GoMRI eNews · Apr 2, 2019 · ← All issues
Welcome to the GoMRI eNews.

Keeping you current on emerging Gulf science and the people investigating the effects of oil spills on the environment and public health.

April 2, 2019                                                                    GoMRI eNews

Stories

Study Provides Insights into Indirect Effects on Food Webs from Oiled Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

Scientists conducted laboratory experiments to assess how oil affects the chemical composition of submerged vegetation (Ruppia maritima) and subsequent effects on how organisms feed on oil-exposed plants.

Grad Student Hackbusch Pressures Marine Microbes for Information

The Deepwater Horizon incident occurred at 1500 m depth, where the pressure is approximately 15 MPa, but little is known about how such high pressure affects the metabolic processes involved with oil biodegradation for bacteria that live there.

Study Creates Microcosm That Mimics Bacteria Encountering Rising Oil Droplets

Scientists developed a platform at environmentally-relevant scales to advance the study of oil-water interface interactions, biofilm formation, and particle dispersion.

From the Archives

Grad Student Flournoy Emphasizes the Importance of Student Exposure to STEM

Posted on March 29, 2018
Nikaela Flournoy’s scientific journey has always carried a societal tie, from her passion for research’s social relevance to her realizations about the relationship between society and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Though she is excited to see a greater emphasis on STEM in primary and secondary education, she hopes to help expand STEM awareness and curriculum to students from diverse educational and social backgrounds.

Grad Student Girard Uses High-Definition Imagery to Assess Post-Spill Coral Recovery

Posted on March 28, 2017
Deep-sea corals are important organisms that support a healthy and diverse deep-sea ecosystem. However, there is much we do not know about certain coral species, including how they grow, reproduce, or interact with other organisms.

Study Shows Oiling Has Multiple Subtle Negative Effects on Submerged Vegetation

Posted on March 29, 2016
Scientists conducted experiments to assess oil exposure effects on Ruppa maritima, a common underwater plant species in Gulf of Mexico estuaries.

Publications
Study Gives Historical Trace Metal Distributions From Gulf of Mexico Sediment Records
Spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metal concentrations and enrichment in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Ruiz-Fernandez, A.C.; Sanchez-Cabeza, J.A.; Perez-Bernal, L.H.; Gracia, A. Science of the Total Environment, Volume 651, Part 2, 15 February 2019, Pages 3174-3186

Study Describes Six Year Evolution of Gulf of Mexico Sedimentary System
High-resolution investigation of event driven sedimentation: Northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Larson, R.A.; Brooks, G.R.; Schwing, P.T.; Holmes, C.W.; Carter, S.R.; Hollander, D.J. Anthropocene, Volume 24, December 2018, Pages 40-50

Data
Marsh and subtidal sediment microphytobenthos from three regions of coastal Louisiana: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) data from 2015-05-12 to 2017-10-13 -- data link

Sediment properties of Louisiana marshes from 2015-05-12 to 2016-10-15 -- data link

Short-lived radioisotope (SLRad) data collected R/V Weatherbird II cruises WB-0813 and WB-1405 in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2013-08-16 to 2013-09-27 -- data link

Announcements
Collaborative Workshop Series: Regional Priority Setting for Health, Social, and Economic Disruption from Spills
A series of regional workshops is presented by the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative; and various Sea Grant partners. The series focuses on public health, social disruption, and economic impacts. Join scientists and emergency response personnel as they come together and learn about collaborations before, during, and after an oil spill. See flyer here. 

Project Activities
GoMRI Researcher Discusses How Mudslides May Impact Gulf Oil Industry
Dr. Ian MacDonald was recently interviewed by The Conversation to discuss how underwater mudslides can affect deep-sea platforms and how oil companies might prepare for mudslide activity.
 
RECOVER Tool Tuesday Profile Highlights Outreach Tattoos
Consortium outreach coordinators use metallic temporary tattoos featuring the group’s logo to engage with audiences of all ages about their research. Learn more about the tattoos and RECOVER outreach activities here.