Around 5M barrels of oil were ejected into the Gulf of Mexico during the Macondo blowout. We evaluated oil impacts on seafloor dynamics during cruises in early May 2010, August-September 2010, November-December 2010, July 2011, April 2012, and May/June 2012. During the May cruise, little evidence of weathered oil deposition was observed and rates of sediment microbial activity were low, indicating little input of exogenous organic carbon. During the September cruise, surficial layers (1 to 10 cm thick) containing weathered oil entrained within an organic matrix were observed across a large area. Isotopic, sediment trap, and photographic evidence revealed a recent, significant sedimentation event both near and at distance from the wellhead.This sedimentation event altered microbial dynamics and had lethal affects on benthic infaunal communities. The full impacts of weathered oil deposition on sensitive chemosynthetic habitats remains to be fully documented but the consequences could be substantial.

Increased sedimentation and altered nutrient cycling in the aftermath of the Macondo oil well blowout

245th National Meeting (2013)

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