Abstract:

This dataset covers part of the data for experiments in which a single PAH was added to mesocosms. Data provided here are experimental design, bioturbator data (including survival/recovery) and environmental data (D.O., redox, turbidity, etc.) for sediment and water in the mesocosms. Data on PAH levels in water and sediment will be provided in a separate dataset.

Suggested Citation:

Klerks, Paul. 2017. Mesocosm experiment with single PAH - experimental design, mesocosm water and sediment environmental data, bioturbator data. Distributed by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7W093WS

Publications:

Klerks, P. L., Kascak, A., Cazan, A. M., Deb Adhikary, N., Chistoserdov, A., Shaik, A., … Louka, F. R. (2018). Effects of the Razor Clam Tagelus plebeius on the Fate of Petroleum Hydrocarbons: A Mesocosm Experiment. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 75(2), 306–315. doi:10.1007/s00244-018-0515-0

Klerks, P. L., Kascak, A., Cazan, A. M., Franco, M. E., & Louka, F. R. (2020). A Mesocosm Assessment of the Effect of Bioturbation by the Ghost Shrimp ( Lepidophthalmus louisianensis ) on the Fate of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in the Intertidal Zone. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 39(3), 637–647. doi:10.1002/etc.4652

Purpose:

Experiment aimed at determining the effect of bioturbators on the distribution and degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in nearshore environments. This specific dataset provides data on experimental design and bioturbator information (as background information) and data on environmental variables measured in the mesocosms. The environmental data are meant to provide insights on how the bioturbators may be affecting the distribution and biodegradation of the hydrocarbons.

Data Parameters and Units:

Experimental design worksheet includes details on when the experiment was conducted, when sampling was conducted (for environmental variables and petroleum hydrocarbons) and what tanks received which of 4 treatments (bioturbator present/absent * pyrene added or not). Bioturbator worksheet has info on bioturbator identity/source/experimental density, recap of treatment assignments to specific tanks, and listing of the number of bioturbators recovered at the end of the experiment. Clam size (cm) and % survival are also included. Turbidity worksheet has turbidity results (in NTU) by observation day and tank. Redox worksheet has redox measurement results (in mV), 3 replicate measurements and mean, by observation day and tank. D.O. worksheet has ODO measurement results (in % saturation and mg/L D.O.) and probe-adjusted data (since measurements were conducted with separate probes, in clean tanks and pyrene-dosed tanks, to avoid cross-contamination). The same worksheet has daily results from measurements on a single sample using both probes - for establishing probe corrections). ODO measurements are listed by observation day and tank. Temperature worksheet has measurements for water temperature (in *C; duplicate measurements and means), measurements for sediment temperature (in *C; duplicate measurements and means), the difference in temperature between water and sediment of the same tank (Delta T in °C), and the absolute temperature difference (Delta T abs in °C). Temperature data are listed by observation day and tank.

Methods:

Water samples of approximately 30 mL were collected from the tanks (at approximately mid-depth of the water column) using a turkey baster and placed in 30-mL glass tubes for transport to the lab. In the lab, water samples were transferred to glass tubes and turbidity quantified on a Hach 2100A turbidimeter, calibrated daily with GELEX® secondary turbidity standards. Turbidity was expressed in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). Redox measurements were obtained with a custom made redox electrode with a platinum indicator electrode exposed at the end of a thin rigid shaft and a Corning calomel reference probe, using a portable pH/volt meter (Cole Parmer Digi-Sense® pH/mV/Temp). The bottom half of the reference electrode was placed in the water column, while the indicator electrode was pushed into the sediment such that its exposed platinum end was at mid-depth of the sediment. Mid-depth values were determined at 3 locations in each tank. Redox readings were allowed to stabilize (“stable” if no change within 5 seconds) prior to recording a redox value. Dissolved oxygen (D.O.) measurements were obtained with the YSI ProODO meter. Optical D.O. readings were taken at the middle of the water column depth in each tank, and D.O. recorded in “% saturation” and “mg/L O2”. Different probes were used for clean tanks and tanks to which petroleum hydrocarbons were added. The correct for differences between the probes, measurements were taken with both probes on a single water sample each day that water quality measurements were done. Probe-adjusted ODO values were calculated on the basis of the average differences between the two probes for these water samples. Temperature measurements were obtained with a Fisher Scientific NiCr/NiAl T/C type K probe (0.1 °C resolution) with the Traceable® type K meter. On each tank, two measurements were taken in the middle of the water column and two measurements were taken at mid-depth of the sediment. Different probes were used for clean tanks and those to which petroleum hydrocarbons were added. Since the goal was to quantify differences between the sediment and the water column within tanks (obtained with the same probe), no corrections were needed for between-probe differences.

Instruments:

Instrumentation information is provided in the methods section.

Error Analysis:

Instruments were calibrated prior to use. Data entry into digital files was duplicated.

Provenance and Historical References:

Dataset R2.x226.000:0003 will contain the results from the hydrocarbon analyses of the sediment and water samples from these experiments.

Individual Files: