In situ sampling reveals rapid uptake and depuration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by surf clams (Paphies subtriangulata) affected by the Rena oil spill

ABSTRACT

To investigate the uptake and depuration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with the Rena oil spill we sampled the surf clam Paphies subtriangulata at two open coast locations (6?km apart) just prior to oil coming ashore (7 October 2011), then at 1–3 week intervals for the next 4 months. Total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (tPAH) increased at both sites from 1 to 96–124?µg?kg^?1 (wet weight) by 18 October before declining to low levels (<4?µg?kg^?1) by February 2012. Ongoing sampling throughout 2012–2014 included three additional sites to the north east (up to 30?km away) and a site 5?km to the south east revealing tPAH levels generally <10?µg?kg^?1 except in October 2013 where levels ranged between 39–45?µg?kg^?1 at all sites. A comparison of PAH component profiles with oil-contaminated beach sediment indicated that the high levels observed in surf clams between October–December 2011 were clearly associated with the Rena spill. However, the October 2013 peak had a PAH profile inconsistent with weathered Rena oil, suggesting an alternative source of contamination. Our results highlight the potential for P. subtriangulata as a PAH monitoring tool but recognise more study is needed to better quantify baseline levels and uptake and depuration dynamics.     

Burial and degradation of Rena oil within coastal sediments of the Bay of Plenty

ABSTRACT

During the Rena oil spill, no data existed for New Zealand conditions on the likely depth of burial and the expected degradation of oil deposited on sandy beaches. Sediment cores were taken from 12 locations along the Bay of Plenty coastline c. 1 year after the Rena oil spill. No visible oil was detected in cores and trenches dug within the beaches. Chemical extraction was performed on 20?cm slices from the upper 40?cm of 26 cores, and the elutriates were analysed for the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results were compared with known PAH fingerprints of Rena oil and its degradation products. Only seven samples contained some marker PAHs, and none had a complete Rena profile, indicating stormwater contamination. Despite extensive deposition of Rena oil on beaches, no evidence of ongoing contamination could be located, indicating that the clean-up and degradation were effective at removing the oil.     

The MV Rena shipwreck: time-critical scientific response and environmental legacies

ABSTRACT

The sinking of the MV Rena on Astrolabe Reef (Otaiti) in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, resulted in the release of oil and ship debris, including dangerous goods carried as cargo. Two key questions of concern to the public and environmental managers were posed immediately: what was the impact of the Rena oil spill and how long would it take for the marine environment to recover? The research that began immediately after the ship grounded provided answers, as documented in this special issue.     

Acute sublethal toxicity of MV Rena contaminants (heavy fuel oil,oil dispersant and cryolite) to finfish and rock lobster

ABSTRACT

The wreck of the MV Rena in October 2011 discharged large quantities of potentially toxic materials in the coastal marine environment of the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. We evaluated sublethal effects of the water soluble fractions of physically and chemically dispersed heavy fuel oil (HFO) and the water soluble fraction of cryolite on the haematology of subadult or adult snapper (Chrysophrys auratus), spotted wrasse (Notolabrus celidotus) and red rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii). Small but transient effects occurred, the most significant of which were changes in circulating immune cell populations in fish and lobster that recovered by the conclusion of a 96-h exposure period. No post-exposure effects were observed during a 10-day recovery in toxicant-free seawater. Corexit 9500 oil dispersant increased polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) uptake from HFO in fish and lobster by around two-fold and four-fold, respectively, and caused a larger change in immune cell abundance in snapper than exposure to HFO alone. While depuration of PAHs was more rapid in fish than lobster, significantly elevated PAH levels were still evident after 10 days of depuration.     

The wreck of the MV Rena: spatio-temporal analysis of ship-derived contaminants in the sediments and fauna of Astrolabe Reef

ABSTRACT

The October 2011 sinking of the container ship MV Rena on Astrolabe Reef, New Zealand, provided a rare opportunity to examine the fate of shipwreck-derived contaminants on an offshore rocky reef and food chain. Analyses of trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organotins indicated significant but localised contamination of Astrolabe Reef but not of nearby Mōtītī Island. Three years after the grounding, PAH concentrations were greater in sediments at Astrolabe (up to 131?mg kg^?1) than at control locations, while organotins from the ship's antifouling hull paint were found exclusively in Astrolabe Reef sediments and biota. Over 80% of Astrolabe sediment samples contained tributyltin at concentrations above guideline sediment levels (>0.07?mg kg^?1). Tributyltin and its decomposition products were also recorded in sea urchins, gastropods, lobster and fishes at concentrations up to 0.2?mg kg^?1. Wreck and cargo-derived metals, particularly copper, tin and zinc, were present in some Astrolabe sediment samples above Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council guideline concentrations. However, there appeared to be only limited transmission of metals through the food chain. Copper, tin and zinc were recorded at greater concentrations in Astrolabe sea urchins and gastropods compared to control specimens, while metal concentrations in other biota were comparable across impact and control sites. Despite over 3 years having passed since the Rena grounding, the data series does not show any upward or downward trends in contaminant concentrations on Astrolabe Reef. Consequently, there is uncertainty about the long-term implications of the Rena grounding for the ecology of Astrolabe Reef.     

The self-organising of youth volunteers during the Rena oil spill in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

This study explores the communication and organising of youth volunteers during a crisis, focusing on how they conceived, framed, and executed self-organising efforts during the 2011 Rena oil spill in New Zealand. It offers insights into the intersections of self-organising, youth volunteering and crisis events which have not been researched before. The study addresses two core research questions: 1. how was ‘volunteering’ conceptualised by youth volunteers involved in the Rena crisis; and 2. how did these volunteers communicate and self-organise during this crisis? The findings indicate that self-organising emerged out of a resistance towards structured responses and as a reaction to the inability of the official volunteer response to meet the needs of the community. Self-organised efforts were particularly attractive among youth volunteers because they offered flexibility, required minimal administrative processes, and fostered an environment of innovation and creativity. The volunteers’ youthful energy and technological aptitude additionally drove their self-organised responses. The study identifies the considerable challenges that crisis officials faced in utilising youth volunteers despite the significant advantages of self-organising.     

Measurement of shipwreck-derived waterborne trace metals using DGT samplers

ABSTRACT

A contemporary approach to the assessment of metal pollutants in aquatic environments has been to measure contaminant concentrations in biological indicator species (mussels, oysters). However, for environments in which such indicator species do not occur naturally and cannot be deployed, alternative approaches for monitoring trace-metal pollution are required. Three years after the 2011 grounding of the MV Rena, diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) samplers were deployed at Otaiti (the offshore reef where the Rena grounded) to assess levels of waterborne trace-metal contamination. Although the probability of detecting waterborne contaminants within a dynamic open ocean reef environment would seem low, due to mixing and dilution, our analyses confirmed the presence of copper (≤0.43 vs ≤0.27?nmol?kg^?1), iron (≤6.3 vs ≤4.2?nmol?kg^?1), aluminium (≤8.9 vs ≤1.3?nmol?kg^?1), zinc (≤2.8 vs ≤2.0?nmol?kg^?1) and manganese (≤0.11 vs ≤0.09?nmol?kg^?1) at elevated concentrations in the Rena debris field relative to reference sites. The results demonstrate the utility of DGTs as a tool for measuring waterborne contaminants and suggest further research is required to characterise the contaminant plume and determine what effect it might have on the recovery of Otaiti's impacted biological communities.     

Induction of heat shock protein (hsp)60 in Isochrysis galbana exposed to sublethal preparations of dispersant and Prudhoe Bay crude oil

Adaptation to sublethal exposure to crude oil by phytoplankton is poorly understood. Use of chemical dispersants for oil spill remediation increases petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in water, while exposing marine organisms to potentially toxic concentrations of dispersant. Heat shock proteins (hsps) have been found to serve as an adaptive and protective mechanism against environmental stresses. The objective of this project was to examine the induction of hsps in Isochrysis galbana, a golden-brown algae, following exposure to the water-accommodated fraction (WAF) of Prudhoe Bay crude oil (PBCO) and PBCO chemically dispersed with Corexit 9527® (dispersed oil: DO). Initial experiments using ³⁵S-labeled amino acids and 2-dimensional electrophoresis with subsequent western blotting identified and confirmed hsp60, a member of the chaperonin family of stress proteins, as being efficiently induced by heat shock in this species. One-dimensional SDS PAGE and western blotting, with hsp60 antibodies and chemiluminesence detection, were used to quantitate hsp60 following exposure to a range of environmental temperatures and concentrations of WAF and DO preparations. I. galbana cultured in 22 parts per thousand (‰) salinity showed a statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in hsp60 after exposure to 25, 30, and 35°C for 1 h compared to controls (20°C), while 34‰ cultures showed no significant increase in hsp60 with increasing temperature. Cultures (22 and 34‰) exposed to varying doses of WAF and DO exhibited statistically significant (p<0.05) increases in levels of hsp60 in all cases. A dose-related response was observed in all exposures (r²≥0.90) with the exception of 34‰ WAF. In independent exposures, a dose-related hsp60 response to naphthalene, a relatively abundant water-soluble aromatic hydrocarbon, was observed in both 22 and 34‰ cultures. Results of this study are consistent with previous studies in other species documenting increases in hsp60 levels with exposure to xenobiotics. Further studies are investigating the protective function of hsp60 against the toxic effects of exposure to WAF and DO preparations.     

Factors influencing biodeposit production by the New Zealand freshwater mussel Echyridella menziesii

Laboratory experiments on the New Zealand freshwater mussel Echyridella menziesii were used to investigate the short-term effects (7–8 days) of food type on rates of biodeposition and benthic substrate respiration. Post-feeding biodeposition rates ranged from 0.34 to 1.52?mg?g^?1?h^?1 (mean?=?0.50?mg g^?1?h^?1) and were unaffected by the addition of toxin-producing Microcystis. Addition of suspended sediment (30?mg?L^?1) visibly altered substrate composition, and increased total and inorganic biodeposit production rates by 24–33% compared to mussels fed commercial phytoplankton stock. Biodeposition rates of mussels in lake bed substrates were 38% higher than those in silica sand for identical feeding regimes, suggesting that a significant proportion of material produced in this experiment could have been derived from feeding on organic matter in the lake bed sediments. Respiration rates were higher in treatments with Microcystis but were unaffected by the presence of mussels. This laboratory study suggests that biodeposition by E. menziesii is resilient to short-term exposure to Microcystis, and highlights the ability of mussels to alter benthic substrate composition by incorporating suspended sediment into substrates.     

Environmental effects of the MV Rena shipwreck: cross-disciplinary investigations of oil and debris impacts on a coastal ecosystem

ABSTRACT

The 2011 wreck of the MV Rena off the northeast coast of New Zealand, and subsequent impacts, has been called New Zealand's worst ever maritime environmental disaster. It is certainly one of the world's most complex as it involved a pollutant combination of oil and dangerous goods debris in a dynamic oceanic environment adjacent to a pristine coastline. Heavy fuel oil, shipping containers loaded with cargo, and a wide range of wreck debris and contaminants were spread along hundreds of kilometres of coastline of the Bay of Plenty. Much of this landed on sandy beaches and rocky shores. Broken containers released often toxic substances, and the wreck itself slid down the pinnacle of the wreck site at Astrolabe Reef (Otaiti). The reef remains heavily contaminated, with substantial remnants of the ship and its cargo present, and chemical effects still evident in some species. Here we present the background and timeline of events that unfolded after the grounding. The following articles contain the results of the ensuing chemical, toxicological and ecological studies of contamination and environmental recovery. At the time of writing, numerous legacy issues remain.     

Differential UVB‐sensitivities of five New Zealand freshwater zooplankton species

Abstract

The ultraviolet (UV) sensitivity of five species of freshwater zooplankton (three Cladocera, two Copepoda) were investigated. The animals were exposed to varying levels of UV‐radiation in a sunshine‐simulator and the UV doses for 10 and 50% mortality (LD₁₀, LD₅₀) were estimated using a dose‐response model. To place these doses in context they were compared with modelled clear‐sky surface UV irradiances in New Zealand. The cladocerans Daphnia carinata and Ceriodaphnia dubia were sensitive to levels of UVB irradiance of LD₁₀ = 18–25 kJ m^?2 and LD₅₀ = 35–37 kJ m^?2. These sensitivities are consistent with published values for other cladocera. In contrast a third cladoceran, Bosmina meridionalis, exhibited no higher mortality over the full range of the cumulative UVB‐doses used (3–40 kJ m^?2) than controls receiving no UV exposure. The copepod Boeckella delicata showed the highest UV‐sensitivity of all organisms tested (LD10 = 7 kJ m^?2, LD50 = 33 kJ m^?2) whereas for Boeckella triarticulata, which was more heavily pigmented than B. delicata, no UV‐induced mortality was observed. Under natural conditions UV irradiances of up to 100 kJ m^?2 day^?1 can fall on the surface of New Zealand lakes. Although this is attenuated in natural waters, these data suggest that UVB irradiance may be a significant ecological variable to some zooplankton species.     

Effects of the MV Rena oil spill on intertidal rocky reefs in the Bay of Plenty,New Zealand

In the weeks following the 2011 Rena oil spill, a series of surveys was initiated on eight rocky intertidal reefs to describe the distribution of oil and to assess the impacts of oil on ecological communities. Consistent but relatively low cover of oil occurred at two sites (Mt Maunganui and Moturiki). The area covered by oil had decreased by c. 90% after 5 months due to natural weathering processes. There were immediate effects of oil fouling on the mussel Limnoperna pulex and its associated fauna, with reductions in the number of mussels and infaunal taxonomic richness. However, no ecological effects on any of the communities were detectable after 1 month. Overall, the ecological effects of the Rena oil spill on rocky shore intertidal communities were small and not long-lasting, but we stress that this does not consider potential sublethal effects and their consequences on organisms.     

Faecal indicator bacteria in New Zealand freshwater fish: a pilot study

Recent studies have suggested that poikilothermic animals, such as fish, may represent a previously overlooked source of the faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) used for the assessment of water quality. However, quantitative studies of FIB in poikilotherms are scarce. We investigated the presence of FIB in the faeces of five freshwater fish species. E. coli and enterococci were detected in 71 and 76% of faecal samples, respectively. Concentrations were highly variable, with maximum concentrations (2.1?×?10⁴ E. coli and 1.3?×?10⁶ enterococci per gram of faecal material) up to four orders of magnitude higher than present in the water column. FIB were not detected in faecal samples from marine fish. Our findings suggest that FIB ingested from the environment may be capable of replication within the fish gut, making fish a potential source and transport mechanism for FIB in New Zealand freshwaters. This may have implications for water quality monitoring.     

Reference and current Trophic Level Index of New Zealand lakes: benchmarks to inform lake management and assessment

ABSTRACT

Knowledge of trophic status is fundamental to understanding the condition and function of lake ecosystems. We developed regression models to predict chlorophyll a concentrations (chl a) in New Zealand lakes for reference and current states, based on an existing dataset of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations for 1031 lakes. Models were then developed to predict Secchi depth based on chl a and a sediment resuspension term applicable to shallow lakes. Estimates of all four Trophic Level Index (TLI) variables (chl a, TN, TP and Secchi depth) were analysed to estimate reference and current state TLI for the nationally representative sample of 1031 lakes. There was a trend of eutrophication between reference and current states, with systematic differences among lake geomorphic types. Mean chl a increased 3.5-fold (2.42?mg?m^?3 vs. 8.32?mg?m^?3) and mean Secchi depth decreased (indicating lower clarity) by approximately one-third (9.62?m vs. 6.48?m) between reference and current states. On average, TLI increased by 0.67, with the TLI increase >1 in approximately one-third (31%) of lakes. This study informs the status of lake ecosystems in NZ and provides benchmarks to guide management and assessment.     

Nitrogen fixation in polluted intertidal sediments of Waimea Inlet,Nelson

Abstract

Nitrogen fixing potential was measured in summer 1975 by acetylene reduction in situ at 5 stations on the intertidal flats of the Waimea Inlet, Nelson, New Zealand, which receive nutrients from several sources. Highest values (644 μmol?m^?2.d^?1) were obtained on sediments near an apple cannery effluent discharge and were linear through at least two tidal cycles. The cannery waste had the highest carbon to nitrogen ratio (10.3 : 1.0) of all the effluents examined and exhibited the highest rate of acetylene reduction (14.0 μmol?_‐l^?1.d^?1). Sizeable populations of the nitrogen fixing bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from the cannery effluent (2 × 10⁴ per millilitre) and also from the mud adjacent to the discharge pipe (5 × 10⁵ per millilitrc). The stimulatory effect of the cannery effluent on nitrogen fixation in the sediment was shown to be restricted to close to the discharge point. Sediments in areas affected by slaughterhouse and sewage effluents exhibited the second and third highest rates of acetylene reduction, (130 &; 28 μmol?m^?2.d^?1 respectively). In both places, the activities were not restricted to the immediate vicinity of the effluent channels. Nitrogen fixation was lowest in sediments fronting a catchment of grazed pasture. Fixation was low also in sediments affected by effluents from the hydraulic debarker of a woodchip mill.     

Effect of oil and dispersants on the growth of Mussels

Mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) were exposed to North Sea crude oil, microencapsulated oil and dispersants, singly and in combination, and growth rates measured at 24–48 h intervals.Exposure to microencapsulated pure oil (2·0–2·1 mg litre⁻¹) and to microencapsulated mixtures of oil (2·2−2·5 mg litre^-1+5 % of the different dispersants (FINASOL OSR 5, COREXIT 9527, DISPOLENE 36 S) gave approximately the same reduction in growth rate (80–90%) within 170h.Oil chemically dispersed with DISPOLENE 36 S and a pure oil mechanically dispersed in water were significantly less toxic. In high concentrations (2 mg litre⁻¹) all disperants are toxic, DISPOLENE 36 S ssignificantly more than the others.Mussels exposed for 170 h to microencapsulated oil and to microencapsulated oil dispersant mixtures recovered to control growth within 300 h in clean seawater, while in those given pure oil-in-water suspension, the recovery was slower.It is concluded that the toxicity of oil is mainly related to size and concentration of oil particles, while the effect of 5% dispersants added is negligible.     

消油剂处理120#燃料油对海水青鳉(Oryzias melastigma)胚胎抗氧化酶活性影响的研究

以海水青鳉(Oryzias melastigma)胚胎为研究对象,比较了120#燃料油分散液(water-accommodated fractions,WAFs)与乳化液(biologically enhanced water-accommodated fractions,BE-WAFs)的急性毒性效应,并研究了不同浓度(40、100、250 mg/L)下WAFs、BE-WAFs对胚胎内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)活性的影响。结果表明:在受到石油烃的氧化胁迫后,海水青鳉胚胎内3种抗氧化酶活性变化明显。随着石油烃浓度的升高和暴露时间的延长,3种酶表现出程度不同的诱导效应和抑制效应。其中受石油烃污染影响最为明显的为SOD酶;而GST酶则对消油剂单独暴露表现较为敏感。实验证明,海水青鳉体内SOD酶活性对石油烃污染反应最为敏感,适合作为监测石油烃污染程度的生物标志物。     

Foreign barnacles transported to New Zealand on an oil platform

Twelve species of barnacles were identified from the fouling community on the parts of the ‘Maui’ oil platform that were submerged during its tow from Japan in 1975 and after its arrival in New Zealand. The stalked barnacles Lepas anatifera L. var. (a) Darwin, L. anserifera L., Conchoderma auritum (L.), and C. virgatum (Spengler) probably settled during the tow across the tropical Pacific, and have been recorded in New Zealand waters before from ships (the Lepas spp.) and vertebrates (the Conchoderma spp.). The acorn barnacles were small, and probably settled in Japanese waters; Balanus variegatus Darwin and B. amphitrite Darwin already occur in northern New Zealand waters. The other six species—B. improvisus Darwin, B. albicostatus Pilsbry, B. reticulatus Utinomi, Megabalanus volcano (Pilsbry), M. rosa (Pilsbry), and Tetraclita squamosa japonica Pilsbry—have not been recorded from New Zealand before.     

Biodegradation of dispersed marine fuel oil in sediment under engineered pre-spill application strategy

Biodegradation of marine fuel oil was studied by monitoring changes in residual oil and populations of microorganisms in marine sediments. Biodegradation rates for dispersant and soap water were 2.09 and 2.27 g/kg per day, respectively, under pre-application strategy, suggesting that the strategy may promote MFO dispersion and provide with sufficient source of food. The effect of temperature on the effectiveness of pre-application strategy is particularly obvious for the growth of fungi and Pseudomonas maltophilia. The effect of pre-application of soap water on the tolerance of aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, and P. maltophilia, was gradually diminished within 25–33 days.     

Emergency surveillance for marine pests after the grounding of the container vessel,MV Rena

ABSTRACT

The grounding of the MV Rena in 2011 necessitated urgent entry of salvage vessels into New Zealand. Two, a cargo barge and tug, had been idle in Australia before mobilisation and had well-developed biofouling assemblages that included non-indigenous species new to New Zealand. Surveillance for the species was initiated in Tauranga harbour, Astrolabe Reef and Mōtītī Island, where the vessels had operated. Response personnel were trained to recognise and report the organisms and active surveys were implemented, including reinspection of the vessels after treatment of the biofouling, dive and shoreline searches, and trapping. Although none of the risk species was detected, the biosecurity risk from the vessels changed during the response, from initially acting as a vector for species new to New Zealand to later transporting non-indigenous species from coastal ports to the arena of operations. The study highlights a need for better integration of biosecurity risk management into forward planning for maritime incidents.