Using the underdogs of the animal world to gain insights into impacts, recovery, and restoration after oil spills
August 13, 2019 – Lacombe, LA
Foraminifera? Periwinkles? Larval fish? Insects? Few people outside of the scientific community consider the impacts to these organisms when an oil spill occurs. Each speaker gave insights into how these organisms can be critical players in their ecosystems and could be used to guide restoration efforts.
Click here to read agenda. Scroll down to check out presentation videos and slides.
Speakers and topics
Welcome to the “Underdogs & oil spills” seminar (Emily Maung-Douglass & Kayla Kimmel)
Description: Emily Maung-Douglass of Louisiana Sea Grant and Kayla Kimmel U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service welcome participants to the seminar “Underdogs & oil spills: Impacts, recovery, and restoration” and provide insights into the basis for the event. Emily shares an explanation of the Sea Grant’s partnership with the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) to share oil spill science. Kayla also gives information on U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Refuge Complex. Click here to view presentation slides.
Foraminifera (Patrick Schwing)
Description: Patrick Schwing of University of South Florida shared insights into the study and use of deep sea benthic foraminifera as indicator species after oil spills. Click here to view slides.
Zooplankton & ichthyoplankton (Frank Hernandez)
Description: Frank Hernandez of University of Southern Mississippi shared insights into the study and importance of zooplankton & ichthyoplankton after oil spills. Click here to view slides.
Gulf sturgeon, alligator gar, fur-bearers, & vegetation…oh my! (Kayla Kimmel and James Harris)
Description: Kayla Kimmel & James Harris of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service shared insights into the study and importance of Gulf sturgeon, alligator gar, fur-bearers, and vegetation after oil spills…oh my! Click here to view slides.
Morning panel discussion
Description: Hear discussion on how deep sea benthic foraminifera, Gulf sturgeon, alligator gar, fur-bearers, zoo- and ichthyo-plankton, and others as indicator species after oil spills. Panelists: Patrick Schwing (University of South Florida), Frank Hernandez (University of Southern Mississippi), Kayla Kimmel (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), and James Harris (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
Marsh fiddler crabs & periwinkles (Scott Zengel)
Description: Scott Zengel of Research Planning, Inc. shared insights into the study and importance of marsh fiddler crabs and periwinkles after oil spills. Click here to view slides.
Learn more about Dr. Zengel’s work with marsh fiddler crabs in the “Science Journal for Kids” – a free resource for educators & students: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/search-articles/how-do-oil-spills-impact-fiddler-crabs.
Insects & spiders (Linda Hooper-Bui)
Description: Linda Hooper-Bui of Louisiana State University shared insights into the importance of insects & spiders as indicators of environmental stress after oil spills. Click here to view slides.
Marsh food webs & oil spills (Michael Polito)
Description: Michael Polito of Louisiana State University shared insights into marsh food webs & oil spills and examines the question: are some species in the marsh more important than others? Click here to view slides.
Mysid shrimp, grass shrimp, ribbed mussels, & marsh minnows (Gina Muhs Saizan)
Description: Gina Muhs Saizan of the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office (LOSCO) shared insights into a few underdogs of the marsh – including mysids, grass shrimp, ribbed mussels, and marsh minnows – at the “Underdogs & Oil Spills” seminar. Click here to view slides.
Afternoon panel discussion
Description: Hear discussion on how marsh fiddler crabs & periwinkles, insects & spiders, and other species can act as indicator species after oil spills and how they mesh in marsh food webs. Panelists: Scott Zengel (Reseach Planning, Inc.), Linda Hooper-Bui (LSU), Michael Polito (LSU), Gina Muhs Saizan (Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, LOSCO)
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