From left, FIU marine scientists Laura Timm, Kevin Boswell and Heather Bracken-Grissom conduct research on the ecological damages done to the Gulf of Mexico as it continues to recover from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
I
t has been six years since the
Mexico as an ecosystem on a broad
penetrate into the feathers of birds and
Deepwater Horizon oil spill dumped
scale,” Boswell said. “This is an
fur of mammals. Animals can easily
millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf
exciting opportunity to interface two
ingest it and be poisoned. But society
of Mexico. Plants and wildlife were
technologies in a novel way that will
is now learning not all damage to the
harmed and the ecosystems they call
allow us to fill data gaps.”
gulf was caused by the oil itself.
home destroyed. The revenue brought
Researchers shed light on reality in a post-oil spill Gulf of Mexico By Evelyn S. Perez | esuperez@fiu.edu
Southeast Environmental Research
way of life was tarnished.
of the sea floor, marine sciences
Center found crude oil and weathered
Ph.D. student Laura Timm is diving
oil alone did not cause significant
Environment, Arts and Society are
deep to examine what life is like
adverse effects in moon jellyfish, a
focusing their efforts on uncovering
for crustaceans after the oil spill.
species commonly found there. But
the far-reaching ecological damages
Conducting her research alongside
the crude oil, in the presence of the
done to the Gulf of Mexico as it
marine sciences professor Heather
chemical dispersant Corexit 9500
continues to recover from the oil spill.
Bracken-Grissom, she is examining
used to break-up slicks, caused
Their goal is to inform future ecological
different species of crustaceans,
changes in color of the jellyfish,
assessment efforts to better monitor
including shrimp, to determine
irregularities in their bell shape, tissue
and understand changing conditions.
how the event impacted genetic
degradation and even death. Even
diversity, population connectivity
though the gulf is home to one of the
of 10 researchers from across the state
and communication. Her hope is to
most diverse populations of jellyfish,
selected by the Florida Institute of
develop a timeline of their recovery
these free swimming animals are
Oceanography to help fortify the health
and genetic sequencing protocols for
often overlooked in marine toxicity
of the Gulf of Mexico. The fisheries
future research.
assessments. According to Rand,
Marine scientist Kevin Boswell is one
ecologist is studying coral reef fish
Timm, Bracken-Grissom and Boswell
selecting a variety of animal and
communities impacted by the oil spill.
are part of the Gulf of Mexico Research
plant species native to an ecosystem
Coral reefs form some of the most
Initiative’s DEEPEND Consortium,
for toxicity assessment is critical for
diverse ecosystems on Earth, offering
an international research effort
understanding potential risks to it.
shoreline protection, commercial
dedicated to understanding the Gulf
Cleanup from an oil spill is difficult
fisheries and recreational opportunities.
of Mexico and the impacts of the oil
and it may take weeks, months or even
Seemingly rugged and everlasting,
spill on the Gulf. Their research will
years to fully recover. All too often,
reefs are fragile ecosystems under
play a role in the initiative’s efforts to
people are caught off guard not only
threat from pollution and climate
ensure scientists, first responders and
by the tragedy itself, but also by all the
change. Boswell’s Fisheries Ecology
policymakers are better prepared to
unknowns these events cause. FIU is
and Acoustics Lab is using sonar and
understand, respond to and mitigate
leveraging its depth of expertise within
remotely operated vehicle technologies
damage from future spills.
its faculty to educate researchers and
to provide baseline information on
Oftentimes, communities learn of
responders on oil spill assessment,
the damage spilled oil does to marine
mitigation and recovery. In the long-
environments — it forms slicks that
term, the hope is when disasters strike,
face when the oil spill occurred was
can be difficult to remove and can
scientists will be better prepared to
the lack of knowledge on the Gulf of
contaminate miles of water. The oil can
advance recovery. n
coral reef fish diversity and ecology. “One of the things that hit us in the
38 | Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016
A study led by Gary Rand of the
inside coral reefs to the depths
Researchers in the School of
Dredging through slicks
From the hidden crannies deep
in by fisheries and tourism was cut. A
Arts, Sciences & Education 2015-2016 | 39