @ Sea program here.

Blogs written by current and previous teachers in the program can be found here on the C-IMAGE Blog.

Fact Sheet: Sea Grant Releases Publication on Microbes and Oil Degradation

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Click Image for Factsheet PDF.

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team released a publication that explains the role that microbes play in using oil as an energy source and removing it from the environment.

The 8-page brochure Microbes and oil: What’s the connection? describes how these microscopic organisms can have a large-scale effect by quickly degrading oil in water and how different factors influence the rate that oil is broken down. It also describes how the microbes’ behavior can differ depending on their species, the type of oil they encounter, and the place they live in the marine environment. Included in the publication is what scientists are learning about how man-made response efforts such as chemical dispersants affect microbial oil degradation.

The Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team synthesizes peer-reviewed science for a broad range of general audiences, particularly those who live and work across the Gulf Coast. Sea Grant offers oil-spill related public seminars across the United States. 

Information about upcoming Sea Grant science seminars and recently-held events is available here. To receive email updates about seminars, publications, and the outreach team, click here.

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GoMRI and the Sea Grant programs of the Gulf of Mexico (Florida, Mississippi-Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas) have partnered to create an oil spill science outreach program.

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010- 2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Video: Award-Winning Short “Drifting in the Gulf”

5194“Drifting in the Gulf” is an entertaining, educational video about the process of designing new scientific equipment for studying ocean surface currents. Co-created by Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE) and Waterlust, the video features the CARTHE drifter designed by University of Miami scientists, who spent two years testing various structures and materials before finalizing the design for the first environmentally friendly drifter made from 85 percent seawater biodegradable components. “Drifting in the Gulf” was awarded first place in the Ocean 180 Video Challenge, judged by 21,000 middle school students in over 900 classrooms around the world.

“While the video is sometimes silly, it is packed with information about ocean currents, technology, and environmental sustainability. Most importantly, it has a message of dedication and perseverance.” — CARTHE Outreach Coordinator Laura Bracken

An open-access article recently published in the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology details the development process depicted in “Drifting in the Gulf.” The article information and PDF is available here.

Also available on Vimeo and YouTube.

The full winner’s list for the Ocean 180 Video Challenge is available here.

Documentary + Short Clips: “Jewels of the Gulf” – Oil Impacts on Deep-Sea Corals

5189Jewels of the Gulf is a 16-minute documentary highlighting research into Deepwater Horizon’s continued impacts on deep-sea corals.

Background: On April 20th 2010, approximately 50 miles from the Louisiana coastline, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig experienced a catastrophic failure that resulted in the largest marine oil spill in history. Over the course of 87 days, an estimated 210 million gallons of oil surged into the Gulf of Mexico from a wellhead nearly one mile beneath the surface. Images in the media portrayed the dire consequences to human lives and livelihoods, animals, and shorelines. But there are impacts that the media didn’t cover — the impacts of the spill on the deepwater ecosystems of the Gulf. Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf (ECOGIG) consortium scientists are documenting the continued impacts of the accident on the unique and beautiful deep sea corals that form the basis of diverse biological communities deep beneath the Gulf’s surface.

The Research: The Jewels of the Gulf research cruise was a 12-day expedition assessing the effects of oil, methane, and chemical dispersants on deep-sea corals. Remotely operated vehicles at over 1000 meters depth captured hundreds of high-resolution still images of corals that the researchers have been monitoring since 2010. The researchers analyzed the images and compared them to those from previous expeditions to document the spill’s impacts and assess the coral’s post-spill recovery and survival. The team, led by Dr. Iliana Baums from Pennsylvania State University, collected both high-resolution images of the corals to document changes over time and live coral samples to study back in the lab. During the expedition, a live ROV camera feed was broadcast so the public could view what the scientists were seeing in real time. To learn more about the Jewels of the Gulf expedition, meet the scientists, and more, visit ECOGIG’s Cruise Blogs here.

Prior to the release of the full-length documentary, ECOGIG released three short videos using footage from the expedition that focused on different aspects of coral research.

Part 1: What is a Deep-Sea Coral?

Thousands of meters beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, ECOGIG scientists study the ecology of deep sea corals living on the seafloor. What is a deep sea coral? How do they nourish themselves in the darkness? What makes them unique?

Part 2: How Do Scientists Study Deep-Sea Corals?

ECOGIG scientists use remotely operated vehicles and high-resolution camera equipment to study deep sea ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico.

Part 3: Why Study Deep-Sea Corals?

A better understanding of deep sea corals in the Gulf of Mexico will advance our knowledge of deep sea ecosystems as well as guide management decisions in response to future disturbances.

C-IMAGE Researcher Features on GulfCast Podcast

5185Dr. Kait Frasier recently appeared on the show to discuss how she uses marine mammal sounds to determine which species were present during the Deepwater Horizon spill and how they are functioning in their habitat present-day.

Episode Summary (via Dispatches from the Gulf on Soundcloud): “Dr. Kait Frasier (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) is a pioneer in bioacoustics. She’s part of a research team that is studying how Gulf dolphins and whales are faring since Deepwater Horizon by examining the sounds and calls they make. Using more than six years of underwater recordings, she tracks which species were present at the time of the spill and how they are functioning in their habitat in the present day.”

Grad Student Lichtler Examines Mammalian Cell Response to Oil Exposure

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Rebecca discusses future research plans. (Photo by Rick Olivier)

Oil contains thousands of different compounds that each affect the environment and living organisms differently. While some compounds have been well-studied, there are exponentially more that have not. Rebecca Lichtler conducts toxicity, gene expression, and gene mutation studies on oil-exposed mammal cells to determine if and how different oil compounds affect cell health.

Rebecca is a Ph.D. student with Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and a GoMRI Scholar with the project Toxicological Properties of Specific Aromatic Hydrocarbons Isolated from Fresh and Aged Crude Oil from the Deepwater Horizon Spill.

Her Path

Rebecca’s parents are scientists who sparked her early curiosity about scientific research. She began her journey as an undergraduate student at Tulane University studying cell and molecular biology, but felt like something was missing. Hoping to get involved in science that had a deeper connection to human health, she switched to the university’s public health program and changed her minor to cell and molecular biology. During a foundations course in environmental health, Rebecca met Dr. Jeffrey Wickliffe and took an undergraduate research position in his lab. As she neared graduation, Wickliffe invited her to apply for a doctoral student position in his lab conducting GoMRI-funded research, which she did after entering the School of Public Health’s environmental health sciences program.

“Of all the undergraduates that I’ve had experience with, Rebecca was far and away the most dedicated,” recalls Wickliffe. “I don’t think this department has ever had a Ph.D. student come straight out of an undergraduate program, but she’s probably one of the top Ph.D. students we have in the department right now. It has set the bar so that other [professors] might be less averse to taking on Ph.D. students coming directly from undergraduate studies.”

Her Work

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Rebecca prepares PAH stock solutions. (Photo by Charles Miller)

Rebecca conducts oil exposure experiments on mouse lung cells, which represent a common route of exposure (respiration), and on liver cells, the organ most associated with metabolizing toxic chemicals. She uses three methods to analyze different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and determine the most effective and efficient techniques for quantifying toxicity. “We’re trying find a balance between convenience and accuracy. Convenience is important because we get the information in a reasonable amount of time for a reasonable amount of money, but we also need that information to be as reliable and detailed as possible,” said Rebecca. “If an oil spill happens we can take a sample of the oil, break down the compounds, and know which ones are the most toxic that we need to worry about.”

The first approach uses a cytotoxicity test to determine how different compounds affect the cells’ ability to grow and survive after exposure. She exposes the cells to individual compounds for 6 hours followed by a 72-hour recovery period. Then she treats the cells with a pink fluorescent dye (sulforhodamine B) and uses a spectrophotometer to determine the amount of fluorescence. The proportion of color corresponds to healthy cells, which will have more color than cells whose growth was slowed or stopped by PAH exposure. She compares results between treatments to determine each tested compound’s relative toxicity.

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Rebecca subcultures mouse liver cells in preparation for a PAH-exposure cytotoxicity assay. (Photo by Rick Olivier)

The second approach uses a gene expression test to measure toxicity. Certain genes that metabolize toxic compounds (CYP1A1 and CYP1B1) are known to be upregulated, or more expressed, when cells are exposed to PAHs. Rebecca isolates the cells’ RNA (the expressed part of the DNA) and uses quantitative polymerase chain reaction to detect if CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 expression is increased after PAH exposure, which would indicate that exposure was significant enough to trigger the upregulation.

The third method involves genetic mutation assays, which require that cells recover for one week after exposure to allow mutations to become apparent. Lipids and proteins that appear on the cell surface make up the cells’ membrane. However, if the gene producing that protein is mutated, the proteins will not appear. Rebecca treats exposed cells with antibodies that “stain” protein markers and make them detectable using a flow cytometer. The more cells that lack a protein marker, the more mutagenic effects the PAH compound had on the cells. She plans to compare these results to the cytotoxicity results to determine if the number of mutations correlate with the growth inhibitions observed in her cytotoxicity studies.

The mutation assays are still in their early stages, but Rebecca is already seeing interesting results. The cytotoxicity experiments revealed a wide variation of toxicity and identified the oil compounds with a greater toxic effect than other compounds. However, the gene expression tests did not show those significant differences in toxicity. “The degree of upregulation does not significantly vary between compounds, regardless of their toxicity,” explained Rebecca. “This suggests that the gene expression test may not be a useful tool to determine the extent of toxicity.”

Rebecca hopes that her research will help identify which compounds will have the most significant human health impacts. “Being in New Orleans surrounded by so many people that are involved with the Gulf  day-to-day and meeting people whose lives were affected after the spill has shown me how important this work is to people’s everyday lives,” she said. “It’s the whole reason I got into this field and makes my work really gratifying.”

Her Learning

One of Rebecca’s most valuable experiences working in Wickliffe’s lab has been to expand her own learning by teaching others. Their lab often includes inexperienced undergraduate researchers, and Rebecca finds that teaching them forces her to confront her own understanding of the techniques and conceptual framework. “If you can’t answer someone else’s question, then you don’t know it well enough yourself,” she said. “For me, the most helpful way of learning is actually teaching!”

Her Future

Rebecca hopes to continue working in research, perhaps in a post-doc position, and eventually become a professor with her own lab. She says that students interested in a scientific career should get involved in labs as early as possible. “A lot of students think that they have to work in a lab for free just to get any experience, but there are many supported positions available, even if it’s not in your dream field,” she said. “I’ve learned something from every lab I’ve been in even if it didn’t necessarily have to do with environmental health, whether it’s a technique or a way of thinking or a concept. Don’t stress if it’s not your dream topic – you’re going to learn something.”

Praise for Rebecca

Dr. Wickliffe describes Rebecca as a talented researcher who is able to quickly master difficult methods and protocols, pays attention to detail, and fosters a solid understanding of experimental design. “She knows when to use positive and negative controls, and she’s not averse to repeating experiments to verify and validate her findings.” He also praised her collaborative skills, highlighting her ability to offer constructive feedback to others while absorbing and valuing others’ opinions about her own work.

Dr. Charles Miller, the project’s principal investigator, describes her as one of their department’s most promising students, noting her strong work ethic such as working on a task before it has been assigned and eagerly accepting new ones. “She has a mix of the right personality traits to be a good scientist. I’ve seen her progress in learning to think critically about problems, ask the right questions, and formulate a plan to approach those questions,” he said. “People with all the right signs come along every now and then, and it’s like a nugget of gold when you find one. Anybody would be lucky to have her working in their lab.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Rebecca Lichtler and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).

Grad Student DeLeo Used Genetics to Explore Oil, Dispersant Effects on Deep-Sea Corals

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Danielle retrieves live coral samples from an ROV quiver aboard the 2012 R/V Falkor expedition. (Provided by ECOGIG)

Responders to the Deepwater Horizon incident applied unprecedented amounts of chemical dispersant on the surface oil slick and into the deep underwater plume forming from the riser pipe. Shortly thereafter, researchers observed that a brown flocculant material containing oil and dispersant components covered some deep-sea corals near the incident site. Danielle DeLeo, during her graduate research, investigated oil and dispersant’s overall toxicity on deep-sea corals and assessed genetic changes that might help explain the resulting impacts.

Danielle completed her Ph.D. biology program at Temple University during which she was recognized as a GoMRI Scholar with the Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas Inputs to the Gulf-2 (ECOGIG-2).

Her Path

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Danielle assesses coral fragment health during a timed series of experimental oil and dispersant exposures aboard the 2012 R/V Falkor expedition. (Provided by ECOGIG)

Danielle fell in love with the ocean at a young age despite road blocks she faced in her local school system. Growing up, she attended schools with weak STEM programs and faced resistance from educators when she expressed interest in the sciences. “As a female, my advisors never encouraged me to pursue a major in STEM fields and, in some cases, made me think I couldn’t hack it,” she explained. “Even so, I found a way to turn my interests into a career that I love and became a first-generation college graduate.”

She discovered her interest in deep-sea ecosystems as an undergraduate student at Penn State University. While working in Dr. Charles Fisher’s lab, Danielle assisted graduate students and researchers with preparations for a rapid response cruise that surveyed the Deepwater Horizon incident’s initial effects on Gulf of Mexico coral communities. “Learning about deep-sea habitats and the various ways in which scientists explore and sample these environments was an eye-opening experience for me,” she said. “I became passionate about studying the oil spill’s anthropogenic impacts on deep-water coral communities.” Danielle completed her Ph.D. research with Dr. Erik Cordes at Temple University, where she worked as a member of the ECOGIG consortium that investigates impacts from oil spills and other stressors on deep-sea corals.

Her Work

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Danielle (front) and former Penn State University graduate student Dannise Ruiz work on coral exposure experiments aboard the 2013 R/V Nautilus cruise. (Provided by ECOGIG)

Danielle conducted exposure experiments with coral fragments for 96 hours using treatments of oil, dispersant, and an oil-dispersant mixture. “We have no idea what actual oil and dispersant concentrations the corals were exposed to in situ or for what duration,” she explained. “Instead, we know what the resulting damage or impacts looked like. Therefore, we tested a variety of concentrations and oil-water-dispersant mixtures to see what the overall toxicity of each was and what chemicals and/or combinations would cause the lethality and damage we observed in situ. We chose a range of exposure concentrations for our experiments based preliminary testing to examine mortality rates.”

She conducted two exposure series. One series used whole chemical mixtures of dissolved and undissolved portions of oil and dispersant (high concentration 25 ppm, medium 7.9 ppm, low 0.8 ppm). The other series used only dissolved water-accommodated fractions (based on the highest oil concentrations detected during the spill ~300 μM to find lethal doses, as none of the bulk-oil concentrations proved to be lethal). Initial total hydrocarbon concentrations were high 250 μM, medium 150 μM, and low 50 μM; and initial total dispersant concentrations were high 176.7 mg/L, medium 106.0 mg/L, and low 35.3 mg/L.

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Danielle monitors ROV sampling efforts in the control room aboard the 2013 R/V Nautilus cruise. (Provided by ECOGIG)

Danielle examined changes in the coral’s gene expression after exposure using high-throughput RNA sequencing and transcriptomics. She focused her analyses on exploring genome-wide effects underlying the stress responses observed in floc-exposed corals, such as polyp coiling or death, excess mucous production, damaged tissue, and exoskeletons.

Danielle observed that, at similar concentrations to the oil, dispersant-only treatments appeared most toxic to deep-sea corals followed by oil-dispersant mixtures and then oil alone. Dispersants caused an overall decline in coral health and exacerbated the lethality of oil exposure. Oil and dispersant exposures also activated the corals’ immune responses and wound-repair mechanisms, suggesting that the corals may have been able to partially survive short-term exposures if the technology and methodology to limit initial exposure periods at depth existed. Her findings support a growing body of research that suggests deep-sea dispersant applications may have had some unintended consequences as it relates to soft coral communities. This reinforces the need for exploring new response efforts and technology in the event of future deep-water oil spills.

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Danielle in the deep submersible vehicle Alvin at ~1100 meters depth in the Gulf of Mexico, 2014. (Provided by ECOGIG)

“These consequences are extremely important to consider for future oil spill clean-up efforts in deep waters,” she said. “The gene expression studies for in situ impacted corals reveal some of the molecular-level impacts that manifested into the physical damage observed at oil-impacted deep-water coral sites, while also elucidating their recovery potential.”

Her Learning

Working with Dr. Cordes, Danielle conducted research aboard different vessels, handled and cared for deep-sea specimens, and assisted with collections using remotely operated vehicles and the deep submergence vehicle Alvin. Her work provided many life-changing experiences that reinforced her passion for deep-sea research. She said, “I was extremely lucky to have the opportunity to dive in Alvin twice at deep Gulf of Mexico sites to collect samples for my dissertation research. It was an experience that I will always cherish.”

Her Future

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Danielle boards the deep submersible Alvin for her first dive, 2014. (Provided by ECOGIG)

Danielle began a post-doctoral position in 2016 with Dr. Heather Bracken-Grissom at Florida International University exploring the evolution of bioluminescence in deep-sea crustaceans. Now she applies the skills and methods she learned to answer new questions about deep-sea invertebrates.

She advises science-interested students to explore their interests, take risks, and seek out classes or workshops to help narrow their interests. “As a city kid, I never imagined I would end up becoming a marine biologist studying the deep sea,” she said. “Seek out mentors who encourage and inspire you as well as opportunities working or volunteering in labs or in the field. It could change your life’s path – it did for me!”

Praise for Danielle

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Danielle and Dr. Bracken-Grissom collect samples during a Florida Straits field course in 2017. (Photo Credit: Danielle DeLeo)

Dr. Cordes said that Danielle continuously impressed him during her time at Temple University. “She took on many challenges and, through her development of bioinformatics tools, took our research in directions that wouldn’t have been possible before. I look forward to seeing where her career will take her and furthering our collaboration in the future.”

The GoMRI community embraces bright and dedicated students like Danielle DeLeo and their important contributions. The GoMRI Scholars Program recognizes graduate students whose work focuses on GoMRI-funded projects and builds community for the next generation of ocean science professionals. Visit the ECOGIG website to learn more about their work.

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Danielle and Dr. Bracken-Grissom deploy a mid-water trawl net aboard the R/V Bellows. (Credit: DeLeo)

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.

© Copyright 2010-2018 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).