10.1021/es302369h.s001
Ruth H. Carmichael
Ruth H.
Carmichael
Amanda L. Jones
Amanda L.
Jones
Heather K. Patterson
Heather K.
Patterson
William C. Walton
William C.
Walton
Alberto Pérez-Huerta
Alberto
Pérez-Huerta
Edward B. Overton
Edward B.
Overton
Meghan Dailey
Meghan
Dailey
Kristine L. Willett
Kristine L.
Willett
Assimilation of Oil-Derived
Elements by Oysters Due
to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
American Chemical Society
2016
Average δ13 C
δ15 N values
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
oyster adductor muscle
ratio
Deepwater Horizon Oil SpillDuring
SPM
assimilation
diet
oil materials
DWHOS
2016-02-20 04:52:21
Journal contribution
https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Assimilation_of_Oil_Derived_Elements_by_Oysters_Due_to_the_Deepwater_Horizon_Oil_Spill/2464312
During and after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (DWHOS),
oysters
(<i>Crassostrea virginica</i>) were exposed to oil and susceptible
to incidental consumption of surface and subsurface oil materials.
We determined the contribution of oil materials from the DWHOS to
diet of oysters by comparing carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotope
ratios in oyster shell to ratios in suspended particulate matter (SPM)
and in fresh and weathered oil. Average δ<sup>13</sup>C and
δ<sup>15</sup>N values in oyster shell (−21 ± 1‰
and 9–11‰, respectively) were consistent with consumption
of naturally available SPM as opposed to values in oil (−27
± 0.2‰, 1.6 ± 0.4‰). Stable isotope ratios
in oyster adductor muscle were similar to shell for δ<sup>15</sup>N but not δ<sup>13</sup>C, suggesting either a recent shift
in diet composition or differential assimilation of C between tissue
types. We found no evidence of assimilation of oil-derived C and N
and, therefore, no evidence of an oyster-based conduit to higher trophic
levels. Trace elements in shell were inconclusive to corroborate oil
exposure. These findings are not an indication that oysters were not
exposed to oil; rather they imply oysters either did not consume oil-derived
materials or consumed too little to be detectable compared to natural
diet.