Modelling long-term multi-species impacts from oil spill scenarios using Salish Sea Atlantis

Streaming Media

Presentation Abstract

The Salish Sea is a major transportation route for oil between Canada and the USA. Continued oil transportation leads to concerns about the impact of spills on the surrounding ecosystem. Short-term impacts of oiling are more apparent and heavily studied, but the long-term effects of oil contamination throughout the ecosystem are not well known. A Salish Sea Atlantis whole-ecosystem model has been developed that allows us to explore the effects of contaminants on future trophic interactions. We used Atlantis, forced with time-series fields of water currents, temperature and salinity from the SalishSeaCast NEMO Model, to examine the impact of oil spills on key flora and fauna within the region. In collaboration with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), here we present the results of specific oil spill scenarios developed in conjunction with the Department of Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO-Pacific) and Transport Canada. We focus on the potential long-term impacts of point source hydrocarbon contamination throughout the food chain. This includes groups of primary producers such as phytoplankton and seagrass, important fish species including salmon, as well as large mammals.

Session Title

Oil Spills and Road-based Contaminants

Conference Track

SSE10: Contaminants

Conference Name

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)

Document Type

Event

SSEC Identifier

SSE-traditionals-76

Start Date

27-4-2022 11:30 AM

End Date

27-4-2022 1:00 PM

Type of Presentation

Oral

Genre/Form

conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Oil pollution of the sea--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)--Environmental aspects; Oil spills and wildlife--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Oil spills--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)--Prevention; Environmental mapping--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)

Geographic Coverage

Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)--Environmental conditions

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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Apr 27th, 11:30 AM Apr 27th, 1:00 PM

Modelling long-term multi-species impacts from oil spill scenarios using Salish Sea Atlantis

The Salish Sea is a major transportation route for oil between Canada and the USA. Continued oil transportation leads to concerns about the impact of spills on the surrounding ecosystem. Short-term impacts of oiling are more apparent and heavily studied, but the long-term effects of oil contamination throughout the ecosystem are not well known. A Salish Sea Atlantis whole-ecosystem model has been developed that allows us to explore the effects of contaminants on future trophic interactions. We used Atlantis, forced with time-series fields of water currents, temperature and salinity from the SalishSeaCast NEMO Model, to examine the impact of oil spills on key flora and fauna within the region. In collaboration with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), here we present the results of specific oil spill scenarios developed in conjunction with the Department of Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO-Pacific) and Transport Canada. We focus on the potential long-term impacts of point source hydrocarbon contamination throughout the food chain. This includes groups of primary producers such as phytoplankton and seagrass, important fish species including salmon, as well as large mammals.