Species´ sensitivities to acute oil exposure - are arctic and temperate dwelling organisms similar or different? - Annual report 2008

Annual report VISTA 2008

Project title
Species´ sensitivities to acute oil exposure – are arctic and temperate dwelling organisms similar or different?

Project director
Carroll, JoLynn, Akvaplan-niva

Post-doc/scholar:
Olsen, Gro Harlaug

Project duration
28.04.2008- 27.04.2010

Technical contact person in Statoil:
Johnsen, Ståle / Smit, Mathijs

Project number:
6154

Object:

Associated with increased petroleum activities in the North is a need to obtain fundamental knowledge of the risks for arctic marine organisms and ecosystems to oil. There are several key differences between arctic and temperate living organisms that may result in different sensitivities and effects to petroleum compounds. The objective of this project is to test the following null hypothesis: Species sensitivities to acute exposure to oil components are similar for arctic and temperate latitude species. Ecotoxicology data (LC50 values) will be calculated for arctic and temperate species, and  species sensitivity distribution curves will be calculated. The hazard concentration (the concentration where 5% of the species in a specific ecosystem are assumed to be stressed) for arctic and temperate ecosystems will be compared.  We are collaborating with the oil industry to produce toxicity data that can be used in risk assessment models such as the Environmental Impact factor (EIF) model used in Norway for oil pollution. The results will be used to tune risk assessment methodologies for arctic conditions and it will further provide a new scientific basis to support a constructive debate on appropriate regulatory requirements for the Barents Arctic.

Status
Fieldwork has been performed in Isfjorden ecosystem (Arctic location). To achieve the requirements for SSD curves, a selection of species from different taxonomic and functional groups was made. The following species were collected by dredging: shrimps, amphipods, balanus, polar cod, sea urchins and sculpins. Due to problems with running seawater at University of Svalbard, all the test species died, hence no LC50 data were retrieved.  However, due to collaborative efforts, little project money was used during this fieldwork, so there are money available to repeat the experiments this winter/spring. Temperate species will be collected in February 2009, and the exposure set-up system has been implemented in Akvaplan-niva.  Meanwhile available raw data (LC50 values) from quality assured toxbase (Aquire EPA database) have been collected and can be used as part of temperate SSD calculations. To ensure that data can be used in risk calculations for the oil industry, modeling and SSD calculation have been tested together with StaoilHydro and the same procedures will be used when LC50 results are ready. 

Publications

Gro Harlaug Olsen, Iris Jæger, Lionel Camus, Jani Honkanen and JoLynn Carroll (2008). Marine Hazard Assessment of Petroleum Activities in Arctic Environments. Touch briefings 23/09-2008.

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L. Camus, J. Nahrgang, G. Harlaug Olsen,  I. Jæger, J. Caroll, S. Dahle (2009). Biomonitoring & Risk Assessment of offshore oil pollution in the Arctic. Monitoring effects of Aquatic oil pollution. Leipzig, 20-22 January 2009.


Gro Harlaug Olsen., Lionel Camus, Mathijs Gerard David Smit, JoLynn Carroll. Arctic Species sensitivity distribution to oil-related compounds. Submitted to International conference, SETAC Europe, 19th Annual meeting, 31May- June 4. Göteborg, Sweden.