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Investigating the effect of oil spills
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NGI Block Grant

The Northern Gulf Institute (NGI) received a $10 million research award to fund oil-spill related research in two phases: (phase 1) nine fast-track, high-priority studies with researchers who were in the field to continue critical monitoring and assessment activities in areas affected in the Gulf region; and (phase 2) peer-reviewed selection of twenty-five collaborative research projects with a focus on observing and understanding regional impacts on coastal ecosystems and society. Overall, NGI funded thirty-four projects that involved sixteen institutions. NGI is a partnership of Mississippi State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, Florida State University, Louisiana State University, Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For additional information, read the NGI Phase I press release and NGI Phase II press release.

For an overview of the NGI Block Grant research, see the NGI Research Presentation from the GoMRI Fall 2011 Meeting in New Orleans.

35 Projects

A Comprehensive Assessment of Oil Distribution, Transport, Fate and Impacts on Ecosystems and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Release

Principal Investigator: Steven Lohrenz -- University of Southern Mississippi, Division of Marine Science
Member Institutions: Naval Research Laboratory at Stennis Space Center, University of Kentucky, University of South Florida, University of Southern Mississippi

An Ecosystem Modeling Framework to Examine Ecological Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Principal Investigator: Scott Milroy -- University of Southern Mississippi, Division of Marine Science
Member Institutions: Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), Florida State University, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, University of South Florida, University of Southern Mississippi

Analyses of the Effects of Crude Oil on Increased Disease Susceptibility and Physiological Responses of Selected Gulf of Mexico Fishes

Principal Investigator: Lora Petrie-Hanson -- Mississippi State University, Department of Basic Sciences
Member Institutions: Mississippi State University, Nicholls State University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of South Florida

Aquatic Primary Productivity and Spatial/Temporal Water Quality Variations of the Breton Sound Estuary and Impacts of Oil Pollution

Principal Investigator: John Day -- Louisiana State University, Coastal Ecology Institute
Member Institutions: Louisiana State University, University of South Florida

Automated Mapping of Surface Oil Spill: Surface Physics and Remote Sensing Associated with Movement and Identification of a Slick

Principal Investigator: Mark Bourassa -- Florida State University, Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS)
Member Institutions: Brigham Young University, Florida State University, University of South Florida

Chemical Effects Associated with Leaking Macondo Well Oil in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Phase II

Principal Investigator: Alan Shiller -- University of Southern Mississippi, Division of Marine Science
Member Institutions: University of South Florida, University of Southern Mississippi

Data Sampling and Modeling of Contaminant Dispersant

Principal Investigator: Gordon Skelton -- Jackson State University, Center for Defense Integrated Data
Member Institutions: Bioplex Technologies, Inc., Jackson State University, University of South Florida

Deepwater Horizon Oil Deposition in Gulf of Mexico Beaches Phase 2: Recovery of the Beach Sedimentary Environment

Principal Investigator: Markus Huettel -- Florida State University, Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science
Member Institutions: Florida State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of South Florida

Does the 'Priming Effect' Caused by the DWH Oil-spill Result in Increased Microbial and Zooplankton Consumption of Labile and Refractory Dissolved Organic Carbon? Phase II

Principal Investigator: Robert Condon -- Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), University of South Alabama Programs
Member Institutions: Auburn University, Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, University of Quebec at Montreal, University of South Alabama, University of South Florida, University of Southern Mississippi

Effects of Oil, Dispersant, and Remediation-related Human Activities on Marsh Plants and Associated Insects and Mollusks

Principal Investigator: Linda Bui -- Louisiana State University, Department of Environmental Sciences
Member Institutions: Louisiana State University, Louisiana State University AgCenter, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, University of South Florida, University of Tennessee

Evaluating Changes in Fluorescence EEM and Size Spectra During the Degradation of Crude Oil and Dispersant in Seawater

Principal Investigator: Laodong Guo -- University of Southern Mississippi, Division of Marine Science
Member Institutions: The University of Texas at Austin, University of South Florida, University of Southern Mississippi

Extend Sulis Toolkit

Principal Investigator: Elton Amburn -- Mississippi State University, Geosystems Research Institute
Member Institutions: Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), Florida State University, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, University of South Florida, University of Southern Mississippi

Field Observation and Modeling of the Impact of Oil Spill on Marsh Erosion in Southern Louisiana

Principal Investigator: Q. Chen -- Louisiana State University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Member Institutions: Louisiana State University, University of South Florida

Gulf of Mexico Research and Resource Support Tools (GulfBase, Gulf of Mexico Biodiversity Project, Gulf of Mexico books, etc.)

Principal Investigator: Larry McKinney -- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
Member Institutions: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, University of South Florida

Impact of Crude Oil on Coastal and Ocean Environments of the West Florida Shelf and Big Bend Region from the Shoreline to the Continental Shelf Edge

Principal Investigator: Eric Chassignet -- Florida State University, Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS)
Member Institutions: Florida State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, University of South Florida

Impact of Crude Oil on Coastal and Ocean Environments of the West Florida Shelf and Big Bend Region from the Shoreline to the Continental Shelf Edge: Radiocarbon and Stable Isotope Tracing

Principal Investigator: Jeffrey Chanton -- Florida State University, Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science
Member Institutions: Florida State University, University of South Florida, Wesleyan University

Impact of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the Louisiana Coastal Environments

Principal Investigator: Susan Welsh -- Louisiana State University, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences
Member Institutions: Louisiana State University, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), Texas Sea Grant, University of South Florida

Impacts of the Deep Horizon Accident on Food Web Structure in the North Central Gulf of Mexico

Principal Investigator: John Valentine -- Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), University of South Alabama Programs
Member Institutions: Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), University of North Florida, University of South Alabama, University of South Florida

Impacts of the Deep Horizon Oil Spill on Ecosystem Structure and Function in Alabama's Marine Waters

Principal Investigator: John Valentine -- Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), University of South Alabama Programs
Member Institutions: Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), The University of Alabama, University of Mississippi, University of North Florida, University of South Alabama, University of South Florida

Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the Health and Growth of Estuarine Fish and Ecosystem Functionality

Principal Investigator: Robert Griffitt -- University of Southern Mississippi, Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Technology
Member Institutions: University of South Florida, University of Southern Mississippi

Integrated Assessment of Oil Spill

Principal Investigator: William McAnally -- Mississippi State University, Northern Gulf Institute
Member Institutions: Mississippi State University, University of Houston, University of South Florida

Macondo 252 Oil Spill Impacts in Louisiana Coastal Wetlands: Effects on Soil-Microbial-Plant Systems

Principal Investigator: Irving Mendelssohn -- Louisiana State University, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences
Member Institutions: Louisiana State University, University of South Florida

Monitoring of Natural Resources in the Pontchartrain Basin following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Processes, Habitats, and Fisheries

Principal Investigator: Denise Reed -- University of New Orleans, Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences
Member Institutions: University of New Orleans, University of South Florida

NGI BP Earth System Modeling (Phase II)

Principal Investigator: Eric Chassignet -- Florida State University, Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS)
Member Institutions: Florida State University, University of South Florida

NGI/BP Gulf Research Initiative Phase I and II Education and Outreach Support

Principal Investigator: Tina Miller-Way -- Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), Discovery Hall Programs
Member Institutions: Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), University of South Florida

NIUST Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Multi-Task Research Proposal

Principal Investigator: Raymond Highsmith -- University of Mississippi, National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology
Member Institutions: University of Georgia, University of Mississippi, University of South Alabama, University of South Florida, University of Southern Mississippi

OIL: Community Earth Modeling System for the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Principal Investigator: William McAnally -- Mississippi State University, Northern Gulf Institute
Member Institutions: Florida State University, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, University of South Florida, University of Southern Mississippi

OIL: Comprehensive Study of the Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the Health and Productivity of Gulf Coast Salt Marshes

Principal Investigator: Deepak Mishra -- Mississippi State University, Geosystems Research Institute
Member Institutions: Mississippi State University, University of Georgia, University of South Florida

Post Macondo Well Oil Spill Water Quality Sampling - Barataria, Lake Pontchartrain, and Coastal Waters. Part 2

Principal Investigator: R. Turner -- Louisiana State University, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences
Member Institutions: Louisiana State University, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), University of South Florida

Potential Impacts of the DWH Oil Spill on Fishery Resources: Will There be Reduced Recruitment of Economically Important Shrimp, Crabs, and Finfish in Seagrass and Marsh Nursery Habitats of the North Central Gulf of Mexico?

Principal Investigator: Kenneth Heck -- Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), University of South Alabama Programs
Member Institutions: Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), Florida Institute of Technology, University of South Florida

Quantifying the Effects of Oil Exposure on the Carbon Cycling and Diversity of Pelagic Microbial Community of Coastal Alabama

Principal Investigator: Alice Ortmann -- University of South Alabama, Department of Marine Sciences
Member Institutions: Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), University of South Alabama, University of South Florida

Quantitative Studies of the Effects of Oil Exposure on the Pelagic Microbial Community and Sheepshead Minnow, Using a Global Proteomics Approach

Principal Investigator: Mariola Edelmann -- Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology
Member Institutions: Mississippi State University, University of South Florida

Responses of Benthic Communities and Sedimentary Dynamics to Hydrocarbon Exposure in Neritic and Bathyal Ecosystems: Phase II

Principal Investigator: Charlotte Brunner -- University of Southern Mississippi, Division of Marine Science
Member Institutions: Naval Research Laboratory at Stennis Space Center, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University at Galveston, University of Kentucky, University of South Florida, University of Southern Mississippi

The Influence of Weather and Ocean Processes Using Numerical Modeling on the Fate and Transport of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Principal Investigator: Patrick Fitzpatrick -- Mississippi State University, Geosystems Research Institute
Member Institutions: Mississippi State University, Naval Research Laboratory at Stennis Space Center, University of South Florida

Uncertainty Quantification of Oil Spill Transport

Principal Investigator: Kyle Gallivan -- Florida State University, Department of Mathematics
Member Institutions: Computer Sciences Laboratory for Mechanics and Engineering Sciences (LIMSI)-CNRS, Florida State University, University of South Florida