Lecture 15

Question 1

Types of marine pollution

Answer 1

Sewage
Pesticides
Heavy metals
Radioactive waste
Thermal pollution
Oil
Plastics
Noise 
Invasive species

Question 2

Example of large oil spill in ocean

Answer 2

Deepwater horizon, 2010
Gulf of Mexico
4.9 million barrels

Question 3

What forms of oil pollution are more common than big oil spills seen on the news?

Answer 3

Natural seeps
Up in smoke
Down the drain
Routine maintenance

Question 4

Variables determining the scale of impact of oil spills into the environment?

Answer 4

• Volume of the spill
• Speed of the spill
• Inshore or offshore (cost of shoreline clean up 5x more)
• Dispersant use (can suppress oil-degrading microorganisms)
• Sea conditions and currents
• Habitats present (rock, sand)

Question 5

Impact of oil on organisms

Answer 5

• Oil floats so organisms that pass through air-water interface most affected
• Ingestion
• Accumulation of contaminants in tissues
• DNA damage
• Immune function
• Mass mortality of pelagic eggs/larvae
• Loss of buoyancy/insulation
• Recovery rates depend on habitat and species

Question 6

What size is a micro plastic?

Answer 6

Less than 5mm

Question 7

What areas do micro plastics accumulate in?

Answer 7

In coastal areas where a great number of people live

Question 8

What causes the release of microplastics?

Answer 8

Degradation of large plastic
Direct release e.g. through cosmetic products
Laundry

Question 9

What are the effects of microplastics?

Answer 9

1. Energy reserves: decreased feeding activity, increased phagocytosis, fewer egestion, reduced energy reserves
2. Pollution transfer: PVC absorbs pollutants, and these pollutants accumulate in tissues when ingested by organisms
3. Effects on reproduction: decreased oocyte production, decreased sperm velocity, lower larval production and growth, shifts in gene expression

Question 10

What are causes of marine noise?

Answer 10

Boat noise
Military activity (anti-submarine measures, loud short pulses of sound)
Seismic surveys (oil and gas exploration)
Construction noise (e.g. pile driving for wind farms)

Question 11

How are right whales affected by boat noise?

Answer 11

Increased stress levels with more boat traffic

Question 12

How can noise pollution kill fish?

Answer 12

Ambon damselfish (prey) cannot hear dusky dottyback (predator) over noise so increased predation
Greatly reduced survivorship of newly settled fry on patch reefs
More oxygen depletion, less likely to startle when predator present and slower response times

Question 13

Examples of invasive species

Answer 13

Lion fish (Pterois sp.)
European shire crab
Caulerpa taxifola
Sea walnut
Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)

Question 14

What is the method by which the most invasive species are introduced?

Answer 14

Through shipping (via ballast water)

Question 15

Spread of lionfish

Answer 15

Rapid spread throughout the Caribbean from aquaria
Extremely predatory
Pterois volitans and Pterois miles

Question 16

What predicts invasion success?

Answer 16

Species with high genetic structure (low movement) are bad invaders