Abstract:

Data herein reports on the preferences of one of three species of fish (Poecilia latipinna, Cyprinodon variegatus, or Fundulus grandis) for oiled versus unoiled sediment. Oiled sediments were randomized and included weathered (40% by weight) or fresh oil at a range of concentrations (low: 0.25 mL oil/L, medium: 0.5 mL oil/L, or high: 1.0 mL oil/L). Fishes were recorded for a period of 10 minutes and the proportion of time spent in oil and no oil sections of the tank recorded and reported in the 'Behavioral Data' tab. Sediment hydrocarbon (alkane and aromatics) were taken from one randomized tank from each treatment and is reported in the 'Sediment Hydrocarbon Analyses' tab.

Suggested Citation:

Martin, Charles W.. 2017. Laboratory experiments on three species of fish to determine avoidance of Macondo oil. Distributed by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7NV9G95

Publications:

Martin, C. (2017). Avoidance of oil contaminated sediments by estuarine fishes. Marine Ecology Progress Series, AdvanceView, 1–10. doi:10.3354/meps12084

Purpose:

By giving organisms a choice between oil-contaminated and clean sediments, this work is integral in determining if fishes have the capacity to detect and avoid oil. Results are critical to understanding the resiliency of marsh organisms to anthropogenic disasters such as oil spills and are essential for the continued successful management of living, motile resources such as marsh nekton.

Data Parameters and Units:

Worksheet: Behavioral Data Parameter Descriptions: Species - Type of fish used in the experiments (Poecilia latipinna, Cyprinodon variegatus, or Fundulus grandis); Oil - Description of the type of oil used in the experiments (Fresh or Weathered); Concentration - Refers to the relative oil concentration used in the experiments (Low, Medium, High); Proportion of time in oil – Proportion calculated from time measured in seconds; Proportion of time in no oil – Proportion calculated from time measured in seconds. Worksheet: Sediment Hydrocarbon Analyses Parameter Descriptions: Client ID (short description of treatment type); RCAT ID (internal identifier assigned by the analytical lab); Sample Size (Volume of sample analyzed); Sample Unit-Basis (Unit for volume of sample analyzed); Concentration Units (Units for oil analyte results); % moisture; concentration of 28 alkanes (µg/g micrograms per gram); Total Alkanes (µg/g); concentration of 43 aromatics (µg/g micrograms per gram); Total Aromatics (µg/g); C30 17α,21β-Hopane (µg/g)

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